Smart small business accounting software is one of the best small business expenses to have. It can help you to track, organize, and bill for your services, which saves your time and money. By choosing a good accounting system you can simplify bookkeeping, have insight into your inventory, better ensure tax reporting, along with being able to easily handle your payroll. You won’t find a more complete or trustworthy source for accounting software than AboutVentures LLC.
Here’s a list of software packages and applications broadly categorized as accounting tools , regardless of category or specific brand. This selection isn’t based on the best paid plans, without which you’ll want to use good free alternatives. Instead, it is based on the width and depth of features offered by each tool, and how easily it integrates with other services. The products on this page generally fall into three categories: free, hosted freemium (adding value with paid options) and paid package.
QuickBooks Self-Employed
QuickBooks Self-Employed accounting software is our top choice for part-time freelancers and independent contractors who primarily want to track their income and expenses for their tax return. This software is designed for business owners who file a Schedule C on their individual tax return.
Without keeping up with business activity using a software like this, freelancers would need to dig through all of their bank and credit card statements to add up their income and expenses at the end of each year, which can be quite daunting. QuickBooks Self-Employed will total up all business transactions automatically.Pros
- Cloud-based
- Mobile app
- Track mileage
- Differentiate between business and personal expenses
- Syncs with TurboTax
Cons
- Data cannot be easily transferred to other accounting software
- Limited reporting
- Limited invoicing functionality and customization
QuickBooks Self-Employed is an Intuit product with a cloud-based online interface and a mobile app. This software was created to help freelancers stay organized each year for tax season. Features of QuickBooks Self-Employed include tracking mileage, sorting expenses, organizing receipts, sending invoices, and estimating and filing taxes seamlessly through TurboTax.
Users can choose between three plan options: Self-Employed at $15 per month, Self-Employed Tax Bundle at $25 per month, and Self-Employed Live Tax Bundle at $35 per month. There is a 50% discount for the first three months. The two tax bundles include a TurboTax subscription for income tax filing. The Self-Employed Live Tax Bundle also gives you access to a CPA to answer questions throughout the year and during tax season. The CPA will also perform a final review of your tax return in TurboTax prior to filing.
The mobile app makes it easy to track mileage while driving and capture photos of receipts for business expenses. Most accounting software is not designed to separate business transactions from personal transactions, but a special feature of QuickBooks Self-Employed provides an option to mark each transaction as business or personal. This is helpful for freelancers who don’t have a separate bank account for their business activity.
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is the best overall accounting software for small businesses of those reviewed. Not only do the majority of small business accounting professionals use QuickBooks Online, but there are also endless online training resources and forums to get support when needed. All accounting features can be conveniently accessed on one main dashboard, making bookkeeping more fluid and efficient.Pros
- Scalable
- Commonly used by accounting professionals
- Integration with third-party applications
- Cloud-based
- Mobile app
Cons
- Upgrade required for more users
- Occasional syncing problems with banks and credit cards
Intuit’s QuickBooks Online has been the most common accounting software used by small businesses and their bookkeeping and tax professionals. The software is cloud-based and can be accessed through a web browser or through the mobile app.
After the 30-day free trial, the four options for subscription plans include: Simple Start at $25 per month, Essentials at $40 per month, Plus at $70 per month, and Advanced at $150 per month. Typically there is a significant discount offered for the first few months, and some accountants are able to offer wholesale pricing to small businesses, as well.
The monthly subscription for this software can be upgraded as a business grows, and there are many customization options with the mobile app that can be used to receive payments, review reports, capture an image of a receipt, and track business mileage. For businesses looking for a payroll solution, QuickBooks Payroll fully integrates with QuickBooks Online.
Each plan offers more advanced features like inventory management, time tracking, additional users, and budgeting. Most service-based small businesses will find that Simple Start meets all of their needs. For product-based small businesses, Essentials or Plus will have more options for inventory and customizations. The Advanced subscription is a new offering and provides robust financial reporting that is powered by Fathom. Fathom is an elite online financial report analysis tool used by many large companies all over the world.
All plans allow integration with third-party apps such as Stripe or PayPal. QuickBooks Online’s app store breaks down all of their apps by function and provides helpful examples of the benefits of each app.
Kashoo: Easiest setup
- Starting at $20.00/mo.
Above-average starting price
Additional user options
Income, expense, and sales tax tracking
Data as of 11/5/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Got a minute to spare? You can set up Kashoo in 60 or so seconds, and the app immediately starts to categorize your expenses and learn your business spending habits. Like Zoho Books, Kashoo’s automation is its selling point—and unlike Zoho Books, it syncs with SurePayroll, one of our top payroll providers. However, Kashoo’s simplicity makes it ill-suited to larger businesses that need more features and functions than Kashoo’s straightforward software can provide.
If you’re looking for a cheaper solution, Kashoo offers an invoice-only plan for $0.00. It’s also in the process of developing payment-only and expense-only plans for the smallest of small businesses.
Best free alternative: ZipBooks
Most affordable alternativeZipBooks
2.6
- Starting at $0.00/mo.
Low starting price
One user plus accountant access
Unlimited invoices, billable clients, and vendors
Data as of 11/5/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If you don’t need quite as many features as Wave offers, ZipBooks is a solid free accounting software alternative. Even though it’s free, it doesn’t limit the number of invoices you can send (like Xero) or clients you can bill (like FreshBooks) per month—you can access unlimited customizable invoices and accept payments too. ZipBooks’ paid plan starts at $15 a month and offers better bookkeeping and automation features than its free accounting plan. But if you prefer your accounting tools on the go, look elsewhere. ZipBooks has a solid billing-only app for Apple users, but its Android accounting app is near-uniformly panned on Google Play.1
Xero
Pricing: Starts at $11/month
Xero lets you get financial performance reports sent straight to you, and connect your bank account for a seamless experience. If you need payroll services, you’ll have to use them through Xero’s partnership with Gusto. And if you value live support, you should probably look for another provider.
Best for Businesses That Conduct Their Business on the Go.
One of Xero’s most impressive characteristics is its mobile experience, making it an excellent option for businesspeople who work on the go. The software allows you to send custom invoices, track inventory, and create purchase orders to attach to bills — all from your phone or tablet.
Conclusion
What is the single most important tool when it comes to an effective business? A good accountant. You need an accountant who can work with you, give you the support you need, and make your life easier when filing your taxes. I’ve examined many packages of books and online platforms in this article, and the one best suited for your business is the Golden Accounts package by Golden Software. It’s like having a local accountant in my office.