Because we’re so used to the internet and the world it provides us with, we tend to ignore all of the offline products and services which can prove time and time again to be so helpful. It’s the Internet’s obsolescence at its best, really. However, if you are a small business owner who is looking for free accounting software downloads you shouldn’t overlook these small business accounting tools available to you for free right now.
There are three main categories of accounting software: accounting softwares for small business, accounting softwares and best desktop accounting software free and best online accounting software for small business. All these titles make it almost impossible to figure out which means we need to review what we can learn from them.
Wave
A top free accounting software to consider from the start of your search is Wave accounting software. Through this option, you’ll be able to connect unlimited bank and credit card accounts to your books. You’ll also be able to add unlimited income tracking, expense tracking, and guest collaborators for free. Plus, you’ll be able to invoice and scan receipts for free as well.
Be sure to note, though: If you want your invoiced customers to be able to pay online directly through the invoice, you’ll need to pay for that. Wave charges 2.9% + $0.30 for each credit card payment and 1% (with a minimum of $1) for each ACH payment. You’ll also need to pay for payroll through Wave. Depending on where you do business, you’ll pay a monthly base fee of either $35 or $20, plus $4 per employee and contractor on your payroll.
ZipBooks
ZipBooks Starter is one of the best options for anyone new to accounting. The software is completely free and is a good option for businesses with limited accounting needs. You’ll receive essential bookkeeping tools, and you can manage unlimited customers and vendors.
With ZipBooks, you can send as many invoices as you want and receive payments through PayPal or Square. However, the free plan comes with limited integrations and only allows you to connect to one bank account.
Freshbooks
Best all round accounting software for small businesses
TODAY’S BEST DEALSFreshBooks Lite$15/mthFreshBooks Plus$25/mthFreshBooks Premium$50/mthVISIT SITEat FreshBooks
REASONS TO BUY
+User-friendly interface+Plenty of depth and features+Integrates with many popular services
REASONS TO AVOID
-Too many features for some-Complex features need time-More costs for more features
FreshBooks is a popular cloud-based accounting service designed specifically for small business owners.
The package has plenty of features – invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, a host of business reports, even an option to take credit card payments – and a straightforward interface aimed at non-accountants ensures you’ll be up-and-running right away.
Despite the simplicity, there’s real depth here. You can bill in any currency, save time by setting up recurring invoices, allow customers to pay via credit card by checking a box, and even automatically bill their credit card to keep life simple for everyone.
If you need more power, the system integrates with many other services, including PayPal, MailChimp, Basecamp, WordPress, Gusto, Zendesk and more.
Management hassles are kept to a minimum. You’re able to access and use the system from your desktop or its free iOS and Android apps, and because it’s a cloud-based system there’s no need to worry about backups.
If this sounds appealing, you can try FreshBooks for 30 days without using a credit card.
Akaunting
You should also consider a free accounting software called Akaunting. This option offers many of the most necessary features that a small business accounting software should. Within this technology, you’ll be able to invoice, sync accounts, track expenses, set up recurring bills, manage customers, and manage vendors. However, to access more advanced features like online payments, for example, you’ll have to download third-party apps that will cost you a yearly fee on top of whatever fees you have to pay for this third-party account.
Long story short, creating an Akaunting account won’t cost you anything, but as you navigate this software, you’ll realize that all the capabilities that you might expect to be ready-to-use will rely on your purchasing these third-party apps.
NCH Express Accounts
NCH Express Accounts is free desktop accounting software for businesses with five employees or fewer. You can use the software to generate quotes, send invoices and track expenses.
And the software lets you generate over 20 different financial reports so you can monitor how your business is performing financially. You can also break down your sales by customer, team member or item.
QuickBooks
Most comprehensive accounting software for small business
TODAY’S BEST DEALSQuickbooks Simple StartUS$10/mthQuickBooks EssentialsUS$17/mthQuickBooks PlusUS$30/mthVISIT SITEat QuickBooks
REASONS TO BUY
+Even basic plan is well-featured+Lots of extras available+Free trial
REASONS TO AVOID
-Several versions-Deals change frequently-Lots to learn
QuickBooks is an instantly recognizable name in the world of accountancy and bookkeeping. It’s owned by Intuit, which also has other options for small business and large ones too, with a diverse portfolio that includes Turbotax, Mint and Proconnect. QuickBooks also comes in numerous different varieties, from desktop editions through to the hugely popular Online edition.
Depending on your requirements, you can choose from QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed, QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping, QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, QuickBooks Desktop Pro, QuickBooks Premier and QuickBooks Enterprise. However, it is possible to create a custom package using the help of the QuickBooks team if you need a more bespoke option.
Due to the sheer expanse of QuickBooks-based products it’s best to check out the website in order to get the latest update on pricing, versions available and also any deals that Intuit has on this vast range of accounting solutions.
SlickPie
The free accounting software SlickPie is also worth looking into for your small business finances. The free version of this accounting software allows for unlimited automated receipt entries, 10 different companies on one account, and email support. It also allows you to create quotes and estimates that can easily become professional invoices. SlickPie also allows you to connect your PayPal and Stripe accounts for free. That means customers will be able to fulfill their invoices with card or PayPal payments online—and you’ll simply have to pay the standard transaction fees that PayPal and Stripe charge.
One feature that this free accounting software seems to be lacking is reports—the SlickPie website doesn’t highlight any built-in reporting capabilities. If you’re hoping to extract valuable, high-level insights from your accounting software, then you might want to consider options other than SlickPie.
Zoho Invoice
Zoho Invoice is one of the best options available when it comes to automating your invoicing workflow. The free version allows you to invoice up to five customers and create five different invoicing workflows.
You can use the software to create customized invoice templates, set up recurring invoices and set automatic payment reminders. But the free version is only available for one user, so it’s a better option for small businesses with limited bookkeeping needs.
Xero
Best small business accounting software for extra features
TODAY’S BEST DEALSXero StarterUS$9/mthXero StandardUS$30/mthXero Premium 10US$70/mthVISIT SITEat Xero
REASONS TO BUY
+Temptingly cheap Starter plan+Excellent mobile apps+Fully expandable
REASONS TO AVOID
-Basic plan has limitations-Costs start to add up-Some limitations
Xero might grab your attention with its low-cost Early plan account but look closely and limitations soon become apparent – like being restricted to sending a maximum of five invoices, entering five bills, or reconciling only 20 bank transactions.
Still, if you can live with those restrictions there are some pluses here. The service offers smart expense tracking and management, optionally on your mobile with Xero’s excellent app for Android and iOS. There are dozens of configurable reports, simple budgeting, and no limits at all on additional users or the accountants you might want to access the data.
If the invoice, bank or billing issues are a problem then the Xero Growing plan looks like a better deal. It’s a lot more money, but you can issue as many invoices and enter as many bills as you like.
Xero offers plenty of functionality for any small business, including a handy “convert your QuickBooks files” service to help you get started, and it’s certainly easy to use. But if you don’t quite need all that power, there’s better value to be had elsewhere.
Conclusion:
If you are small business owner, surely you must need accounting software. It is an integral part of your business. Using accounting software can help you keep track of all financial records, which will be useful for future reference.
Whether you are thinking of starting your own business or if you already have, there are things you need to take care of like accounting. Small businesses may not need the full-on accounting software found in medium and larger companies.