Are you a small business owner in need of accounting services? Or perhaps you already have an accountant and want to find out more about the services they provide. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll talk you through some of the top small business accounting software uk currently on the market.
Do you want to try small business accounting software for free? Or maybe make sure your small business can transition smoothly to new UK best online accounting packages? If you are looking for answers to any of these questions, then this article is for you.
FreeAgent
FreeAgent is targeted at freelancers and small businesses, so it focuses on daily admin tasks like invoicing, time tracking, and expense management. It’s a cloud accounting software package.
You can set invoice reminders and upload pictures of your receipts. Pricing starts at £19 a month (for sole traders) with 50 per cent off for the first six months. Plus, if you’re a Simply Business customer, you can get a 15 per cent lifetime discount. Find out more.
FreeAgent say it’s ready for Making Tax Digital, and has been submitting digital VAT returns to HMRC for customers since 2010.
QuickFile
QuickFile is well liked by many freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses, scoring 4.7 out of 5 from over 1,200 reviews on Trustpilot. It’s cloud-based accounting software, which allows you to automatically import transactions by connecting to 50 UK banks and over 300 other web services.
Some of its other helpful features include an app that lets you image and upload receipts on the go, a branded online portal clients can use to pay their invoices, multi-currency support and the ability to file VAT returns directly with HMRC.
QuickFile offers a free and paid-for service. To be eligible for the free service, you’ll need to keep your ledger entries under 1,000 a year and be prepared to encounter ads.
Xero
Founded in 2006, New Zealand based Xero is a cloud-based online accounting software for small business. As of February 2018, Xero has over 1.8 million subscribers globally, making it as an ideal choice as best accounting software in UK and one of the best online accounting software for small business.
Why Xero is one of the best accounting software in UK
As a cloud-based online accounting software in UK, Xero can easily be accessed from all types of devices with an active internet connection. It is built on a double entry accounting framework and its robust accounting features enables small businesses to view their cash flow, transactions and account details from any location. Bank transactions are all automatically imported and coded by this online accounting software for small business.
Online bill payments help keep track of spending and stay on top of bills due, improving relationships with the suppliers that provide critical business services. It also allows businesses to manage personal expenses with a mobile review and approval process of each receipt. Xero offers unlimited user support and integration with over 600 systems through its add-on marketplace, including Curve, Receipt Bank, and Vend. It also updates its software on a regular basis.
Also, submitting CIS returns from Xero is free until 31 March 2020.
Cons
In some areas, Xero’s accounting features are limited, for example it has only two tracking categories.
For this software, business users pay a subscription amount for the most basic version. In order to access functions such as expanded time tracking and inventory tracking, businesses need to purchase add-ons on top of the subscription. Importing data is free but using payment services like Paypal or Stripe carries a cost.
Also, Payroll, Projects and Expenses are optional extras and not part of any of the pricing plans.
Pricing
The solution comes with a 30-day free trial period for product testing and feature evaluation. It provides three introductory pricing levels that kick in after a 30-day free trial. Xero Starter (£4/month as an introductory pricing, £10/month after the first three months) has monthly limits of five invoices and quotes, five bills, and reconciliation for 20 bank transactions, submitting VAT to HMRC and automatic CIS calculations and reports. The second pricing level, Xero Standard (£8.80/month till 1 August 2019, £9.60/month after 1 August and £24/month after the first three months) adds unlimited billing and invoice functionality, quotes, transaction reconciliations and submitting VAT to HMRC and automatic CIS calculations and reports. Xero Premium (£11/month till 1 August 2019, £12/month after 1 August and £30/month after the first three months) is the only version to offer multiple currency support, and on top of that offers the same capabilities as Xero Standard.
QuickBooks
QuickBooks is developed by Intuit, one of the very earliest providers of accounting software, and it’s cloud-based.
Freelancers can sign up for the basic Self Assessment package that helps you track your self-employed income, while small businesses can use it for things like VAT and payroll. There are lots of reporting and monitoring tools too. You can connect your account with over 700 third party applications through the QuickBooks App Store – this lets you reduce time spent on data entry, payroll processing, capturing backups and tracking inventory. Subscription prices start at £8 a month (for the Self Assessment package) – but prices are sometimes reduced for the first six months.
For small businesses and VAT-registered companies who want to use the accounting and VAT features, prices start at £12 a month. These are the packages that are ready for Making Tax Digital.
GnuCash
GnuCash is open-source desktop accounting software. This means that, unlike a cloud-based system, you’ll need to download and install it on to your device. The code is also available to anyone, allowing volunteer developers to add extra functionalities or fix errors. This makes the platform very flexible and completely free forever. You won’t have to put up with adverts, but on the downside it’s not the prettiest or most intuitive platform to work with.
GnuCash is often described as a ‘no-frills’ version of accounting software. It handles invoicing and credit notes, accounts payable and receivable and some payroll features, but doesn’t offer the more advanced features such as open banking integration or a mobile app.
Bokio
Bokio, free accounting software for small businesses, sole traders and freelancers, lets you record receipts and other documents with step-by-step bookkeeping. It also offers unlimited invoicing with an invoice generator, where you can create, send, track and record them all in the same place. Bokio supports employee expenses, automated reporting, and VAT Return for Making Tax Digital is automatically calculated making it really easy to submit to HMRC.
Why Bokio is one of the best accounting software in UK?
Using Bokio means there’s no need to be an expert in accounting to get it done quickly and easily. The software is simple to use by uploading a receipt and AI helps by filling in the amounts, dates and numbers. Bokio is automated, so it reduces errors, saving time and money. Bokio is always working on new features to make the software even better. The software is secure and cloud-based, so it can be used on the go.
Cons:
Currently Bokio is developing support for payroll and live bank feeds.
Pricing:
All the features in Bokio will always be totally free if you do your accounting yourself using the software, with no limitations.
Conclusion:
Starting your own business is an exciting venture. It’s also a complex one. There are many things to take care of, including the accounting aspect of your business. You have to set it all up, file taxes, claim expenses etc. There are numerous accountancy packages that specialize in small businesses.
To help you sort through these, we’ve reviewed the most popular accounting software options out there for you, so you can choose the best one for your business.