Are payroll software firms in Nigeria different from those in the United States? Before signing for a payroll software, you need to choose the best payroll software for accounting firms. Here are factors to consider before signing the contract with a payroll service provider for your business.
Finding the best payroll software for accounting firms can be a bit of a challenge . There are now hundreds of different payroll software packages, built by accountants and programmers, just for the accounting industry. When choosing your payroll provider you want someone who will:
Wave
Pros:
- Unlimited bank and credit card account connections, income and expense tracking and guest logins.
- Allows you to invoice from within the platform itself and supports receipt scanning.
Cons:
- May not be powerful and feature-rich enough for large or fast-growing businesses.
- Charges per-transaction fees for payment processing.
- Payroll product is separate and requires a subscription.
Why we like it:
Wave is by far one of the most robust and well-designed free accounting software tools for small businesses. Instead of charging users to generate revenue, Wave makes money through fees on payments made within the platform. That means you’ll likely save money in the long run depending on how you intend to use the platform to collect ACH, debit or credit card payments from clients. Visa, Mastercard and Discover come with a 2.9% fee, plus 30 cents, on each transaction. American Express is 3.4% plus 30 cents. ACH bank transfers only come with a 1% fee (or a $1 minimum fee, depending on the size of the transaction).
With Wave, you’ll get unlimited income and expense tracking, sales tax tracking and double-entry functionality, as well as reports on cash flow, profit and loss, and overdue invoices and bills. You can also use Wave’s invoicing tools for free. This includes unlimited invoices, automated invoice reminders, invoice and accounting synchronization and the acceptance of both credit card and bank payments.
ZipBooks
Pros:
- Ability to send unlimited invoices, manage unlimited vendors and accept digital payments.
- Task, time and project tracking.
- Can work with third-party online payment platforms.
Cons:
- Payments and payroll integrations cost extra.
- Overall lack of integrations with other platforms.
- Lack of advanced features.
Why we like it:
ZipBooks provides a great set of features at a price that works for small-scale businesses or companies in their early stages that don’t necessarily need much in order to manage their finances. ZipBooks’ Starter plan is free, with two higher-level tiers that include more sophisticated features for a flat monthly fee, as well as a custom-priced Accountant plan. The ZipBooks Starter plan includes unlimited and customizable invoices, estimates and price quotes. You’ll also get a virtual dashboard to keep track of your business’s outstanding and paid invoices, as well as your overall finances. Plus, if you like ZipBooks Starter, you can always upgrade to a more feature-laden plan as your business grows.
There are a few downsides to ZipBooks, however. You’re limited to one bank account connection, unlike other free accounting software platforms that are more generous. If you want to use ZipBooks’ integration with Square and PayPal, you’ll have to pay credit card processing fees, just as you would with Wave.
Akaunting
Pros:
- Open-source software means you can customize however you want.
- Extensive library of integrations.
- Robust user support via online forums.
Cons:
- Design is not as intuitive as other platforms.
- Advanced features cost extra.
- Not as ready-to-use as other options.
Why we like it:
Akaunting is an open-source accounting platform that has the capability for customization, primarily through its library of add-ons. The primary features are available right out of the box: You can invoice, track receipts and take care of the everyday needs of your company’s finances. Plus, with a robust library of integrations, you can build your own Akaunting setup with a degree of customization other free platforms don’t provide. However, you or someone on your team will likely need some coding knowledge to use this software to its full potential.
Sunrise: Best Free Bookkeeping Software
Sunrise by Lendio | Visit SiteRead our Review |
|---|
Best for small businesses that want simple bookkeeping software that’s easy to use.
Pros
- Supports unlimited users
- Good customer service
- Easy to use
Cons
- Limited integrations
- Lacks advanced features
Sunrise by Lendio (formerly Billy) is a great free option for businesses that want simple bookkeeping software without the bells and whistles (and high price tags!) of full accounting software. With Sunrise, you can be up and running in just minutes, performing tasks such as sending invoices to clients, managing expenses, and accepting online payments.
One unique feature of Sunrise is that you may qualify for additional funding opportunities through Lendio just by maintaining your books. And if your books become too time-consuming to manage? You can upgrade to Sunrise’s paid professional bookkeeping service, which offers extremely competitive pricing. Throw in support for unlimited users, good customer service, and positive online reviews, and it’s easy to see why Sunrise makes our cut.
Sunrise Features
Businesses that need full accounting software with advanced features (such as inventory management) will need to seek out other software. However, businesses that want basic bookkeeping software with no limitations, an easy-to-use UI that’s perfect for beginners, and great customer service may find a winner in Sunrise. With Sunrise’s free self-service software, you’ll receive:
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited quotes and estimates
- Expense tracking
- Chart of accounts
- Cash flow tracking
- Journal entry
- Tax support
Sunrise Pricing
Sunrise’s self-service software is completely free. If you need payment processing, Sunrise offers a pay-as-you-go plan of 3.55% + $0.30 for credit card transactions. You may also opt to upgrade to Sunrise Plus for $19.99/month, which offers lower processing fees, cash flow insights, and integrations with Square, Stripe, and PayPal.
You can also sign up for bookkeeping services with Sunrise. Pricing is based on your number of transactions per month and starts at $149/month.
Sage Accounting
If you own a one-person business, then Sage Accounting Start should definitely be at the top of your accounting tools list. For starters, you can record income and expenses and perform bank reconciliation for only $10 per month. And if you need more functionality, then you can upgrade to Sage Accounting—at the still quite low price of $25 a month—to get an overview of your business’s financials, cash flow forecasting, and bill vendors.
Sage Accounting is especially helpful if you’re working with freelancers or contractors for your small business, since their project management capabilities are an added bonus.
Conclusion
The best payroll software for accounting firms depends on a number of considerations. Some accounting firms may need software that can calculate payrolls for all the employees who work for them, as well as for sub-contractors and other workers.