12 Best Small Business Accounting Software in 2023

If you are looking for the best accounting software for small business, you know that a reliable cash flow can make or break your company. Good accounting software saves you time and money, helps you comply with tax laws and  it is a key part of any growth strategy.

The best accounting software will provide a centralized place to keep track of your incomings and outgoings so you can ensure your finances are in order, even when things get hectic. But with so many options out there, how do you find the best accounting software for your business? 

To help you out,  we have put together this list of the top 11 most popular small business accounting software providers.  You will find out what features they offer, how much they cost and whether  they are right for your company. 

Small Business Accounting Software – Introduction 

Small business accounting software is a powerful tool that can help you manage your small business finances. It can help you track income and expenses, keep your tax records organized and generate financial reports. 

In addition, it can help you compare your actual results to budgeted amounts, so that you can see how your business measures up to its financial goals. Small business accounting software will save you time by automating the recording of transactions and freeing up valuable time that you would otherwise spend on bookkeeping. 

The benefits of small business accounting software are numerous, but many small businesses do not have the resources or the need for expensive enterprise-level systems. Fortunately, there are a number of cost-effective and easy-to-use alternatives available for budgets of any size. 

Most of these systems were designed with small business owners in mind and provide an intuitive interface that is simple to learn and use. 

What is the Best Small Business Accounting Software? 

Do you need small business accounting software? For many small businesses, the answer is yes. You can scan receipts with your phone and store them in the cloud.  

You can track mileage with your car’s GPS system. 

You can accept payments online using services like Stripe or PayPal or even directly through your own website using a service that integrates with your shopping cart.  

But  here is the question: Do you have time to stay up-to-date on all those different tools? And do you have the technical ability to bring them all together into an efficient workflow? 

Unless  you are an accountant or a full-time bookkeeper, the answer is probably no. The good news is that inexpensive accounting software is available for small businesses that want to integrate these elements — and more — into one easy-to-use package. 

To help you find the best fit for your business,  we have tested 15 of the top accounting tools. Each of these has its pros and cons, but any one of them could be a good fit for certain types of businesses. 

1. FreshBooks 

FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software that offers services like invoicing, time tracking and expense management for small businesses. Launched in 2004, the company now has over 5,000,000 users worldwide. 

If  you are looking for FreshBooks reviews,  we have gathered the best ones here to help you make an informed decision about what type of software you need to grow your business. FreshBooks Reviews: What Customers Are Saying The general consensus among reviewers is that FreshBooks is easy to use, with most people saying it only takes 30 minutes or less to learn how to use the software. 

Many customers have praised the time-saving features of FreshBooks in their reviews. The recurring billing features, expense tracking and mileage tracking features are also frequently mentioned in FreshBooks reviews as being helpful in saving time on admin work and speeding up the invoicing process. 

FreshBooks Pricing FreshBooks offers four different plans: Lite ($15/month), Plus ($25/month), Premium ($50/month) and Select (custom pricing). The Lite plan offers all basic invoicing features and allows up to five clients to be billed. 

The Plus plan has all of the Lite plan’s features plus advanced reporting and project estimating & budget. 

Features 

FreshBooks is packed with powerful cloud accounting features to make running your small business easy, fast and secure. Invoice Your Clients Create beautiful invoices, using professional templates with the option of adding your logo and color scheme.  

Get paid online by credit card or online banking. 

Get Paid Faster With FreshBooks’ online invoicing, you can accept credit card payments from clients in over 40 countries and get paid up to 4 days faster than with paper invoicing. Log Expenses Quickly track expenses on the go, snapping photos of receipts with your mobile device and logging them into FreshBooks in just a few taps. 

Track which clients are making you money and which are costing you money. 

Pros 

FreshBooks Pros FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs. It offers a number of tools to help users track their time, expenses and invoices. 

While FreshBooks is primarily known for its invoicing software, the company has recently expanded its offerings to include more comprehensive accounting features that can handle payroll, inventory and recurring billing. FreshBooks is available in three different plans, each with a 30-day free trial: Lite ($15 per month), Plus ($25 per month) and Premium ($50 per month). 

Users get unlimited clients regardless of which plan they select. The primary difference between the plans is that the Lite plan supports only one user and five active clients, while the Plus and Premium plans support up to 50 users and 500 active clients. 

2. Zoho Books 

FreshBooks has a lot going for it.  Here is why we think  it is one of the best options out there. Affordable pricing FreshBooks’ pricing is based on how many clients you have, not how many invoices you send or other factors. 

The Lite plan is free and allows for up to 5 clients, which may be enough for some very small businesses. You can even get a 30-day trial of the other plans if you want to check them out before you commit. 

FreshBooks’ main plans range from just $15 per month to $50 per month and offer great features at every level. If you need more than 500 clients, they offer a custom plan as well.  

Easy to use FreshBooks takes a simple approach  that is very intuitive. 

You can get started right away without needing to watch any tutorials or read through help guides to learn how it works. It also makes it easy to find everything you need when you need it because FreshBooks  does not try to do too much all at once. 

The design is clean and modern, so  it is easy on the eyes too, especially if  you are spending long hours in front of your computer screen creating invoices or other tasks.  

Features 

Zoho Books is an easy-to-use, online accounting software designed for small businesses to maintain clean books and make tax compliance.  

Brilliant invoicing: Create beautiful invoices with your company logo and send them to your customers instantly. 

Manage expenses: Snap a picture of your receipts and upload to Zoho Books.  We will help you track expenses better. 

Inventory management: Keep track of items in stock, create purchase orders, add item details and sell them without fuss. 

Bank reconciliation: Your bank transactions are automatically synced with Zoho Books. Reconcile your bank transactions easily. Automated rules and reminders Set up automated rules and reminders to stay on top of billing cycles, late fees and more. 

Reports at your fingertips: Get ready-to-use reports like Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet with just one click. 

Pros 

We love Zoho Books because of how easy it is to use, and how much functionality it offers. Its automated features make it a powerful accounting solution for businesses of any size. 

It is also great that you can choose the plan that best suits your needs and budget. The platform’s user interface is well-designed and straightforward, making it easy to use even if you  do not have an accounting background. 

The software also has a lot of affordable plans that provide a lot of functionality.  It is also possible to customize the software for your unique business requirements, which means that you never pay for more than you need. 

Zoho Books is also one of the most integrated platforms we reviewed. Not only does it integrate with many other systems in the Zoho suite, but with many third-party applications as well, including PayPal and Stripe. 

This makes it incredibly useful for small businesses that are already using third-party solutions they want to keep using. 

3. QuickBooks 

QuickBooks is Intuit’s flagship accounting software.  It is designed to help small to midsize businesses manage their finances and accountants manage their clients’ finances. 

QuickBooks Online offers a set of features that are comparable to desktop versions but with the convenience of cloud storage and access from anywhere, any time. In addition to QuickBooks Online, Intuit offers multiple versions of QuickBooks for desktop computers, including QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks Premier and QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions. 

Intuit QuickBooks is a small business accounting software program businesses use to manage revenue and expenses and keep track of daily transactions. The program provides detailed reports on sales, profits, cash flow, and other financial information, which users can access from any device with an internet connection. 

QuickBooks also comes with built-in tax tools like the ability to create W-2s for employees and 1099s for contractors and vendors. Accountants can also use the software to perform client work. 

Users can choose from three editions of QuickBooks: Online Essentials, Online Plus, or Online Advanced. Each one offers increasingly more features than its predecessor. 

Features 

QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based product. You access it with a web browser and a computer connected to the Internet.  

There are also mobile apps available for Apple, Android, and Windows tablets or phones. 

QuickBooks Online offers several editions, plus upgrades and add-ons, including: Simple Start. An edition for self-employed people who need only basic tools like income and expense tracking, estimates, invoices, and reports. 

Essentials. An edition for small business owners who need invoicing and reporting tools as well as inventory tracking. Plus, an  edition that adds time tracking, project management, class and location tracking to the Essentials features. 

Advanced. An edition that adds priority support with a live QuickBooks expert, Smart Reporting tools to help you manage your business and sales tax compliance services (additional fees apply). Online Plus features can be added to Advanced on an a la carte basis. 

Pros 

It is a great tool for small businesses and startups QuickBooks Pro is suitable for any sized business.  It is great for small businesses, startups, or even personal use.  

This is mainly because of its ease of use and user-friendly interface. 

It is easy to set up QuickBooks Pro can be installed in minutes, and  it is very easy to set up. That said, you will need some accounting knowledge to efficiently use it.  

However, if you  do not have any accounting knowledge, you can quickly learn how to use it because of its user-friendliness. 

It can easily integrate with other applications Quickbooks Pro integrates with other applications such as PayPal to make your work easier. For instance, if you sell products online using PayPal, QuickBooks Pro will automatically import the sales into your books without having to enter them manually. 

You just need to connect your PayPal account with QuickBooks Pro to enjoy this feature. You can also choose the data you want imported into QuickBooks Pro and which you want excluded from the integration. 

4. Accounting Seed 

Accounting Seed transforms the way you do business by providing a powerful financial management solution with full Salesforce integration. Accounting Seed is a 100% native accounting application, which means it runs in the cloud on the salesforce.com platform. 

Our product has been created by industry experts and former CFOs to provide everything needed for financial management out of the box, including General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash Management and Financial Reporting. 

Beyond being a robust accounting platform, our focus is providing a solution that can be tailored to your specific needs through the salesforce.com platform. This allows you to create custom objects and fields, integrate 3rd party applications and customize reports and dashboards to provide real-time visibility into your business operations. 

Accounting Seed is designed to replace outmoded accounting systems with a modern approach that connects all of your departments, enforces internal controls and provides real-time visibility into your business operations. When you need more than just financial management, Accounting Seed is the answer! 

Features 

Accounting Seed is an award winning financial and accounting application that fully integrates with Salesforce, the world’s leading CRM solution.  

Accounting Seed’s financial applications are built on the Salesforce cloud platform and natively include General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets, and Cash Management. 

“Accounting Seed has been a super easy-to-use product, which has simplified our financial processes and allows us to analyze our business in real time.” — Chris Spano, CEO of Unitive Accounting Seed allows you to focus on your core business functions while delivering complete financial control, oversight and flexibility. 

Our application is designed to be easily customized enabling you to take advantage of the latest features offered by Salesforce and Accounting Seed.  

Accounting Seed offers a new approach to accounting software by taking full advantage of the strengths of the Salesforce platform. 

Complete and flexible feature set – The Financial Suite includes General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Billing Manager, Fixed Assets and Cash Management.  

Native integration with Salesforce – Seamless integration ensures no double data entry or exporting/importing of data between systems – saving time and reducing errors. 

Pros 

Accounting Seed is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that provides accounting, order management, quoting, invoicing, and reporting. The software is designed for small to medium-sized businesses in various industries including education, nonprofit, manufacturing, service and distribution. 

Accounting Seed helps businesses manage their accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, billing and invoicing. It also enables users to import sales data from external sources. 

For sales quotes and orders, the software supports multiple payment methods such as credit card or ACH payments. The solution also allows users to capture customer signatures and receive payments via mobile devices. 

The accounting module in Accounting Seed allows businesses to generate reports such as balance sheets, income statements, trial balances and tax reports. It also provides multi-currency support  that can be used for business transactions outside the U.S. 

Accounting Seed offers integration with third-party applications such as email clients and CRM systems like Salesforce and NetSuite. It is available on a monthly subscription basis.  

Supports iOS devices. 

5. ZipBooks 

You are going to love ZipBooks.com. Why? Because  it is free, easy to use and works great on your mobile device or tablet.  There is no software to install; just sign up and  you are ready to go. 

ZipBooks is the world’s simplest accounting system.  We have completely rethought how accounting software should work, creating a product that both accountants and non-accountants will love. 

We offer features like double entry bookkeeping, invoicing, expense tracking, project tracking, reporting, a client portal and more. The ZipBooks team is passionate about making small businesses everywhere more successful. 

So take a look around the site, click around a bit and let us know what you think. If you need help getting started or have any questions or feedback, please  do not hesitate to contact us at support@zipbooks.com! 

ZipBooks is free accounting software that sends invoices, tracks time and expenses, integrates with your bank & lets you process credit cards. Get paid faster with online invoicing. 

Features 

Customizable Templates: Build your brand by customizing your invoices. Set up as many templates as you like and choose the best one for each invoice. 

Online Payments: Accept online payments, ZipBooks integrates with Stripe so you can get paid faster. Customers are automatically notified when their invoice is ready, and receive a link to pay by credit card. 

Recurring Invoices: Save time with recurring invoices Set up recurring invoices to bill regularly or on a schedule. You can set it up once and then forget about it! Past Due PaymentsSend past due payment alerts 

You will not have to worry about forgotten payments again. ZipBooks sends automatic reminders and lets you know when an invoice has not been paid on time. 

Pros 

It is completely free. Unlike other accounting software programs that require a monthly subscription, ZipBooks is 100% free.  

It is easy to set up and use. ZipBooks has an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to start using, with no need for a tutorial or training. 

For small business owners with no accounting background, this is a big plus!It offers automatic bank feeds and bank reconciliation. There are many benefits to using online banking services for your business, including automatic bank feeds and bank reconciliation in ZipBooks that automatically transfers data from your online banking account into the software program for you, saving you time and ensuring accuracy in the process. 

It allows unlimited users with varying levels of access. Small business owners can create different levels of access and roles within their company’s ZipBooks account so that employees can only see what they need to see without accessing sensitive financial information.  

You can track your time as you work on a project, or track time spent on multiple projects at once 

6. SlickPie 

SlickPie is an easy-to-use accounting software that is specially designed for small businesses. SlickPie works online at any time, anywhere, and on any device, so that you can focus on your business.  

We know starting a business is difficult and  it is usually done on a shoestring budget. 

That is why  we have made our software totally free to help you get started. You can use SlickPie for free, as long as you want, with no hidden charges or fees.  

In this tutorial, we will show you how to view the transactions in your account. 

When you log into SlickPie, you will be directed to the Reports page by default. In the Transactions section, click on the link Transactions. 

The following page opens: Here, you can see that the transaction list is displayed on the page. You can see the Date of each transaction, reference number of each transaction and also a brief summary of each transaction. 

In addition to this, you can also see if an invoice has been generated for any particular transaction. You can use filters available at the top to filter out transactions according to dates or reference number. 

Features 

Inventory Management: Your products, inventory levels, and costs are all in one place.  

Estimates, Invoices and Bills: Create your invoices and estimates instantly. Simply click, select products and save. 

Our system automatically fills the invoice with the appropriate amounts and tax rates. No more headaches looking for paper invoices!  

Expenses Tracking: Keep track of your expenses by uploading bills or receipts directly into SlickPie. Keep an eye on your business cash flow at all times! 

Automated Bank Reconciliation: Connect your bank account to SlickPie, and our system will automatically fetch all of your expenses into the system for you. You will not have to worry about missing any expenses from then on! 

Pros 

– Online bookkeeping software for small businesses, made easy  – Bank Level Encryption  – Always Free  – No Monthly Fee, No Hidden Cost  – Intuitive User Interface – Built from the ground up for ease of use  – SlickPie is just as fast and reliable as regular desktop software  – Automatic updates & upgrades  – All future upgrades and enhancements are included in your subscription  – Support is available via email and live chat 

7. Wave 

We know you need to save time, so  we have made our invoicing process as quick and easy as possible. After creating an invoice, simply send it to a client with a click of a button. 

You can also set up automated payment reminders to make sure you get paid faster 

Every time you create an invoice, Wave automatically creates the corresponding accounting transaction in your accounting software. This means that when your client pays you, you can easily record the transaction in Wave. No more manual data entry! 

Wave is 100% free, forever. We want to help small businesses succeed financially — not burden them with extra costs.  

Being able to run your business from anywhere is one of the best parts about being a small business owner. 

But how do you stay on top of your finances while away from your desk? With Wave’s mobile apps, you can access all of your financial information on-the-go. Wave Accounting is web-based accounting software that lets small businesses manage their finances completely free of charge. 

It is easy to use, secure and accessible anytime and anywhere with an internet connection. 

Features 

The Wave app makes running your business a breeze. But… we know that sometimes you need a little extra help finding those features that can make your life even easier.  We are here to help! 

Have you ever: Wondered how to add revenue in your books? Wondered how to add expenses in your books?  

Needed to add an account or change the name of an existing one? Needed help connecting your bank or credit card accounts?  

Wondered how to run reports? Wanted to create recurring invoices and expenses? 

Desperately wanted to customize invoices and receipts, so they look just right? Needed help backing up your data or downloading it for use with other software? 

Pros 

Wave is a really great product. I have used it for the past few years and love its clean user-interface, as well as its simplicity. 

Before Wave, I spent hours every month compiling my business finances into an excel file. Now, it takes me all of 20 minutes to do the same thing. 

Wave is really simple to use, if you have ever used Excel, you can use Wave. 

The dashboard is easy to navigate and the functions are very intuitive. The free side of the business does everything that I need it to do. 

I can upload receipts from my phone and keep track of expenses, I can see how much money I am making and spending etc. The only thing that I  do not like about Wave is that there is no check printing function. 

You have to print checks from your computer and then manually write in the information on the check in order for them to be valid! Overall though, Wave is a terrific product and I would highly recommend it. 

8. Xero 

Xero is an accounting software and it helps small businesses to manage their accounts. Xero has a simple bank reconciliation feature which helps you to save time by removing the need for data entry. 

This means that you can spend more time running your business, rather than managing it. 

Xero allows you to raise invoices and send them directly to customers via email, as well as customize them with your company logo. The online invoicing system allows you to view who has viewed an invoice and whether they have confirmed receipt of it. 

Xero allows you to create purchase orders online, track spending and manage payments from suppliers, amongst other things. Xero can also help you keep track of your inventory and stock movements, allowing you to view supplier price lists and purchase history. 

Xero also lets you set up minimum stock level alerts so that you know when it is time to order more stock. Xero’s payroll software provides a range of features which will help you pay all of your employees on time and accurately, including automated tax calculations and payslip generation features. 

You can set up automatic payments with Xero or pay employees manually if needed. You can also use Xero to make voluntary deductions such as pension contributions or childcare vouchers. 

Features 

Bank reconciliation. Xero can automatically import your bank or credit card transactions. 

You can then match those transactions with the ones  you have entered manually in your ledger. That makes it easy to keep track of outstanding payments and other information. 

Accounting reports. Xero provides many different types of accounting reports, including profit-and-loss statements and balance sheets. 

It is easy to customize those reports with different timeframes, account codes and more. Inventory management.  

Xero supports tracking inventory and is a good fit for companies that have multiple warehouses or locations. 

It is also a good option for ecommerce retailers who use third-party shipping services like ShipStation or Shippo.  

Purchase orders. You can use Xero to create purchase orders and share them with vendors, who can receive them through email, a web portal or mobile app. 

Your POs can be automatically integrated with your accounts payable system to help you manage outstanding bills, which allows you to negotiate better payment terms with vendors by showing how much money you owe at any given time. 

Project costing/job tracking. This feature lets you assign expenses to specific projects and see how profitable each project is as  you are working on it — before  it is complete 

Pros 

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software that allows you to take care of your business anywhere and at any time. With Xero, you have the ability to track cash flow, pay bills, view bank transactions and invoices, and more. 

We have compiled all the pros and cons of using Xero to help you decide if  it is right for you: 

No Installation Needed One of the biggest pros of using Xero is that  it is compatible with multiple devices, so you  do not have to worry about installing any software on your desktop or laptop. Even better?  It is compatible with both Macs and PCs. 

You can access Xero from your mobile device, too! 

  Safe And Secure Xero has a full-time security team that works on encryption technologies and fraud prevention. The company also tests new features before  they are released and scans for security threats around the clock. All data is backed up daily, too. 

  Third-Party Apps Xero offers an apps marketplace where you can find third-party tools designed to help you run your business even more efficiently. Some examples include PayPal, ADP Payroll, Square Payments, Constant Contact and Gusto Payroll. 

9. FreeAgent 

**Our mission is to help make running a business easier.** We know how hard it can be to run your own business, especially when  you are faced with the complexities of invoicing, expenses, VAT and payroll. 

That is why  we are building FreeAgent – a beautiful piece of software that makes it easier for small businesses, freelancers and their accountants to stay on top of their finances and manage their company accounts. 

FreeAgent is simple to use, yet powerful enough for even the most complex accounting needs.  It is intuitive self-service functionality enables customers to avoid the expense of an accountant, but it also provides a comprehensive set of tools for professional accountants who have clients using FreeAgent. 

FreeAgent was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2007 by Ed Molyneux (CEO), Olly Headey (CTO) and Roan Lavery (Lead Developer). They had all been freelance web developers previously and created FreeAgent as a product they wanted themselves – something that would make managing their books much easier than the traditional accounting software packages available at the time. 

Features 

FreeAgent is easy-to-use online accounting software for small businesses and freelancers. Automatically send invoices and chase up late payments. 

See which invoices have been viewed and paid online. Create quotes and estimates, then convert to invoices. 

Create your own custom invoice templates .Keep track of expenses and bills, including mileage and time.   Attach images of receipts to expenses on the go with our mobile app. Connect to your bank accounts in a few clicks to automatically import transactions. 

Get an overview of your cash flow with interactive charts and graphs 

Pros 

I have been using FreeAgent for 5 years. I mostly like it and  i am going to share my list of pros: 

The whole package works fine. Everything is fast, reliable and generally does what  it is supposed to do. 

**I just tried the desktop version of their mobile app and  i am impressed with how well it works**.  it is a fully functional mobile app, not a web view or an iPhone-like app for Android.  

It is pretty enough, too.They have an API – this allows you to build some integrations, like my Chrome extension [FreeAgent Time Tracker](http://freeagenttimetracker.com/). In addition to that, FreeAgent allows you to import invoices via email and has a Zapier integration (both of these are technically not API integrations). 

**They have a smart inbox** – you can set up your inbox so that emails sent from your clients get automatically added as comments to appropriate projects/tasks/invoices. Also, the emails can be automatically marked as read after  they are processed by FreeAgent. 

10. Tipalti 

Tipalti is a platform that automates the entire AP process from invoice to payment.  It is designed for teams of all sizes and provides a complete solution for accounts payable, including global payments and compliance, tax reporting, and supplier onboarding. 

Users can pay over 100 countries and in 190 currencies to anyone with just an email address. Tipalti integrates with most major ERPs, accounting software, and e-procurement platforms. 

Beyond their core offering, Tipalti also has a supplier management module that lets users create customized payment terms, and track those terms in real time when  they are integrated with their ERP or accounting software. They also offer digital tax reporting so you can provide 1099s to your suppliers as you would if you were paying them directly through your bank account. 

The system is customizable to your company’s needs but also comes with pre-defined workflows to simplify the accounts payable process. As far as pricing goes, Tipalti offers three packages: Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. 

The Standard package starts at $199 per month plus $1 per transaction paid through the platform (up to 1 million transactions). The Premium package starts at $499 per month plus $0.50 per transaction paid through the platform (up to 3 million). 

Features 

Automated AP and Payment Execution: With Tipalti, the entire accounts payable process is automated.  Approve invoices, manage vendors, pay suppliers, and reconcile payments in a single platform. 

Payment Automation and Global Payouts: Tipalti automates your global supplier payments process end-to-end.  Say goodbye to manual processes and payment errors. 

Tax Compliance Automation: Say goodbye to manual tax compliance processes. Automate tax form collection, validation, withholding calculations and reporting with Tipalti. 

Pros 

Tipalti is a web-based, global mass payment platform that makes it easy to send payments and manage payees. The company was established in 2010 by a team of seasoned technology entrepreneurs with a proven track record of innovating and building successful software companies. 

With Tipalti, you can use batch processing to payees; automate tax forms, reporting and compliance; and reduce fraud exposure.  

Save time with automation. Automate your entire accounts payable process, from invoice creation to payment delivery. 

Payments are fast and secure. Send payments to payees globally using ACH, wire transfer or check via our integrations with all major banks around the world. Recurring payments can be sent on a schedule you set up. 

Maintain control over your data. Tipalti does not own or profit from your data — you do! You keep ownership of all of your financial information and payee data, including invoices and receipt records. 

Reduce fraud exposure. For every payee, Tipalti verifies identity using two independent sources of information. We also provide tools for verifying the validity of bank account information in order to reduce the risk of costly chargebacks or returns . 

11. Invoice Meister 

The invoice does not only have to be informative but it should also look good. A good invoice increases the likelihood of receiving payment from your customers in a timely manner. 

We are going to create a simple invoice template that can be easily adapted to your needs. For this tutorial,  we will use Bootstrap 4 and Font Awesome 4.7.0.  

We will also use a small jQuery snippet to simplify the user experience by auto-filling the customer data once the customer is selected from the dropdown menu. 

The sample code is available on GitHub as well, so feel free to play around with it! First, you need to set up your account. This will take less than 5 minutes and is just a one-time process. After that, you can create an invoice in seconds. 

Go to our website. Click on the “Get Started” button and fill out the form.  It is free! You will receive an email with your login credentials shortly after. 

After  you have successfully created your account, you can log in at any time to manage your invoices and customers, or create new ones. 

Features 

– Send invoices immediately or schedule them for later delivery  – Preview and edit your invoice before you send it – Track all invoices in your dashboard and know who has viewed or paid them  – You can save and reuse your invoices, just like templates  – You can also easily copy an existing invoice to create a new one with the same details  – Payments are deposited into your account within 5 business days after the invoice is paid 

Pros 

The software is free. If you are a small business or just starting out, this is going to save you money.  

If  you are not doing a lot of invoices and are just looking for something quick, easy and free, this is the way to go. 

–  It is easy to use. Just put in your name, address and contact information, the client’s name and address, the item(s) purchased, price and payment terms (i.e., net 30), click “create” and  you have got an invoice. 

– You can save it as a PDF or print it out.  It is that easy!  

– You can track your invoices by seeing which ones have been paid, unpaid or overdue. 

What is Accounting Software for Small Business? 

If you run a small business, you need to be able to track your finances. Counting all your pennies is a necessary, if tedious, part of being your own boss. But there are tools that can help you do this more efficiently and effectively. 

Accounting software for small businesses helps owners manage their expenses and revenues and pay employees. It can also help you project future profit and growth, which is useful when trying to secure loans or investors. 

The size of your company will influence the type of software you choose; the best accounting software for a small business will be different than that for a large one.  You will also want to think about why you need it, how familiar you are with accounting in general and how much support  you will need with setting up the software and filing taxes. 

What Are The Benefits Of Using Accounting Software? 

It is a fact that you can use accounting software to manage your accounts. However, the question is why you should use accounting software.  

If you  do not know the benefits of using this tool, then you will never be able to understand its importance for your business. 

In this article, I will tell you what are the benefits of using accounting software for your business?  

1: The first benefit of using accounting software is that it provides you access to the latest technology. You  do not have to wait for new updates. 

You can get these updates immediately. These updates will help you solve various issues related to your financial department.  

Your employees will get their work done in less time and they will be more productive as well. 

2: Another benefit of using accounting software is that it reduces errors in your accounts. This means that you will not have any problems with your financial statements and reports. 

You will not have any mistakes which could cost you money or time in the long run. 

3: The third advantage of using accounting software is that it helps you manage your accounts in a better way. It  does not matter whether you are running a small scale business or a large scale one; if you want to manage your accounts properly 

1. Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Ease of Use 

Many small business owners believe that accounting software is reserved for large organizations or businesses with a lot of money. While  it is true that many large organizations use accounting software, there are now many benefits to using online and cloud based accounting software for small businesses. 

The cost of entry has been reduced and the cost of maintenance has been lowered through the removal of physical servers and other infrastructure. As cloud computing and online business tools become more prevalent, smaller businesses can take advantage and reap the benefits. 

There are numerous reasons why a small business should consider adopting an accounting software solution, including ease of use, reduced costs and increased profitability. 

2. Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Data Security 

Accounting software is the most effective way to maintain your books of accounts. On the other hand, you can store all your data in one place, which powers you to access from anywhere.  

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using accounting software. 

Benefits of Using Accounting Software Data Security: Accounting applications are high-quality and secure. For example, QuickBooks has a lot of security features.  

It has a two-step verification method that helps to keep your data safe and secure. 

In addition, it can help to prevent unauthorized access to your system and provides an extra layer of protection. Also Read –QuickBooks File Doctor Tool Easy to Use: Accounting applications are easy to use and come with a user-friendly interface.  

You  do not need any special skills or training to use it. 

If you are unable to operate accounting software or face any issue while accessing it, then you can contact our QuickBooks online support number team for instant support and guidance. They will provide you complete assistance and help you in resolving all the errors instantly. 

Accuracy: Accounting applications are more accurate than manual bookkeeping as it does not require any re-entry of the data again and again. It automatically updates the changes 

3. Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Timely Form Fill-ups 

Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Timely Form Fill-ups. Form fill-up is a common requirement for every business.  

Large and small businesses are required to file some mandatory forms from time to time. 

If these forms are not filed on time, the business may have to pay heavy fines which can eat up a major portion of their profit. Business owners and accountants have to allot a certain amount of time daily to ensure that the mandatory forms are filled in on time. 

Accounting software can make form fill-ups easier. Accounting software helps professionals like accountants and bookkeepers fill up forms on time without putting in too much effort.  

Some accounting software are programmed with tax filing features which enable form filling without any hassles at all. 

You  do not need to dig through your books or check your files daily to see if there is any form that needs filling up; it will be automatically done by the accounting software you are using. The software will also notify you if there is a form that needs to be filled in immediately or within a short period of time, so that you can plan for it well in advance. 

4. Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Manage Cash 

If you want to grow your business, you need to manage cash flow better. And if you want to manage your cash flow better, you need accounting software. 

Managing cash flow is a challenge for every small business owner. But  it is manageable — even predictable — if you use the right tools. 

Here are three ways accounting software improves your ability to manage cash: Get a holistic view of your financial state — Not only can you see where the money is going, but also how much is coming in and when it will arrive.  

You can see whether or not  you are in danger of missing a payment or overspending in a given month. 

You can also see how long your cash reserves will last if  there is an emergency or slowdown in revenue. Make smarter decisions — Accounting software helps you understand your business better so that you can make smart decisions about budgeting and spending. 

Instead of using guesswork and hunches, you can make decisions based on data about  what is working and what is not. . Prepare for tax time — Accounting software takes the burden off at tax time by tracking income and expenses throughout the year, so that you have all the information ready when  it is time to file. 

5. Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Accuracy 

Benefits of Using Accounting Software Benefits of Using Accounting Software Accuracy. The software helps to ensure accuracy in bookkeeping. 

It has features that validate the data entered, automatically check for errors and give warnings whenever a mistake is done. 

Speed. Accounting software works at high speed and hence it is able to process large volumes of transactions within a short span of time. This is unlike manual accounting where processing information takes much longer time. 

Flexibility. The flexibility of using accounting software lies in the fact that it can be adjusted to suit specific needs of the customer. It can be customized according to the size of the business, type of business and nature of business activities among others. 

Security. Accounting software has inbuilt security features that help to protect data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals or parties. In case there are any wrong entries made, they can be easily reversed thus helping to maintain an accurate record of information. 

Remote access and collaboration: This helps team members to access the same file at the same time without interfering with each other’s work. Reduced costs: Bookkeeping is done on a computerized system which does not require too many employees or too many resources to operate thus reducing overhead costs for businesses significantly 

6. Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Save Costs 

Fast and Accurate There is almost no way to compete with Accounting Software in terms of speed, efficiency and accuracy. 

Most accounting software are designed with accounting rules pre-programmed into them so that you can perform the account functions without errors(wrong calculation) and much faster than any human being can do. 

Fast Access to Information: With an Accounting Software, you have access to all your financial information in a split second. This will allow you to take important business decisions based on accurate information. 

Cloud-based accounting software especially, gives you access to your financial data anywhere, anytime and from any device for as long as there is internet connection. You would be able to give clients or potential investors up-to-date information about your business at all times. 

Cloud Security Cloud-based accounting software provides a very high level of security for your data and information, which is far better than any human or traditional method of accounting could afford. Most of these cloud systems have a two or three step authentication process that requires both username and password before access can be granted and all documents are stored in encrypted servers. 

7. Benefits of Using Accounting Software – Forecasting 

 

Accounting software is far from being a new concept. It has been around for quite some time now and many businesses have adopted this software for their accounting needs. 

However, there are still some businesses that prefer to do things the old way by using traditional pen and paper methods or spreadsheets to do their accounting tasks. 

There are many benefits of using accounting software and these include improved financial performance, better control over your company’s finances, better decision-making, improved security and compliance with government regulations.  

In this article we will look at some of these benefits in detail: 

Improved Financial Performance: The biggest benefit of using accounting software is that it improves the overall performance of the business. This means that businesses which use this software have lower overhead costs, increased revenues and improved customer satisfaction levels. 

Improved Control Over Your Company’s Finances: Using an accounting program provides you with better control over your company’s finances because it helps you keep track of all aspects related to your business including sales, expenses, taxes and inventory levels among others. 

How To Use Small Business Accounting Software 

Small business accounting software can be divided into two categories: desktop software and cloud-based software. Desktop programs, like QuickBooks, are installed locally on the user’s computer. 

Since the data is stored locally, there is no need for an internet connection to use the software, though you may need to download updates from time to time. One of the primary benefits of using desktop accounting software is that you tend to have more control over your data. 

Cloud-based programs are hosted on a remote server and sometimes charge extra for backups and other data management services. A local program gives users more flexibility and control when it comes to their data. 

Another benefit of desktop programs is that they are typically cheaper than cloud-based software. The upfront costs can be higher, however, since users must buy their own hardware, and they must pay for any upgrades or maintenance themselves. 

1. Accounting Software – Invoice Processing 

Accounting Software – Invoice Processing. Invoice processing has the potential to be one of the most time-consuming tasks performed by a business. Invoices arrive in a variety of formats – paper, fax, email, EDI. Manual data entry is labor-intensive and prone to errors. 

OCR software can automate much of this work, but it requires careful configuration and still requires human intervention for any invoice that does not match your predefined rules. A good accounting software solution will do this automatically without having to be configured for each new supplier. 

Incoming invoices are scanned or imported from email or EDI and then automatically matched to purchase orders and receipts held on the system. Any invoices that cannot be fully matched are flagged for attention by the relevant person in accounts payable. 

2. Accounting Software – Track Income, Expenses, and Pay Vendors 

“Accounting software” can mean a lot of things.  It may be just a way to track expenses and payments, or it may include complex functionality like invoicing, payroll, sales tax calculation, and more. 

The type of business you have will determine how much accounting software you need.  If you just need a way to track income and expenses in your business bank account,  you will find that there are plenty of free software options.  

If you need to create and send invoices, keep track of inventory, or generate payroll information for your employees, there are also free tools that can help.  

Accounting software helps businesses manage their financial transactions and reporting.  

Some accounting software packages can help with invoicing or payroll while others are used strictly for bookkeeping purposes. How Does Accounting Software Work?  

Accounting software packages are available as both desktop solutions and cloud-based services (sometimes called “cloud accounting”).  

Both types allow the user to create new entries for each type of transaction: income, expense, asset purchase, etc.  They should also have pre-set templates for common transactions like sales tax or employee paychecks. 

3. Accounting Software – Create Financial Statements 

Step 1: Set up your Chart of Accounts Before you can create financial statements, you need a chart of accounts. The chart of accounts is a list of all of the account categories used by your business to record transactions. 

You can set up the chart of accounts in QuickBooks to match your company’s structure and needs. In QuickBooks, go to Lists > Chart of Accounts. 

If you have an existing company file, you will see a list of all accounts in your file. You can edit this list or add new accounts as needed for your business. 

If you are setting up a new company file, you can choose from a variety of preset lists or create your own. If you have any questions about setting up your chart of accounts, contact us today.  

Our CPAs and tax preparers can help guide you through this process with ease! 

Step 2: Enter Transactions After you set up your chart of accounts,  it is time to enter transactions into your accounting software. This is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to accounting software – without entering transactions, there is no point in having it in the first place!  

You should enter transactions for all income and expenses for your business so that the financial statements are accurate and 

4. Accounting Software – Comply with the IRS 

In June 2017, the IRS issued a new policy. The Internal Revenue Service began to accept digital signatures for tax forms and documents. 

This means you can now e-sign your tax documents. As a result of this change, the IRS will continue to accept digital signatures on all forms. 

Accounting software is software used by businesses to track financial statements, cash flow, invoicing, bank accounts, payables, and receivables. Accounting software can also refer to a suite of modules that handle the core functions of accounting: accounts payable and receivable, ledger accounting, payroll and other core accounting functions. 

It is important that small businesses implement accounting software that allows them to send signed documents as PDFs. If you  do not have this capability with your current accounting software then it may be time to start shopping around for something better. 

There are many different accounting packages on the market today and they all have one thing in common; they allow users to e-sign documents such as tax forms 

5. Accounting Software – Work hand-in-hand with proposal software 

So, you know how to create a winning business proposal.  You have got all the bells and whistles in place and  you are ready to go… but  do not forget about accounting software, it can work hand-in-hand with your proposal as well. 

Businesses, especially small ones, need accounting software to keep track of their finances and files. There are several different types of software systems out there that can work for your company, depending on what you need.  

Here are some of the top choices: 

Best Overall: QuickBooks Online Plus QuickBooks Online Plus is one of the most popular accounting programs on the market right now. It has tons of features and can be found at a reasonable price. 

The best part is that it works as a great companion app to your proposal software (ahem… like ours) because it allows you to import estimates into invoices. Nifty!  

Most Affordable: Xero Accounting Software Xero Accounting Software is an affordable option that offers many of the same features as QuickBooks Online Plus. 

It also offers a mobile app for your phone and tablet so that you can track your finances on- 

Small Business Accounting Software – Frequently Asked Questions 

Using small business accounting software can streamline your operations and help you keep track of income, expenditures, payroll and other important financial data. If  you are new to accounting software for small businesses, here are some of the most common questions we hear: 

What is small business accounting software?  

Business accounting software is a digital tool that makes it easier to record and manage a company’s financial transactions. It often includes invoicing, inventory management, payroll and reporting features. 

Which type of account should I use?  

There are four main types of business accounts: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC) and corporation. The type  that is right for you depends on various factors including your location, industry and whether you have employees or co-owners. 

Talk with an accountant to see which type is best for your business.  

Will I need to pay estimated taxes?  

You might need to make quarterly tax payments if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year (after subtracting withholding and refundable credits). 

Check with the IRS or a tax professional if you  are not sure whether this applies to you.  

Should I hire an accountant?  

Accountants can save you time and money by ensuring that your books are 

Best Small Business Accounting Software – Wrap Up 

After reviewing the best small business accounting software for small businesses, we recommend FreshBooks as the best accounting software overall. Its ease of use and intuitive design makes it a good choice for non-accountants. 

It is also our best pick for Mac users, who have few good options among the small business programs we reviewed. We also recommend Sage 50cloud as the best accounting software for Windows users thanks to its deep feature set and robust inventory and project management capabilities. 

Choosing Accounting Software – Wrap Up Accounting software is a critical part of any business, so you want to choose the right option for your needs. From our research, we think FreshBooks is the best overall choice because  it is easy to use and has great customer support. 

If you need more advanced accounting functions, consider QuickBooks Online or Xero. Both offer strong cloud-based accounting and mobile capabilities that work well for small businesses.