The 9 Best Small Business Accounting Software of 2023

Written by Sanjay A

Updated on:

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accounting and bookkeeping for small business

Leveraging my accounting and bookkeeping expertise, I rigorously assess software using our internal case study that objectively scores key features while upholding editorial independence. These include NCH, Zoho Books, Kashoo, ZipBooks, Sunrise, GnuCash, TrulySmall Invoices and Wave Accounting. Additionally, when I generated an invoice, the system alerted me if any necessary information was missing to save the invoice. A form would then appear on the same screen, enabling me to promptly add the required details, such as a service item for sale or a customer. This streamlined process allowed me to address all requirements directly from the invoice screen, providing clear guidance on what was needed to fully complete the task. Each report offered a description and useful information to help me interpret the report when I hovered over the question mark in the top corner of each report.

What I like most is how customizable it is to suit the needs of almost any business. Plus, with the Premium Accounting and Quantum Accounting plans, you can even use it to manage the books for multiple companies. What stands out to accounting and bookkeeping for small business me is that Zoho Books goes beyond mobile features with solid inventory and project accounting tools.

FAQs On Online Bookkeeping Services

And, you can attach documents to the invoice when needed, including warranties, contracts and return policies. AccountEdge’s invoicing features allow you to send the invoice by email or print an invoice and you can set up recurring transactions after you’ve created your first transaction invoice. Some notable features offered by AccountEdge include its custom reporting, data security, invoicing and project time tracking tools. Xero is a good choice for small businesses that are looking for an accounting software with payroll capabilities. The software is also a good fit for businesses that are growing quickly and need to track projects and organize their documents efficiently. Xero is a full-featured accounting software with advanced features such as project tracking, file storage, customizable invoices, a full-featured mobile app and much more.

An explanation told me that doing so would allow me to automatically import transactions into FreshBooks, then match them with income and expenses in FreshBooks. When I opted to add my bank account, I was walked step-by-step through the process. Key features offered by Zoho Books include invoicing, project time tracking, tax compliance tools and an accounting mobile app for Android and iOS devices.

Wave is the most affordable accounting software

However, it falls behind Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online because of its underwhelming mobile app and lack of live customer support. The mobile app is missing essential features like receiving payments, recording time worked, and viewing reports—features that Zoho Books’ mobile app includes. With these always at the top of my screen, I could easily complete key actions. However, not all actions were as useful as they would seem at first glance. When I clicked “+ create,” then “invoice,” I was taken to a long form to fill out to create an invoice.

Yearly rises and falls in the business finances and budget helps allocate enough resources and make the right decisions. For growing businesses, it’s important to recognize the best time to make the most out of the opportunities that arise. It’s important to understand the trajectories and trends so you can learn how to make better-informed business decisions in the future. You can now customize your FreshBooks experience with a range of business-friendly apps. Take control of your small business accounting with the help of these integrations. The all-new Accounting Software from FreshBooks empowers small businesses to spend less time on bookkeeping, without the stress.

accounting and bookkeeping for small business

One-on-one expert support

I asked the company for a demo account I could use to test the NetSuite Accounting software and was not granted a testing account. However, NetSuite earns a 4.1 rating on Capterra with 1,458 user reviews and a four out of five-star rating on G2 with 3,080 user reviews. However, they complain that it is not as easy to use on a Mac computer and the interface looks dated on these devices. When I tried testing this software on a Mac computer, I experienced one glitch after another with installation, making it impossible to even download the software and get it going. Users also say that they experience significant bugs with updates that sometimes leave necessary features unusable until the bug is resolved. When I clicked “invoice” from this drop-down, I was taken to an invoice template with my company information already populated.

Create professional looking estimates and invoices while onsite and run your expense report at the end of the day from your home. Stay in sync with your finances no matter where you are on your desktop or mobile with FreshBooks. Use any device you want to track and access your latest financial data. Take photos to upload receipts and respond to clients and vendors directly through the app anywhere the job takes you.

  • Finding the best online accounting software for your small business can seriously transform your working life.
  • Users say the software is easy to use and that customer service is responsive, knowledgeable and caring.
  • You can check for small business packages that use simple templates for all financial documents.
  • Keep records of your business transactions for 6 years if you don’t report income and if the income represents over 25% of your return gross income.
  • Yes, you can do bookkeeping by yourself, but we strongly recommend using accounting software to help reduce the time it takes to do your own bookkeeping.

With all your software linked through the cloud, payments that you make and receive can be automatically recorded to a digital ledger. The software program can then make the calculations for you, giving you an accurate picture of your total income and spending that’s updated every time your money moves. If you don’t need quite as many features as Wave offers, ZipBooks is a solid free accounting software alternative. ZipBooks’ paid plan starts at $15 a month and offers better bookkeeping and automation features than its free accounting plan.

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about small business accounting. Before you can set up any accounting systems, you’ll need to establish your business legally. Register your business structure (such as an LLC or corporation) with your state. However, if you want more advanced reporting and a more robust mobile experience, you’re better off looking at other solutions on this list. Billy/Sunrise also got some bad reps for its choices regarding customer loyalty when it was acquired.

Similarly, Zoho Books’s cheapest plan doesn’t include automatic journal entry creation. Instead, whenever you debit or credit an account, you’ll have to manually create an entry. If you log more than a few transactions a month, the lack of automation adds major time and hassle—you’ll want the $40 a month (or $50, billed monthly) Professional plan instead. Companies with little or no inventory and few employees can use inexpensive or free basic accounting software. While business owners can easily implement this affordable software, it may leave you at risk of an IRS audit triggered by inaccurate reporting. Tech-savvy business owners or those familiar with accounting principles typically use accounting software.

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