Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses of 2024

accounting software basics

The whole point is to give you an idea of what’s working and what’s not working so that you can fix it. Accounting software is crucial in helping organizations run their day-to-day business processes. It allows business leaders to keep their finger on the pulse of their company’s financial health. We also looked at customer reviews to see what users are saying about the software.

Even though it’s free, it doesn’t limit the number of invoices you can send (like Xero) or clients you can bill (like FreshBooks) per month—you can access unlimited customizable invoices and accept payments too. ZipBooks’ paid plan starts at $15 a month and offers better bookkeeping and automation features than its free accounting plan. ZipBooks’ iOS app has disappeared from the App Store, and it’s never had a Google Play app worth mentioning. FreshBooks offers a straightforward approach to managing finances, making it exceptionally accessible for beginners and established businesses alike. With a clear interface and features such as easy invoicing, expense tracking and timekeeping, users can navigate their financial tasks without a steep learning curve.

Testing out free demos and free trials can help you get a feel for these products’ usability before committing to them. Phone and chat understanding the difference between revenue vs. profit support, plus a dedicated account representative in all plans. Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch. Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively. Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.

Financial Accounting

You can filter transactions, match receipts with expenses on the go, customize invoices, make payments and view trends and insights about your business. Plus, you can get automatic accounting reports, receive guided workflows and set it up in five minutes. Businesses seeking a highly adaptable accounting solution that offers a precise and detailed overview of their finances should consider ZarMoney. In addition, businesses that are likely to increase their accounting software user account in time should consider ZarMoney’s Small Business and Enterprise plans.

Wave is the most affordable accounting software

Odoo is an ecosystem of business software that promises to integrate seamlessly. Because the software is developed through the open-source model, thousands of business professionals and coders work together to ensure all of the apps that Odoo offers play together smoothly. Free plan includes direct integration with Square and PayPal for payment processing. Ideally, free accounting software can scale to accommodate your business’s needs if they change.

Additionally, many outsourced bookkeeping companies use proprietary in-house software to keep their customers’ books. She has spent the last five years working on small business content to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. She’s well-versed in the intricacies of LLC formation, business taxes, business loans, registered agents, business licenses and more.

  1. Of the two, we recommend Wave Payroll over QuickBooks Payroll, which is on the pricier end and doesn’t offer a tax-filing guarantee—a key industry standard you should expect from any payroll provider.
  2. The software can also be used to generate reports, such as profit and loss statements and balance sheets.
  3. Would more robust small-business accounting software better fit your needs down the road?
  4. On the “projects” page, I clicked on “create new” and was given the option to create a flat-rate or hourly project.
  5. Business owners working in construction or manufacturing may be especially drawn to Sage 50’s advanced inventory, job costing, reporting and budgeting capabilities.

Mobile app and cloud access

More specifically, I want to ensure I’m organizing the chart of accounts efficiently and categorizing transactions correctly. My husband plans to open a brewery in 2025, and I’m going to help him choose the right accounting software and maintain his books. I’m QuickBooks certified and write about small-business software for a living, but taking on a business’s bookkeeping tasks is still daunting. Reporting capabilities increase with each plan, but even the least expensive Simple Start plan what is weighted marginal cost? includes more than 50 reports.

accounting software basics

Check out our list of the year’s best QuickBooks alternatives to get started. Most accounting software providers offer free debits and credit — accountingtools trials, so you can try out the software before you commit to it. Many also offer free tutorials and support, so you can get help when you need it.

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