With just a couple of clicks and by filling out simple forms, you can create and send invoices, track expenses, manage projects and clients and view reports. Most steps offer step-by-step guidance so you always know what to do next. Besides its primary plans, it also offers a custom plan with custom pricing for businesses with complex needs or large client bases. Zoho Books stands out from the other accounting software in our guide with its powerful mobile app. It tops our list of the leading mobile accounting apps because users can perform advanced accounting tasks on the app, including sending invoices, accepting online payments, entering bills, and viewing reports. You can also create recurring invoices and track time worked, making Zoho Books our overall best accounting software for freelancers.

1. Advanced features include double entry, payroll integration, project cost tracking, customization options and the ability to collaborate with an accountant.
2. Intuit QuickBooks has a 4.3-star rating and a 4.4-star rating on Capterra and G2, respectively, with over 6,700 reviews on the two platforms.
3. The software must have features that allow users to set sales tax rates, apply them to invoices, and enable users to pay sales tax liability.
4. FreshBooks has a 4.5 rating on Capterra with 4,379 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on G2 with 688 reviews.

Limited third-party integrations available; no POS or payroll integrations. 95+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance. 250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts. Within each form, I was also given the opportunity to attach documents as necessary, such as receipts, contracts or quotes. I could also click “new vendor contact” to input the contact information of key individuals at the vendor company. We use product data, first-person testing, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content to guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

How much does accounting software for small businesses cost?

However, ZipBooks’ built-in intelligence features set it apart from the competition by providing small business owners with easily digestible financial insights to inform decision-making. Compared to QuickBooks, Zoho Books offers better customer service and a more user-friendly UI. Zoho Books is best for small businesses needing strong online accounting, what is the difference between vertical analysis and horizontal analysis great mobile apps, and good invoicing. As you move up through the pricing tiers, you get more features, invoices, and accounting management tools. We’ve thoroughly reviewed 14 accounting software options and selected the eight best small business accounting software programs based on price, ease of use, accounting features, integration options, and standout features.

Best for Businesses With a Lot of Expenses

The full-service payroll option is offered through Gusto and starts at an additional $40 monthly plus $6 per employee. Though some small business accounting software can be purchased through resellers as a standalone program, most are available either for free or on a monthly basis. This helps you change and scale your accounting services as your business ebbs, flows, and grows.

While, with most accounting software, you must generate a new report after choosing from a list of reports, the reports list in Zoho Books already has all data populated in each report. Prices may range from $0 to $200 per month for cloud-based software. Desktop accounting software can go as high as more than $1,000 per month, depending on the number of users included in the plan.

For better collaboration, our best recommendation is to use cloud-based software like Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online, and Xero. The good thing is that QuickBooks Online offers many self-help guides to help new users get the most out of QuickBooks. If you need additional training resources, you can check out our free QuickBooks Online tutorials. The ProAdvisor Program allows accountants and bookkeepers to participate in QuickBooks training courses and become a certified ProAdvisor. Customers can search the ProAdvisor Directory to find someone in their area for accounting assistance.

Best for Service-Based Businesses

Zoho Books also offers a free monthly subscription plan along with several paid plan options, starting at a competitively low cost of $20 per month. 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.

With Zoho, users can send customized invoices, connect to payment gateways, track expenses, create a variety of business reports and calculate taxes. The portal allows users to share recent transactions, accelerate the estimate approval process, capture feedback and receive bulk payments in a timely manner. Zoho’s advanced plans include strong project management features like the ability to manage people and expenses at the project level.