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Online accounting software can help you organize your business, from creating the reports you need for tax purposes to maintaining budget plans.
We analyze some of the best online accounting software to help you compare features and prices and choose the right tool for your business.
Our Top 10 Best Accounting Software for Small Business:
- QuickBooks. The best online accounting software.
- Oracle NetSuite. Ideal for global businesses and companies.
- FreshBooks. Ideal for easy-to-use invoicing and accounting.
- Zoho Books. Ideal for small to medium-sized business owners, accountants, and bookkeepers.
- 1-800 Accountant. Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses.
- Patriot Software. Ideal for small businesses on a budget.
- QuickBooks: Ideal for small businesses on a tight budget. Ideal for those who want to stick to a budget.
- Evident: Ideal for small businesses and freelancers.
- KPMG Sark: Ideal for turnkey accounting.
- Finance Pal: Ideal for mid-sized businesses.
Online Accounting Software Programs – An In-Depth Look
Price range: $12.50/month.
Free trial or free version 30-day free trial.
Quickbooks is a comprehensive accounting system with advanced tiers for small businesses and organizations.
The tool includes expense tracking and OCR invoicing; users can add payroll functionality as an additional feature. Not all features are available in the mobile apps, but users can use them and their devices to process payments.
Pros
- Apps for iOS and Android
- Project profitability monitoring
Easy time tracking with integrations
Cons
- No free version
- Not all features available on mobile devices
- Best For: Global enterprises and companies
- Price range: $999+
- Free trial or free version (demo versions available)
NetSuite is a great solution for global companies that manage large, multi-component operations and have the human and financial resources to leverage NetSuite’s powerful platform and create a complete ERM solution.
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Extremely powerful budgeting, forecasting, and reporting
Complete solution (HR, project management, inventory, etc.)
Cons
- Complex to set up and operate
- Can be expensive
- Best For: For Intuitive Invoicing and Accounting
- Price range from$17 per month
- Free trial or free version 30-day free trial
If you’re a business owner looking for a quick and easy way to send invoices to your clients, Freshbooks could be the easy-to-use option you’ve been looking for.
Creating invoices and expenses with Freshbooks is as easy as clicking and typing in fillable forms. The system can also scale to support more than 500 clients.
Pros
- Extensive for accounts of more than 500 clients
- Interactive document editing
Payroll integration
Cons
- Does not include payroll functionality
- Mobile mileage tracking only at higher tiers
- Best For– business owners, accountants, and small to medium-sized business accountants
- Price range– Free – $60/month
- Free trial or free version version and free trial
Zoho Billing is an online accounting platform that business owners can use to manage cash flow, track expenses, pay invoices, bill customers, and accept payments. There are four pricing tiers (Free, Standard, Professional, and Premium), with more expensive plans that include more features.
For added functionality, Zoho Billing integrates with several platforms, including inventory management, customer relationship management software, and payroll services.
Pros
- Intuitive interface and elegant dashboard design
- Offers a wide range of essential features. Additional upgrades available.
Features are tailored to your business
Cons
- Lacks payroll and inventory management capabilities
- No dedicated plan for larger organizations
Best Small to medium-sized businesses that need an external partner to manage their accounting.
Price range from at $129 per month (billed annually).
Free trial or free version: No.
Are you looking for an external partner to manage your accounting? If so, 1800 Accountant could be the perfect solution.
This company offers several pricing tiers so that users can get the most out of the service. From those with basic accounting needs to those looking to prepare for an IRS audit, 1800 Accountant has the perfect plan for you.
Pros
- Audit preparation service.
- Dedicated accountants.
Various tiers.
Cons
- No smartphone apps.
- No user-activated integrations.
Best For– Small businesses on a budget.
Price range–$15-$25 per month.
Free trial or free version– 30-day free trial.
Patriot Software offers two online software products for businesses: Patriot Accounting and Patriot Payroll. Patriot accounting software is available in two versions and has a flat monthly fee for unlimited users.
Pros
- Flat monthly fee for unlimited users
- Attractive interface, easy to set up and use
Track assets, liabilities, equity, income, and expenses in one place
Cons
- No mobile app (although the website is mobile-friendly)
- No third-party integrations
Best For– Those who want to stick to a budget
Price range–$31.19
Free trial or free version trial
Want to take control of your finances? Quicken could be the tool you’ve been looking for.
Pros
- Wide library of integrations
- Track all your expenses
Color-coded whiteboard
Cons
- Desktop versions can be slow
- Not compatible with Windows Phone
- Best For- Small businesses and freelancers
- Price range– $20-$29 per month
- Free trial or free version–: 15-day free trial
Founded in 2002, Neat is a cloud-based accounting system that helps you efficiently track your expenses, send invoices, receive payments, reconcile accounts, and prepare for tax season.
Neat’s competitive advantage is its intuitive and low-cost mobile apps, which allow users to use the same features available in the web version. The app also integrates with popular accounting and email management platforms like QuickBooks and MailChimp.
Pros
- Free, personalized customer support
- All data stored on Neat is protected by encryption
BBB rating: A+
Cons
- Not suitable for large organizations
- Only available in the US and Canada.
- Best For-Cloud accounting
Price range$195/month
Free trial or free version demo
You’re considering an online accounting system, but an accountant would be helpful too. With KPG Spark, there’s no need to put off this difficult decision.
This cloud accounting system, which represents one of the most trusted accounting and auditing brands, is backed by a dedicated team and integrates with over 12,000 financial institutions.
Pros
- Accountant included
- Works with over 12,000 financial institutions.
Cloud tool
Cons
- Small support team
- No free trial
-
Best For-SMBs
Price range– Customized for each company
Free trial or free version- Free Trial
FinancePal is the leading accounting software for small businesses that has it all. From accounting and tax compliance to online payroll services, FinancePal covers the entire spectrum. This is not your typical general business accounting software. FinancePal provides each business with a personal accounting team of trained professionals with expertise in business finance, tax compliance, and accounting. So you can rest easy knowing that your company is always compliant.
Pros
- Dedicated accounting team
- Custom pricing plans
Easy-to-use dashboard and lots of features
Cons
- No upfront pricing to compare
- Does not work directly with vendors.
What You Need to Know About Accounting Software
What is Accounting Software?
Small business accounting software brings all your financial information together in one place, making it easy to share data between teams or externally, and preventing your employees from manually or duplicating data entry.
The best small business accounting software comes in two formats: desktop accounting software and online accounting software.
What Features Should You Look for in Your Accounting Software?
Below are some of the advanced features of the best accounting software for small businesses.
Tax integration. Your accounting software should provide balance sheets, income statements, and any other special reports that you or your accountant may need for tax filing. The best accounting software allows you to take photos and save receipts to your mobile device so they are safe when you file your taxes.
Payroll management
Business prospects. Accounting software offers business insights and intelligence through easy-to-use tools and dashboards.
You personalized invoices and receipts. Remember, every interaction with customers and service providers is an opportunity to promote your brand. Some accounting printing software allows you to create customized invoices and receipts to make your brand more memorable.
Multiple users: Depending . Depending on the size of your business, you may want to allow more than one user to access the software. Accounting software offers multi-user apps that allow your accountant to access the software.
Mobile support. Know when you might need to capture or access data from a mobile device. Most major accounting software brands offer free iOS apps.
Unlimited cloud storage. One of the benefits of online software is that all of your data is stored in a database with virtually unlimited storage.
Free support. If something goes wrong, you’ll want to know that your software provider offers premium subscriptions, which usually include a dedicated accounting team.
Scalable. Accounting e is perfect for fast-growing businesses that find manual entry insufficient.
Easy to use. Last but not least, ease of use. Your expense management and invoicing software should be simple enough that anyone on your team can dedicate a few hours to it.
How Much Does Accounting Software Cost?
Like most software-as-a-service, the cost of online software depends on the features you need and the user access.
According to our research on the best-selling software, accounting software can cost anywhere from $12 to $300 per month. Payroll insurance is more expensive. It’s included in more expensive plans or costs $4 to $10 per employee per month, depending on your needs, and tips almost always come at an additional cost.
What is the Best Free Accounting Software?
Believe it or not, it exists, and we’re not just talking about Excel or Google Sheets. Popular names in free accounting software include Wave, ZipBooks, and SlickPie.
Free accounting software is a good option for managers and small businesses looking to transition to spreadsheet programs like Excel and Google Sheets.
Conclusion
If you can afford to automate your company’s administrative tasks, you probably should.