Best Accounting Software of 2022

Device storage can be wiped out if the device fails or if you lose your laptop or tablet. With cloud storage, you can access your information from any device, in any location. FreshBooks was the software of choice for Katie Thomas, CFO of Diamond J Accounting. One aspect of the software she finds particularly appealing is its bank reconciliation process. This is a key function she looks for in accounting software, because business owners receive automatic transaction updates. Small businesses can’t afford not to have their finances in order.

Online retailers that are just starting out may have a great product they want to sell but not a lot of business and accounting know-how. GoDaddy’s accounting software is simple to get up and running and is very easy to use. There aren’t a lot of complex features that you’ll never use, but there are many helpful ones that will save you time and money. QuickBooks is also the only major accounting software company that still offers a desktop version. In 2023, the latest version of Desktop will include updates to the cash flow hub, mileage tracking and more. It automates account receivable functions such as creating and sending invoices and recording and tracking payments.

Compare the best accounting software & services.

We chose these based on the features and functions specifically designed for small business owners, how easy they are to use, cost, and more. As a small business, you needaccounting softwarethat allows you to focus on your work without worrying about finances. Our software features work together to offer a streamlined accounting solution to keep your finances in order while you run your small business.

• You can also view each account’s online register, which contains transactions that have cleared your bank and been imported into your accounting solution .
• As a business grows, most software is scalable, and the plan can be easily upgraded to meet new business needs.
• As you know, small business owners typically integrate other software with their CRM to optimize their time and efforts.

These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. All plans allow integration with third-party apps such as Stripe or PayPal. QuickBooks Online’s app store breaks down all of their apps by function and provides helpful examples of the benefits of each app. All of your work can be done offline on your desktop or laptop meaning you don’t lose access to your data or program if your Internet stops working or is not available.

Wave Accounting: Provides expense categorization

It’s also particularly notable for its ability to accept credit cards and set up automatic payments. The most important benefit of small-business accounting software is probably the time it saves.

Ask vendors whether their small business accounting software has features such as two-factor authorization and SSL encryption to ensure data protection. It lets you simultaneously reclassify multiple transactions, fix incorrectly recorded sales tax payments, and clear undeposited fund accounts. It also stores your clients’ information, such as their bank account data, and assigns a unique customer ID to every client. The Starter package is aimed at sole traders, contractors and small businesses. You can send unlimited quotes and 10 invoices, along with reconciling 25 bank transactions. Although it’s only a single user account it works with bank feeds, has a mobile app along with a customizable dashboard. With Truly Small Accounting, you can send invoices, accept payment, and track your income, expenses, sales, and sales tax.

Best Bookkeeping Software for Small Business Owners

Many businesses find it helpful to connect their credit card processing provider to their accounting software to close the loop on their sales. The best accounting software marketplace might be dominated by the big names above, but there are other options if you’re a SMB with with additional needs. Alongside bookkeeping software and small business accounting software you might need to track expenses, manage inventory and carry out all of those other tasks related to running a business. Still, if you can live with those restrictions there are some pluses here.

Learn all about business accounting with our free ultimate guide. Kelly is an SMB Editor specializing in starting and marketing new ventures.

All in all, the software doesn’t require you to have accounting experience. The thing you need to keep in mind is whether you will get the functions and capabilities you need with free software. If you need something basic to tide you over until you can afford premium software, then it’s certainly preferable to use a free version than to avoid keeping track of your finances. We have included 4 free versions in our reviews along with bookkeeping several low-cost options. Next, we evaluated each program by signing up for a trial or demo account and testing the software ourselves. This firsthand experience helped us understand how the features work, whether the programs are worth their price tags and if the software really is as easy to use as the vendor claims it is. To further inform our decisions, we contacted each vendor to measure the quality of its customer support.

Handling your bookkeeping and accounting using Excel spreadsheets isn’t ideal. At best, it’s time-consuming, and at worst, it’s frustrating and unreliable.

Intuit QuickBooks Online

Coming to its accounting part, you can send professional invoices and run your billing on auto-pilot. The software has a recurring profile that will save you from recreating the same invoice for repeat customers. For instance, as you create an invoice, a trial will appear on the screen. The step-by-step procedure will take you from draft to payment, displaying various scheduling and payment options along. While the software features are similar to Sage, Xero does offer a few distinct functions that make it one of the top accounting tools for small businesses. The accounting tool you select should work well with your existing software systems, such as customer relationship management , payment processing, and eCommerce. You can create financial reports showcasing your small business’s performance, specifically profit and loss data, sales figures, and opening and closing balances.

With built-in budgeting and forecasting, you can revise existing budgets and use profit and loss data to create a budget plan for the next year. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is desktop-based business accounting software for small firms. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. Xero is an accounting software solution for small businesses and startups. There is no need to download QuickBooks Online because it is connected to the cloud, which means you can access online accounting from any device with an internet connection. You can download the QuickBooks Online mobile app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Since your software for accounting is connected to the cloud, they can use their own login to access reports like the general ledger, balance sheet, or cash flow statement whenever they need.