The Top 8 Small Business Accounting Software Programs

	Starting Cost	Trial Period	Users	Mobility	Use Case
QuickBooks Online	$25/month	30-days	Limited by plan	QuickBooks Online mobile app	Best for all types of business
Wave	Free	N/A	Unlimited	Only for Wave Receipts and Wave Invoices	Best free software
ZipBooks	Free	N/A	Limited by plan	Mobile app in development	Best for beginners
Sage 50cloud	$340/year	30-days	Limited by plan	Sage 50c Capture mobile app	Best for complex tasks
FreshBooks	$15/month	30-days	$10/month	Freshbooks Mobile Accounting app	Best mobile-friendly
Xero	$11/month	30-days	Unlimited	6 different mobile apps	Best for inventory management
Zoho Books	$15/month (billed annually)	14-days	$2.50/month	Mobile accounting app	Best for invoicing
NetSuite ERP	Quote-based	14-days	Depends on license agreement	Netsuite for iPhone app	Best for ERP integration

As a small business owner, one of the most important things you can look out for is budget. Every second and every penny counts. If you don’t have a tight grip on finances, AP could be spinning their wheels. This means wasting hours on menial jobs that should be automated. 

It starts with integrating the best small business accounting tools with your everyday workflows. Keep a keen eye on finances with smart technology that gives a small enterprise room to grow.

What Does a Small Business Accounting System Do?

Small business accounting software helps an AP department reduce the time spent on manual data entry through integration and automation technologies. A business syncs bank accounts, credit cards, and other third-party apps with the software. The data is then processed according to custom settings.

While most accounting software gives you a simple start, a general understanding of accounting principles (like double-entry accounting) is needed to ensure financial reports are accurate. For this reason, many companies still employ an accountant or bookkeeper to maintain and review the books. 

Cloud-based accounting software makes it convenient for a business to access its books at the same time as the bookkeeper or accountant. 

Expect these basic functions in a small business accounting software program:

• Bank account and credit card syncing
• Invoicing and templates
• Payment reminders
• Accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Online payment collection
• Multiple user access with role permissions and additional users
• Basic financial statements and reporting (balance sheets, statements of cash flow, etc)
• Tax compliance (year-end, sales tax, forms)
• Mobile app 

In more advanced accounting software solutions, you may see features like:

• Payment processing
• Project management
• Supplier and customer portals
• Third-party add-ons for customizable features
• CRM and ERP capabilities 
• Multi-currency processing

Below, we look at the 8 best accounting software programs on the market and how they address the challenges of running a small business.

#1) QuickBooks Online

Best Small Business Accounting Software Overall

Overview

The majority of small business accounting professionals use QuickBooks Online for safeguarding financial data. It’s one of the most versatile, cloud-based applications on the market. 

Intuit’s QuickBooks Online provides endless online training and resources and easily integrates with third-party applications. All features can be conveniently accessed from one main dashboard, and you can upgrade your subscription as the business grows.

Key Features

• Built-in reporting with a trial balance, general ledger, and 1099 details
• Live bookkeeping service with versatile support 
• Mobile app can receive payments, capture receipts, track mileage, etc.
• Free 30-day trial with 4 options for subscription
• Run full-service payroll with time tracking and inventory management

Best For 

The QuickBooks brand is the skeleton key to all types of accounting and bookkeeping software. QuickBooks Online is ideal for any type of industry. The cloud-based functionality offers a level of convenience all business sizes and styles will find advantageous.

#2) Wave

Best Free Software

Overview

Wave is an incredibly popular accounting solution that’s simple and user-friendly. One of the top-selling points is that subscription is free with unlimited users. 

It’s an ideal solution for freelancers and service-based businesses that don’t have a lot of inventory to manage. Wave is an accounting app that’s meant for those starting out, looking to track expenses, and stay diligent on their taxes.

Key Features

• Year-end reporting for tax compliance and returns
• Invoicing, receipt-scanning, and income and expense tracking
• Bank reconciliation tools to manage accounts in real-time
• Automatic import of all bank transactions and credit card payments
• Unlimited phone and chat support for a small additional fee

Best For

Wave is an ideal platform for a service-based business that sends simple invoices with no need to track inventory. It’s the best accounting platform for a small company that’s just starting out and has little expenses to spare.

#3) ZipBooks

Best for Beginners

Overview

One of the top draws of ZipBooks is the best-in-class user experience that makes the entire digital accounting process much easier. With automated invoicing and billing features, the system uses competitive intelligence to help a business make data-driven decisions about budgeting and finance. 

The straightforward, color-coded user interface offers loads of accessibility without sacrificing the power of functionality. 

Key Features

• Automated and intelligent expense tracking 
• A full suite of deep insights and reporting to keep you on track
• Auto-billing and payment reminders to decrease manual labor
• One-time and recurring billing to get paid faster
• Single transactions interface with auto-categorization

Best For

ZipBooks is a simple online accounting and invoicing software that works best for freelancers, independent contractors, sole proprietors, and consultants. The new payroll integration also makes it a useful tool for companies with a few employees.

#4) Sage 50cloud

Best for Complex Tasks

Overview

Sage 50cloud is a robust online accounting software platform that incorporates comprehensive customization options with in-depth financial tools. Sage enables a small business to spend less time on administrative tasks with invoicing, automatic expense tracking, and tax calculations.

The program has a smooth integration with Microsoft 365, making it a hybrid solution that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time. 

Key Features

• Customize cash flow settings for a more granular view of finances
• Create and track invoices, record transactions, and capture expenses
• Account reconciliation with purchase orders, payments, invoices, and bank feeds
• Advanced inventory management with cost and quantity tracking
• Payroll with direct deposit, paycards, and tax collection

Best For

Sage 50cloud works best for a small business that is trending towards higher growth. It’s a platform that’s built to last and requires little upgrade as your business expands.

#5) FreshBooks 

Best Mobile-Friendly Platform

Overview

FreshBooks makes invoicing a breeze. It’s a product that simplifies a small company’s basic bookkeeping, and makes it easier to send proposals, request deposits, collect client retainers, track time, receive payments, and much more. 

The FreshBooks system is a well-rounded and intuitive double-entry accounting experience that easily integrates with other products including Goggle Workspace and Gusto.

Key Features

• Send, receive, print, and pay invoices with robust customization features
• Multi-currency and language billing for international supplier management
• Automatic tax calculations for sales tax with tax-friendly expense categories
• Time tracking with Google Chrome browser extension
• Bank deposits, recurring payments, and auto bills with bank integration

Best For

A service-based business that’s on-the-go will get the most use out of FreshBooks. It easily remembers vendors and accepts online payments, facilitating networking, purchasing, and collaboration for a smaller brand.

#6) Xero

Best for Inventory Management

Overview

Xero has a clean interface that allows a small business to handle a variety of accounting tasks simultaneously. The system fully integrates with a third-party payroll service and supports an unlimited number of users. 

All plans include a variety of features like estimates, advanced inventory tracking, and recurring billing. Pricing plans are set up to offer the tools needed in each step of business growth, from startup to enterprise. 

Key Features

• Mobile apps for iOS and Android with collective access and real-time data
• Interactive dashboard to manage items, monitor inventory, and spot sales trends
• Project management tools to track expenses, budgets, billable time, payments, and more
• 50+ reports including profit and loss statements and a general ledger
• 700+ app integrations with 24/7 email and live chat support

Best For

Xero is small business accounting software that has the complexity to grow with your brand. If you’re managing a lot of vendors and inventory, the collaborative and real-time reporting tools make Xero a good fit.

#7) Zoho Books

Best for Invoicing

Overview

Small businesses need a simple accounting software that makes invoicing easy, and that’s where Zoho Books comes in. It offers all the basic finance features needed for accounting, as well as advanced tools like time tracking and project management.

It’s one of the best platforms for small businesses because of the simplicity and value of the program. It offers mobile apps for Apple, Android, and Windows, and there’s even dedicated tools for smartwatches. 

Key Features

• Create and send invoices straight from the mobile app
• Integrates with 1,000+ third-party productivity apps and business solutions
• Easy-to-use dashboard without lacking complex features for real-time management
• Add-ons that include customer relationship management (CRM) and point-of-sale (POS)
• Self-service customer portal with invoice updates and payment processing

Best For

Zoho Books was built for invoicing and works best for a company that sends out recurring billing or has a subscription-based business model. It’s also the ideal program for any business that’s looking for time tracking capabilities.

#8) NetSuite ERP

Best for ERP Integration

Overview

NetSuite ERP is more on the costly side of small business accounting software, but you might as well consider it a permanent fixture once installed. The license-based ERP platform was built to not only expand with your business, but help define what that growth looks like.  

If team members are looking to paint a complete picture of the current state of a small business, NetSuite is a good start. The universal dashboard includes enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools for a 360-degree view of a small business.

Key Features

• Manage taxes, make and receive payments, and run custom reports
• Financial management and planning, supply chain, and fulfillment tools
• Features that enable predicting, planning, and budgeting for expenses
• Accurate pricing with a custom quote tailored to business needs
• Optimize cash, control bank accounts and remain compliant with regulations

Best For

NetSuite ERP prides itself on helping a business grow “from pre-revenue through IPO and beyond”. The functionality of the system is designed to assist a company at every stage of the growth process and thus may not be the best tool for freelancers or service-based businesses.

Honorable Mentions

• QuickBooks Self-Employed – Best for Contractors and Freelancers
• Zarmoney – Best for Upfront Pricing
• Plooto –  Best for Full Automation