The Best Small Business Accounting Software in 2025

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. You can upgrade your subscription as the business grows.

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

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

Tipalti is user-friendly, cloud-based AP automation and global payments platform that helps a company automate supplier onboarding, invoice processing, tax compliance, global regulatory compliance, and payment remittance. Your company can optionally combine Tipalti’s AP automation and Expenses products for employee expense management and reimbursement. 

The Tipalti platform enables companies to pay suppliers in over 190 different countries, in multiple currencies and payment methods. Businesses can streamline relationships through self-service portals and communication tools. It also integrates popular accounting software, ERP systems, and other finance tools for a seamless payment experience. Tipalti has highly rated customer support.

• Supplier management with self-service portal, tax form collection, payment status
• Global payment capabilities in over 120 currencies in 190 countries 
• Invoice processing to automate approvals, improve accuracy, reduce errors
• Compliance and tax management reporting, including validation, and optional 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC eFiling through partnered Zenwork Tax1099 software
• Integrations with popular accounting software, ERPs, CRMs, and other tools

Tipalti is best suited for fast-growing businesses of any size that need to manage the accounts payable process and make international supplier payments. It’s ideal for a company that processes a high volume of invoices, deals with multiple currencies, and/or needs to comply with local tax and regulatory requirements. When the integrated ERP or accounting software has multi-entity or real-time features, you can work with multi-instance, multi-entity Tipalti software for accounts payable by each entity with combined views in real-time. 

Tipalti serves a wide range of industries, including e-commerce, advertising, digital media, SaaS, marketplaces, and more.

Sage 100 is a customizable and scalable legacy ERP system for small businesses and medium-sized companies. It isn’t modern cloud software but is deployed as cloud-hosted or on-premises for up to hundreds of users. Include a budget for on-premises or cloud hosting costs. 

With Sage 100, you can achieve more functionality by using modules for distribution and manufacturing and adding third-party applications for business intelligence analytics and automation.

• Accounting, general ledger,  and financial reports
• E-invoicing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and credit card processing
• Bank reconciliation tools
• Advanced manufacturing, distribution, inventory planning, and supply chain
• Payroll and time-tracking

Sage 100 is an ideal platform for companies needing a robust but affordable solution but not insisting on using the latest system or deployment technologies like true cloud.

SAP Business ByDesign is a modern, real-time cloud ERP product with optional modules for a full range of functionality across a growing multi-national and multi-entity, small or mid-sized business. Business ByDesign features (with modules) include finance and accounting, reporting and analytics, supply chain management, procurement with sourcing and purchasing, project management, human resources, payroll, and customer relationship management (CRM).

Industry-specific versions of SAP Business ByDesign include professional services, manufacturing, and wholesale distribution.

• Accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, and financial reporting
• Cash flow management
• Audit trails, internal controls, and compliance checks
• Procurement planning with material control flows
• Project management throughout the business, including R&D and marketing
• Microsoft Teams native integration with Business ByDesign
• Customer lifecycle data

SAP Business ByDesign helps expanding global companies control their operations and intelligently analyze business results in real-time. 

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

Sage 50 pricing plans include Pro Accounting for 1 user, Premium Accounting for 1 to 5 users, or Quantum Accounting for 1 to 11+ users. Sage 50 also offers Payroll bundles. The program smoothly integrates with Microsoft 365 (including Excel spreadsheets), making it a hybrid solution that can be accessed anywhere.

• 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, pay cards, and tax collection

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

Xero is cloud-based accounting software. Its clean user interface allows a small business to handle various accounting tasks simultaneously. The system fully integrates with a third-party payroll service and supports unlimited users. 

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

• 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
• Several reports, including profit and loss statements and a general ledger
• 1,000+ app integrations with 24/7 email and live chat support

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

SAP Business One is a modular ERP system suitable for small and mid-sized companies. It has either on-premise or cloud-hosted deployment. Support for SAP Business One version 10 ends in 2026, but an upcoming version 11 release is planned. 

SAP Business One offers a choice of two versions: SAP HANA or Microsoft SQL. SAP HANA, with its in-memory capabilities, processes data faster using greater processing power.

• Financial management
• Sales and customer management (CRM)
• Purchasing and inventory control
• Production planning
• Business intelligence, analytics, and reporting

SMBs that are seeking a comprehensive ERP solution that’s available in many languages and countries.

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

NetSuite is a good start if team members want to paint a complete picture of a small business’s current state. The universal dashboard includes enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools for a 360-degree view of a small business. NetSuite works for many industries, including retail, eCommerce, product, and service-based businesses capable of fast growth. The NetSuite OneWorld module is multi-entity and multi-currency for growing small businesses and larger global companies.

• 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

NetSuite ERP helps a business grow “from pre-revenue through IPO and beyond.” The system functionality is designed to assist a company at every stage of the growth process.  

Small businesses of one self-employed independent contractor or freelancer need simple accounting software that makes invoicing, paying bills, and bookkeeping easy. QuickBooks Solopreneur offers all the basic finance features needed for accounting in a one-person business.

Solo entrepreneurs can offer and accept online customer payments via PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, credit cards, debit cards, or ACH. 

It’s one of the best platforms for single-entrepreneur, one-person small businesses because of the simplicity and value of the program. It offers a mobile app for Apple and Android. For an additional cost, users can get help at tax time from Intuit-approved tax advisers.

• Send customer estimates and invoices with a payment link for online payments
• Open a free  business bank account with no monthly fees or minimum balances and earn a high interest rate on savings
• Automatic mileage tracking through mobile phone GPS
• Track income and expenses, plus set and track growth goals
• Accounting, reports, and financial statements

QuickBooks Solopreneur handles the essential needs of single-person small businesses. 

DATEV is a European company offering 200 software products and services, consulting, and education that meet the needs of practitioners and smaller companies. DATEV believes its software products are secure and reliable. Its tax software is widely used in Germany. 

• Used by global auditors, tax consultants, and lawyers
• Solutions for international businesses and government entities
• Foreign exchange (FX)
• Tax and international expertise

DATEV software is used by startups, small businesses, and medium-sized companies, municipalities, tax consultants, auditors, and attorneys operating internationally.