The Best Small Business Accounting Software We’ve Tested for 2025

QuickBooks offers several online resources, which are designed to be the first port of call when users need help. Once you’re ready, check our comparison page for the best accounting software deals. Maybe your business doesn’t need a software system and can get by with outsourced accounting tasks from a local accountant or CPA.

• We have financial relationships with some companies we cover, earning commissions when readers purchase from our partners or share information about their needs.
• Great invoicing tools that support automatic and recurring invoicing, tax calculations, the ability to tell when clients have viewed an invoice, and multi-currency support (a perk that rival FreshBooks doesn’t offer).
• Wave Pro, which costs $19 per month, gives you full access to the software’s capabilities.
• There are also different ways of conducting your accounting process, such as single— or double-entry accounting.
• But, we found that QuickBooks Online’s breadth makes it the best overall pick for small businesses needing a one-size-fits-all solution.

This makes it a solid pick for businesses looking to expand or operate internationally. As a full-fledged ERP system, it has built-in modules for HR, inventory control, and procurement, in addition to accounting. It also has real-time exchange rates for multiple currencies, and even supports inter-entity eliminations and reconciliations. Sage Intacct’s consolidated financial reporting module allows you to view data across every entity, with over 150 pre-built reports.

Based on our extensive and repeated testing, QuickBooks Online from Intuit is our pick for the best accounting software for small businesses. For small businesses that need efficiency and reliability, accounting software has become one of the smartest investments available. It also offers automatic time tracking for accurate invoicing — one of the few core accounting tools that QuickBooks lacks entirely. Once you do, the customizable report templates and data-crunching tools like cash flow projection can give you far more business insights than most other accounting software options on the market.

Wave

PCMag has been testing accounting apps for more than 30 years, evaluating them based on their capabilities, costs, and ease of use. I am responsible for content in the AI, financial, graphic design, operating system, photo and video editing, productivity, and small business categories, among others. I’ve been reviewing tax software and services as a freelancer for PCMag since 1993. 75+ categories of best business software selections.

It’s a great pick for businesses that need a lot of accounting tools and can put in the work to set up the perfect workflow for their operational needs. Granted, the software can be tough to configure, so you should expect a bit of a learning curve, and it won’t include a few helpful tools, like time tracking. Clients can use Tap to Pay if they have iPhones, too, making this another example of why QuickBooks is among our top picks for the best accounting software for Mac users. FreeAgent offers time tracking features that we found easy to use directly in the platform. This trails behind Xero’s library of more than 1,000 apps, but it beats most accounting software options and it should provide plenty of options for your business needs. The positive feedback and experiences largely focused on the easy-to-use layout, robust features, and advanced business tools.

(If you need to track bills or inventory, look elsewhere.) The service is easy to use and limits its features relevant to microbusinesses. It offers many features that sole proprietors need, including automatic mileage tracking, income and expense management, invoices and estimates, income tax planning, and mobile access. Its depth, flexibility, and usability in standard bookkeeping areas (inventory management, sales and purchases, and time and project tracking) equals and sometimes surpass that of competitors. It’s also suitable for businesses that need advanced accounting capabilities and data capacity but can do without mobile limited liability company taxes access.

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• Kashoo markets itself as the “world’s simplest accounting software,” but its setup and dashboard feel more cluttered than many competitors.
• You can view every report or KPI on a real-time dashboard, so you don’t have to wait for the close.
• To help you make the best choice for your business, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top accounting software platforms available today.
• As of our most recent check-in, the platform’s latest additions include a simplified Bill Pay subscription process for users who bill their clients.
• Team collaboration features help your employees stay in touch and document their work carefully.
• Additionally, companies that require many users or manage multiple entities most commonly want small business ERP software with a full suite of functionalities to go along with their accounting.

We tested the most popular accounting software on the market and cross-referenced thousands of user reviews. There are three versions of QuickBooks Online that are designed for small businesses, all of which look and work similarly and offer a 30-day free trial. Many small organizations combine their personal and business income and expense tracking, eliminating the need to pay for and learn two separate apps. Both target non-accountants who require additional support from the outset and prefer a straightforward approach throughout the entire accounting process.

One of the biggest struggles business owners have is getting a handle on their accounting. Other recent QuickBooks Online updates include better functionality for the Payroll add-on, which can now download multiple payroll reports bundled into a single Excel file across payroll runs, at any time after the run that you decide you need it. FreeAgent stands out for its tax prep tools, which include a tax timeline, deadline alerts, and forecasting and scenario prediction functions. Businesses needing advanced financial insights and customization For comparison, the cheapest starting cost for our favorite accounting solutions is Clear Books, for $13.50 per month, although you’ll get the most features with Zoho Books, starting at $15 per month.

Xero

Sage 50 is accounting software built for small businesses, with over 40 years of experience behind it and more than 2 million users worldwide. The $40-per-month Essentials plan does all of that and adds bill management, support for up to three users, and time-tracking. FreshBooks supports those businesses well by providing an exceptionally attractive user interface and social security wage base for 2020 announced intuitive financial tools. The site offers exceptional reports and advanced analytics, as well as provides tools for tracking projects. Patriot Software Accounting is well-suited for start-ups and very small businesses due to its affordability and strong support options, though it lacks the advanced features offered by leading competitors. To help you choose the right solution, we’ve tested the best accounting software based on customization, features, ease of use, value, and more.

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Offering both free and budget-friendly plans, Wave is a user-friendly, powerful, and mobile-ready accounting solution designed for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. QuickBooks Online remains the small business accounting service to beat, thanks to its depth, customizability, insightful AI Agents, and top-notch reports. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.

Outsourced Accounting Services vs. Using a Software In-House

This feature is extremely helpful for businesses that maintain extensive inventories. The Intuit Assist AI tool can help you create and customize invoices and answer financial questions about your business. Intuit Assist is an AI-powered assistant that can help analyze your business’s finances and answer accounting questions. In an increasingly globalized environment, this is a valuable feature for businesses that operate abroad. Don’t know how to reconcile a business bank account? In short, our hands-on testing of QuickBooks and its peers uncovered that this solution has the technology and ease of use to suit small businesses of all kinds.

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Modern accounting software has transformed this process by automating calculations and keeping records in real time. With very limited integrations, almost no customer reviews, and reports of duplicate entry issues, Kashoo is a less reliable choice compared to other accounting software. With solid features across its tiers, Sage 50 earns high marks in our review as a reliable what is accumulated depreciation choice for business owners who want straightforward accounting tools.

QuickBooks Online is a feature-rich accounting software that will handle your business needs, from customizable invoices and reports to over 750 third-party integrations. You can also check out the best free accounting software for small businesses to find even more cost-effective options. While a product such as Intuit QuickBooks Online can serve many needs, it’s also the most commonly replaced accounting software on the market since it lacks more advanced accounting features. With cloud-based software, products are leased rather than licensed, a more attractive option for smaller businesses with limited funds or short-term needs.

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That plan is well worth it because its smart selection of features, such as transaction management and statements, accommodates very small businesses extremely well. The software is intuitive enough for novice bookkeepers to learn, but supports all the elements that a larger service-based business might need, including integration with Gusto Payroll. Zoho Books can effectively serve both small businesses and midsize companies alike, thanks to its competitive price and generous set of deep, flexible accounting tools. Still, you should check out all of our in-depth reviews of small business accounting services below, followed by an overview of everything you need to know before choosing the best software for your needs. Best for Enterprise accounting software with advanced reporting capabilities Enterprise accounting software with advanced reporting capabilities

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Instead of worrying about lost receipts or trying to track your payroll yourself, accounting software helps you keep everything in one easy-to-read dashboard. Kashoo markets itself as the “world’s simplest accounting software,” but its setup and dashboard feel more cluttered than many competitors. It offers a free tier with invoicing, online payments, and mileage tracking. It offers a completely free plan with unlimited invoices to serve businesses that are just getting started. Where is the best place to find accounting software? If you’re ready to commit — or if you need to check out competing software first — visit our accounting software comparison page to take your next step.

When the rule first rolled out several years ago, many businesses turned to software to simplify classification, disclosure reporting, and amortization schedules. Options such as Sage 50c, Zoho Books, and Quickbooks Online are great low-priced options for new businesses, but they’ll lack ways to customize the software towards your business. While some accounting products may try to provide an “all-in-one” tool, others will focus on being the best in a few main areas and offer integrations to tools that help complete their program. But in larger organizations, the terms “accounting software” and “ERP” are often used interchangeably. Many industries require customizable financial management functionalities, such as fund accounting for nonprofits, job costing for construction firms, or DCAA compliance for government contractors.