Your cost can also vary depending on the size of your business. Small businesses may be able to find a less expensive basic plan, while larger businesses may need to upgrade to a more expensive standard or premium plan. All this to say, each step provided clear links or buttons to walk me through each subsequent step. Steps were intuitive to complete with simple forms, toggle buttons and drop-down options.

A form would then appear on the same screen, enabling me to promptly add the required details, such as a service item for sale or a customer. This streamlined process allowed me to address all requirements directly from the invoice screen, providing clear guidance on what was needed to fully complete the task. To begin, I filled out a simple form with my name, contact information, company name, industry and a chosen platform. I was then taken through a two-step process to verify my identity using my email and mobile phone. After creating the project, I was taken to a page designated to that project.

That should make collaboration easier for Xero-using small-business owners who (wisely!) work with financial advisors around tax time. And thousands of accountants and bookkeepers do use Xero already, so you can search Xero’s directory to find a local accountant who’s already familiar with the software. Even though we generally prefer Xero to QuickBooks, QuickBooks Online remains the most popular accounting software for US-based accountants, bookkeepers, and auditing clerks. For instance, most virtual and outsourced bookkeeping services still use QuickBooks or proprietary in-house software—though some, like Bookkeeper360, also sync with Xero. When determining the best accounting software for your business, it’s important to consider support, security and integration with your current applications, as well as cost and features.

Best for Easy Set Up

Nearly 70% of business owners who have been there, done that, recommend writing a business plan before you start a business. However, it will not teach you accounting or business fundamentals, marketing skills for bookkeepers, how to hire and train employees or help you run your bookkeeping business more efficiently. If you need to categorize a bank transaction to a balance sheet account, such as loan payments, you simply can’t.

Expenses

On G2, it has a 4.5 out of five-star rating with 264 reviews. Users say the features are intuitive to use, though the system as a whole comes with a slight learning curve. They like that it has all the features they need to handle small business accounting and invoicing and that it integrates with other Zoho tools. Some say they have experienced delays in product functioning, specifically when working with large data sets.

Is FreshBooks among the Best Software for Bookkeepers?

To start a bookkeeping business from home, you’ll need additional accounting and business training from a bookkeeping business mentor. I recommend only learning and specializing in ONE cloud-based software, especially if you plan to start a bookkeeping business. 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.

1. Accountants can get QBO at a wholesale cost of 30-50% off depending on the setup.
2. Sage 50 Accounting, unlike some of its competitors, offers inventory management and job costing features at all plan levels.
3. However, they say that solving an issue can be time-consuming and frustrating.
4. Run custom reports based on your tags for an instant view of insights that matter most to you.
5. Wave is a simple solution for very small businesses that need a place to consolidate bookkeeping records and invoices, but don’t have to log more than a handful of transactions each day.
6. The best software for bookkeepers largely depends on your unique business needs and personal preferences.

In my testing, I also found the software to be incredibly intuitive to use, even when dealing work-in-progress wip definition with examples with advanced features like setting up workflow automations. I tested the software on a Mac laptop using a Safari browser. Simply put, the best accounting software is one that suits your unique needs.