That includes the chart of accounts, invoices, bills, contacts and fixed assets. We recommend working with an accountant or bookkeeper, preferably one with Xero experience, when you make the move to Xero online accounting software. With a free plan and paid plans starting at $20 per month, Zoho Books has plans for most budgets. Higher-tier plans include unique features, like workflow rules, on top of tools that help you measure project profitability. Phone support and live chat support are available 24/5 to all paying customers, but third-party integrations are limited compared to QuickBooks Online and Xero. QuickBooks is a popular accounting software used by small businesses, solopreneurs and freelancers.

If you’re ready to take bookkeeping off your plate and delegate this task to someone else, it can be hard to know where to look. Start by reaching out to other business owners for recommendations, searching online for providers and checking out reviews on Google or Yelp. If you don’t feel comfortable with a freelancer, there are many firms that offer bookkeeping services as well. With all such features, Xero accounting software has made accounting and bookkeeping easier for small businesses. These daily bank feeds mean the immediate tracking of sales invoices, which matches payments against purchases, thus reducing bookkeeping time and costs. However, Sage is more for freelancers, while Xero is better for small businesses.

One-way phone support

There are more than a hundred apps available in the Xero App Store. From accountant tools to CRM solutions, it’s easy to integrate Xero with your existing software services. In general, accounting software companies should have open lines of communication with customers. Unfortunately, Xero only has a chatbot, a customer service email, and self-help information. Users can also upload files like bank statements to register the transactions in the books.

• Any information you add or change can also be accessed by other users when you add them to the user’s list.
• Attend a live webinar to meet a member of the Xero team, ask questions and connect with other small businesses, or watch a recorded session in your own time.
• Payment will be taken on the date shown on your invoice using the payment details entered when you purchased your subscription.
• The system you choose to use doesn’t need to be complicated and the ledgers should be straightforward, especially if you have just a few or no employees.

Has robust reporting tools and report customization options, basic inventory tracking in all plans and a capable mobile app; Early plan limits the number of invoices and bills. Xero, FreshBooks and QuickBooks all offer 30-day free trials and extensive features for online support, including a live chat, email support and a knowledge base. All three of these offer the ability to scale their accounting for larger businesses and both Xero and QuickBooks offer specific training for accountants. These companies offer Gusto integration for the same price—$40 per month and $6 per month per person. On the other hand, FreshBooks may be a better fit for freelancers and solopreneurs, as the capabilities are easier to navigate. Xero and Sage’s main selling point is their intuitive invoicing systems.

Xero vs. Sage: At a Glance

You can also invite an additional user and set limits to their access. These ratings are meant to provide clarity in the decision-making process, but what’s best for your business what is working capital how to calculate and why its important will depend on its size, growth trajectory and which features you need most. We encourage you to research and compare multiple accounting software products before choosing one.

Unlimited users

Xero’s mobile app is basic, with features like receipt scanning, sending invoices, and expense categorization. However, users can’t receive payments from customers, record time worked, assign billable time, and generate reports. Xero’s invoicing capabilities allow you to create and customize an invoice for clients and then accept credit card, debit card or bank transfer payments within the invoice itself. Xero processes payment through a payment gateway like Stripe, GoCardless and others. Keep in mind that these services charge a fee to process payments (usually around 2.9% plus 25 cents per transaction, though this varies by the payment processor).

Test out the demo company feature

Whatever your needs, there’s sure to be an accounting software program that’s a perfect fit. FreshBooks is one such option that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s designed specifically for small businesses and offers invoicing, time tracking and expense management.

Useful features to run your business

For example, the £15 starter plan gives you a monthly limit of 20 invoices and quotes, 5 bills, while the £30 plan contains unlimited invoices and bills. This feature will allow a business owner to set up a bank feed that automatically updates and imports your bank statements to Xero Software. Like invoices, you can also create and send credit notes directly to your customers. Currently, Sage Accounting has 41 apps you can add to the software through the Sage Marketplace.

Xero has tools for any kind of business

Sage lets you create invoices directly from quotes and estimates, send them to customers and automatically track outstanding invoices to see what you’re owed. It also partners with Stripe so you can take card payments with ease. If you can’t justify the $90-per-month QuickBooks Online Plus plan, you won’t get inventory management, because QuickBooks Online’s lower-tier plans don’t come with it. This could be a real shortcoming for small online retail businesses, for instance, that need to keep track of their products and the materials used to make them. All of Xero’s plans come with inventory management so business owners can track what’s in stock and which products are selling. You can access Xero-certified independent accountants and bookkeepers or accounting firms when you visit Xero’s Advisor Directory.