Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses

QuickBooks Plus offers all of the features your business needs without the fuss. You are also in control as to whether or not you want to add payroll. So, if you don’t need it, you aren’t paying for a feature that you will not use.

The nice thing about QuickBooks Plus is it offers all of the basic accounting features a small business would need, but also offers inventory management – something small retailers need but rarely receive. QuickBooks Plus is highly intuitive too, so you can track inventory and even set reordering points. Without upgrading to their payroll option, you can still print and prepare 1099s – if you hire contractors to do work for your business.

Even better, if you are a small business owner constantly on the go, you get access to cloud accounting and mobile apps with Plus. So you can access your finances, update expenses and even attach receipts without checking in at the office.

A Few Details about this Software:

QuickBooks Plus offers a free 30-day trial – so you aren’t out anything if you want to give it a whirl first. But, if you do the free trial, note you will not get the introductory price rate.

The introductory rate lasts for six months and starts at $23.97 per month. Then, you will pay $39.95 per month.

Customized Invoices:	Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee
Expense Tracking:	Import Bank Transactions:
Estimates or Quotes:	Employee Time Sheets
Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:	1099's:
Managing and Paying Bills:	W2's:
Inventory Tracking:	Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Take your accounting old school, but with extremely advanced software. QuickBooks Pro is the desktop accounting solution designed for small business owners that want maximum control of their business. It also features management tools that other small business-friendly programs will leave out.

You get all of the basic accounting features of QuickBooks products, including inventory tracking and reorder points. One unique thing is you also have access to integrated shipping – so you can order shipping, pay and automatically transport the costs and information into your QuickBooks file. If you are a small business retailer that sells online, this is extremely helpful.

You can also print checks to vendors, manage employees, create timesheets and store documents. One reason small business owners like QuickBooks Pro is the fact that they have no monthly service fees – you pay a one-time download or annual fee and that’s it. This makes accounting much easier for small businesses too.

A Few Details about this Software:

With QuickBooks Pro you have the option of the annual plan or the one-time download fee. The one-time download fee starts at $219.95. If you want the automatic updates and online storage (something you don’t get with the one-time download version), you can opt for the Pro Plus for just $199.95 per year.

Customized Invoices:	Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee
Expense Tracking:	Import Bank Transactions:
Estimates or Quotes:	Employee Time Sheets
Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:	1099's:
Managing and Paying Bills:	W2's:
Inventory Tracking:	Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Xero Accounting comes with unlimited users, mobile access and even includes payroll (on some plans). They offer a generous introductory rate too – so you aren’t out anything by giving them a shot.

Xero Accounting has plans for up to 100 employees, but the Premium plan is specifically designed for up to 10 employees. What’s neat is that payroll isn’t an add-on – it is included within the price.

There are a lot of great features with Xero, including the basic accounting features you need. You also get access to free updates and online file storage for documents – including storing contracts and retainer agreements and not just receipts.

The payroll option allows you to prepare and print W2s and 1099s as well as employee management.

A Few Details about this Software:

Xero Accounting offers a free 30-day trial and then you can enjoy up to 30 percent off for six months too. With Xero Premium, you will pay $49 per month for six months and then it will go up to $70 per month after that.

Customized Invoices:	Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee
Expense Tracking:	Import Bank Transactions:
Estimates or Quotes:	Employee Time Sheets
Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:	1099's:
Managing and Paying Bills:	W2's:
Inventory Tracking:	Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Sage 50 can accommodate up to 50 employees and includes things like manufacturing and distribution add-ons (for free) so that you can tailor your software to your company needs. It includes all of the advanced features too, such as invoicing and estimates, cash management, aging accounts, etc.

With Sage 50 you can also manage products – so no need for outside project management software. You are able to create projects, assign tasks, and establish workflow and more.

The only drawback is payroll – which must be added on with the Premium account. What makes Sage 50 ideal for small business owners is the fact that they require a one-time payment and then the software is yours for the year.

A Few Details about this Software:

Sage 50 Premiums starts around $449 per year. There are no free trials, but you can access a free demo by contacting their sales staff.

Customized Invoices:	Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee
Expense Tracking:	Import Bank Transactions:
Estimates or Quotes:	Employee Time Sheets
Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:	1099's:
Managing and Paying Bills:	W2's:
Inventory Tracking:	Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Simple Start was designed for newer businesses, and of course, small businesses. They integrate with their QB POS products too – so if you are a small retailer you can enjoy Simple Start.

This version of the QuickBooks online product offers unlimited estimates and invoices, basic accounting, mobile access and you can synchronize all bank and credit card transactions for faster processing. They also offer over 20 built-in reports and you can add payroll to Simple Start if you need to. Without payroll you can still print 1099s and manage contractors – which may be all your small business needs anyway.

A Few Details about this Software:

QuickBooks Simple Start offers a free 30 day trial. If you want to take advantage of the introductory rate, you cannot do the trial. The introductory rate starts at $10.36 per month for six months and then $12.95 per month thereafter.

Customized Invoices:	Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee
Expense Tracking:	Import Bank Transactions:
Estimates or Quotes:	Employee Time Sheets
Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:	1099's:
Managing and Paying Bills:	W2's:
Inventory Tracking:	Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks: