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Best Small Business Accounting Software

These eight easy accounting software systems offer great prices and an assortment of basic features to help businesses successfully manage accounting and finances.

    Erica Seppala
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Chelsea Krause
  • REVIEWED BY

    Chelsea Krause

    Lead Staff Writer

Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.

The best small business accounting software helps small business owners gain control of their business’s finances.

We’ve thoroughly reviewed 14 accounting software options and selected the eight best small business accounting software programs based on price, ease of use, accounting features, integration options, and standout features.

Want to hear about the top five from our CEO, Amad? Check out our YouTube video.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanySummaryNext StepsSummary
QuickBooks Online

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  • Overall best small business accounting software
  • $35-$235/month
  • Up to 25 full-access users (unlimited time-tracking only users)
  • Overall best small business accounting software
  • $35-$235/month
  • Up to 25 full-access users (unlimited time-tracking only users)

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Xero

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  • Best accounting software for growing businesses
  • $15-$78/month
  • Unlimited users
  • Best accounting software for growing businesses
  • $15-$78/month
  • Unlimited users

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FreshBooks

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  • Best accounting software for invoicing
  • $19-$60/month
  • 1 user (extra users cost $11/month)
  • Best accounting software for invoicing
  • $19-$60/month
  • 1 user (extra users cost $11/month)

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Wave

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  • Best free accounting software
  • $0-$16/month
  • Unlimited users
  • Best free accounting software
  • $0-$16/month
  • Unlimited users

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Zoho Books

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  • Best mobile app for accounting
  • $0-$275/month
  • Up to 15 users (extra users cost $2.50/month)
  • Best mobile app for accounting
  • $0-$275/month
  • Up to 15 users (extra users cost $2.50/month)

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QuickBooks Solopreneur

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  • Best bookkeeping and tax software for freelancers
  • $20/month
  • 1 user
  • Best bookkeeping and tax software for freelancers
  • $20/month
  • 1 user

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ZipBooks

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  • Easiest accounting software to use
  • $0-$35/month
  • Unlimited users
  • Easiest accounting software to use
  • $0-$35/month
  • Unlimited users

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Patriot Payroll

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  • Best combined accounting & payroll software
  • $20-$30+/month
  • Unlimited users
  • Best combined accounting & payroll software
  • $20-$30+/month
  • Unlimited users

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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

The 8 Best Accounting Software For Small Businesses

The best accounting software is affordable, easy to use, and supports bank sync, tax reporting, and third-party integrations. These are our top eight picks for the best small business accounting software.

Comparison Of The Best Accounting Software

PriceIntegrationsCash Basis Or AccrualBest ForPayroll
QuickBooks OnlineStarts at $35/month750+BothSmall to medium businesses
XeroStarts at $15/month1,000+BothMedium to large businessesGusto integration
FreshBooksStarts at $19/month100+AccrualSmall to medium businessesGusto integration
WaveStarts at $0/month<10BothFreelancers & small businesses
Zoho BooksStarts at $0/month30+BothSmall to medium businesses
QuickBooks Solopreneur$20/month0Cash BasisFreelancers
ZipBooksStarts at $0/month<10BothSmall businessesGusto integration
Patriot PayrollStarts at $20/month<10BothSmall to medium businesses

QuickBooks Online: Overall Best Small Business Accounting Software

QuickBooks Online

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing3.2

Ease Of Use4.6

Features5.0

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews4.2

Accounting Method

Accrual & Cash Basis

Pricing Range

$35 - $235/month

Business Size

Small to medium businesses with up to 25 users

Pros

  • 750+ integrations
  • Advanced features
  • Strong invoicing and mobile apps
  • Expert help from accountants is available

Cons

  • Occasionally unintuitive
  • Poor customer support

Why We Chose QuickBooks Online As Best Overall Accounting Software

quickbooks online dashboard

QuickBooks Online Home Dashboard

We chose QuickBooks Online as one of the best accounting software for small businesses because it's one of the most popular, feature-rich, integration-friendly, and comprehensive accounting software solutions on the market.

QuickBooks Online is undoubtedly a fully-featured accounting software program, but its 750+ integrations, strong mobile apps, and tax support make it a standout among its competitors.

QuickBooks Online is best for small businesses looking for a full-featured, affordable accounting solution and is ideal for businesses with five users or fewer (though you can add up to 25 users for an additional cost).

However, it may be a bit daunting for any businesses that are new to accounting software, as the interface can be unintuitive at times. We've found that simpler accounting software, such as Zoho Books or Zip Books may be easier to use for accounting newbies.

QuickBooks Online Pricing

QuickBooks Online offers four pricing plans ranging from $35/month to $235/month. The larger the plan, the more features you can access, and the more users you can have.

Payroll services cost an additional $50-$130/month (plus $6+/month per employee). Read our QuickBooks Online pricing post to learn more, and don’t forget to check if Intuit is running any sales promotions.

QuickBooks Online Features

QuickBooks offers business accounting essential features, but the platform also offers some advanced accounting features that come in handy when automating your business’s accounting processes.

Top QuickBooks features include:

  • Supports both double and single-entry bookkeeping (cash and accrual-basis accounting)
  • Extensive invoicing features with real-time bill tracking, customizable invoices, billable hour tracking, and recurring invoicing
  • Inventory management with real-time updates, low stock notifications, and robust inventory reports
  • Reporting, including balance sheets, job costing, and profit and loss reports
  • Contact management with the ability to add notes, attachments, tax rates, languages, preferred payment methods, and more
  • Client portal to simplify the payment process for your customers
  • Tax support, including creating 1099s for contractors
  • Create and manage multiple budgets and run budget reports

Choose QuickBooks Online If...

  • You want robust, fully-featured accounting software for up to 25 users
  • You want accounting software that integrates with over 750 business apps and software

Get Started With QuickBooks Online

Read our in-depth review

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Xero: Best Accounting Software For Growing Businesses

Total Rating 4.0
Pricing3.7

Ease Of Use3.8

Features4.1

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews4.3

Accounting Method

Accrual & Cash Basis

Pricing Range

$15 - $78/month

Business Size

Medium to large with unlimited users

Pros

  • Strong mobile app
  • 1,000+ integrations
  • Scalable
  • Unlimited users for every pricing tier

Cons

  • Steep learning curve
  • Expensive for small businesses

Why We Chose Xero As Best Accounting Software For Growing Businesses

xero dashboard

Xero Home Dashboard

We chose Xero as one of the best accounting software solutions because it boasts all the essential accounting features a business may need, plus a host of advanced accounting features.

Xero is a great match for those growing businesses or startups whose accounting needs have outstripped their current system’s capabilities or eCommerce businesses that would benefit from the software’s integrations.

If you’ve got the budget for it, Xero would make a great asset to your growing business. Smaller businesses may be able to get away with using Xero’s lowest pricing plan, but it’s relatively limited, with only 20 invoices and five bills.

Xero Pricing

Xero offers three price plans ranging from $15/month to $78/month. As you move up through the pricing tiers, you get more features, invoices, and accounting management tools.

Xero supports unlimited users at every price plan, whereas many other accounting software solutions don’t. You can also add on Payroll with Gusto for $40/month + $6/person paid.

Xero Features

Xero is a full-bodied accounting software solution with a host of features that range from the basics, such as invoicing, accounts payable, and reports, to the advanced, such as multiple currency support, email templates, and tax forms and support.

The sheer volume of Xero’s app integrations means it will likely complement any system you are currently using or be compatible with any new solutions you add in the future.

Here’s a look at Xero’s top features:

  • Bill pay support, with due date overviews, payment scheduling, and secure online bill storage
  • Expense management, including receipt photos, reimbursements, expense reports, and mileage tracking
  • Business bank account connections with automatic bank feeds, transaction tracking categories, and bank reconciliation
  • Invoicing with payment acceptance, fraud protection, support for multiple payment methods and currencies, and automated payment reminders
  • Create quotes, estimates, and purchase orders
  • Strong analytics and reporting features, including customizable reports, formula applications, and cash flow charts
  • Secure document storage and file sharing
  • Contact management with transaction records
  • Project tracking via time and location-based tracking and project cost tracking

Choose Xero If...

  • You want a full-featured accounting solution that can grow with your business
  • You want accounting software that integrates with over 1,000 business apps and software

Get Started With Xero

Read our in-depth review

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FreshBooks: Best Accounting Software For Invoicing

Total Rating 4.2
Pricing3.9

Ease Of Use4.4

Features3.9

Customer Service4.9

User Reviews4.1

Accounting Method

Accrual Only

Pricing Range

$19 - $60/month

Business Size

Smaller to mid-sized businesses with a limited number of users

Pros

  • Strong invoicing features
  • Great customer support
  • Numerous integrations
  • Easy to use software and mobile apps

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Limited users
  • Limited features

Why We Chose FreshBooks As Best Accounting Software For Invoicing

freshbooks dashboard

FreshBooks Home Dashboard

We chose FreshBooks as one of the best accounting software programs for small businesses because it offers simplicity, strong invoicing, proposals, and good customer support. Not only will businesses using FreshBooks be able to handle basic accounting features, but they'll also be able to save time on sending invoices, tracking expenses, and creating proposals.

Additionally, FreshBooks is impressively easy to use as the software is free of accounting jargon and boasts an easy-to-navigate interface. Even business owners who don't have much experience with accounting should be able to get a handle on it quickly, as FreshBooks' convenient customer support means help is only a phone call away.

FreshBooks Pricing

FreshBooks offers three pricing plans ranging from $19/month to $60/month.

However, FreshBooks’ lowest Lite pricing tier doesn’t support double-entry accounting and functions more similarly to basic invoicing and bookkeeping software. If you need double-entry accounting support, you’ll need to subscribe to FreshBooks’ Plus plan or a higher tier, which starts at $33/month.

FreshBooks only supports a single user (additional users cost an extra $11/month each). Additional features such as advanced payments and payroll through Gusto are offered as plan add-ons.

Comparatively, Wave offers a simpler feature set than FreshBooks but may be ideal for businesses that only need basic accounting features for unlimited users and relatively cheap payroll options baked in.

FreshBooks Features

FreshBooks boasts a straightforward user experience and has an attractive UI. The setup is simple, and the software takes very little time to learn. FreshBooks’s customer support sets it apart from the competition, but the software also hosts a ton of useful accounting features. Here’s a look at FreshBooks’s top features:

  • Simple and easy-to-use UI with accessible customer support
  • Project management with the ability to assign cost rates, billable rates, and hours to individuals and a comprehensive project dashboard
  • Billing support with unlimited estimates, eSigning, recurring invoices, customizable invoices, deposit acceptance, project budgets, retainers, and proposals
  • Time tracking via mobile or desktop timer tracker and Chrome web browser extension
  • Accounts payable with bill tracking, profit and loss statements, and a simplified bill upload process
  • Provide your accountant with easy access to your business’s accounting dashboard
  • Bank sync and reconciliation with automatically imported transactions and categorization
  • Reports, including tax-specific reports
  • 100+ integrations
  • Expense tracking and management

Choose FreshBooks If...

  • You want strong accounting software backed with excellent customer support
  • You want affordable accounting software that boasts numerous great features, including strong invoicing and proposals

Get Started With FreshBooks

Read our in-depth review

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Wave: Best Free Accounting Software

Total Rating 3.9
Pricing4.4

Ease Of Use4.2

Features3.0

Customer Service4.3

User Reviews3.4

Accounting Method

Accrual & Cash Basis

Pricing Range

$0 - $16/month

Business Size

Freelancers & small businesses with unlimited users

Pros

  • Free plan available
  • Easy to use
  • Numerous features
  • Expert help from accountants is available

Cons

  • Limited mobile apps
  • Poor customer support
  • Not scalable

Why We Chose Wave For Best Free Accounting Software

Wave Accounting Dashboard Screenshot

Wave Accounting Dashboard

We chose Wave as one of the best accounting software options for small businesses because we believe it’s one of the best free accounting software options available. With all essential accounting features, positive customer reviews, and a well-organized UI, it’s no wonder this free accounting software is popular.

It’s easy to jump straight in and start using Wave, even with little previous accounting experience. Wave is best for small businesses on a tight budget that still want strong accounting capabilities. This software is ideal for Etsy sellers and micro businesses.

Otherwise, like many free software solutions, Wave is a bit limited and definitely wouldn’t suit the needs of larger businesses with more complex accounting needs, or even those that want anything beyond basic accounting features. If you’re willing to pay, we think that Patriot Accounting offers a solid mix of generous features and scalability.

Wave Pricing

Wave has a free plan, with no gimmicks or strings attached. With a Wave account, you get access to all Wave features and unlimited users.

Wave recently added a Pro plan that costs $16/month. This includes everything from the free plan plus additional features including auto-categorization of bank transactions, auto imports, digital receipt captures, automated late payment reminders, and discounts on payment processing.

Add-on costs include payroll, payment processing, and professional bookkeeping services.

Wave Features

Wave is well-developed software that rivals even some paid programs in terms of features. The software covers all of the accounting basics, including invoicing, expense tracking, accounts payable, bank reconciliation, and more.

Wave also has several unique features. In Wave, users can separate personal and business expenses, which is ideal for freelancers or side hustlers who don’t have a separate business bank account.

Top Wave features include:

  • Integrations (including Zapier)
  • Unlimited users, including adding your accountant
  • Accounting dashboard with chart of accounts and overdue payment notices
  • Solid reports, including balance sheets, cash flow, and profit and lost statements
  • Receipt management
  • Contact management
  • Unlimited bank and credit card connections

Choose Wave If...

  • You have a microbusiness or Etsy business and want easy-to-use, affordable software
  • You want free accounting software loaded with essential features

Get Started With Wave

Read our in-depth review

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Zoho Books: Best Accounting Software For Mobile Apps

Total Rating 4.7
Pricing4.7

Ease Of Use4.3

Features4.8

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.6

Accounting Method

Accrual & Cash Basis

Pricing Range

$0-$275/month

Business Size

Best suited for small to mid-sized businesses with 15 or fewer users

Pros

  • Advanced features
  • Easy to use
  • Good customer support
  • Strong mobile apps

Cons

  • Limited integrations
  • Limited scalability

Why We Chose Zoho Books For Best Accounting Mobile Apps

zoho books dashboard

Zoho Books Home Dashboard

We believe that Zoho Books is one of the best accounting software for small businesses because it offers almost as many features as QuickBooks Online, great customer support, a good number of integrations, and international features. If your business offers field service, you’ll love the convenience of mobile invoice management.

Compared to QuickBooks, Zoho Books offers better customer service and a more user-friendly UI. Zoho Books is best for small businesses needing strong online accounting, great mobile apps, and good invoicing. The software is ideal for international businesses.

Zoho Books Pricing

Zoho Books offers six pricing plans ranging from $0/month to $275/month. Each plan comes with basic features and offers more advanced features such as more contacts, users, and invoices, as you go up the pricing tiers.

Zoho Books Features

With good customer support and a well-designed UI, Zoho Books is easy to learn and use. Zoho Books has all the features you’d expect from a fully-developed accounting solution, including invoicing, contact management, expense tracking, time tracking, inventory, project management, and even tax support.

The best part about Zoho Books is its invoicing offerings. Zoho Books offers 16 customizable invoice templates, a client portal where customers can pay invoices directly online, recurring invoices, and the unique ability to encrypt invoices. Here’s a look at some of Zoho Books’ other top features:

  • Invoicing with customizable invoices and quotes, multi-currency support, eSigning, and automated payment reminders
  • Billing support with recurring bills, landed cost tracking, transaction approval, vendor credits, and bill creation from purchase orders
  • Inventory management with customizable product details and rates
  • Tax support, including the ability to set default and custom tax rates, Alvara integration, contractor payment tracking, and robust reports
  • Project tracking with time tracking, task creation, expense tracking, automatic retainer payments, and customizable role-based permissions
  • Bank integration with transaction fetching, statement import, auto-categorization, reconciliation, and bulk editing
  • Detailed reports, including essentials such as profit and loss reporting
  • Payment acceptance with multiple payment gateway options, recurring payments, automated reminders, a customer payment portal, and payment tracking
  • 30+ integrations

Choose Zoho Books If...

  • You want accounting software with strong mobile apps
  • You want fully-featured accounting software that’s easy to learn and use

Get Started With Zoho Books

Read our in-depth review

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QuickBooks Solopreneur: Best Accounting Software For Freelancers

QuickBooks Solopreneur


Visit Site


Pros

  • Designed for freelancers
  • Good tax support
  • Easy to use
  • TurboTax integration

Cons

  • Limited invoice features
  • No state tax support
  • Unscalable

Why We Chose QuickBooks Solopreneur For Best Accounting Software For Freelancers

quickbooks self-employed dashboard

QuickBooks Solopreneur Home Dashboard

Although it’s not exactly accounting software, we chose QuickBooks Solopreneur (formerly QuickBooks Self-Employed) because it offers easy bookkeeping and tax support for freelancers. One of QuickBooks Solopreneur’s standout features is its integration with TurboTax which exponentially simplifies the tax filing process for 1099 contractors.

QuickBooks Solopreneur is designed for freelancers, contractors, and other self-employed individuals and is ideal for managing estimated quarterly taxes and maximizing deductions. The software is easy to use, and the QuickBooks app allows for quick access to your data.

QuickBooks Solopreneur Pricing

QuickBooks Solopreneur is available for $20/month. You can also choose an annual pricing plan for $120/year.

While QuickBooks Solopreneur is a great option for contractors who want to simplify their taxes, we think that Wave’s essential accounting features plus double-entry accounting make it a better choice for freelancers looking to keep costs down.

QuickBooks Solopreneur Features

QuickBooks Solopreneur is well-organized and easy to use. The features help simplify estimated quarterly taxes and allow freelancers to manage their expenses and track deductions. This software also makes it easy to separate personal and business expenses, which is ideal for freelancers who don’t have a designated business bank account.

Additionally, QuickBooks Solopreneur offers:

  • Expense management, including receipt photos and automatically matched expenses
  • Expert tax support
  • Invoicing and payment processing
  • Automatic mileage tracking
  • Turbo Tax integration
  • Checking account with 5.00% APY

Choose QuickBooks Solopreneur If...

  • You’re a freelancer that wants to easily separate personal and business expenses
  • You want basic bookkeeping software backed with expert tax support

Get Started With QuickBooks Solopreneur

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ZipBooks: Easiest Small Business Accounting Software

Total Rating 4.0
Pricing4.5

Ease Of Use2.9

Features3.9

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.2

Accounting Method

Accrual & Cash Basis

Pricing Range

$0-$35/month

Business Size

Ideal for small businesses with growth potential in the near future

Pros

  • Free plan available
  • Easy to use
  • Good customer support
  • Attractive UI

Cons

  • Limited invoice customizations
  • No inventory features
  • Limited mobile apps

Why We Chose ZipBooks As Easiest Accounting Software

zipbooks dashboard

ZipBooks Home Dashboard

We chose ZipBooks as one of the best accounting software options for small businesses because its exceptionally easy to use, with a beautiful interface, and a solid feature set — even though it’s a relative newcomer to the accounting software market.

With a free plan, unlimited users, and ample automations, it’s not hard to see why this software gets a good rating. ZipBooks is best for small businesses owners with little previous accounting experience in need of an affordable, strong accounting solution.

We believe that ZipBooks’ design, reports, bank sync, and ease of use makes it one of the best accounting software solutions on the market. However, ZipBooks’ built-in intelligence features set it apart from the competition by providing small business owners with easily digestible financial insights to inform decision-making.

ZipBooks Pricing

ZipBooks offers three pricing plans ranging from $0/month to $35/month. Each plan comes with unlimited invoicing. ZipBooks’ Accountant pricing tier offers more advanced accounting features for you and your clients at a custom price rate.

Each pricing level adds more features and users, with the most expensive plan supporting unlimited users.

ZipBooks Features

ZipBooks offers a good number of features that are easy to use and has one of the most attractive interfaces out there. The software’s design is simple and intuitive, using automations to save you time. The UI is even color-coded to make navigation a breeze. ZipBooks offers the basics you’d expect from accounting software, including invoicing, contact management, and expense tracking.

Additionally, ZipBooks offers:

  • Project management with expense and time tracking
  • Chart of accounts with the ability to set custom accounts
  • Built-in auto-categorization that learns from your updates
  • Tracking via automatic bank sync, statement import, and bank reconciliation
  • Accounts receivable with payment tracking and specialized account age reports
  • Add your accountant as a team member for direct access to your business’s accounts
  • Business health score and recommendations
  • Strong, customizable reports features

Choose ZipBooks If...

  • You want built-in intelligence that gives financial insights
  • You want affordable, full-featured software that’s easy to use

Get Started With ZipBooks

Read our in-depth review

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Patriot Payroll: Best Accounting & Payroll Software

Patriot Payroll

Total Rating 3.9
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use3.4

Features3.5

Customer Service4.6

User Reviews4.8

Payroll Processing Time

2-4 days

Pricing

Starting at $17/month + $4 per person paid

Business Size

Small to mid-sized businesses with up to 500 people paid

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Competitive pricing
  • Good customer support
  • Strong security features

Cons

  • No advanced inventory
  • No mobile app

Why We Chose Patriot Accounting For Best Accounting & Payroll Software

Screen grab of Patriot Accounting's home dashboard

Patriot Accounting Home Dashboard

We chose Patriot accounting as one of the best small business accounting software options because we think that it offers the best (and most affordable) combination of full-service accounting and payroll software for businesses with simple needs. Additionally, may Patriot users rave about the quality of its customer support, the ease of setup, and the overall ease of use.

Patriot offers everything you’d expect from accounting and payroll software, including expense tracking, invoicing, unlimited payroll runs, and free direct deposit. However, Patriot isn’t a great fit for every business, specifically those that need inventory tracking, job costing, or project management. However, for smaller businesses, freelancers, and contractors with less advanced accounting and payroll needs, Patriot is a top contender.

In total, Patriot features four different types of software to best fit the needs of any small business: accounting, payroll, time and attendance tracking, and HR management. You can sign up for any combination of these programs, which all seamlessly integrate.

While other accounting software link feature payroll integrations, such as QuickBooks, we think Patriot’s software is more affordable and is a better fit for businesses with les complex accounting needs.

Patriot Accounting Pricing

Patriot Accounting is priced at $20 – $30/month, with the higher priced tier adding in features like recurring invoices, payment reminders, estimates, and account reconciliation.

Adding on Patriot Payroll costs $17 – $37/month + $4/employee or contractor. The more expensive payroll plan is full-service, automatically filing and paying payroll taxes for your business. Time tracking and attendance can be added to your plan, each at a cost of $6/month + $2/employee.

Compared to other services that offer both accounting and payroll services, Patriot tends to be on the lower end of the pricing spectrum.

Patriot Accounting Features

Patriot software offers a nice set of features in its software that’s clean, modern, and easy to navigate, making it simple for even beginners to track their income and expenses.

Although Patriot isn’t loaded with tons of automations, such as Xero, you’ll still speed up your accounting processes while using the software, since it’s so easy to use and streamlines tedious accounting tasks.

Notable features include:

  • Create unlimited invoice and estimates with custom invoice templates
  • Track payments to unlimited customers
  • Document management with receipt handling
  • Account reconciliation
  • 1099 e-Filing and printing
  • Automatic payroll tax filings & deposits
  • Chart of accounts
  • Expense management with department breakdowns
  • Filing accuracy guarantee
  • Unlimited vendor payments
  • Unlimited users with the ability to add your accountant
  • Support for both cash-basis and accrual accounting

What are the must-have features all accounting software should have?
Chelsea Krause
Chelsea KrauseLead Staff Writer
Accounting software has to have the bookkepping basics including cash basis and accrual basis accounting options, accounts payabale and receivable (aka invoices and bill pay), a chart of accounts, expense tracking, and extensive reporting so that you can stay on top of important business finances. It’s icing on the cake if the software also has strong project management, cash flow management, and time tracking built in.

Get Started With Patriot Payroll

Read our in-depth review

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Accounting Software Review Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing accounting and invoicing software since 2013. Our writers have tested over fifty different accounting programs, including online apps and locally-installed software. In each review, we evaluate pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviews.

Weighted Rating Breakdown

Pricing 30%
Features 30%
Ease Of Use 20%
Customer Service 15%
User Reviews 5%

Read more about how we rate accounting software.

When comparing different accounting software apps, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the number of standard accounting features available, invoicing and quote creation, the presence of a client portal, and time tracking tools. Our lists of the best accounting programs include only those we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points, and often share qualities such as widespread accessibility, tax support, advanced reporting tools, numerous niche features, and competitive monthly pricing.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the accounting software included meets our internal standards for quality and reputation.

How To Choose The Best Small Business Accounting Software

Choosing the best small business accounting software depends on your business’s unique needs. Of course, it’s essential to consider things like security, accessibility, and customer support options, but finding the right match means assessing your business’s specific requirements.

The best accounting software for your small business should:

  • Support Your Business’s Accounting Method: Whether your business uses cash-basis or accrual accounting, the accounting software you choose should match your current method.
  • Fit Your Business’s Budget: The top accounting software options range from free to hundreds of dollars per year. Find one that doesn’t exceed your budget, but does meet your needs.
  • Scale With Your Business: Accounting software often imposes user limits which may be an issue as your business grows. Your accounting software choice should support unlimited users or offer additional users for a fee.
  • Integrate With Other Software: The accounting software you choose should integrate with the software or tools you currently use, including payroll software, time tracking software, invoicing software, and more.

Which Accounting Software Is Best For Your Business?

Any of these simple small business accounting software options will allow you to easily manage your business’s finances and balance the books, no matter what level of accounting experience you bring to the table. Ultimately, the decision will come down to your budget and the features your business needs.

Want a good double-entry accounting solution that’s more robust than the options we discussed above? Consider trying QuickBooks Pro, which comes with advanced features. If you need higher-level inventory management, payroll software, or a more refined method to track bank accounts, credit card payments, or credit card charges, you’re going to be better off with this solution.

If you need more help with your small business accounting, download the Beginner’s Guide to Accounting. This free ebook makes accounting simple and teaches you everything you need to know without confusing accounting jargon.

Keep in mind that any accounting software you choose should play nicely with your business’s payroll software. Fortunately, the best payroll software often supports integrations with the most popular accounting software options, such as QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage, and more.

As always, let us know if you have any questions and happy hunting!

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Erica Seppala

Erica Seppala

Editor & Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Erica began writing on small business topics in 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and focuses on loans, accounting, and POS. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll. She has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a graduate of Limestone University and resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
Erica Seppala
View Erica Seppala's professional experience on LinkedIn.