Accounting Software

What is the best Accounting Software?

Accounting software provides the tools that companies or accountants need to successfully track accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger income and expenses, payroll, billing, invoices, and navigate tax compliance, deductions, and filing each year, all in a centralized system.

Efficient, accurate accounting practices are very important for a profitably run business. In recent years, accounting software vendors have been working to improve their systems with more helpful accounting tools, interfaces, and automations to streamline all the work that goes into business accounting practices. Many of these new tools and automations are a result of accounting systems moving to the cloud, where they’re affordable, accessible, and feature-packed for companies of all types and sizes. 

Using this technology can help save a lot of time and boost productivity by streamlining processes and eliminating manual, error-prone work. You can use cloud accounting software to automate your accounts payable and receivable, track invoices, store data and receipts, and more – all in one centralized system. 

While your business needs, users, and budget will all work together to help you choose the best system for your business, there are a list of core features offered by most Accounting Software providers that you will want to make sure are included in whichever option you choose.

Features of Accounting software include but are not limited to:

  • Invoicing and billing
  • Accounts payable
  • Accounts receivable
  • Income & Expense Reporting
  • Payroll management
  • Tax calculation, compliance, & filing
  • Stock and inventory management
  • Sales and purchase orders
  • General ledger
  • Financial reporting & analytics

The benefits of using Accounting Software are:

  • Time and cost-savings
  • Efficiency & productivity gains
  • Instant access to financial tools and reporting
  • Consolidated, synced financial data across all aspects of an organization
  • Data accuracy, privacy, and security
  • Simplified accounting processes such as invoicing, billing, and payroll
  • Business insights via in-depth and real-time reporting
  • Streamlined financial processes

Integrating your accounting software with other departmental automation systems such as human resources, customer relations, marketing, etc. can help you gauge the profitability ratios of your company – both independently as business units or as a whole.

Ultimately, your company’s bottom line matters the most, and making your Accounting Software be part of a fully-fledged ERP system will help you learn about various financial aspects pertaining to your company, all from different angles.

While cloud accounting software offers many automations on its own, you can increase your efficiencies even further with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that can help with tracking spending and sales, and help you plan and prepare for the future with predictive analytic tools. 

Accounting software can vastly improve the manner in which money, assets and other financial aspects are managed in a business. Fortunately, there are many Accounting Software programs offering an array of powerful, effective tools to support your business. Selecting or switching to the perfect accounting software system for your company involves deep business examination and thoughtful research and analysis of the features and system capabilities that will best suit your business now and scale with you as you grow.

Top 10 Accounting

FreeAgent / Sage / QuickBooks Accounting / Zoho Books / ZipBooks / Vertex / Harpoon / AccountEdge / Accounting Seed / CFO Plans

WH Score
7.6
BlackLine
7reviews
Starting Price:N/A
BlackLine is a cutting-edge accounting software that provides businesses with a comprehensive solution for managing their financials. It offers many features designed to streamline accounting processes, improve accuracy, and increase efficiency.
WH Score
7.5
Visual EstiTrack
10reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Visual EstiTrack Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) offers a total solution for small and medium-sized businesses. It has a robust manufacturing execution, customer management, and Material Requirements Planning (MRP). There is also Product-Life Cycle Management (PLM), and Supply-Chain Management (S...
WH Score
7.4
M1
8reviews
Starting Price:N/A
ECI M1 ERP is a comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It provides a wide range of tools and features to help companies manage their core business processes, including financial management, manufacturing, distribution, and c...
WH Score
7.4
Foundation
6reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Foundation ERP is an accounting-focused software solution for the construction industry, presented by Foundation Soft. It handles the end-to- end operations of constructions projects, including job posting, scheduling and project management. Foundation ERP is available both as on-premise and cloud-b...
WH Score
7.3
ComputerEase
10reviews
Starting Price:N/A
ComputerEase ERP is a solution developed specifically for construction firms and contractors and addresses the unique challenges of the construction industry.
WH Score
7.3
PlanGuru
4reviews
Starting Price:$0 / user / per month
PlanGuru is a financial analysis and forecasting application that aims to offer business leaders data-driven and actionable insights. Leveraging the performance of existing accounting solutions, PlanGuru offers a wide range of analytics tools – from regular financial statements to custom repor...
WH Score
7.3
Aquilon Software
6reviews
Starting Price:$120 / user / per month
Aquilon specializes in ERP systems tailored to small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those in the manufacturing and distribution industries. Their comprehensive ERP software, consisting of 17 modules, addresses key business elements such as Financial Management, Distribution & Supply C...
WH Score
7.1
Wave
3reviews
Starting Price:$0 / user / per month
Wave Accounting is a powerful, user-friendly accounting software for small businesses and freelancers. With Wave Accounting, you can easily manage your finances and stay on top of your business operations.
WH Score
7.1
QAD
4reviews
Starting Price:N/A
QAD Enterprise Resource Planning system has maintained its position as one of the leading business software solutions in an extremely competitive industry. It targets various process and manufacturing industries such as the Automotive, Food and Beverage and Consumer Products. Among its key features ...
WH Score
7.0
LessAccounting
4reviews
Starting Price:$0 / customer / per month
Ideal for smaller, boutique businesses, LessAccounting has everything necessary to maintain up-to-date and accurate books. Use one of the preset templates to create and generate invoices, while payments can also be tracked. Offering a variety of payment methods, LessAccounting further streamlines th...

Learn more about Accounting Software

What is Accounting Software?

Accounting software is a system that captures, records, tracks, and processes business financial activities and transactions across a series of modules including:

  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • General Ledger
  • Payroll
  • Trial Balances
  • Income & Expense Statements
  • Tax Calculation and Filing

What is Accounting Software Used For?

Accounting software is used financial teams, individuals, or contractors to track, process, and report on financial processes such as invoicing, accounts payable and receivable, tax calculation & compliance, general ledger, income & expenses, payroll, and cash flow reporting & analytics. 

What are the Types of Accounting Software?

The main types of accounting software include:

  • Payroll Processing & Management
  • Billing & Invoicing
  • Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable
  • Tax & Compliance
  • ERP software 

Is Excel an Accounting Software?

Microsoft Office Excel can be used to calculate certain accounting functions such as balance sheets, budgets, and statements, but the function of Excel is more for organizing data and performing calculations than for performing financial transactions and activities necessary to run a business. 

What are the Common Features of Accounting Software?

The most common accounting software features include:

  • Invoicing and billing
  • Accounts payable
  • Accounts receivable
  • Income & Expense Reporting
  • Payroll management
  • Tax calculation, compliance, & filing
  • Stock and inventory management
  • Sales and purchase orders
  • General ledger
  • Financial reporting & analytics

What are the Benefits of Using Accounting Software?

The benefits of using accounting software include:

  • Time and Cost Savings
  • Instant access to financial tools and reporting
  • Consolidated, synced financial data across all aspects of an organization
  • Data accuracy, privacy, and security
  • Simplified accounting processes such as invoicing, billing, and payroll
  • Business insights via in-depth and real-time reporting
  • Streamlined financial processes

Who Uses Accounting Software?

Accounting software is often used by companies, individual accountants, consultants, business analysts, CFOs, auditors, and tax agencies to prepare financial reports, process payroll, and remit taxes. 

What are the Types of Accounting Systems?

The main types of accounting systems are cash-based accounting and accrual based accounting. Accounting software can be customized to the accounting method(s) used in an organization to provide all the tools needed. 

What are the Disadvantages of Accounting Software?

While accounting software can provide companies with many advantages, there are some drawbacks to be aware of and plan for, including:

  • Data Loss and Service Interruptions
  • Incorrect Data or Financial Information
  • Costs
  • Security and Privacy
  • System Integrations

Which Companies Should Buy Accounting Software?

Accounting software is most beneficial for small, growing companies and large corporations as well. Any company that is quickly growing and adding more customers and employees can save time and money by buying and implementing accounting software to automate and manage key financial and reporting activities in the business. 

How Much Does an Accounting Software Cost?

Accounting software is available in a wide range of pricing plans, which can start at less than $10 a month per user. Depending on the complexity and size of the business, a more robust accounting software may be needed which can drive the price up to anywhere between $300 - $999 per user each month, plus annual licensing fees.

The right software for your business

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