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Hottest Apps for Small Business Bookkeeping

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Discerning the Best App for Your Small Business Bookkeeping Needs Saves Time and Stops Hassles

For some minds, small business bookkeeping comes easy and is considered a joy. Most of us do not have this kind of mind. This leaves the rest of us entrepreneurs scrambling to find a cloud computing app that can handle the tedium and calculations necessary for accounting. There are dozens of widely available small business bookkeeping apps. Figuring out which one you want to use depends on the style of your business, your business needs, and how much you want to pay.

If you are ready to upgrade from using spreadsheets to a purpose-built cloud bookkeeping app this will improve your business immensely. Spreadsheets are a powerful tool but margins are high for human error. Manual data entry is time-consuming, formulas can be written incorrectly, and if one cell is modified the entire spreadsheet can be incorrect.

Powerful accounting software and bookkeeping apps are the modern upgrade with functions designed specifically to improve where spreadsheets fall flat. Bookkeeping software can integrate into a small business’s bank accounts for real-time transaction reconciliation. Financial statements are also easily accessible. A software’s dashboard is easy to navigate and financial key metrics are presented orderly. This makes filing taxes much easier. Also important is that bookkeeping software will scale with your small business. As you grow or re-organize, your software will match your needs.

So, which small business bookkeeping software is the best for you?

1. QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks is one of the premier accounting software choices available on the market. Prices range from $10 per month to $50 per month for the Plus plan. For most small businesses’ bookkeeping, it will cost around $15.

This price is well worth it when you see the capabilities this software has built into its functioning. QuickBooks handles accounting, billing, invoicing, time tracking, accounts payable, reporting, inventory, payroll, sales, and taxes. These functions are centralized to a single dashboard. Many users also appreciate it’s seamless navigation and colorful design. This makes complicated figures easier to digest. The software also pulls from your online bank accounts. This allows you to download detailed financial reports and track your small business’s spending. QuickBooks also links with company credit cards, your POS system, and online vendors.

2. Nutcache

Nutcache is a robust cloud-based accounting application that can perform every feature of typical small business bookkeeping demands. The software is free unless you opt for the Pro plan which costs $5 for each user per month on an annual basis. The Enterprise plan costs $12  for each user per month when paid annually. For a monthly basis, this package will be $15 per month.

The simplicity of Nutcahe’s interface is valuable. With Nutcache, you can create an unlimited amount of invoices with your company logo and send them en masse to various clients. Invoicing and tracking tools come standard. Other functions include expense reporting, task management, and key performance indicators. You can track time with your budget to see what projects are the most profitable.

3. Zoho Books

Also, an application that embraces simplicity is Zoho books. There are three pricing plans that small business owners can choose from. The first is the Basic plan which costs $9 per month. The Standard plan costs $19 per month while the Professional plan costs $29 per month.

Zoho books web app ecosystem helps small business owners manage bookkeeping at each stage. The software seamlessly integrates with other Zoho business applications like Zoho CRM and Zoho inventory. Other third-party payment systems like PayPal are easily integrated. On top of this, Zoho Books performs accounting functions like organized financial reporting, client portals, and real-time bank account monitoring. Zoho puts an accountant’s knowledge at your fingertips.

4. Sage One

When it comes to small business bookkeeping, simple is powerful. Sage One cloud accounting fully embraces this idea by providing dynamic tools with straightforward navigation. The Sage One start plan costs $6.99 per month when bought in six-month increments. Sage One accounting costs $19.99 per month for the same deal.

The features for the basic plan will most likely cover most small businesses’ needs. Features like sales invoicing, tracking overdue balances, bank account integration, financial reporting, tax calculations, cash flow statements, check printing, and 1099 contractors. Additional features of the accounting plan include cash flow forecasts, quotes & estimates, and vendor billing. Sage One is well-organized and runs small business bookkeeping on autopilot. No more redundancy with this app.

5. Xero

Xero has a natural flow to its user experience that can make account management almost enjoyable. The app imports financial transactions into its database and links them to coterminous accounting transactions. Xero has three different plans. The Starter plan costs $9 per month for limited invoices and reconciliation features. The standard plan costs $30 per month with unlimited invoicing and reconciliation. With the Premium plan, you receive enhanced features at $70 per month.

The design of Xero rivals Quickbooks by providing a concise picture of your company’s financial health. Integration is also seamless with Xero as you can connect with 500 plus third party apps. Conversion from other accounting software is also handled with Xero and bank reconciliation is automatic. Xero offers developer support to help you through any issues you might encounter. Definitely worth the value.

6. Wave

This accounting app is perfect for small business bookkeeping with nine employees or less. Wave’s core functions—invoicing, accounting, and receipt features are all completely free. Payroll is $15 per month and $4 per employee for the first 10 employees. After this, it is $2 per employee.

Wave is great for small business owners who run a small operation. The developer’s mindset is that small business owners can pay for what they use with no surprises. For fundamental bookkeeping tasks, Wave is great. But, the lack of check printing, automatic migration ability, and time tracking might make growing businesses look elsewhere. This being said, Wave is a free program. You can a lot of bang for spending no bucks.

We hope you found this article helpful and good luck with your small business bookkeeping efforts!

 

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7 Software Options Applications that Your Small Business Needs

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Top Seven Small Business Management Software Applications That Makes Life Much Easier!

What’s the best way to put out the “fires” of the business world? Well having the right small business management software will cut out problems before they can even start to smolder. Powerful tools like automation and remote access can simplify every project in your to-do list (even generate your to-do list for you). Many software providers are catering to small businesses now. This is leveling the playing field in many ways.

Since many of the options in software are free, small business owners can use these resources to compete with the multinational rivaling companies in their industry. Small business management software also cuts overhead and increases productivity. As we watch what was once science fiction proliferate into the business arena our jobs become easier. Automation, AI, and customer relationship management technology (CRM) make having the business run itself a more literal phrase these days.

The goal of many small business owners, particularly in franchising, is to build their business to a point where it is self-sufficient. One of the first solutions to make this happen is using small business management software.

Here’s our list of the seven must have apps that are useful for every small business.

1. Software Suite with Mobile Device Remote Access: Autotask

This pinch happens to everyone. You’re driving home, thinking you got everything you had planned for the day knocked out, when suddenly you realize you forgot a critical file back at the office. This is when Autotask comes into play. This application allows you to transfer data from your PC or Mac with your mobile phone. Now you can work from a plane at 36,000 feet even without a laptop. This is just one of the streamlining features that come with Autotask.

Features:

  • IT Business Management Platform
  • CRM
  • Cloud Backup & Storage
  • Remote Monitoring & Management
  • Analytics For Improvement

Autotask is a self-described ‘End-to-End’ software suite that will perform back-office tasks for you.

2. Task Management

If you own a small business, chances are you need a personal assistant, or maybe even a team of personal assistants. Organizing your day around meetings, conference calls, and to-do lists can be a hulking task in itself. Getting a proper task management app synthesizes everything you do into one platform.

One of our favorites is Any.do which syncs all your devices and is supported on a Mac, iPhone, Android, and as a Chrome add-on. Any.do is half personal assistant, half life-coach. It’s simple navigation and integration into calendar apps makes it a one-stop-shop for reminders. The small business management software will also prioritize your day making sure the important stuff gets done.

3. EMail Marketing

E-mail marketing is often the backbone of your marketing campaign. Using e-communication techniques helps reach a broad but interested audience quickly. Our favorite of dozens of amazing apps is Benchmark. Benchmark is a versatile software that performs the functionalities of various other software programs needed for successful marketing.

The software has customizable templates that are eye-pleasing and are responsive—high-quality design retains whether emails are opened on a smartphone, desktop, or tablet. The ‘drag & drop’ system also makes it easy to generate emails. It’s as simple as manipulating puzzle pieces.

On top of these features, Benchmark also includes a code editor, photo editing, analytic reporting for higher click-rates, and seamlessly integrates with over 300 separate apps. For 1,500 subscribers, Benchmark will cost small business owners $24.95/ a month. Cheaper options are also available for fewer subscribers.

4. Accounting Software

There are tons of free options in accounting software that can give small business owners the equivalent skills of a CPA right in their pocket. In the free options, our favorite is TurboCash. For any small to mid-sized businesses looking for straightforward bookkeeping solutions, this software choice is great.

TurboCASH is under constant improvement and continuous development for the last 32 years. The software itself teaches small business owners the particulars of accounting and how to work with banks, suppliers, and customers.

Features:

  • Inventory
  • Invoicing
  • Cashbook
  • Financial Reporting
  • Spreadsheet Integration
  • Repeating Entries

5. Customer Service Software

Even brick-and-mortar establishments can benefit from using customer service software. Using digital customer service apps betters your business by providing real-time insights into your customer’s wants and needs. Again many of the options for this platform are completely free. The list of possibilities is endless but one our favorites is Helprace. The free version will supply business owners with all the daily functions they need. The full version is only $30/ a month, unless you buy annually.

Free Features:

  • Ticketing Staff System (which looks like an email on the customer’s end)
  • Feedback Community/Widget—tracks questions, ideas, critiques, and praise
  • Self-Service Portal

Small business owners can use Helprace for simple email management to advance customer service.

6. Social Media Management

Part of the ongoing communication between your customers and your brand is using social media. Using social media to market is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to hang a virtual open sign up on the internet. The best and free option for the small business owners is HootSuite.

You can schedule and automate future posts to three social profiles, review growth and amplification analytics, and can learn how to use social media as a tool more comprehensively with HootSuite’s free courses. The most compelling reason to use HootSuite is that ROI is measured so you can see your efforts working.

7.  Scheduling

Scheduling your employees is the one huge headache. Before you reach for pain relief medicine, reach for Shiftboard. Organizing an employee schedule will take minutes, not seconds with this small business management software.

Shiftboard captures profile data of your employees by qualification and assigns projects with this data. The dashboard provides templates for scheduled based on qualifications and employee availability. Shift switching and approval is expedited and is supported on mobile with instant communication.

Never sit down to make an employee schedule again! Use Shiftboard and have it done for you.

The Bottom Line

Before going into business make sure you take into account what small business management software you will need. Choosing sooner-than-later will help you stick to your budget and make training easier if everyone is using uniform systems.

In franchising, one of the distinguishing advantages entrepreneurs should consider is the access to technology. Franchises that take advantage of company-wide software availability will give you the tools for success. Even better are companies that have their own proprietary software.

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique has terminal software that aims at making franchise owners lives easy as possible so they can focus on the things that matter.

We hope you find this list useful for your needs as a small business owner!

 

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