The 5 best accounting software & tools for startups in 2026

best accounting software for startups.

Small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs seeking straightforward accounting solutions without the complexity and steep learning curve of more comprehensive systems. Less Accounting is particularly well-suited for those who want just the core functionality needed to manage their finances efficiently. We recommend Zoho Books for small- to medium-sized businesses based on their features, user limits, and pricing. Especially online and ecommerce businesses looking to merge their Shopify stores with their accounting software.

best accounting software for startups.

The best small business accounting software at a glance

Startup accounting is more than just tracking numbers; it’s the foundation for making informed decisions, maintaining cash flow, and ensuring long-term success. By understanding the basics and using the right tools, startups can avoid common financial pitfalls. Every startup must monitor essential accounting basics to maintain financial health and ensure smooth operations. This includes tracking income, expenses, cash flow, and assets while applying controls such as the 3-way matching concept to ensure accuracy and prevent discrepancies. Tax service states cost $40 per month plus $6 per https://dimensionzen.com/streamline-your-finances-with-expert-accounting-services-for-startups/ employee or contractor.

best accounting software for startups.

Key Takeaways

best accounting software for startups.

And one of the reasons for that is it’s difficult is that it’s not really double entry. It’s like it, those Excel or Google Sheets can work on a cash basis, but it’s basically your income statement and then maybe a cash line item at the bottom. But it’s very hard to produce an income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement and have everything reconciled. Like reconciling bank statements and bank accounts inside of an Excel sheet is just torture. By now, it should be clear that we are big fans of QuickBooks Online, and think that it is the best accounting software for VC backed startups. But, if want to consider other solutions, our team breaks down the alternatives.

Know the Nitty-Gritty of Getting a Business Credit Card

Yes, QuickBooks can be a very helpful tool for startups and entrepreneurs. It allows users to manage their finances, track expenses, and create financial reports. It can also help with accounting for startups setting up budgets and cash flow forecasts, as well as help business owners with payroll and taxes. QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based program that helps startups manage all of their financial needs. It can automate tasks, connect and integrate with other applications, create robust financial reports and even help with inventory management.

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  • And this CRM works really well with the projects feature, where you keep track of not only the billables (invoices, estimates, and so on) but also the client calls and other contact data.
  • Use of the Site and reliance on any information provided on the Site is solely at your own risk.
  • QuickBooks Online, developed by Intuit, remains the market leader with over 7.1 million users worldwide.
  • Currencies eligible for foreign exchange savings are available here.
  • Resolve Works specializes in providing outsourced accounting to serve the unique needs of early to mid-stage startups, and companies running on the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®).

Since we’re talking about a software suite, there are also integrations you can explore with other Zoho apps. Or integrate it with thousands of other apps by connecting Zoho Books to Zapier. Here are some ideas to get you started, or you can learn more about how to automate Zoho Books. From app-building to project management, there’s a tool for every corporate task, and accounting is no exception. I’ve used Zoho Books, tested Zoho Creator in the past, and have tried Zoho Invoices as well.

Want expert help choosing and setting up the right accounting tools for your startup?

best accounting software for startups.

It may take some upfront effort to get going, but once your fully integrated and customized accounting solution is operating, you’ll be ready to compete with companies of any size. In general, we prefer QuickBooks due to their easy to use software and great customer support. They’re one of the best accounting software tools available for entrepreneurs in most fields. Startups are all about scale, and their accounting software should be, too. Before choosing a service, ensure that there are plans available to grow alongside your business as you reach your goals.

Top Accounting Automation Solutions

  • Understanding these specific requirements is the most important first step.
  • By building these habits into your workflow, you’ll keep your finances organized and minimize disruptions as your business scales.
  • So we typically have clients going from QuickBooks Online to NetSuite when they hit $10, $15 million in revenue.
  • All the accounting software programs in this roundup have a free trial or a free tier that you can use to get a feel of the features on offer.

There are other CRMs that are perfectly fine and good but if you’re going to be doing this you want to use the best in class. There’s another company called Accounting Seed which is based on Salesforce, which I’ve seen once or twice. This is one of those things where if you’re using Accounting Seed, it probably works but you’re probably also probably limiting your pool of exceptional accountants that you can work with. We are CPAs who have used half a dozen different accounting software systems (and some horrific spreadsheets too!).

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