Users say it is extremely easy to use and has all the basic features needed to manage small business accounting needs. They like how easy it is to create invoices and access reporting. However, they say the virtual cfo services platform could use more automations and more in-depth reporting. They also wish they did not have to pay extra for features such as adding team members, saving credit card information or processing payroll.

Stay productive with the Xero Accounting app

After you start a free 30-day trial of Xero, you’ll activate the account and provide details about your business. Then, you can connect your bank accounts to Xero and decide if you’ll why evaluation is important for your nonprofit accept electronic payments for online invoices. Although Xero’s native inventory management features aren’t huge standouts, its Inventory Plus add-on caught our attention.

How To Choose the Best Accounting Software

In my testing, I also found the software to be incredibly intuitive to use, even when dealing with advanced features like setting up workflow automations. We recommend using Xero if you’re a small-to-medium-sized company that values affordability, collaboration, and user-friendly design. Because Xero doesn’t charge more as you add users to your plan, it offers a cost-effective way to provide employees access to real-time financials. Furthermore, you can scale it up as your company grows; Xero integrates with over 1,000 third-party apps for payroll, time-tracking, and more. Has robust reporting tools and report customization options, basic inventory tracking in all plans and a capable mobile app; Early plan limits the number of invoices and bills. Xero includes extensive features that make it suitable to handle complex accounting processes for small- and medium-sized businesses as well as larger ones.

Is Xero good for small businesses?

Get the best experience for you by choosing what you see on the Xero accounting dashboard. Zoho Books’ paid plans all come with free live chat and phone support. fixed cost: what it is and how its used in business Sage 50 Accounting’s Cash Flow Manager tool is a helpful feature for people who want to better understand how future transactions could impact their business.

Accounting software that helps small businesses using the cloud

You can also scroll through Xero’s default chart of accounts and customize it as needed, or import an already existing chart of accounts. If you have a list of customers and suppliers, you can import that, too. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Payments are due by the end of your monthly billing period based on the date you purchased your subscription. But if you use one, they can help set it up to work the best way for your business.

Customer Support: Xero vs. Sage

I found the software to require a small learning curve, particularly in terms of finding needed features. Features were listed on the left-hand menu once I signed in to my account. Because many features had submenu items, it was not always instantly clear where to go to access needed features. Intuit QuickBooks has a 4.3-star rating and a 4.4-star rating on Capterra and G2, respectively, with over 6,700 reviews on the two platforms.

Neat earns a 4.0-star rating on Capterra with 100 user reviews and a 4.4-star rating on G2 with 10 reviews. They like that Neat offers advanced document management tools such as the ability to search PDF documents and compatible scanners with double-sided and multi-size scanning capabilities. Some say they preferred the legacy version of the software rather than the cloud-based version. They also find it frustrating that they often have to log in repeatedly due to software glitches.

Similarly, your clients and customers can send money immediately with the Pay Now button on your online invoices. This function is powered by the best payment transaction apps, such as Stripe and PayPal, ensuring speed and security. The Growing plan costs $42 per month and includes unlimited numbers of invoices and bills.

Unlike QuickBooks Desktop, Xero also has the mobility and modern UI of cloud-based software. “At its core, NetSuite offers accounting functionality that is extremely robust and powerful. The flexibility afforded by its general ledger and ability to handle complex revenue recognition scenarios has served clients well across many different industries. Xero is a full-featured accounting software with advanced features such as project tracking, file storage, customizable invoices, a full-featured mobile app and much more.

Once customers receive the invoice, they can pay you directly from it by clicking the “pay now” button and using a credit card, debit card or direct debit. You can also accept payments from popular services such as Stripe and GoCardless. Xero offers the option to add full service payroll support from Gusto to any plan.

I only had to click the “send” button at the top of the page and specify an email recipient to share the report. After creating the project, I was taken to a page designated to that project. Here, I could post updates on the project’s status, track hours worked and view project invoices, estimates, expenses and profitability reports, all from the project’s page. By clicking “more actions,” then “generate invoice” from the top of the page, I could also easily bill a client. Once I had completed the action, I could click the X on the action item to remove it from the to-do list.

You can filter transactions, match receipts with expenses on the go, customize invoices, make payments and view trends and insights about your business. Plus, you can get automatic accounting reports, receive guided workflows and set it up in five minutes. Beyond automation, OneUp showcases flexibility in its approach to client management. It offers two distinct operational modes—“Do-It-For-Me” and “I-Do-It-Myself”—allowing businesses to choose the level of control they wish to exert. This adaptability ensures businesses can navigate growth phases while maintaining financial oversight. Notably, OneUp is replete with features such as dashboards, invoicing, CRM and more, offering businesses an expansive toolkit to navigate their financial landscape.

While it has very few user reviews, users who posted say that it is an easy-to-use solution with task tracking and lead capturing tools. They also appreciate the friendly, responsive and knowledgeable customer service OneUp offers. However, it doesn’t offer time tracking of payroll features, creating fewer efficiencies than some competitors provide. For the price, Xero is a powerful tool that can help you manage everything from inventory to file storage.

1. This cohesive approach ensures that as business complexities arise, NetSuite can adapt, providing a foundation that supports not just accounting needs but a company’s holistic operational demands.
2. Once I had completed the action, I could click the X on the action item to remove it from the to-do list.
3. You can convert the quote and bill by a percentage of the original quote or a set quantity, rate or amount.
4. This is beneficial to small businesses that need multiple people to be able to log into the accounting software and don’t want to pay extra or upgrade to get more seats.
5. For example, I could immediately use the search bar across the top of the screen to search my documents by keyword.
6. When I clicked on it, I was presented with a simple form to toggle on and off the widgets I wanted on the dashboard.

Despite some criticism I have about Xero, I feel they are a strong billing and invoicing software. The customization capabilities is probably the best out of all online accounting software. It’s best to judge accounting software based on what you need it to do, rather than what it can be capable of doing. All and all, it’s an excellent option for sole proprietors and growing companies requiring an inexpensive way to manage finances and basic inventory.

Anything you enter will be retained when you transfer from a free trial to a subscription. Ready to take your financial reporting and analysis to the next level? Get started with Coefficient to seamlessly integrate your accounting data with spreadsheets, enabling real-time updates and powerful insights that drive business growth. While both platforms offer mobile solutions, Xero’s mobile app is more comprehensive and user-friendly, making it a better choice for business owners who frequently work on the go.

Xero is right for you if you are a solopreneur or running a small or growing business with an international customer network. Once you’re signed in, Xero gives you the option of taking a short guided tour of the dashboard. You can schedule a call with a Small Business Specialist if you need more help with setting up the dashboard.