Owning a small business requires a good budgeting and accounting system. Whether you’re new to the game or have been budgeting for years, the right tools can make a big difference in your day-to-day operations. Finding the right small business budgeting software will help streamline your workflow, perform accounting tasks and increase your revenue.
Different software options offer different features, user interfaces and pricing schemes. Read on to discover our top picks for small business budgeting software.
What to look for in small business budget software
Depending on the type of business you own, certain features and models may be better than others. Before you get started, think about how you handle your budgeting now. If you’re already using one program and want to switch, take time to identify what’s missing.
Typically, your budgeting software should make your operations easier. Software that can automate the most time-consuming and tedious tasks frees up your time, and reduces the likelihood of human error. In turn, you’ll have a better idea of where your money is going and can forecast your future sales, expenses, and growth.
Next, decide what kind of software you want. Options include off-the-shelf software, cloud-based software as a service (SaaS), and custom software, which is developed specifically for your business. You should also consider integrations—does the budgeting software work with the other tools your company uses? Finally, decide how much you can afford to pay. Sometimes a custom or premium solution is worth the extra investment.
Best budgeting software for businesses
Here’s an overview of our favorite budgeting software for small businesses.
QuickBooks
QuickBooks is an incredibly popular budgeting application for small businesses. Pricing starts at $10 per month for the “Simple Start” plan and goes up to $60 per month for the “Advanced” plan. All plans include a free 30-day trial.
This tool can be used to track expenses, track and pay bills, calculate sales tax, manage product sales and purchases, and so much more. QuickBooks is suitable for businesses of all sizes and incomes, which means it can scale along with you as your company grows. Finally, it offers hundreds of integrations with popular software applications.
Xero
Xero’s $20 per month fee makes it an affordable solution with plenty of features. This cloud-based accounting software offers a free trial, so you can find out if it’s the right service for you.
Xero offers easy-to-use, intuitive features with detailed instructions and unlimited email support. The app can be accessed from your computer or mobile devices, making it easy to track your finances on the go. It also offers plenty of integrations, so you can automate more of the busywork.
This tool helps manage your inventory, invoices and expenses. It automatically imports your daily credit card and bank transactions, and allows an unlimited number of users. When you want good value for the money, Xero is an excellent choice.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a cloud-based finance and accounting software tool, which is particularly good for small business invoicing and billing. It’s affordable, too. Pricing is based on how many clients you have. Plans start at $15 per month for up to five active clients, and top out at $50 per month for up to 500 active clients. They offer a 30-day free trial for new clients.
This tool offers an easy, intuitive user experience and features like recurring invoices, time and expense tracking, client follow-up options, and payroll options. You can also accept credit cards online through FreshBooks, which makes it easier for clients to pay.
Because FreshBooks is so affordable, it’s a great option for small businesses that expect to grow over time.
FreeAgent
FreeAgent is great for small businesses as well as freelancers. This online accounting software starts at $10 per month, and offers a free 30-day trial. This tool offers features like income and expense management, recurring invoices, expense importing by taking photos of receipts, professional estimate generator, and sales tax reports.
Because the initial price point is so low, this is a great option for brand-new businesses or freelancers with a side hustle.
SCORO
SCORO offers business management tools and budgeting software, all in one easy-to-use solution. Pricing plans begin at $26 per user per month, and there is a free 14-day trial available. While it’s pricier than some of the other options on this list, the management tools are quite robust.
This software allows you to forecast sales and cash flow, plan for different budget scenarios and create detailed financial reports. You’ll also find tools to manage your projects, automate your late invoice reminders, track income and expenses and more. SCORO is a good all-in-one solution for small business budgeting and management.
Google Pay
Google Pay can organize both small business and personal finances, including expense tracking and money management. This free tool allows you to make payments with a single tap, based on your previous payment history, and offers insights into your finances when you connect Google Pay to your bank account.
Google Pay can also automatically search your email and photos for receipts, then track them in the expense tracking tool. This service is best for small business owners and freelancers with simple financial needs.
BudgetPulse
BudgetPulse is another free tool, suitable for small businesses as well as your own personal finances. The tool allows you to manage and organize your cash flow, set savings goals, track your expenses and export the data to other financial software. This tool does not allow you to link your bank accounts or credit cards, which may not be right for your needs—but it does mean that the software is relatively risk-free to use. You can access BudgetPulse through their website. At this time, they do not offer an app.
Divvy
Divvy is also free. This software tool offers budget reporting features, including specific corporate credit cards and expense management tools. If you make a purchase with an approved Divvy card, it will automatically go into their tracking system. You can also export your transactions to other accounting software to generate financial reports and track your expenses.
Money Manager Ex
Finally, Money Manager Ex offers free, open-source, cross-platform budgeting software for small businesses and personal finance. The tool allows users to create financial reports with a single click, plus reminders for bills and deposits. While not as robust as paid options, this tool is translated into 30 different languages—an accessible option when English is not your native language.
Get the support you need from a small business bank you can trust
Once you have the right small business budgeting software for your company, don’t forget to find the right bank to help you meet all your financial goals. NorthOne offers banking services specifically designed for small businesses. We understand your unique needs, and do our best to deliver quality service at affordable prices. Visit our website to find out more, and sign up for your NorthOne small business banking account today.
