Users that are new to bookkeeping won’t be overwhelmed by Xero’s simple and easy-to-navigate layout. This layout makes the reconciliation process, among other accounting tasks, particularly easy. The software shows you potential transaction matches side by side, so you can immediately see if the match is accurate without having to click anything. Reports also are customizable, with adjustable formatting and the option to add your own formulas and groupings. For instance, you can drag and drop certain expense categories into a single subgroup — an “office expenses” subgroup could include office equipment, supplies and utilities.
Is Xero easier to use than Sage?
A business owner trying to maintain positive cash flow would look for the blue line to remain above the gray line (see the screenshot below for an example). The Xero Accounting app provides all existing Xero users with real-time access to business information and the ability to manage financial transactions from a mobile device. Xero allows business owners to easily customize their invoices, collect payments from multiple sources, access accounting information on the go, and more. This plan is designed for sole proprietors or early-stage enterprises and includes 20 invoices and five bills or purchase orders per month.
Unlimited users for a low cost
- Xero uses double-entry accounting, but it’s mostly done behind the scenes.
- For these reasons and more, Xero is our pick for the best accounting software for growing businesses.
- Additionally, Xero offers a 30-day free trial, so you and your employees can test the software before you buy it.
- To get the most out of your software, Xero has over 800 integrations to choose from.
- Xero’s online invoicing tool makes it easy to bill customers and receive payments online.
Your Xero data is backed up regularly and protected with multiple layers of security. The other appeal of the software was that each plan came with unlimited users, access to every Xero feature, and payroll. If you can’t justify the $90-per-month QuickBooks Online Plus plan, you won’t get inventory management, because QuickBooks Online’s lower-tier plans don’t come with it. This could be a real shortcoming for small online retail businesses, for instance, that need to keep track of their products and the materials used to make them.
Xero VS QuickBooks Online
Plans are affordable, starting at $13 per month, but no free plan. Accounting online with Xero will protect your data through multiple layers accountant forums of security, such as encryption. Get to know your finances with accurate, daily figures when you’re accounting online with Xero.
Contact Management
Otherwise, you’ll have to bump up your subscription or consider QuickBooks Online plans. Robust feature set includes thorough record-keeping, comprehensive reporting, excellent invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app. In general, we were pleased with Xero’s customer support options. However, they were not as comprehensive as what we found in our review of QuickBooks Online. Phone support is not available immediately; you must contact customer service first via email or live chat. However, the upside is that Xero does not leave users hanging with long wait times.
Best Accounting and Bookkeeping Apps for Small Businesses
Xero, FreshBooks and QuickBooks all offer 30-day free trials and extensive features for online support, including a live chat, email support and a knowledge base. All three of these offer the ability to scale their accounting for larger businesses and both Xero and QuickBooks offer specific training for accountants. These companies offer Gusto integration for the same price—$40 per month and $6 per month per person. On the other hand, FreshBooks may be a better fit for freelancers and solopreneurs, as the capabilities are easier to navigate. Xero’s invoicing capabilities allow you to create and customize an invoice for clients and then accept credit card, debit card or bank transfer payments within the invoice itself. Xero processes payment through a payment gateway like Stripe, GoCardless and others.
QuickBooks offers receipt and document organization with its mobile app as well as the online version. Being a cloud-based service Xero naturally works just as long as you are connected to the internet and use any one of the popular web browsers out there. You’ll find that Xero is similarly sprightly if you choose to use its app-based editions, which are available for both iOS and Android devices. In fact, the Xero experience on a tablet or smartphone seems to be generally good, especially considering its depth of data entry points. In addition to reaching out for live help, you can access valuable online support resources, including videos, a blog, podcasts, small business guides and training courses. Xero recently streamlined the ability to search for help while using the software, so you don’t have to leave the site.
However, Xero does offer 24/7 online support—a rarity in the accounting software field. You can also browse the Xero Central support database for articles and guides on your issues. Xero has plenty of features that small business owners love, including an accounting dashboard, invoicing, quotes, bill payment, analytics, and data capture and storage. Xero lets new customers sign up for a 30-day free trial to test out its features. You can add Gusto payroll to any plan for an extra $40 per month, plus $6 per month per person. After you start a free 30-day trial of Xero, you’ll activate the account and provide details about your business.
Xero tries to throw you as many bones as possible by adding a video or help article to the top of every page you open. If you need some extra assistance in finding features or understanding the software, Xero also offers a help center. We also have a comprehensive how do dividends affect the balance sheet and free How To Set Up Your Xero Account guide that teaches you how to use and optimize your Xero account. Xero no longer offers built-in payroll, but it does integrate with Gusto Payroll. Xero offers this through Hubdoc so you can access your documents online.
Unlike QuickBooks Desktop, Xero also has the mobility and modern UI of cloud-based software. We appreciate that Xero includes time tracking in all its plans (see the screenshot below from our demo). This contrasts with many alternatives, such as QuickBooks, that offer time tracking only on more expensive plans or as an add-on.
After a 30-day trial period, Xero will bill a monthly charge of $13 per month for the Early plan, $37 per month for the Growing plan and $70 per month for the Established plan. For free invoicing platforms, consider Zoho Invoice, Square Invoices or PayPal Invoicing, although these platforms provide fewer capabilities. All pricing plans cover the accounting essentials, with room to grow. Easily sync your bank with your financials in Xero online accounting. See all your invoices, contacts, balances, financial information and accounts online.
Find out more about Xero’s commitments to data protection and data security. Use Gusto payroll to calculate pay and deductions, pay employees, simplify compliance, and update the Xero accounts. Xero used to offer strong customer support, and while there are still a ton of great support resources available, getting in touch with an actual representative is a lot more difficult. If you use the Established plan, you can track billable time to add to projects.
When looking for the best accounting software for growing businesses specifically, we focused on pricing tiers, the number of integrations, and the breadth of features and tools. which business attire can be a business expense Xero accounting software is a cloud-based system that helps small businesses manage their finances. This means it can be accessed from any internet-connected device.
Currently, Sage Accounting has 41 apps you can add to the software through the Sage Marketplace. These include everything from data integration to point-of-sale programs. Popular options include apps such as Zapier, Gusto, 9Spokes, CollBox and Zynk Workflow. However, you do have to sign up for a free trial or pay for a plan in order to contact Xero. While Xero does provide email addresses for media contacts and mailing addresses for its physical offices, it doesn’t have a phone number or email address for potential customers.
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