12 Best Cloud-Based Accounting Software of 2024

cloud accounting system

Instant search tools and customizable reports help you track down the smallest details and see overviews of how your business is performing. Mobile apps and websites give you access to your finances no matter where you are. Automatically initiate invoice deliveries, credit terms and collections management with the accounts receivable apparatus. It permits you to create repetitive invoices and extend self-service access to customers to obtain real-time data on purchase orders, inventory and payment information. You may also post order transactions to general and AR ledgers with prompt tax calculations.

Accounting software that works as hard as you do

Zoho Books is the only reputed cloud-based accounting software to offer a free plan. Whether you need help with invoice creation, recurring payments, client management, or day-to-day accounting, Zoho Books will take care of everything. We’ve tested and reviewed the best cloud-based accounting software on the market, looking at their features, cloud accounting pricing plans, and pros & cons. Here are quick breakdowns of each of the top seven tools, so you can see what different providers offer and how they compare. Small businesses favor QuickBooks Online for its ease of use, cloud-based access, and ability to integrate with over 750 apps like Gusto, Shopify, Expensify, and Salesforce.

cloud accounting system

Best for Inventory Tracking

  • Risks with cloud accounting may include privacy breaches, security threats, and technical issues that can force system downtime.
  • Software is rated based on its price for various levels of users, including one, three, and five users.
  • Not to mention that it’s also more accurate, and there’s a lower chance of any discrepancy.
  • If you’d also like QuickBooks to manage your bills and payments, track employee time and inventory, and allow up to 5 users + your accountant, get a premium plan.

We recommend FreshBooks for sole proprietors and freelancers due to its strong time tracking and invoicing features. It has a built-in time tracker, and it’s easy to add time entries to your invoices when billing clients. Since only one user is allowed in each subscription (unless you pay for additional seats), it’s ideal for freelancers or business owners who don’t require collaboration with multiple team members.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Accounting Solutions

Blockchain is a digital, distributed — that is, there’s no single, central authority — ledger that tracks the movement and exchange of assets in detail. Once a transaction is posted, it cannot be altered, reducing the likelihood of fraud. That creates a clear chain of ownership showing who has what and is owed what, or where items traveled in their journey from raw material to end customer. The cloud has become a hub for technological innovation as adoption continues to grow. There are a few different technologies that could lead to additional time and cost savings.

  • The customer portal is equally as important since it lets you gauge customer satisfaction, helps expedite quote approvals, lets you turn estimates into invoices with a single click, and greatly simplifies the payment process.
  • Also, cloud accounting software is more secure compared to desktop software because your data lives online on secure servers—as opposed to your hard drive, which is more vulnerable to hackers.
  • We researched and tested the best online accounting software for small businesses and mid-sized companies.
  • The actual application is installed and runs from the hard drive of an office desktop computer.
  • Zoho Books, QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and Sage are some of the best cloud-based accounting software.
  • If you do the latter and have established a relationship with a payment processor, then your invoice can contain a stub explaining how the customer can return payment via credit card or bank withdrawal.

Other software like Zoho Books will ensure that the transactions in your bank account match with the transactions you’ve created in Zoho Books by reconciling your bank accounts. Modern accounting software will allow you to invite other users into the system and control the data they can see and tasks they can delegate. NetSuite will simplify the process of recording transactions, managing payables and receivables, collecting taxes, closing the books and enables on time, and generating accurate reports with greater control over financial assets. Send estimates, convert them into invoices, send payment reminders to your customers, and get paid on time.

cloud accounting system

  • Xero offers pricing plans to suit businesses of different sizes and stages.
  • Improves efficiency by automating traditional accounting tasks such as automatically updating financial information and providing real-time financial reporting.
  • If you are a small business owner, you know the last three years have been brutal.
  • Through the slick dashboard, you can access the information on the account balances, links to reconciliation screens, graphs representing outstanding invoices and unpaid bills, the account watchlist, expense claims, and more.
  • Automate cash-intensive financial processes with artificial intelligence and machine learning to speed up cash inflows and reduce outflows—decreasing the sneaky cash leaks that can have big consequences.

The Top 7 Cloud Accounting Software Reviewed

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