Xero Review (Payroll software)

Pros 
This online accounting software is a full accounting solution with traditional features such as chart of accounts, aged accounts receivable reports and general ledgers. It can also manage more complex accounting tasks such as fixed assets and depreciation.

Cons 
While Xero provides adept basic accounting tools, most other types of business support services have to be added using a compatible add-on. To make this a complete business solution, you'll have to add quote creation and time-tracking tools.

The Verdict:

 8.5/10

 

Xero easily manages basic accounting tasks. It supports unlimited users, processes payroll and allows up to 100GB of file storage. It also can support multiple currencies and tax rates. However, if you need job or time tracking, you will have to seek out additional technology.

Xero accounts, regardless of the version, support unlimited users and give you mobile access for iPhone and Android devices. This cloud-accounting software can also manage basic inventory and fixed asset depreciation. However, it provides limited project or job-tracking tools. Xero provides project, time and task management through an assortment of add-ons. So, while these tools are available, they require an additional monthly fee. The Xero accounting plans are not based on the number of invoices sent, but rather on payroll and file storage limitations.

Xero can easily create personalized, professional invoices featuring your logo. You can edit invoices by altering margins, padding, fonts, titles, logo placement and terms. You can also create and save custom layouts as well as upload template files. You can create new invoices easily with auto-filled information such as customer and inventory data. For instant payment, you can add a credit card or PayPal payment link to invoices. Invoices can be configured to display in a choice of over 160 currency denominations. Plus you can add default currencies to specific customers.

However, Xero provides few project, job and time-tracking tools. For example, you can create a budget to track project expenses such as advertising, printing, travel or wages related to that budget. This is a workaround, but it works for basic projects. Xero also tracks expenses, and you can attach images of receipts to expense tickets for your records. In terms of inventory, it can save the item code or name, a description, the unit price, the account and tax rates. Inventory tools are adequate for those who manage limited stock or services, which is the case for most micro businesses.

Xero's online accounting service provides mobile tools for Blackberry, iPhone, Android and Windows mobile platforms that are available for free in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store. Using mobile apps, you can create and send invoices, submit expenses and receipts, and manage overdue invoices from anywhere. The mobile version is slimmed down, but it includes useful tools for the road such as the ability to take a picture of a receipt using your phone to submit and track expense approvals. However, though it can track expenses, it does not have tools for tracking time. For mobile time tracking you will need to utilize a third-party solution.

Sage One Review

Pros 
Sage One is efficient, easy-to-use accounting software bundled with project tracking, task management, collaboration and payment processing. It is an online solution, so it is always up to date, backed up, encrypted and accessible via any web connection.

Cons 
If you are looking for traditional accounting software such as products similar to Sage 50 or QuickBooks Pro, this is not it. Sage One is designed for entrepreneurs, freelancers and startups, not companies that need to manage a lot of inventory or employees.

The Verdict:

 8.88/10

 

Create invoices and get paid quickly with Sage One. You can manage projects, track tasks, track time and accept payments using this one solution. In addition, Sage One accounts support unlimited collaborators, projects, tasks and invoicing without any additional fees.

Sage One is an innovative small-business invoicing system created by Sage Accounting. Sage has been creating popular accounting products for over 30 years, but Sage One is different. This product is designed to be used by freelancers, entrepreneurs and fresh startups, and by those who may know nothing about formal accounting. This Top Ten Reviews Bronze Award winner is intended for those who need professional invoicing and online collaboration tools. It can track projects as well as finances. Plus it is accessible via any web browser from anywhere with internet access, making it ideal for those who may not have a formal office location or who work on the go.
Over 90 percent of businesses registered in the U.S. are composed of a single person. Although big companies require complex accounting solutions, freelancers, contractors and sole proprietors do not. Sage One is an ideal solution for managing small businesses and collaborating on projects. This online accounting software easily creates invoices, tracks tasks, manages projects and performs general accounting duties to help you manage the details of your business.
Sage One accounts support unlimited collaborators, customers and invoicing. An account also supports two administrators with full access rights so that you can work with a business partner or your accountant without an additional charge. You can add more administrators for $10 each per month. Each account comes with 5GB of free storage for your documents and projects. Sage accounting offers two accounting choices: Sage One Invoicing and Sage One Standard. The Invoicing version can support most that only need online invoicing, income tracking and contact management. The Standard version also includes bill and expense tracking, financial reports, project and task tracking and more, making it suitable for those who require more than just simple invoicing.

Less Accounting Review (Payroll)

Pros 

LessAccounting reduces the tediousness of routine accounting tasks and is ideal for those who operate more than one business. This accounting service does not limit the number of invoices you can send out or the number of businesses you can track through one dashboard.

Cons 
This cloud-accounting service does not have tools for tracking time, tasks or projects. LessAccounting does not provide mobile apps. You have to use your mobile phone browser to access your account.

The Verdict:

 7.82/10

 

LessEverything has created an online accounting product that eliminates what most people abhor about accounting software, such as data entry, complicated billing and features they never use. LessAccounting is light and can reduce your accounting time to just a few hours per month.

LessAccounting's tag line is, "All small business accounting software sucks, we just suck the least." Most small-business owners and freelancers are not accountants, and they don't want to be. Nevertheless, they are burdened with the necessary chore of keeping their books. LessAccounting is designed to manage all traditional accounting software tasks in a simplified manner to help relieve your frustration and time spent on tedious tasks.

This online service tracks invoices, payments, mileage, proposals and expenses. It also provides all reports that your accountant needs to configure your business's taxes. LessAccounting can save you countless hours spent importing data by directly connecting to your bank accounts.

This service is ideal for those who provide hourly-billed or other services and not inventory. Although it can add items to invoices, it is not equipped to track volumes of inventory. LessAccounting will speed up your invoicing by auto-filling customer information and managing recurring invoices. It will also allow you to switch templates and currency at the invoice entry point rather than in the settings area. However, you have to add items in a second screen, which we found a tad annoying. To help you find and sort invoices later, you can add tags to them.

LessAccounting is an apt choice if you need to track mileage and track expenses by client. Keeping track of business mileage can help immensely at tax time and at 56.5 cents per mile for the 2013 tax year, mileage adds up quickly and should be tracked accurately. You can also track expenses with mobile phones and assign billable expenses to specific clients. However, keep in mind that though it can track more than one business through one account, you have to pay for each business separately. For the most part, LessAccounting is marketed to photographers, designers, developers, marketers and SEO consultants.

 Though eCommerce sites and retailers can use the software, it does not track complex inventory scenarios.
This online accounting solution is optimized to run smoothly with popular browsers on Macs and PCs, as well as via a mobile web browser. LessAccounting no longer provides an app for mobile devices, so to access your account by mobile you will need a capable smartphone with a web browser and data plan. Popular, compatible third-party integrations include ZenCash, Highrise, Basecamp, PayPal, Shopify and LessTimeSheet.

QuickBooks Online Simple Start

Pros 
This online accounting service provides advanced invoicing, reporting, expense tracking, billing and payment tracking. It also comes with mobile tools for creating invoices and tracking expenses using iPhones and Android devices.

Cons 
While the introductory version can invoice and perform basic tasks, you have to upgrade or add other modules to access additional features.

The Verdict:

 9.23/10

Using QuickBooks and associated add-ons it can be configured to perform any task you require. It works well with Intuit’s POS software and TurboTax so you don’t have to tediously try to get your data to work with other solutions. The dashboard is well designed and provides quick insights into what is going on with your business. Overall, it is still one of the best small-business accounting solutions available.

 

 

 Over 80% of QuickBook users report to save time every week using this accounting software. And now that it is also available online, small business owners are no longer tied to their desktop to manage their books. The newest version of QuickBooks Online includes numerous automated features including automatic backup, scheduled billing and bank reconciliation. Online accounts can be accessed from anywhere using any including mobile devices. This Top Ten Reviews Silver Award winning accounting solution is ideally suited for helping to run small businesses, including managing payroll, inventory and taxes.
Intuit offers three versions of QuickBooks Online: Simple Start, Essentials and Plus. Each version includes basic invoicing tools, but as the versions advance, more features, reports and users are supported. Essentials is Intuit's most popular version. It includes recurring billing, payment scheduling and user-access controls. The Plus version includes the inventory module and more tracking tools. Payroll and payment processing can be added to any version. The Plus version supports up to five concurrent users, adequate for most small businesses.

FreshBooks Seedling

Pros 
FreshBook’s most salient, top features include its simple-to-use interface, extensive mobile tools and snail-mail invoicing. Additionally, it is compatible with numerous add-on products that can greatly expand what you can do with the software.

Cons 
Freshbooks is not equipped to manage large volumes of inventory, nor can it manage complex vendor and purchase-order situations.

The Verdict:

 9.45/10

If you do not need to manage complex inventory situations, FreshBooks can easily help you invoice time, expenses and services. In addition, it supports several payment processors so you are not locked into just one processing service.

FreshBooks is liberating. Using this online accounting service, you can expect to free up hours of your work time per week – plus, you will be able to track time and create invoices away from your desk using your mobile device. FreshBooks has received several awards for its exceptional customer service and it supports numerous payment gateways, including PayPal, iTransact and Authorize.Net. We applaud its streamlined interface and innovative, free features, including client portals, and award this popular online accounting solution our Top Ten Reviews Gold Award.
Keeping books as a freelancer or creative consultant does not have to be difficult. With FreshBooks, you can create a branded invoice within minutes, convert an estimate into an invoice with two clicks and potentially get paid twice as fast by accepting payments online. You do not have to be tied to your office, either. FreshBooks provides free iOS and Android apps that can create invoices, track time and expenses, and manage timesheets anywhere.
The introductory paid account, called Seedling, is most suitable for those who do not need to manage a lot of clients, since it is limited to managing 25 clients and supports one user. The Evergreen account supports unlimited clients and five users. The Mighty Oak account supports unlimited clients, and additional users are $10 each per month. The Mighty Oak version is the one you need to subscribe to manage project managers, team timesheets and team expense reporting. FreshBooks does offer free online client portals where clients can view their invoices and balances. Mobile apps for the iPad and iPhone are also free to subscribers. A Blackberry app is available via a third-party provider.

5 Top Picks for Small Business Cloud-Based Accounting

A small business doesn't need expensive software to manage a general ledger and basic business accounting tasks. Here's a look at five reasonably priced cloud services.

 FreshBooks: Guided Help Boxes Make Small Business Accounting Easy

FreshBooks is a simple cloud accounting application designed to help small business owners to get organized and get paid. Since it's a hosted accounting service, you can access your business data everywhere—on a mobile device or desktop computer—and your data is secure and backed up for you.
FreshBooks features options for online payments, expense tracking, time-tracking and accounting reports and taxes. Highlights include customizing invoices, sending late payment reminders, automatic and recurring-expense tracking, managing different rates for multiple projects and profit/loss reports.
Small business owners will appreciate FreshBooks' guided step-by-step wizard and help boxes that appear each time you perform a new task, such as create a new invoice or add a new client to your records. As you familiarize yourself with FreshBooks, you can turn these helpful tips off.

QuickBooks Online Simple Start: A Good Value for Small Businesses

Today, QuickBooks is synonymous with small business accounting. While a number of standalone and hosted versions are available, QuickBooks Online Simple Start is a good value for small office accounting needs.
The online version is $12.95 per month and includes a 30-day free trial. This software makes it easy to create invoices, track sales and expenses, download banking transactions and access business data on any mobile device. Other handy features in Online Simple Start include check printing and exporting data to Microsoft Excel.

Kashoo: Professional Invoices, Simple Dashboards

Kashoo is another cloud accounting service worth a look. It's a simple accounting app for small businesses offering anytime access from an iPad or Web browser.
Features for the small business include connecting to online bank accounts and credit cards, professional invoices, simple dashboards and options to categorize income and expenses specifically for tax reporting. In addition, you can easily share your business data with your accountant online. Finally, Kashoo boasts secure, double-entry accounting for bank reconciliation and financial statements.
Kashoo is priced at $16 per month. A free version is available; however, users are limited to 20 transactions each month.

Outright: Online Accounting for Ecommerce Businesses

Outright is an easy-to-use cloud accounting system that lets small business ecommerce owners organize and keep track of sales and finances in one place. At a glance, you can see where money is going, view profit/loss statements and see who your customers are.
You can link existing accounts such as banks, credit cards, Paypal, eBay, your own Web store or FreshBooks to Outright, and you can import your existing transaction history. From then on, Outright downloads your new data each day. Another useful feature: Outright organizes all of your data into IRS-approved tax categories, potentially lowering the workload and headache level at tax time.

Xero: Share Your Business Numbers Online

With Xero online accounting, you can share access to the latest numbers and check cash flow in real-time. Once loaded, Xero offers a dashboard to quickly view your bank balances, invoices, bills and expense claims. There's also an interactive graph to show money going in and out; you can also monitor specific data accounts from the dashboard.
One standout feature in Xero is the capability to collaborate online so small business employees can work as a team on financials. You can share your data and collaborate with your accountant and bookkeeper to get the advice you need. Xero lets you invite an unlimited number of people for free; you control what each person can see.
The invoicing system lets you customize invoices and connect with your customers through online invoicing. There are also options to create repeating invoices and schedule bill payments, and all payments, returns and credits are tracked automatically.
Pricing for Xero starts at $19 per month. Mobile apps for Apple, Android and Blackberry are available. Third-party add-ons can expand Xero functionality by incorporating CRM, inventory management, invoicing, job systems and other specialized business tasks.

Quickbooks 2015 for Dummies and Delayed charges invoices in Quickbooks

How to: Enter Delayed Charges Invoices in QuickBooks

Do you keep a bunch of post-its on your desk to remind you what products you bought and services you did for customers? Instead, use delayed charges to keep track and create invoices when the time comes.

Open Delayed Charge

Go to the Plus Sign Menu and under Customers choose Delayed Charge.

 

Enter the Customer

Enter the customer you need to invoice in the Choose a Customer field. If this is a new customer, click Add.

In the New Customer window click Save. Only the customer’s name gets saved. You can go to the customer page later to enter additional information.

Enter the Date

Enter the date you purchased the product or performed the service for your customer.

Enter the Products or Services

Enter the products or services you provided for this customer and any information about this product or service.

If this is a new product or service, type it in and click Add.

Choose the Income Account

In the Product or Service Information window, choose the Income Account. This is not a bank account it is a bookkeeping account.

Enter the Price or Charge

Enter the Price or Charge and Save it.

Save and Close

You can Save and Close or if you have new charges to add, clickSave and New.

Invoice Your Customer

When it comes time to invoice your customer, go to Plus Sign Menuand under Customers choose Invoice.

Enter that customer’s name and click Add all to put this charge into the invoice.

Finished

QuickBooks 2015 For Dummies

Keep your business finances under control easily with QuickBooks
If you're like most people involved with a small business, accounting is the last thing you want to spend a lot of time on. Luckily, QuickBooks For Dummies makes it easy to get all the confusing finance stuff out of the way so you can concentrate on other aspects of your growing business. Inside this fun, easy-to-read guide, you'll find out how to manage your financial records, track sales and inventory, pay bills, figure out job costs, and more.
With easy-to-follow guidance and plain-English explanations that cut through the financial jargon, this resource shows you how to get started with QuickBooks, populate QuickBooks lists, create invoices and credit memos, record sales receipts, set up inventory items, record and pay bills, track business checkbooks and credit cards, print checks, build a budget, generate financial reports, and so much more.

• Walks you through installing the software and configuring QuickBooks for your business needs
• Shows you how to write checks, set up payroll reminders, and keep the payroll rolling
• Covers how to securely download bank and credit card transactions, as well as how to pay bills online
• Provides easy-to-follow steps for keeping track of your checkbook, credit and debit accounts, inventory, payroll, and budgets

Written by a CPA who knows QuickBooks and understands your unique business needs,QuickBooks For Dummies is your go-to guide for getting past the paperwork and putting the program to work.

Receive a payment in QuickBooks

How to: Receive a payment in QuickBooks

You got paid! Great--now you need to record the payment in QuickBooks. That's called receiving a payment. Watch this video to learn how.

Receive Payment

Go to the Plus Sign Menu and under Customers choose Receive Payment. Select the customer who paid you in the choose a customer field.

Enter the date you were paid.

Then enter the payment method.

For the Reference Number, enter the check number.

Undeposited Funds

When you receive payments that you’re going to deposit in a group, go to the Deposit Menu and choose the Undeposited Funds account. If you have already deposited this payment, then choose the account you deposited it to.

Click Save and New if you need to receive another payment, or Save and Close if you’re finished.

Recording Undeposited Funds

If you grouped the payment with other checks they appear automatically on the Bank Deposit page. To access this, go to thePlus Sign Menu and under Other choose Bank Deposit.

You can check each payment that you deposited. Make sure the payment method is correct and that the reference number has the proper check number for each check payment. Click Save and Closewhen you’re finished.

Finished

 

Money in tasks (QuickBooks Overview)

QuickBooks Overview: Money in tasks

 You're making sales and getting paid--great! This video shows you how to record sales and payments in QuickBooks. Click on a task below or watch the video above to learn how to do it in QuickBooks.

 

Record Sales with a Sales Receipt
 

Sales

If you sell something and get paid immediately, record the sale with a sales receipt. In the Navigation Bar under Transactions, click Sales.

Choose Sales Receipt

Go to New Transaction and click on Sales Receipt.

Fill Out Your Sales Receipt

Enter all of the necessary customer information and save it.

Record Sales with an Invoice
 

Invoice

If you let your customers pay you later, record the sale with an invoice. Click on the Plus Sign Menu and under Customers, click Invoice.

Enter Customer Information

Enter all of the necessary customer information and save it.

Receive Your Payments

When your customer pays, record the payment on the Receive Payments form by clicking the Plus Sign Menu and under Customerschoose Receive Payment.

Enter Customer Payment Information

Select the customer and then enter their payment method accordingly. Save the payment.

Record Your Deposit
 

Bank Deposits

To record your deposit, go to the Plus Sign Menu and under Otherchoose Bank Deposit.

Choose an Account

Choose the proper account and then select Existing Payment or Add New Deposit. Then Save it.

Record Unbilled Activity

Customers

To keep track of pending customer invoices, like billable hours or purchased products, go to the Navigation Bar and chooseCustomers.

Unbilled Activity

Click Unbilled Activity in the color-coded money bar to see what has not been charged yet.

Record a Delayed Charge

Save Invoice

To remind yourself to invoice your customers, go to the Plus Sign Menu and under Customers choose Delayed Charge.

Enter Customer Information

Choose a customer and enter the product or service. Then save the delayed charge.

Keep a Weekly Timesheet

Open Weekly Timesheet

Choose a customer and enter the product or service. Then save the delayed charge.

Add Billable Items and Hours

Add any billable items along with the daily hours and save the weekly timesheet.

Invoice Your Customers

Open Invoice

To invoice your customers for these hours, go to the Plus Sign Menuand under Customers choose Invoice.

Add Billable Hours

This is where you will add your billable hours from the Weekly Timesheet.

Create a Customer Credit Memo

Open Credit Memo

If a customer wants credit to use later or apply to an invoice now, create a credit memo. Go to the Plus Sign Menu and underCustomers choose Credit Memo.

Enter Customer Information

Choose a customer and enter their billing information and choose a product or service and any taxes or discounts. Save the credit memo.

Refund Receipts

Open Refund Receipts

If the customer wants their money back, record that payment to them with a Refund Receipt. Go back to the Plus Sign Menu and underCustomers choose Refund Receipt.

Enter Customer Information

Choose a customer and enter their billing information and choose a product or service and any taxes or discounts. Save the refund receipt.

Analyze Sales by Customer

Open Reports

To analyze your sales by what you sold and to whom, go to theNavigation Bar and choose Reports.

Sales By Customer

Type “Sales” into the search field and choose Sales by Customer.

Finished

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