The right business software for your company minimizes manual data entry on multiple fronts, whether it’s categorizing transactions, recording in-person sales, tracking inventory, generating invoices or making sure your employees get paid on time. Before choosing a product, verify that it integrates with the rest of your system.
Most businesses will need accounting software to keep their finances in order. Other business software products to consider include point-of-sale systems, payment processing services and software for payroll, invoicing, inventory management, budgeting and human resources.
Here are NerdWallet’s top picks for the best small-business software.
Our Nerdy picks for
Our picks for
Best accounting software
Strong accounting software is the foundation of a capable business software ecosystem. Use it to centralize all of your financial data, prepare for tax season and keep tabs on the financial health of your business. Accounting software also often includes features for budgeting (Xero and QuickBooks Online stand out for theirs) and invoicing (we rate FreshBooks as one of the best all-in-one invoicing and accounting products).
QuickBooks Online
Learn more
on QuickBooks Online's secure website
Starting at
$30/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $60, $90, $200.
Promotion
50% off
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
QuickBooks Online is an industry leader in the accounting field, thanks to its strong feature set and scalability. It has robust reporting and transaction tracking tools, invoicing capabilities, inventory management features and mobile app functionality. These features, along with its ability to scale up and integrate with a wide range of products, make it valuable to self-employed entrepreneurs and larger small businesses alike. And with millions of users worldwide, your accountant will likely be familiar with it.
However, QuickBooks products can be expensive, so make sure you understand how to get the most out of its main features. And know that if you need time-tracking capabilities, you’ll have to subscribe to a separate app, whether it’s QuickBooks Time or a third-party product.
That being said, QuickBooks products can be expensive, so make sure you understand how to get the most out of its main features. And know that if you need time-tracking capabilities, you’ll have to subscribe to a separate app, whether it’s QuickBooks Time or a third-party product.
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations, including live, in-house bookkeeping.
- Robust feature set includes thorough record-keeping, comprehensive reporting, excellent invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Daily phone support and 24/7 chat support in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared to the competition.
- Limited account users with each plan.
Xero
Learn more
on Xero's secure website
Starting at
$13/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $37, $70.
Promotion
30-day free trial
or monthly discount (terms vary).
Xero stands out for allowing unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature in situations where several users need some level of access to the system. Other competitors’ plans limit how many users you can add or charge an additional monthly fee for each one. If you have a large team, those fees can add up quickly. In terms of functionality and features, Xero is one of QuickBooks Online’s biggest competitors. Like QuickBooks Online, it has excellent reporting features and a capable mobile app — but with a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels, according to their preferences.
If you appreciate simplicity and don’t want to dedicate much time to learning how to navigate a product, Xero is a great choice. If you need mileage and time tracking, you’ll need to subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan.
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
- Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
- No phone number for customer support listed.
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
Zoho Books
Learn more
on Zoho Books' secure website
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
Zoho Books packs an impressive collection of features and capabilities for an affordable price, and higher-tier plans let users automate workflows and track project profitability. Its mobile-first features — such as the ability to send invoices via iMessage or add widgets to your phone’s home screen to easily access timers and overdue invoices — help set it apart. There’s also an Apple Watch app that lets you track time, send payment reminders and review outstanding invoices.
The software is an especially good fit for entrepreneurs who already use another Zoho suite product, like Zoho CRM, since they directly integrate. Third-party integrations, however, are limited compared to the competition.
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
FreshBooks
Learn more
on FreshBooks' secure website
Starting at
$17/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $30, $55, custom.
Promotion
30-day free trial
or monthly discount (terms vary).
FreshBooks is especially useful for freelancers because it lets users view invoices, respond to clients’ questions and send payment reminders all from its mobile app. You can also start a timer from within the mobile app to log hours spent on a particular project, or sync data from tools like Asana or Trello. It’s especially cost-effective for freelancers who can work within the confines of lower-tier plans’ billable client limits.
Pros
- Stay in touch with clients through the FreshBooks mobile app and get notified when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
- Track time and add billable hours to invoices in all plans.
- Weekday phone support in all plans.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails for accountants to review.
- Highest-tier Select plan only comes with two users (additional users add $11 per month) and lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.
- Least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
Wave Accounting
Starting at
$0
Free (Wave makes money via paid money management products).
Promotion
N/A
Unlike some “freemium” software products, Wave doesn’t put out a bare-bones free product as bait, then load it down with costly upgrades. The free accounting software lets you add unlimited collaborators, along with unlimited bank and credit card connections. You can create and send invoices through the app, as well as set up recurring invoices and track client communication and payment history.
Wave can be a sufficient solution for entrepreneurs with small, service-based businesses who need a simple way to invoice clients and separate business and personal expenses. However, if you need built-in mileage tracking, time tracking or a billable expense feature, it’s probably not the right choice.
Pros
- Free.
- Unlimited partners, collaborators and accountants.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails. There are no additional plans to increase functionality.
- Must subscribe to Wave’s paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.
- No third-party integrations, mileage tracking feature or ability to accept in-person card payments.
Our picks for
Best point-of-sale (POS) software
Point-of-sale software often enables you to do much more than take payments. Capabilities can include inventory management, menu and table management, employee management, customer loyalty programs and integrations with third-party software for additional functionality. If you have a brick-and-mortar storefront, make sure your POS software provider also offers hardware that lets you accept in-person payments.
Square POS
Learn more
on Square POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.6% + 10¢
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.
Monthly fee
$0
Free plan; $60 Plus plan for retailers and restaurants.
Square’s point-of-sale system stands out with its transparent pricing, live support and many useful features. Unlike most systems, Square offers a free POS software option with no monthly charges. Because Square works on iPhones, Androids and iPads, you can make sales on the go — for example, at a farmers market, trade show or music festival.
Pros
- Deep list of features.
- Free version offers a lot of functionality.
- Square offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
Cons
- Can’t run on Windows devices.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
SpotOn Restaurant
4.5
NerdWallet rating Payment processing fees
1.99% + 25¢
Monthly fee
$25
SpotOn’s monthly software fee and payment processing fees along with its ability to integrate with third-party hardware make this system an affordable and appealing option. SpotOn offers customizable add-on features such as a loyalty program and team management software. The company also has a strong reputation for its hands-on approach to customer support, from installation and training to 24/7 availability for assistance.
Pros
- 24/7 customer support via telephone.
- No long-term contract.
- Hands-on installation and training for an additional fee.
- Can integrate with third-party hardware.
Cons
- Quote-based hardware pricing makes it hard to compare total costs with other POS systems.
PayPal Zettle
Payment processing fees
2.29% + 9¢
in-person; 3.49% + 9¢ keyed.
Monthly fee
$0
PayPal's Zettle system stands out for its free software and no-contract business model, which takes some of the risk out of switching to a new POS system. Its hardware POS packages make it easy to set up quickly, and some decent (though limited) accessories are available.
Pros
- Solid core features.
- No monthly fees.
- No long-term commitment.
- Low initial costs.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- No add-on features available.
- Limited integrations.
- Funds are transferred to your PayPal account and not your bank account.
Shopify Retail POS
Learn more
on Shopify POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.70%
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online (Basic plan).
Monthly fee
$5
POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.)
Shopify’s POS system is well equipped to handle all the complexities that come with selling items via an online store. In all subscription tiers, you can set up an online shop and add products almost instantly, sell through multiple channels (including social media), connect with vendors, automatically email customers who abandon their carts, process payments at reasonable rates and make sales in 133 currencies and multiple languages. These features make Shopify one of the best retail POS options.
Pros
- Has good features for multichannel selling.
- Offers integrated, flat-rate payment processing.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- More e-commerce focused than other competitors.
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.3% + 10¢ or 2.6% + 10¢
in-person; 3.5% + 10¢ online.
Monthly fee
$15
$14.95 and up.
Clover's POS system stands out with its durable and versatile hardware, with POS terminals that make it easy to accept orders at the counter or on the go. You also have the option to pair the hardware and software with a different merchant account, such as one from Wells Fargo, SunTrust, PNC, BBVA or Citi.
Pros
- Competitive flat rates for payment processing.
- Hardware performs well and is well designed.
Cons
- No free options.
- Pricing can be tough to understand.
Our picks for
Best payment processors
Having a payment processor is important for any business that accepts credit cards. The best payment processors offer competitive transaction rates, can process multiple payment methods and currencies, are transparent with their fees and may offer discounted transaction rates based on sales volume.
Stripe
Learn more
on Stripe Payments' secure website
Payment processing fees
2.7% + 5¢
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.
Monthly fee
$0
Stripe Payments can accept dozens of payment methods and more than 135 currencies. And its advanced developer tools allow you to create a checkout flow that feels custom, provided you know how to use them. Stripe users can accept in-person payments by integrating the company’s point-of-sale option, Stripe Terminal. But if you do most of your business in person, there are better options.
Pros
- Highly customizable.
- Competitive pricing.
Cons
- Prioritizes online merchants.
- Requires developer experience.
Helcim
Learn more
on Helcim's secure website
Payment processing fees
0.40% + 8¢
plus interchange, in-person; 0.50% + 25¢ plus interchange, online.
Monthly fee
$0
Helcim is a standout choice for credit card processing because it checks off many boxes. Setup is quick. Helcim gives you the ability to accept credit cards in person, online, through an app or over the phone. The rates are also competitive. Just know that the processing fees listed here are for businesses with a monthly credit card volume of $25,000 or less. Fees begin decreasing once a business exceeds that monthly volume.
Pros
- Pricing is transparent.
- Offers all-inclusive platform.
Cons
- Potentially expensive for low-volume businesses.
Stax by Fattmerchant
Learn more
on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website
Payment processing fees
0% + $0.08
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$99
and up.
Stax offers plans starting at $99 per month that give businesses access to 0% markup on interchange fees, plus a low fixed fee per transaction. That makes it a strong choice for businesses with high sales volumes.
Pros
- No markup on interchange rate.
- Unique add-on features.
Cons
- Not a good option for businesses with low sales.
- Pricing isn't as transparent as competitors.
Dharma Merchant Services
Payment processing fees
0.15% + 8¢
plus interchange in-person; 0.20% + 11¢ plus interchange online.
Monthly fee
$25
for most industries; $20 for nonprofits.
With 24/7 customer support, no long-term contracts and no PCI compliance fees, Dharma Merchant Services is a solid choice for small businesses that process at least $10,000 of card transactions each month. The company also offers lower monthly fees and processing rates for nonprofits, which makes it a strong choice for these organizations.
Pros
- Competitive transaction pricing.
- Good flexibility.
Cons
- Monthly fees can be barrier to entry.
- Requires separate accounts for online and in-person payments.
Payline
Learn more
on Payline's secure website
Payment processing fees
0.4% + 10¢
plus interchange in-person; 0.75% + 20¢ plus interchange online.
Monthly fee
$10
in person; $20 online.
Payline is transparent with its competitive processing rates, which is rare among payment processors that work with high-risk businesses. The company even includes a calculator feature on its pricing page to help you estimate your total monthly cost for processing.
Pros
- Pricing transparency.
- Competitive transaction rates.
- Customer support by phone and email.
- No long-term contracts or cancellation fees.
- No PCI compliance fees.
- Integrates with many POS systems, shopping carts and QuickBooks.
Cons
- Separate monthly fees for in-person and online processing; monthly fees can add up if you process transactions both in person and online.
Our picks for
Best payroll software
Payroll software doesn’t just make paying your employees easier — some will also calculate and file payroll taxes for you. Typically it offers some level of access to employees so they can view pay stubs, download tax forms and update their personal information. Standout payroll software includes automatic payroll functionality and direct integrations with popular accounting software.
Gusto Payroll
Learn more
on Gusto Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$40/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, custom pricing. Fee per employee varies by tier.
Promotion
N/A
Gusto offers full-service payroll with unlimited payroll runs, tax filings and payment, and automated payroll options. HR features such as health insurance administration, employee self-onboarding and state new hire reporting are included at all pricing tiers. Employees also get access to a mobile app called Gusto Wallet to help them track their finances, and they can opt to be paid through debit card. For businesses that want the human touch, the Premium level offers dedicated HR support. Gusto integrates with many third-party software products, including popular accounting apps like QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks and Xero.
Pros
- Benefits administration (health benefits are available in 37 states and Washington, D.C.; 401(k) plans are available in all 50 states).
- Time-tracking features at higher-price tiers (limited at Simple level).
- Certified HR experts available (at the Premium level).
- Free account setup.
- Next-day direct deposit (at Plus and Premium levels).
Cons
- More expensive than some options.
- Limited hours for live support.
QuickBooks Payroll
Learn more
on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$45/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $125. Fee per employee varies by tier.
Promotion
One month free trial
or 50% off for three months; terms apply.
For the many small-business owners who use QuickBooks Online for accounting needs, turning to QuickBooks Payroll is a logical choice for the fast, convenient integration. The Core plan offers a full suite of payroll features, including unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filing, robust payroll reports and next-day direct deposit. Higher tiers add features such as same-day direct deposit, HR Support Center and mobile time tracking. At $125 a month plus $10 per employee, the Elite plan includes a personal HR advisor, expert setup help and a tax-penalty-free guarantee. Through the QuickBooks Workforce portal, employees can access their pay stubs and personal information.
Pros
- Benefits administration at all levels.
- Time-tracking features available (Premium and up).
- Next-day direct deposit at Core level (same-day at Premium).
- HR support available (Premium and up).
- The option to choose a 30-day free trial or 50% off base price for first three months; terms apply.
- Easy integration with QuickBooks Online.
Cons
- Limited integration with non-QuickBooks products.
- Additional fees if you have employees in more than one state (Core and Premium).
RUN Powered by ADP
Learn more
on RUN Powered by ADP's secure website
Starting at
$79/month
Plus $4 per employee. Custom pricing also available.
Promotion
Three months free
Terms apply
ADP RUN offers a strong list of payroll features and solid customer support optimized for businesses with one to 49 employees. And if you’re planning to scale your business up, ADP has products for every stage of your growth up to 1,000 employees or more. An employee portal is available to view pay history and tax forms, or employees can download the Mobile Solutions app to track time, access retirement accounts and review benefits. ADP integrates with a wide variety of apps, including popular accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero. Some drawbacks are that you have to talk to a sales rep to get a quote, and many features come with an extra price tag.
Pros
- Benefits administration available as add-on.
- Time-tracking features available as add-on.
- HR features offered at higher tiers, including HR help desk support.
- First three months free; terms apply.
- Ability to scale up for growing businesses.
Cons
- Opaque pricing.
- Limited HR support at base level.
OnPay Payroll
Learn more
on OnPay Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$40/month
Plus $6 per employee.
Promotion
One month free
Terms apply
OnPay keeps it simple, offering a wide range of features encompassing payroll, HR and benefits for one base rate — and the first month is free. While designed for smaller businesses, it can run larger payrolls and boasts support for specialized industries such as restaurants, farms, nonprofits and churches. OnPay provides self-onboarding tools and additional self-service features that let employees access pay stubs, update personal information, request time off and download tax forms. It integrates with accounting software such as QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop and Xero.
Pros
- Benefits administration included.
- Integrates with third-party software for time tracking.
- HR tools included.
- One-month free trial; terms apply.
- Straightforward pricing.
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
Cons
- Limited customer support hours.
Patriot Payroll
Learn more
on Patriot Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$17/month
Plus $4 per employee. Additional pricing tiers (per month): $37.
Promotion
One month free
Terms apply
Patriot Payroll offers an affordable and well-regarded payroll product, with add-ons that can cover HR and time and attendance reporting. Be aware that the Basic level does not include tax filing and depositing. These features are included at the Full Service level, which bumps the monthly base fee to $37 — but keeps the per-employee fee low at $4 per month. Patriot guarantees accurate and on-time tax filing on your behalf, or it will pay the penalties and interest. Accounting software integrations include Patriot Accounting as well as both the online and desktop versions of QuickBooks.
Pros
- Time tracking available as add-on.
- HR support available as add-on.
- One-month free trial; terms apply.
- Covers up to 100 employees.
Cons
- Doesn't offer benefits administration.
- Extra fee for 1099 e-filing (at Basic level).
- Limited accounting integration options.
Our picks for
Best invoicing software
Accounting software usually comes with an invoicing feature. However, if you prefer a standalone invoicing product, here are several great options that all include a free pricing plan.
Zoho Invoice
Learn more
on Zoho Invoice's secure website
Starting at
$0
Free.
Promotion
N/A
Zoho Invoice is comprehensive yet easy to use. You can keep track of hours, expenses and tasks on a variety of projects in an app or browser. When work is complete, you can send highly customizable invoices to customers, along with automated email reminders if payments become overdue. Businesses can access all of Zoho Invoice’s features for free, but invoices are capped at 1,000 per year. In addition to online credit card payments, Zoho Invoice lets you accept cash, check and ACH payments.
Pros
- Send up to 1,000 invoices per year for free.
- Portal lets clients pay invoices and view their transaction history.
- Payment gateway integrations include Stripe, PayPal, Square and more.
- Autoscan uploaded receipts and convert them into expenses.
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations outside of other Zoho products and QuickBooks Online.
Invoice Ninja
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $10, $14.
Promotion
N/A
Invoice Ninja’s free plan offers all of the key features that invoice software should, including time tracking, the ability to ask customers to pay a deposit upfront and the opportunity to add taxes and discounts to invoices. Clients can pay online or use ACH payments to transfer funds. The paid plans come with additional useful features like bulk invoicing, but the free version is so robust that you may never need to upgrade — as long as you don’t exceed 20 clients. You can add additional users to only the most expensive Enterprise plan (for a fee).
Pros
- Free plan supports unlimited invoices for up to 20 clients.
- Automatically transfer credit card processing fees to customers and allow them to tip on invoices or pay incrementally over time.
- Integrates with more than a dozen payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, Square and Apple Pay.
- Built-in inventory tool tracks items as they’re invoiced.
- Portal lets clients view their invoices and payment history.
Cons
- No direct integrations with bookkeeping or accounting software.
- Enterprise plan pricing increases as you add more users.
Hiveage
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $19, $29, $49.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Pro plan.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the features other software programs offer and all you need to do is send invoices and receive payments, Hiveage stands out for its simplicity. Creating one-time and recurring invoices is straightforward, the dashboard is easy to navigate, and it offers time and expense tracking even in the free version. You can accept online payments with any plan, but to accept offline payments through cash, check and bank transfer, you’ll have to subscribe to the most expensive Plus plan. Hiveage can also integrate with accounting, CRM and project management software via Zapier.
Pros
- Free plan supports unlimited invoicing for up to five clients.
- Integrates with a dozen payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, Square and more.
- Assign different billable rates to each type of task.
- Direct clients to your own custom domain with the Plus plan.
Cons
- No built-in, direct integrations with bookkeeping or accounting software.
- All plans have client limits (highest-tier Plus plan caps at 1,000).
Harvest
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $12 per user.
Promotion
30-day free trial
of the Harvest Pro plan.
Harvest allows members of a project team to track their hours and expenses in detail, often within whatever apps project managers are using. Managers can set the budget for a project and track expenses and hours to make sure teams are working efficiently. When it comes to invoicing, Harvest’s estimate, invoice and payment collection tools are easy to navigate, and it offers helpful features like automated email reminders to customers with late payments.
If you’re concerned about credit card processing fees adding up, you can switch off the ability to pay with a credit card through Stripe. Instead, your invoices will give clients the option to pay only via ACH transfer.
Pros
- Offers a free plan (limited to two projects).
- Advanced time-tracking features, including integrations with Google Calendar, Slack, Asana, Trello and other project management tools.
- Display billable hours by task, person or project on invoices.
- Snap and upload photos of billable expense receipts with the mobile app.
- Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero for accounting.
Cons
- Invoice customization options are limited. Free users can’t add company logos to invoices, and Harvest offers only two templates (one PDF and one GDoc).
- Payment integrations are limited to Stripe and PayPal.
Our picks for
Best inventory management software
It’s not uncommon to find inventory tracking features in your accounting or POS software. Here are several standalone options, however, that may be a good fit for businesses with basic or limited POS software or those operating without a POS but in need of a system to help manage inventory.
Cin7
Starting at
$349/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $599, $999. Custom pricing also available.
Promotion
14-day free trial.
Cin7 helps e-commerce businesses streamline order management, inventory, shipping, manufacturing and returns processes across multiple channels. Growing businesses that could benefit from a built-in point-of-sale system, customer relationship management module and more robust reporting suite can upgrade to Cin7 Pro, Advanced or Omni plans.
Pros
- Multichannel tracking syncs inventory online and offline.
- Scalable; offers plans for enterprise businesses.
- More than 30 reports available.
- Integrates with dozens of software products.
- Generates barcode labels.
- Can create workflow automation rules for order fulfillment.
Cons
- No mobile app for iPhone users.
- Limited number of users in all plans; can add users for additional cost.
- Plans limit which types of apps you can integrate with and number of orders per month.
Brightpearl
Promotion
N/A
Quickly growing e-commerce businesses that need a holistic solution for running their retail operation might consider Brightpearl. In addition to offering e-commerce inventory and order management, the retail operating system also has an integrated CRM solution and POS system.
Pros
- Sync inventory across multiple channels online and in-store.
- Create automation rules for tasks like order processing and invoicing.
- In-depth reporting on sales channels, customers, suppliers and marketing campaigns.
- Forecasting tools predict demand and make inventory recommendations.
- Also offers its own POS system, accounting and invoicing capabilities, customer relationship management system and warehouse management software.
- Unlimited users.
Cons
- Quote-based pricing makes it difficult to compare costs.
- Excessive for small businesses that don’t plan to grow.
inFlow Inventory
Starting at
$110/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $279; $549; $1,319.
Promotion
14-day free trial
InFlow could be a good option for B2B businesses that sell their products online and want an easy way to manage online orders and stock from one place. All plans come with one-on-one setup assistance and demos to get business owners started, and the company’s hardware lineup features a handheld scanner for businesses that need to take stock of items around the store or warehouse.
Pros
- Offers in-house smart scanner device.
- Generate barcode labels.
- More than 30 reports available.
- Integrated business-to-business showroom for listing items online.
Cons
- Must opt for more expensive plan to access unlimited locations.
- Number of included integrations is limited for all plans; must pay additional monthly charge to add integrations.
Zoho Inventory
Learn more
on Zoho Inventory's secure website
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $79, $129, $199, $299, $399.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Zoho Inventory’s plans scale up according to the number of users, warehouses, orders, bills and shipping labels, meaning small businesses don’t have to pay for what they don’t need. The software is especially ideal for entrepreneurs who already subscribe to a separate product in the Zoho suite, like Zoho CRM.
Pros
- Sync inventory across multiple online sales channels.
- Client portal in all plans.
- All paid plans include two hours of setup help.
- Free barcode generator.
Cons
- Only higher-tier plans (Professional plan and up) include automated workflows.
- Must subscribe to most expensive plan to view real-time reports and access advanced analytics features.
Our picks for
Best business budgeting software
Business budgeting software is designed to help you forecast and manage cash flow. It often includes features for budget creation and reporting and can even help you run projections and plan for various financial scenarios.
PlanGuru
Starting at
$99/per month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $299.
Promotion
14-day free trial
PlanGuru offers much more detailed budgeting and forecasting features than typical accounting software does. For example, instead of guessing what an account budget should look like any given month, you can create custom projection formulas based on financial and non-financial drivers. Keep in mind there may be a learning curve for building these formulas and identifying relevant drivers.
Pros
- Offers more than 20 forecasting methods including percentage of other accounts, growth rates and assumptions, and key performance indicators.
- Predicts cash flow and can create budget forecasts for up to 10 years.
- Can import chart of accounts data from QuickBooks Online or Xero.
- Scenario analysis tool helps your business plan for “what if” situations.
Cons
- There will be a learning curve if you’re not familiar with using various projection methods.
- Accounting data isn’t synced daily. QuickBooks Online integration updates scenarios with actual results on a monthly basis.
Float
Starting at
$69/per month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $119, $249.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Float’s functionality doesn’t get quite as granular as PlanGuru does, but for business owners who want a more user-friendly experience, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The software has a clean user interface and analyzes historical accounting data to suggest budget values for you if you’re not sure where to start. This is a plus for business owners who need more features than their accounting software offers but are still relatively new to budgeting. The app also helps businesses plan for worst-case scenarios with a dedicated tool that shows how certain events, like losing a valuable client, would affect cash flow.
Pros
- Forecasts cash flow for up to three years.
- Automatically imports QuickBooks Online and Xero data daily.
- Scenario planning tool prepares your business for “what if” situations.
- Streamlined user interface makes it easier to use than some competitors.
Cons
- Focuses on cash flow only, as opposed to other apps that incorporate profit and loss budgets, etc. This can be limiting for businesses that need a more holistic view of their financials.
Centage Planning Maestro®
Promotion
N/A
Centage Planning Maestro’s dashboard does a great job of displaying revenue percentage by department, along with yearly financial comparisons and monthly trends. The amount of information can be overwhelming at first, but business owners who take a more in-depth approach to financial planning and analysis will appreciate it. In addition to your typical revenue and expense planning, the software lets you import data from your HR software to set budgets for each employee. This is especially helpful if you run a larger small business with a considerable workforce.
Pros
- Scenario planning tool helps your business prepare for “what if” situations.
- Can use non-financial drivers, like hours worked or square footage, to calculate expense and revenue budgets.
- Customizable performance dashboard drills into historical trends and comparisons.
- In-depth financial planning and analysis tools can accommodate medium-size businesses with dedicated finance teams, too.
Cons
- Accounting software integrations cost extra.
- Getting used to various customization options is a learning process.
- Quote-based pricing isn’t transparent.
Our picks for
Best HR software
If your business spends a lot of time hiring and training employees, it might be time to explore human resources software that can assist in benefits administration, payroll and employee onboarding.
Rippling
Starting at
$35/month
Plus $8 per person.
Promotion
N/A
Rippling’s HR products are packaged as a cloud-based HRIS, or human resources information system, that will accommodate from two to 2,000 employees. All employee data is stored in one workforce platform, thus allowing you to automate many manual HR and IT processes. Businesses can customize their plans based on their needs.
Pros
- Single platform for employee data.
- Payroll in all 50 states and outside the U.S.
- Employee app and device management.
Cons
- Lacks pricing transparency.
- System may be more than the average small business requires.
Namely
Promotion
N/A
Namely is an all-in-one human resources platform focused on midsize companies, which it defines as ranging from 25 to 1,000 employees. In addition to HR capabilities, it offers features meant to help unify your workplace by engaging employees, encouraging their development and making them feel appreciated.
Pros
- Employee engagement tools.
- Vast library of training and compliance courses.
- Offers a monthly webinar to demonstrate the product.
Cons
- Lacks pricing transparency.
- Not the best fit for businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
BambooHR
Promotion
N/A
BambooHR offers an all-in-one HR system for small and midsize businesses. Collecting, storing and analyzing employee data is a priority for BambooHR, but it also offers tools that can engage your employees.
Pros
- Focus on analytics and reporting.
- Strong employee engagement tools.
- Seven-day free trial.
Cons
- Lacks pricing transparency.
- Payroll is considered an add-on.
GoCo
Promotion
N/A
GoCo provides HR features including solid benefits administration with a focus on streamlining the hiring and onboarding process for new hires. You can explore the product through a free tour of a real account and even experiment with the data to get a feel for the product.
Pros
- Paper-free hiring and onboarding process.
- 20% discount for annual and multiyear contract payment.
- Product tour with preloaded demo data.
Cons
- Lacking pricing details.
- Limited employee performance features.
TriNet Zenefits
Starting at
$10/month
Per person. Must pay for at least 5 people per month.
Promotion
12-months free payroll
With annual subscription to Growth and Zen plans.
TriNet Zenefits is an all-in-one HR software platform that can help you reduce employee paperwork through automation and encourages employee collaboration through its People Hub.
Pros
- Employee self-onboarding that can be completed before the start date.
- People Hub for employee engagement and collaboration.
- Free payroll for 12 months for businesses that meet promotion terms.
Cons
- Minimum charge for five employees totaling $50 per month.
- Payroll is an add-on feature at an added cost.
How to choose the right business software
Before subscribing to any business software product, make a list of the different types of products and features you think you’ll need. If you’re not sure where to start, most small businesses require point-of-sale (POS) software or at least payment processing software to be able to accept card payments. From there, you may want to consider accounting software, paying attention to whether it integrates directly with your POS software. If your business has employees, a good next step may be to explore a payroll software option that integrates with your accounting and or POS software.
In addition to considering which features meet your business’s specific needs, have a monthly software budget in mind and make sure your products directly integrate with each other. Paying for indirect integrations may add unnecessary costs.
For a more in-depth look at different types of business software — and to see even more options — check out NerdWallet’s picks for:
Last updated on September 13, 2023
Methodology
Here’s more information about how we evaluate accounting software, POS systems, payment processing providers and payroll software services.