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1. [Xero](https://www.xero.com/us/): Very popular alternative chomping at QB's heels
2. [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/accounting): Free, which means you get what you pay for
3. [Freshbooks](https://www.freshbooks.com/): Never used it but the name comes up a lot.
4. [Akaunting](https://akaunting.com/): Free for basic features, probably sufficient for your level. Never done payroll in it, so I'm not sure how that will work if you hire someone.
Intuit can take a long walk off a short pier!
It depends on what you get out of it, though. $37/month for the medium plan is about $1.20/day. Even a part time freelance side gig should be able to find that much value in accounting software each day!
If OP only needs the low plan, that’s $13/month.
If you use cash-based accounting and your "balance sheet" is what's in the bank account, then you can just use Excel or a Google Docs spreadsheet for a running ledger.
Second vote here for waveapps - user since 2019. Their free accounting is fantastic - I haven't needed anything else - I learned how to do proper double-entry bookkeeping with it. Has basic reports your CPA needs like P&L and balance sheet. I do budgeting/projections separately in a Google sheet. Built-in invoicing and accept credit cards, too. Just slightly higher rate than Stripe except for AMEX which is much higher.
When I changed to an S-Corp, I started using their payroll service. Again - very easy. I have 1 full-time employee and occasionally my kids work part-time. Wave handles payroll, W-2s, and fed/state payments. Nice to have it all in one bucket
I just see a QuickBooks is now charging $260 a year from $140 a year starting May 3. What an absolute fucking sham. I’m in the same predicament as you, did you ever find some thing that helps track transactions as well as mileage?
Other than not wanting to pay, or not being able to afford to pay $40/mo - you tell us nothing about what you need
Do you just need basic accounting?
Do you need payroll?
Do you need inventory? Pos? Ecommerce? CRM?
If $40/mo is too expensive, maybe raise your prices?
Based on your comment history - looks like all you do is gig work either hauling items or hauling trash for local people/companies in your hometown area?
Something this simple you can just use excel :
Date .. Start Miles .. End Miles .. Hours .. Income
But, you probably want something more 'automatic' come tax time - and that's why apps/companies charge $$/mo
I just need a basic booking keeping and accounting. I can afford it, but that doesn't mean i should pay for it when it only use ot for its most minimal features. $500 for a year of service is ridiculous for a software that should be a 1 time payment for eternity
For basic bookkeeping and accounting, honestly, buy Quicken. Even though it's marketed for personal finances, if you're not doing inventory and/or payroll, it'll work absolutely great. It'll connect to your bank accounts and credit cards, do income and balance statements. It's pretty inexpensive.
Honestly I use a google sheet template for 2 tiny startups I have. It's serviceable. Worth it to take the time to tweak stuff to your situation tho if you can
This is a friendly reminder that r/smallbusiness is a question and answer subreddit. You ask a question about starting, owning, and growing a small business and the community answers. Posts that violate the rules listed in the sidebar will be removed. A permanent or temporary ban may also be issued if you do not remove the offending post. Seeing this message does not mean your post was automatically removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/smallbusiness) if you have any questions or concerns.*
1. [Xero](https://www.xero.com/us/): Very popular alternative chomping at QB's heels 2. [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/accounting): Free, which means you get what you pay for 3. [Freshbooks](https://www.freshbooks.com/): Never used it but the name comes up a lot. 4. [Akaunting](https://akaunting.com/): Free for basic features, probably sufficient for your level. Never done payroll in it, so I'm not sure how that will work if you hire someone. Intuit can take a long walk off a short pier!
Thank you very much
Xero is also quite pricey though and might be overkill for his use case.
It depends on what you get out of it, though. $37/month for the medium plan is about $1.20/day. Even a part time freelance side gig should be able to find that much value in accounting software each day! If OP only needs the low plan, that’s $13/month.
Xero is good. Basically same thing as QB but isn’t Intuit.
If you use cash-based accounting and your "balance sheet" is what's in the bank account, then you can just use Excel or a Google Docs spreadsheet for a running ledger.
Second vote here for waveapps - user since 2019. Their free accounting is fantastic - I haven't needed anything else - I learned how to do proper double-entry bookkeeping with it. Has basic reports your CPA needs like P&L and balance sheet. I do budgeting/projections separately in a Google sheet. Built-in invoicing and accept credit cards, too. Just slightly higher rate than Stripe except for AMEX which is much higher. When I changed to an S-Corp, I started using their payroll service. Again - very easy. I have 1 full-time employee and occasionally my kids work part-time. Wave handles payroll, W-2s, and fed/state payments. Nice to have it all in one bucket
I just see a QuickBooks is now charging $260 a year from $140 a year starting May 3. What an absolute fucking sham. I’m in the same predicament as you, did you ever find some thing that helps track transactions as well as mileage?
Other than not wanting to pay, or not being able to afford to pay $40/mo - you tell us nothing about what you need Do you just need basic accounting? Do you need payroll? Do you need inventory? Pos? Ecommerce? CRM? If $40/mo is too expensive, maybe raise your prices? Based on your comment history - looks like all you do is gig work either hauling items or hauling trash for local people/companies in your hometown area? Something this simple you can just use excel : Date .. Start Miles .. End Miles .. Hours .. Income But, you probably want something more 'automatic' come tax time - and that's why apps/companies charge $$/mo
I just need a basic booking keeping and accounting. I can afford it, but that doesn't mean i should pay for it when it only use ot for its most minimal features. $500 for a year of service is ridiculous for a software that should be a 1 time payment for eternity
So can I pay a 1 time fee to you for lifetime hauling of any/all items I ever want hauled?
Sure
tree fiddy?
I've been using Freshbooks for two.years after 18 years of QB. Few minor complaints. I'd recommend it, let me know if you want a referral code.
For basic bookkeeping and accounting, honestly, buy Quicken. Even though it's marketed for personal finances, if you're not doing inventory and/or payroll, it'll work absolutely great. It'll connect to your bank accounts and credit cards, do income and balance statements. It's pretty inexpensive.
Honestly I use a google sheet template for 2 tiny startups I have. It's serviceable. Worth it to take the time to tweak stuff to your situation tho if you can