KleanBooks Guide to choosing bookkeeping software.

The Verdict: Is bookkeeping software right for your business? YES!

Bookkeeping software will eliminate the biggest responsibility of chasing paper documents and maintaining your own software that will be falling behind the times. It is also vital and necessary in order to create the financial statements for you to make informed future decisions. Our recommendations are Xero, QuickBooks Online, and QuickBooks Desktop. Please note that desktop version does not allow for 24/7 access to bookkeeping.

Why Small & Medium Businesses Love KleanBooks:

When it comes to bookkeeping, bookkeeping software can make the process much easier. Bookkeeping software can keep track of your finances, provide reports and analysis, and automate many of the tasks associated with bookkeeping. Here are some of the main features to look for when choosing bookkeeping software.

Desktop Bookkeeping Software

You install this type of bookkeeping software on your computer and you access it through an icon on your desktop. This is unlike a mobile app or web platform. However, the software still includes all of the features you need to keep track of your finances, including income and expenses, invoicing, and payments.

Online Bookkeeping Software

You access this type of bookkeeping software from a web browser. It is often more affordable than desktop bookkeeping software, and it offers many of the same features. However, it may not be as comprehensive as some of the more expensive options.

Reporting & Analytics

This type of bookkeeping software can be accessed on your smartphone or tablet. It is often more affordable than desktop bookkeeping software, and it offers basic features. However, mobile bookkeeping software is going to be the least comprehensive option. This is simply due to the fact that it’s hard to access in-depth analytics and data from your phone. However, for basic invoicing and financial tracking, it’s fine.

Ease of Use

One of the best bookkeeping software features to look out for is ease of use. Look for bookkeeping software that is easy to use and navigate. The last thing you want is to waste time trying to figure out how to use the software. If the software is going to cost you hours of wasted time (and ultimately money) to learn to use then it might not be worth it.

Automatic Updates

Make sure the bookkeeping software you choose offers automatic updates. This way, you can be sure that your financial information is always up-to-date. The goal of bookkeeping software is to automate processes for you. The last thing you want to have to do is worry about regular software updates and doing them manually.

What is bookkeeping software?

Look for bookkeeping software that offers powerful reporting and analysis features. This way, you can get a clear picture of your finances and make informed decisions about your bookkeeping. However, mobile bookkeeping software is going to be the least comprehensive option. This is simply due to the fact that it’s hard to access in-depth analytics and data from your phone. However, for basic invoicing and financial tracking, it’s fine.

6 Things to Consider:

Consider the size of your business

Deciding on bookkeeping software for your business can be a daunting task, but it’s important to carefully consider the size of your business when making your decision.

For small businesses, there are a number of software programs available that are designed specifically for businesses with a limited number of employees and transactions.

These programs typically offer a basic set of features, such as the ability to track income and expenses, create invoices, and run reports. For larger businesses, however, it’s often necessary to choose a more robust program that can handle a greater volume of data.

These programs typically offer more advanced features, such as the ability to track inventory levels, manage payroll, and generate financial statements. No matter what size business you have, there’s a bookkeeping software solution that’s right for you.

How User Friendly is the Software

When choosing bookkeeping software, consider how user-friendly the software is. After all, you will be spending a lot of time using the software, so you want to be sure that it is easy to use and navigate.

One way to judge how user-friendly a piece of software is is to look at online reviews. Another way is to download a free trial version of the software and try it out for yourself.

By taking some time to assess how user-friendly the software is, you can help ensure that you choose a product that will meet your needs and make your bookkeeping tasks easier.

Features: Invoicing, Time Tracking & More

When choosing bookkeeping software, there are a few important features to keep in mind. First, the software should have invoicing capabilities. This will make it easy to bill customers and keep track of payments.

Second, the software should have time tracking capabilities. This will allow you to track how much time you spend on each project and ensure that you are billing correctly.

Finally, the software should have the ability to generate reports. This will allow you to see how your business is performing and make necessary adjustments.

By choosing software with these features, you can streamline your bookkeeping process and get more out of your data.

What ongoing costs does the software cost?

When choosing the best bookkeeping software for your business, also be sure to consider the ongoing costs associated with the software. Many software programs require a monthly or annual subscription fee, and some also charge transaction fees. In addition, you may need to pay for training or support in order to use the software effectively. As you compare different software programs, be sure to ask about all of the potential costs so that you can make an informed decision.

Customer Support & Quality of Service

Not only do you need to find software that meets your specific needs, but you also need to make sure that it will provide quality customer support. When choosing bookkeeping software, look for a company that offers 24/7 customer support. This way, you can be sure that someone will always be available to help you with any questions or issues that you may have. After all, this is what you’re paying for. If you don’t receive timely support, it’s going to make a whole lot more sense to go ahead and pay a bookkeeping business for regular support. Additionally, read online reviews of the software to get an idea of the quality of service that you can expect.

Free Trial or Demos

When choosing bookkeeping software, it’s important to consider whether you want to try out a free trial or demo first. Both options have their own pros and cons, so it’s worth taking the time to evaluate which one is right for you. Free trials typically give you access to all of the features of the software for a limited amount of time. This can be helpful if you’re trying to decide whether the software is a good fit for your needs. Demos, on the other hand, usually only provide a limited number of features, but they can be a great way to get a feel for how the software works before committing to a purchase. Ultimately, you should be able to try the software before fully purchasing it, though. We never recommend purchasing software before using it. And we definitely don’t recommend signing a long contract before testing anything out either.

3 Tips for using bookkeeping software effectively

Bookkeeping software can be a great way to keep track of your finances, but it’s important to use it effectively in order to get the most out of it. If you think that using bookkeeping software is the best option for you compared to hiring a bookkeeper or accounting firm then you’ll want to ensure you’re using it correctly. Here are three tips to help you do just that.

Keep your software up to date

If you are not using our recommended softwares, you must do this.

Bookkeeping software can track your income and expenditures, help you manage your budget, and even prepare your tax return. However, bookkeeping software is only as effective as it is up to date.

Regular software updates not only improve bookkeeping software performance but also add new features and fix bugs. As a result, it is important to keep your bookkeeping software up to date in order to get the most out of it.

You can usually set bookkeeping software to update automatically, or you can update it manually when new updates are released. Either way, make sure to keep your bookkeeping software up to date so that you can keep your business finances in top shape.

Track the progress of your business

Tracking your business’ progress is important to ensure that it is heading in the right direction. There are various bookkeeping software programs available that can help you to track your income and expenses, as well as your inventory levels.

By keeping track of these things, you will be able to see how your business is performing and make any necessary changes. For example, if you see that your expenses are increasing but your income isn’t, you may need to cut back on some of your costs.

Alternatively, if you see that you are not selling as much as you expected, you may need to adjust your prices or marketing strategy. Tracking your progress will help you to ensure that your business is on the right track and making progress towards its goals.

Be detail oriented and reduce bloatware

Often times many companies import an extremely large and unnecessary chart of accounts that is not applicable to thier business. The best way to keep a bookkeeping software in top shape is to make sure that you reduce as much bloatware as possible by not creating an excess of unnecessary accounts.

Furthermore, it is good to be detail oriented in the naming and breakdown of income and expenses so that all parties have the best knowledge possible on their data.