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Run your business smarter with the right software. Expert reviews of accounting, payroll, HR, legal, and productivity tools.
Running a small business means wearing many hats—accountant, HR manager, legal compliance officer, and more. The right business software automates these tasks, saves you hours each week, and helps you avoid costly mistakes.
We have reviewed the best business software for small business across accounting, invoicing, payroll, HR, legal, and productivity. Find tools that fit your budget and scale with your growth.
Our highest recommendations by category
The industry standard for small business accounting. Easy invoicing, expense tracking, tax preparation, payroll, and integrates with 650+ business apps.
$15-80/mo
Pros
Cons
Modern, friendly payroll and benefits platform. Handles payroll taxes, employee onboarding, benefits administration, and compliance in all 50 states.
$40/mo + $6/user
Pros
Cons
Cloud accounting designed for service businesses and freelancers. Beautiful invoices, time tracking, expense management, and client portals.
$17-55/mo
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Cons
Completely free accounting software for small businesses. Invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning at no cost. Pay only for payments and payroll.
Free
Pros
Cons
The most popular online legal service. Form LLCs, corporations, get legal documents, and access attorney advice. Great for business formation.
$0-500
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Cons
Simple, intuitive time tracking for teams and freelancers. Track time across projects, generate reports, and improve productivity.
Free / $10/user/mo
Pros
Cons
Essential tools for running your business
Track income, expenses, taxes, and financial health of your business.
Create professional invoices, accept payments, and manage cash flow.
Pay employees, manage benefits, track time, and stay compliant.
Form your business, create contracts, and get legal advice.
Track employee hours, manage projects, and improve productivity.
Store, share, and collaborate on documents securely.
QuickBooks vs Xero vs FreshBooks vs Wave
| Feature | QuickBooks | Xero | FreshBooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $15-80 | $13-70 | $17-55 | Free |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Excellent | ✓ |
| Payroll Add-on | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Best For | Most businesses | International | Service biz | Startups |
Verdict: QuickBooks for most US businesses, Xero for international, FreshBooks for service businesses, Wave for startups on a budget.
See how business software automation saves you time on routine tasks.
Total Weekly Time Saved
17.8 hours
| Task | Manual | With Software |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | 4 hours | 30 min |
| Payroll | 3 hours | 15 min |
| Expense Tracking | 2 hours | 20 min |
| Reporting | 3 hours | 5 min |
| Tax Prep | 8 hours | 1 hour |
| Total | 20 hours | ~3 hours |
Everything you need to know about business software
At minimum, you need accounting software (QuickBooks or Wave), a way to accept payments, and document storage (Google Drive). Add project management (Trello free) and communication tools (Slack free) as you grow. Payroll software becomes necessary once you hire employees.
QuickBooks is the industry standard with the most integrations and features. Xero is excellent for international businesses. FreshBooks is better for service businesses and invoicing. Wave is perfect if you need free accounting. Choose based on your specific needs and budget.
You need payroll software as soon as you hire employees or contractors regularly. Manual payroll is complex and error-prone. Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll handle tax calculations, filings, and direct deposit. The cost ($40+/month) is worth avoiding penalties and saving time.
Wave offers completely free accounting and invoicing. Google Drive provides free document storage. Clockify and Toggl have excellent free time tracking. For project management, Trello and ClickUp offer generous free plans. You can run a business on free tools until you need advanced features.
Not necessarily—QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and Xero all include invoicing. However, dedicated invoicing tools like Invoice2go or PayPal Invoicing can be simpler for basic needs. If your accounting software handles invoicing well, use it to keep everything in one place.
Start with your biggest pain points. Need better financial tracking? Start with accounting. Drowning in admin? Try automation tools. Look for tools that integrate together. Avoid over-buying—start simple and add tools as needs arise. Most businesses use 5-10 core software tools.
Start with free accounting from Wave, then add tools as you grow.