Best Bookkeeping Software for Startups and Small Business Owners Reviewed in 2024

In a world where time is money, keeping your finances organized can feel like an uphill battle amid the whirlwind of launching ideas and building customer relationships. 

That’s where doola bookkeeping software comes into play!

Imagine having all your financial data at your fingertips—simplifying invoicing, tracking expenses, and generating reports with just a few clicks. Sounds dreamy, right? 

Welcome to our comprehensive review of the best bookkeeping software for 2024! In this blog post, we’ll dive into the latest and greatest bookkeeping software, designed to meet the unique needs of startups and small businesses. 

Say goodbye to financial headaches and hello to clarity as we explore each platform’s pros and cons!

Ready to revolutionize your finances? Let’s get started!

Key Features to Look for in Bookkeeping Software for Startups

When searching for bookkeeping software for your startup, look for key features to ensure that it meets your specific needs. 

Let’s explore these features in detail to help you make an informed decision when selecting the best bookkeeping software for your startup.

User-Friendly Interface

As a startup owner who may not have extensive accounting knowledge, you want software that is easy to navigate and understand. 

Look out for features such as intuitive dashboards, customizable charts and graphs, and simple data entry processes.

Cloud-Based Software

Cloud-based connectivity is vital for startups as it allows remote access to real-time financial information from any location. 

Additionally, cloud-based solutions offer automatic updates and backups, which reduce the risk of losing critical data.

Automatically Track Bank Feeds

As a startup owner juggling various tasks simultaneously, manually entering bank transactions into your bookkeeping system can be time-consuming and prone to errors. 

Therefore, look for software that offers automatic bank feeds where transactions are directly imported from your bank accounts into the system.

Customizable Chart of Accounts

Your chart of accounts is essentially a list of all the categories used by your business to record financial transactions, such as income and expenses. 

When evaluating potential bookkeeping solutions, consider one that can categorize each and every business transaction for tax-ready books.

Invoicing Support

Managing invoices and payments can be a manual and tedious task for startups. Therefore, look for bookkeeping software that offers invoicing capabilities.

These will significantly reduce the time spent on chasing late payments and improve cash flow management.

Top 4 Bookkeeping Solutions for Startups and Small Businesses

When selecting a bookkeeping software solution, it’s essential to assess your requirements and research available solutions carefully. 

To save you time and effort in looking for one, we have brought you top bookkeeping software for your startup or small business.

1. doola Bookkeeping

doola Bookkeeping is one of the best bookkeeping options for startups due to its user-friendly features, affordable pricing plans, and robust capabilities.

It offers an intuitive, easy-to-use interface for organizing financial data, tracking expenses and income, generating reports, and managing invoices. 

It does not require any previous accounting knowledge or experience, making it ideal for new business owners who may not have a strong background in finance. 

Our intuitive bookkeeping software is designed for entrepreneurs with limited time, resources, and patience. It allows them to easily navigate the system and find what they need quickly.

In terms of capabilities, it comes loaded with everything needed to streamline your finances and automate mundane bookkeeping tasks. 

With this software, you can easily create invoices, track income and expenses, reconcile bank accounts automatically for reconciliation, and generate financial reports like profit and loss statements.

However, what sets us apart from the competition is our team of experienced and qualified bookkeepers and CPAs, who work with you every step of the way to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and confidentiality in all your books.

Our pricing plans start at $25/month for the bookkeeping software​​, and you can also avail of additional bookkeeping and tax filing services for a fraction of the cost.

Why We Picked It:

✅ Transparent, flat-rate pricing ensures you know exactly what you are in for. What you pay for is what you get.

✅ By integrating multiple bank accounts, it allows you to automatically import all transactions into the system, eliminating the need for manual data entry. 

✅ You can track your income and expenses, create invoices, manage accounts payable and receivable, and reconcile bank transactions in one place

✅ You can categorize expenses based on projects or clients, set up recurring invoices, and collect payments via Stripe Integration. 

✅ Integrates all your financial accounts in one place for easy reconciliation and real-time assistance from a team of dedicated bookkeepers and CPAs.

✅ Monthly and year-end financial statements, along with expert support for tax prep, filing, and year-round tax management.

Pros:

✔️Affordable Pricing

✔️User-friendly Interface

✔️Income and Expense Tracking

✔️Business Metrics

✔️Auto-Tagging Transactions

✔️Dedicated Bookkeeping

✔️Self-Serve Invoice Creation

✔️Financial Statements

✔️Tax Filings

✔️Catch-up Bookkeeping

2. Bench 

Bench bookkeeping is specifically designed for startups and small business owners who want a comprehensive and hassle-free way to manage their finances. 

The software provides accurate financial reports and personalized support from certified bookkeepers, supported by an easy-to-use platform that takes the stress out of daily bookkeeping tasks.

Why We Picked It:

✅ Bench allows even non-financially savvy individuals to manage their books easily without any prior training. 

✅ Hybrid approach of combining technology with human expertise to ensure accuracy in financial reporting. 

✅ It pairs each client with a dedicated team of experienced bookkeepers who review every line item to ensure accuracy.

Pros:

✔️Easy-to-use Platform

✔️Personalized Support

✔️Flexible Pricing Plans

✔️Tax Preparation Assistance

✔️Real-time Reporting

Cons:

❌Limited Integrations

❌No Mobile App

❌Limited Cash-based Accounting

3. Fondo

Fondo, a popular bookkeeping choice for startups and small business owners, has quickly become a top choice due to its feature-packed offerings and flexible pricing.

It offers a range of features that help business owners efficiently manage their finances, including income and expense tracking, invoicing, tax preparation, and financial reporting. 

It also allows users to sync their bank accounts and credit cards for automated transaction entry and seamless bank reconciliation.

Why We Picked It:

✅ Fondo simplifies the process with easy-to-navigate menus and an intuitive design.

✅ Vast range of customizable templates and reports that make it easy to generate professional-looking invoices, balance sheets, profit and loss statements, budgets, cash flow projections, and more. 

✅ Ideal for startups or small businesses without dedicated accounting staff who may not have extensive knowledge of finance or bookkeeping.

Pros:

✔️User-friendly Interface

✔️Automated Transaction Entry

✔️Multi-user Access

✔️Customizable Templates/Reports

✔️Real-time Financial Insights

✔️Dedicated Accountant

✔️Monthly, Quarterly, or Annual financial reporting package

Cons:

❌Limited Integrations

❌Limited Mobile App Features

❌Basic Plans Start at $599/month

4. Pilot Bookkeeping

Pilot Bookkeeping is a comprehensive bookkeeping software explicitly designed for startups and small business owners. 

Its interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it ideal for those who are not familiar with accounting or bookkeeping practices. 

It offers a wide range of features and tools to help keep track of financial transactions, manage invoices, and create reports.

One standout feature of Pilot Bookkeeping is its dedicated support team that helps users set up their accounts and provides assistance whenever needed. 

This makes it an ideal choice for entrepreneurs who do not have in-house accountants or financial professionals.

Why We Picked It:

✅ Unique combination of features tailored specifically for small businesses.

✅ Intuitive design and specialized features.

Pros:

✔️User-Friendly Interface

✔️Seamless Bank Reconciliation

✔️Automated Invoicing

✔️Advanced Tax Prep

✔️Monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flow reports

Cons:

❌Limited Integrations

❌No Mobile App

❌Complex Pricing Structure

Best Bookkeeping Solution for Different Business Sizes

The bookkeeping needs of different businesses can vary greatly depending on their size and structure. 

So, startups and small business owners need to choose the best bookkeeping solution that suits their specific needs in order to manage their finances effectively.

Best for Solo Entrepreneurs

It is important for solo entrepreneurs who are just starting out with their business venture to have a simple yet effective bookkeeping solution. 

doola Bookkeeping software caters specifically to the needs of solo entrepreneurs by providing easy-to-use features for creating invoices, tracking expenses, and managing payments. 

This cloud-based software allows users to access their financial data from anywhere at any time, making it convenient for busy entrepreneurs on the go.

Best for Small Teams

Small teams typically have slightly more complex bookkeeping needs compared to solo entrepreneurs. Therefore, we recommend a more advanced All-In-One Accounting by doola Bookkeeping.

It is a great option for small teams as it offers robust features such as dedicated bookkeeping support and tax filing assistance.

Best for Growing Startups

Growing startups have unique bookkeeping requirements that can change rapidly as they scale up their operations. This is where both doola Bookkeeping and Pilot can be an excellent choice.

Both of these platforms have become the go-to choice for startups because they offer dedicated bookkeeping and tax management services within the software itself.

How to Evaluate Bookkeeping and Accounting Software for Startups

With a plethora of options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to narrow down on one that best suits your business needs. 

So, we have brought you some key factors to consider when evaluating bookkeeping and accounting software for startups.

1. Cost-effectiveness

As a startup, it is essential to keep costs under control while investing in necessary business tools. 

Look for bookkeeping and accounting software that offers affordable pricing plans and free trials (doola Bookkeeping offers both!) before committing to a long-term subscription.

2. User-friendly Interface

No matter how advanced the features are, if the software is too complicated to use, it can become a hassle rather than an asset. 

Choose software with an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate and understand so you and your team won’t require much training.

3. Integration Capabilities

As a startup owner, you may already be using various tools like invoicing or expense-tracking apps. 

To avoid manual data entry errors, it would be beneficial to opt for bookkeeping and accounting software that integrates seamlessly with these tools.

4. Scalability

Your business will undoubtedly grow over time; therefore, it is crucial to choose software like doola Bookkeeping that can accommodate this growth without limitations or additional charges.

5. Customer Support 

Reliable customer support can make all the difference if any issues arise while using the software or if you require assistance with certain features. 

Look for software providers like doola Bookkeeping who offer excellent customer service, whether it’s through chat, phone support or email.

What’s the Difference Between Bookkeeping Software and Accounting Software?

While both bookkeeping and accounting involve managing financial transactions and records, there are some distinct differences between the two. 

👉🏼 Bookkeeping software is designed specifically for automating administrative tasks associated with recording daily financial transactions. 

👉🏼 Accounting software offers more advanced features such as budgeting, forecasting, compliance reporting, and customizable tax configurations. 

Depending on your business needs and goals, you can use a combination of both bookkeeping and accounting software or opt for an all-in-one solution that includes features from both categories.

Benefits of Using Bookkeeping Software for a Startup

Bookkeeping software provides various benefits to startups and small business owners, from time and cost savings to accuracy and scalability. 

With a range of options available in the market today, here are some of the key benefits of using bookkeeping software for startups:

1. Time-saving and Efficiency

Bookkeeping software automates several manual tasks that consume valuable time and effort.

Plus, you can generate reports that provide an overview of your business’s financial health with the click of a button.

2. Accurate Financial Records

A bookkeeping software eliminates human error from manual calculations and data entry mistakes that are common with traditional methods. 

Automated processes ensure precise calculations in real-time, giving you access to up-to-date financial information at any given moment.

Along with maintaining accurate records, bookkeeping software also allows for easy tracking and categorization of expenses since it can automatically import transactions — streamlining the entire process.

3. Cost Savings

Instead of hiring an accountant or outsourcing, you can use bookkeeping software to save significant costs associated with hiring accounting professionals while still maintaining accurate records.

Additionally, services like doola Bookkeeping offers affordable pricing plans tailored specifically for small businesses and startups, making it an economical option.

doola Bookkeeping — The Top Choice For Startups & Small Businesses

If you are looking for reliable bookkeeping software that caters to all your business needs, then doola Bookkeeping should be at the top of your list. 

With its user-friendly interface, customizable features, and excellent customer support, doola is the perfect solution for startups and small businesses.

But no matter how great a software may be, there will always be times when we need help or guidance. 

That’s why our dedicated customer support team is available via phone or email to assist with any issues or questions users may have.

In addition to these key features, doola Bookkeeping also offers automated bank feeds, Catch-Up Bookkeeping, and tax filing assistance — making it a comprehensive solution for all your bookkeeping needs.

Book a demo today to streamline your bookkeeping processes with a reliable and efficient software solution.