Top 5 Accounting Software for Small Businesses in 2025

There are dozens of accounting tools out there that promise to simplify your books, automate reports, and make tax season painless. But comparing each one and digging through pricing pages, trial limits, features, etc., can be time-consuming. 

We've done the hard part for you. In this guide, we’ll walk through the top 5 accounting software for small businesses in 2025. You'll know what each one offers and how much it costs. By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform fits your needs (and which to avoid).

If you’d rather not spend your time managing accounting software at all, Haven has expert teams who handle your books, taxes, and financials for you. We pair everything with an in-house, modern dashboard so you always have clarity on your finances. 

Quick Comparison of Best Accounting Software

If you’re in a hurry or just want a quick snapshot before diving into details, here’s how the top accounting software options stack up: 

1. Haven

Haven is a full-stack finance partner trusted by 500+ startups and growing businesses. It combines expert accounting support with a modern dashboard built for founders.

Dashboard from Haven

Here’s what’s included with Haven

• Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliations are done for you

• Accounting and tax prep handled by professionals

• Reports you can actually read — P&L, balance sheet, burn rate, runway, cash flow

• Startup-specific accounting (like deferred revenue, accruals, or SaaS metrics)

• Dedicated accountant with CPA oversight

• Slack-first communication for quick answers. You don't have to raise a ticket and wait for hours for a reply. 

You get the visibility of great software, with the reliability of having real accountants keeping everything accurate behind the scenes.

Pricing

Plans start around $300/month for businesses spending about $20K monthly, scaling based on complexity (crypto, inventory, multi-entity, etc.). Every plan includes a dedicated accountant and full financial reporting.

Haven accounting partner pricing

Have is best for founders who want expert accounting and tax support. Book a strategy call with Haven today and see how we can help. 

2. Xero

Xero helps small teams stay on top of their numbers with automated bank feeds, invoicing, expense tracking, and reconciliation, all in one simple dashboard. You can connect to over 1,000 apps, including Stripe, Shopify, and HubSpot, to streamline payments and operations.

Xero accounting software dashboard

Key features of Xero include

• Unlimited users on every plan (rare among accounting tools).

• Multi-currency support for global businesses.

• Project tracking and basic inventory tools for product-based companies.

• Real-time collaboration with your accountant or bookkeeper.

• Mobile access so you can invoice or approve expenses on the go.

Pricing

Xero offers three main plans, all with month-to-month flexibility and a 30-day free trial. Current 2025 pricing and promotions include 90% off for the first three months:

Pricing for Xero accounting software 

3. QuickBooks

QuickBooks has been around for decades, constantly evolving from desktop software to a modern, cloud-based platform used by millions worldwide. With strong automation, detailed reporting, and over 750 integrations, it’s a great option for accounting software. 

What You Get with QuickBooks

QuickBooks covers almost every accounting need you can imagine:

• Income and expense tracking with automated bank feeds

• Custom invoices and online payments (credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay)

• Payroll and HR tools for paying your team and managing benefits

• Reporting and forecasting dashboards for cash flow and profitability

• Inventory and project tracking for product-based or service businesses

• Mobile app for invoicing, mileage tracking, and approvals on the go

• Integrations with Shopify, Square, Salesforce, and 800+ apps

Its new AI-powered tools, Intuit Assist and Accounting Agent, help automate data entry, flag inconsistencies, and surface insights for better decision-making.

Pricing

QuickBooks offers four main plans for different business sizes and needs. Each comes with a 30-day free trial, so you can test the platform before committing. Prices listed below are 50% off the standard monthly rates, based on QuickBooks’ current promotion.

QuickBooks, an accounting software 

4. Zoho Books

Zoho Books is one of the most affordable full-featured accounting platforms for small businesses. What makes Zoho Books stand out is its balance of automation and cost. You get features often reserved for pricier software — like multi-currency support, project tracking, and smart workflows — without stretching your budget. 

It also fits naturally into the wider Zoho ecosystem (CRM, Payroll, Inventory, Projects), making it a great option if you already use other Zoho apps.

Zoho Books dashboard

What You Get with Zoho Books

• Invoicing & Payments: Custom invoices, recurring billing, and online payments via Stripe, PayPal, and more.

• Expense & Bill Tracking: AI-powered receipt scans, multi-currency expense management, and automated bank feeds.

• Inventory & Projects: Real-time stock tracking, project time logs, and profitability reports.

• Automation: Custom workflows, reminders, and approvals that reduce manual tasks.

• Reporting & Analytics: 50+ built-in reports plus budgeting and forecasting tools in higher tiers.

• Compliance: Handles sales tax, 1099 filings, and country-specific tax rules (like VAT and GST).

Pricing

Zoho Books offers a generous free plan and five paid tiers that scale with your team size and transaction volume. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial and annual discounts.

Zoho Book pricing plans

5. Sage 50 

Sage 50 is a desktop-based accounting software, but it also has cloud features so you can back up data and access it remotely. It’s designed for small to medium-sized businesses that need detailed accounting, inventory tracking, and advanced reporting. 

Sage 50 dashboard

What You Get with Sage 50

• Automated bookkeeping: Bank feeds, reconciliations, and receipt scanning through AutoEntry.

• Invoicing & payments: Custom quotes, invoices, and sales orders with online payment options via Stripe or Paya.

• Financial reports: Highly detailed profit & loss, balance sheet, cash-flow, and job-costing reports.

• Inventory management: Real-time stock tracking, purchase orders, and multi-tier pricing.

• Payroll & HR: Integrated payroll with tax filing and Sage HR add-on.

• Multi-company support: Consolidate financials and handle inter-company transactions.

Pricing

Sage 50 is sold as an annual subscription. The pricing is based on per user and starts from $668/year to $1,994/year. Add-ons like payroll and Sage HR come at an extra cost. 

Sage 50 pricing plans

Software Or Expensive Accountants Aren’t Your Only Options

Whatever you choose, remember that software can organize your numbers, but it can’t run your finances for you. Even the best tools still need your time — your inputs, your reviews, your weekends spent chasing receipts.

And while hiring a full-time accountant or finance team can take that work off your plate, it often comes with a high price tag. 

At Haven, we combine the best of both worlds

You get the support of real accountants who handle your books, taxes, and reports for you. All you see is a simple dashboard with your cash flow, profit, and runway, always up to date and never in a spreadsheet.

Talk to our team. A quick, free strategy call is the easiest way to see what Haven can take off your plate and how much time and money you could save with the right partner by your side.