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Accounting: Buying Advice, Tips, and News

Latest Accounting Stories

Paying employees accurately and promptly is one of the most critical—and challenging—parts of running a small business. We test and rate the best payroll services to help you choose the right one for your needs.

By Kathy Yakal
A laptop with a hand inside it holding $100 bills and a pay check statement to the left on a dark green background
3.5

The intuitive Homebase platform offers many of the payroll, scheduling, and time tracking tools that small, service-based businesses need, though it's pricey and could provide more depth in some areas.

By Kathy Yakal
Homebase logo
4.0

QuickBooks Payroll has excellent, easy-to-use tools for managing employees and payroll tasks, though it works best in conjunction with QuickBooks Online.

By Kathy Yakal
Intuit QuickBooks logo
4.0

The cost-effective Patriot Software Payroll offers capable, understandable payroll processing and top-notch support for new and experienced managers.

By Kathy Yakal
Patriot Software logo
3.0

Square Payroll works well with the other labor management apps in the company's ecosystem and handles payroll runs capably, but it doesn't offer many deep features or customization options.

By Kathy Yakal
Square logo
4.5 Editors' Choice

ADP RUN is a premium and scalable payroll service that puts extremely detailed employee records and flexible reports into a top-notch interface on desktop and mobile.

By Kathy Yakal
ADP Run logo
4.5 Editors' Choice

Gusto’s state-of-the-art user experience and intuitive payroll and HR tools make it a strong choice for small businesses that are willing to pay a premium for excellence.

By Kathy Yakal
Gusto logo: the word "gusto" in lower case and in orange on a white background
4.5 Editors' Choice

OnPay is a superb payroll solution for businesses of all sizes, thanks to its affordable pricing, excellent support resources, responsive performance, and user-friendly interface.

By Kathy Yakal
OnPay logo

Accounting software makes it easier to manage your company's money. We've evaluated the top options based on customizability, usability, value, and more to help you find the best accounting software for your small business.

By Kathy Yakal
Small business owner in apron working on a laptop

Whether you're a sole proprietor or own a microbusiness, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to manage your finances. Check out the best accounting software we've tested that costs $20 or less per month.

By Kathy Yakal
Line and bar charts overlaid on a spreadsheet with folders

Both FreshBooks and QuickBooks have earned our Editors' Choice award, but for very different reasons. We help you decide which accounting service is right for your business.

By Kathy Yakal
FreshBooks and QuickBooks logos on mobile screens
3.5

Intuit's user-friendly QuickBooks Solopreneur provides one-person businesses with basic bookkeeping tools, though it could use more reports and financial management features.

By Kathy Yakal
Intuit QuickBooks logo
4.0

Sage 50 Accounting is an exceptionally robust desktop accounting application with advanced inventory tracking, comprehensive financial tools, and thorough reports.

By Kathy Yakal
Sage logo: the word Sage written in bright green on a white background
4.0

It now charges a modest fee for features that used to be free, but Wave's approachable design and reworked mobile apps still make it a worthy choice for very small businesses.

By Kathy Yakal
Wave Logo
4.0

Zoho Books provides businesses with a generous set of accounting tools that offer exceptional depth and versatility for a competitive price.

By Kathy Yakal
Zoho Books logo
3.5

Patriot Software Accounting is particularly appealing for start-ups and small businesses thanks to its affordability and robust support options, though its capabilities don't go far beyond the basics.

By Kathy Yakal
Patriot Software logo
4.0

Xero leverages AI and other automated tools to simplify, organize, and accelerate accounting tasks, making it a smart choice for businesses that need multiuser access.

By Kathy Yakal
Xero logo
4.5 Editors' Choice

FreshBooks is appealing accounting software for businesses that sell services thanks to its targeted feature set, excellent support options, and exceptional user experience.

By Kathy Yakal
FreshBooks logo
4.5 Editors' Choice

QuickBooks Online is the small business accounting application to beat thanks to its deep capabilities, superb customizability, and top-notch extensibility.

By Kathy Yakal
Quickbooks logo

Manage outflows across corporate cards, bills, payroll and more, with a single software solution.

Budget, finance and woman in home with laptop, receipt paper, invoice or debt for financial strategy, planning and stress