Top 10 Accounting Software for Startups in 2025

Startups in 2025 face more financial complexity than ever—remote teams, global payments, fundraising rounds, AI automation, and compliance regulations all demand robust accounting systems. In the early stage, startups tend to focus on growth and overlook systematic bookkeeping. Missing invoices, poorly tracked expenses, and lack of documentation often create serious problems when raising funds or preparing for audits. In this guide, we’ll break down the top accounting tools for startups, compare free and paid options, and help you find the best fit based on your business stage. Startup founders and small business owners are often required to take on personal risk via personal guarantees or security deposits in order to open a corporate credit card, but not with Brex. Brex was created to remove common hurdles and offer startups access to robust corporate credit card services instantly, using the Mastercard network.

Sage 50 Accounting

• QuickBooks has been around a long time, and the software has only gotten better over the years.
• Torq’s platform integrates with existing security tools and provides pre-built templates to help companies respond faster to security incidents and reduce manual tasks.
• What’s the tangible worth of having real-time financial insights that empower you to make smarter, faster business decisions?
• For example, you can assign certain functions by using documents that define data relationships and then add automatic processes in the form of triggers.
• The service offers three main tiers to accommodate different business needs and budgets.

They’re also unhappy about its increasing subscription costs and the unreliability of its software updates, which are often problematic while doing nothing to improve the product’s functionality. QuickBooks’ payment processing services are criticized for frequent delays and a lack of transparency. It offers seamless bank reconciliation and strong customer support, with many praising its efficiency and ability to handle multi-currency operations. Users describe Striven as an all-in-one business management solution that smoothly integrates accounting, CRM, project management, HR, inventory and other functions. They appreciate the product’s ability to streamline operations, reduce duplication of effort and provide comprehensive business insights.

Best for startups already using Zoho’s ecosystem or those seeking an affordable, integrated solution.

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Cleaner books without the busywork: How Mercury simplifies accounting by building it into your account

Free or low-cost options can be a great starting point, but make sure they won’t limit your growth down the line. Startups must comply with tax regulations, payroll rules, and sometimes international financial standards if they scale quickly. Navigating this complexity without professional support can lead to penalties and reputational risks. QuickBooks leads the industry here, offering direct integrations with most of the tools startups already use—no middleware or custom connectors needed. Eventually, you may outgrow your current system and migrate to an ERP like NetSuite. QuickBooks is designed with this path in mind, offering clean https://jt.org/accounting-services-for-startups-enhance-your-financial-operations/ data exports and compatibility with most enterprise solutions.

This desktop-based software streamlines core accounting solutions, including invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll processing. It offers a suite of financial management tools with a focus on simplicity and affordability. FreshBooks is one of the most affordable accounting software for startups, offering advanced tools without a hefty price tag. Perfect for freelancers and solopreneurs, it’s a single-user solution that grows with your business. Unlike FreshBooks competitors, this tool also allows unlimited invoicing even on the basic plan. A newcomer to the space, Campfire is finance and accounting software designed specifically for startups, offering intuitive tools to manage finances without the need for advanced accounting knowledge.

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Multi-currency support

• Striven offers three separate portals for connecting with customers, vendors and job candidates.
• Account holders can also grant their accountant direct access for simplified tax season collaboration.
• The company offers comprehensive genetic screening for more than 200 health conditions and traits, helping dog owners and breeders make informed decisions about their pets’ care.
• After all, the platform offers cost-effective starter plans with outstanding features.
• Other concerns center on the product’s complex implementation and the need for additional training and support, as well as the poor usability of its fixed assets and some other modules.
• Sage offers a range of accounting products, with Sage Business Cloud being particularly well-suited for small startups.

Reading through these firsthand accounts can really help you picture how a particular solution might fit into your own business and support your team’s goals. Tipalti shines when it comes to automating accounts payable (AP) processes. If your business deals with a large volume of supplier payments or has complex AP workflows, Tipalti is designed to simplify and streamline this entire area.

• For professional service firms, like consultancies, marketing agencies, or law practices, time tracking, project billing, and client management are paramount.
• Even if you handle basic bookkeeping, a professional can review your setup, prepare financial statements, and provide strategic advice for managing business finances.
• The key at this stage is to find a solution that automates the core tasks, saves you time, and can grow with you, at least for the initial phase of your business.
• Clear policies for expense tracking and categorization help maintain accuracy and transparency.
• VC-backed, early-stage companies have very different needs than traditional small businesses—and your financial stack should reflect that.
• Free tools like Wave can manage basic bookkeeping and invoicing, but may lack advanced features, integrations, or scalability.

Speaking of which, keeping up with ever-changing tax laws and compliance standards like ASC 606 can be a full-time job. Automation helps your firm stay up-to-date with these requirements, making audits smoother and less stressful. Ultimately, embracing automation isn’t just about streamlining current processes; it’s about setting your business up for sustainable growth. Firms that adopt this accounting services for startups technology are often the ones growing faster, and as experts at SafeSend put it, the future of accounting really does lie in automation – it’s becoming a necessity, not just a nice-to-have. Brex revolutionizes the expense approval process with its workflow automations.

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