Accounting is critical to managing finances and bookkeeping in a business. The easy way to manage business finances is to use tools available in the market. Accounting software helps you manage cash flow, generate invoices, have an audit-ready business, and prepare for tax time. These tools make handling your small business easier and simpler. Expensive software is not recommended for small companies because they need to manage simple accounting operations. Cloud accounting software is simple and has packages specially designed for small businesses. These are accessible online and simplify accounting tasks like bookkeeping, buying history, and inventory. The application vendor provides updating of new versions and backup data storage services.
CLOUD ACCOUNTING: Cloud accounting is the same as traditional accounting; bookkeeping procedures are done on accounting software. The cloud accounting software is hosted on remote servers, similar to the SaaS (Software as a Service) business model. Data is sent to the server into a ‘cloud,’ which is processed and returned to the user. All application functions are done off-site, in the cloud, not on the desktop. The accounting functions are done online and not on desktop software. The internet or another network is used for the process. The users access the cloud accounting software through a cloud application service provider. The software has not been installed on a computer. It can be accessed anywhere globally, provided the cloud application service provider is present.
Benefits of Cloud Accounting for Small Business
- Having access to accounting and bookkeeping data anywhere and anytime in the world. You can spend time on other business operations-related activities or spend quality time with family. You can access cloud accounting software online while sitting at home and keep yourself updated with your business’s accounting and bookkeeping functions. An up-to-date view of the business’s financial status allows you to make the right decisions at the right time.
- Go paperless in accounting and bookkeeping. This step is eco-friendly, too. Paperwork takes a lot of time for accountants and business owners. Small business owners do need time to interpret accounting information. Accounting software makes it easy to understand accounting information.
- Cloud accounting software has multi-user access.
- A better relationship is built with the accountant. You can access accounting data online and give your accountant quality time for business bookkeeping discussions.
- Cloud accounting software is automatically updated.
- Cloud accounting reduces upfront business costs. You do not face regular maintenance and fees for upgrading the system.
A Few Cloud Accounting Software and Their Benefits
Here are five cloud-based accounting software at reasonable prices.
You can access it from desktop computers and mobile phones. It has many features used to simplify accounting processes. It makes it easy to track expenses, make online payments, generate customized invoices, develop reminders of late payments, purchase history with time-tracking client records, and manage different projects with different rates.
A 30-day free subscription to FreshBooks is available for the new user having a business that costs $19.95 monthly.
QuickBooks is a bookkeeping and cloud accounting tool for small businesses that handles accounting operations. QuickBooks is developed and marketed by Intuit. QuickBooks is used to:
- Generate invoices with your company’s logo and all details required by the customers.
- Process payrolls according to HR policies
- Manage all business transactions, including bills from suppliers and vendors
- Manage inventory
- Track expenses
- Creating professional invoices
- Categorization of income and costs
- Connectivity with online credit cards and bank accounts
- Online sharing of data with an accountant
- Reconciliation of accounts due to the double-entry accounting process
Twenty transactions per month are free.
Outright is an online cloud accounting system for small businesses that tracks expenses, profit, sales, and customers. Bank accounts and other systems like PayPal, eBay, FreshBooks, and web stores can be connected outright, and data can be easily exported from one app to another.
- Xero:
- A dashboard with bank balances, expenses, and invoices
- Customized reports required by the small business
- Tracking cash flow in real-time
- Graphical presentation of data
- Data can be shared and accessible to the accountant and others.
- Generating customized reports and reminders to customers
- Scheduling of Payments and returns
Apple, Blackberry, and Android applications are available. Many add-ons like CRM, invoicing, and inventory management packages are also available on demand.
Conclusion
Cloud Accounting software and applications make bookkeeping and accounting operations easy and less time-consuming. Cloud accounting software provides small business owners with great feasibility in accounting and bookkeeping at reasonable costs.
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