7 Best Self-Employed Accounting Software of 2025

The free plan includes features such as estimates, invoices, online payments, payment reminders, multi-lingual invoicing, expenses, mileage tracking, bank reconciliation, 1099 contractors, and more. Accounting software is a big step up from an invoice generator, a spreadsheet, or using a document template. More comprehensive freelancer accounting software will also include time tracking, project management, integration…


The free plan includes features such as estimates, invoices, online payments, payment reminders, multi-lingual invoicing, expenses, mileage tracking, bank reconciliation, 1099 contractors, and more. Accounting software is a big step up from an invoice generator, a spreadsheet, or using a document template. More comprehensive freelancer accounting software will also include time tracking, project management, integration with online payment portals, bank account integration, and receipt scanning. OneUp is a bookkeeping and accounting software designed for small businesses and self-employed individuals. It offers features like invoicing, inventory tracking, and financial reporting. OneUp’s cloud-based platform and easy-to-use interface help simplify your accounting tasks.

best accounting software for self employed

How did we find using FreshBooks?

Even filing your taxes is a breeze with Hurdlr, since you can file them within the app with only a few simple taps. Or, if you prefer, they’ll send your financial reports to your CPA for tax preparation. Wave has created an intuitive interface that allows small business owners to tackle double-entry accounting with ease. It also allows you to invite unlimited guest collaborators, meaning you can easily loop in your accountant or business partner.

TrulySmall is simple and affordable, making it a solid choice for self-employed individuals with straightforward needs. Xero stands out for its client management capabilities, making it an excellent fit for freelancers with multiple clients or contracts. From tracking invoices to monitoring client communications, Xero provides a clear overview of your relationships with each client. This platform also offers robust reporting tools so you get a full picture of your finances. Xero is another tool on our list with strong business accounting features. Xero is one of the best business software for self employed individuals because it’s very scalable, meaning it can grow with your business.

Client and Customer Payment

Sure, you might be tempted to just dive right into using a platform that sounds appealing. However, that requires paying for it — and if you wind up not liking it, you can’t take your payments back. Test things out first so that you only put money toward technology you like and find useful. It’s much easier to make smart decisions about accounting platforms once you’ve actually tried several of them for yourself. Go ahead and, one by one, use the trial version of all the platforms you’re considering.

Pricing Plans

  • If you’re a self-employed person, you’re not getting regular paychecks from an employer.
  • Just don’t ask Ruby complex stuff like the meaning of life—it’ll only drone on about capital assets.
  • Solopreneurs and freelancers don’t always have full-time staff to do their taxes and vet their numbers.
  • FreeAgent’s user-friendly interface and integration with banks make it a great choice for self-employed individuals.
  • To get a deep view into how things are working out, you can run a report to see where your work time is going.

Look for accounting platforms with mobile apps that automatically track your miles traveled and convert them to expenses. You’ll pay for access to fundamental invoicing tools, expenses, bank reconciliation, estimating and cash flow management features. Step up to Sage Accounting’s higher-priced tiers, and you add advanced reporting and budgeting, purchase and change order capabilities, and audit trails.

Mobile Accessibility

It’s especially valuable for self-employed professionals working on international projects or with diverse clients. There are a few things that give Zoho Books an advantage over other solutions on the market. To start with, it has a free plan that might be enough for freelancers and solopreneurs with basic accounting needs.

best accounting software for self employed

Bonsai is built for self-employed professionals who are balancing multiple clients and projects. With tools for client contracts, proposals, invoicing, and project management, Bonsai gives you an all-in-one solution. If you’re looking to manage every step of your projects seamlessly, Bonsai keeps everything in one place so you can focus on delivering top-notch work. QuickBooks Self-Employed is tailor-made for freelancers and contractors who need quick and reliable support with taxes and mileage tracking. This software calculates estimated taxes automatically and even tracks your mileage using GPS. So, if you’re tired of manually logging miles and guessing your tax bill, QuickBooks Self-Employed could be just the solution.

Xero is ideal for small businesses that require multiple users to access the software, allowing for better collaboration and management. Your financial needs are likely too complex for freelancing accounting software. Instead, read all about the best accounting software for small businesses. With plans starting at $15 a month, FreshBooks is well-suited for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small-business owners alike. The five accounting software picks listed above are our favorites, hands down.

The tool should be able to tell you when you’ve slipped up or possibly entered some miscalculations. Full-proof security is a critical prerequisite when choosing the best accounting software for self employed people. Freelancers and solopreneurs typically don’t have that luxury, especially at the beginning of their ventures. FreshBooks also has an app store with tons of tools you can integrate with the software. This makes your workflow seamless and easy, especially if you’re handling everything on your own without external help.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the best options for freelancers, gig workers, and small business owners. OneUp is a lesser-known accounting software that is great for self-employed individuals and small business owners. It offers a user-friendly interface that makes managing finances simple and efficient. With OneUp, users can easily track their income and expenses, making it a solid choice for those who sell products. If you sell handmade products on Etsy or plumbing supplies out of your home, try Xero.

You can buy downloadable software, QuickBooks Premier Desktop, for $499.95, although there are often sales that lower this price. Once you’ve downloaded the software, there is a step-by-step setup, as well as video tutorials to help you learn the program. With these 10 tools to consider, you don’t have to look too far to find the one that works for you. It’s all about exploring your options and getting a taste of what each one can do for you to simply make your life easier. What are some commonly asked questions about the best accounting software for the self employed? Each software has one or more of these features in abundance, while some of them may seem inadequate when compared side by side.

Once it transitioned into fully fledged accounting software, FreshBooks’ invoicing features remained the best of the best. Unlike QuickBooks Self-Employed, FreshBooks’ invoices are customizable with your business’s name, colors, and logo. You can also schedule automated recurring invoices, send late payment reminders, and set automatic late fees to accrue on overdue invoices. It includes unlimited mileage tracking, adding income and expenses, a tax calculations summary, and export/email reports — you just have to do these tasks manually. best accounting software for self employed The mobile app, known as Xero Touch, is perfectly designed for monitoring real-time cash flow and keeping track of your transactions from a mobile phone.

Generally speaking, FreshBooks offers our favorite software for service-based businesses that collect most of their revenue through invoices. But FreshBooks falls short in some fundamental areas, so a software choice like Zoho Books or Xero could work better for you. Once you have your bookkeeping team in place, they’ll track all of your business transactions and accurately categorize them for you.

  • The primary three services Hurdlr offers are their mileage tracker, expense tracker, and self-employed tax assistance.
  • Its intuitive platform simplifies invoicing, expense tracking, and time management.
  • This list of best accounting software for self-employed wouldn’t be complete without Freshbooks, a platform that was originally built with freelancers in mind—that’s why it’s incredibly simple to use.

Some features include creating and sending invoices, managing clients and projects, tracking billable time, and accepting online payments. Its entry-level early plan will be a natural choice for self-employed workers. It offers advanced features such as automated workflows, time tracking, and tax compliance management. Its cloud-based system is suitable for freelancers and small businesses looking for scalable bookkeeping solutions. QuickBooks Self-Employed is a leading bookkeeping solution tailored specifically for freelancers and independent contractors. With features like automatic mileage tracking, tax deductions, and simple invoice creation, it helps you manage your finances effortlessly.

Without these services, managing your finances might start to feel like its own full-time job. Wave is one of the few options that offers a powerful suite of features completely free of charge. For self-employed individuals who need a solid foundation for managing income and expenses, Wave covers the essentials—no monthly fee is required. You get free invoicing, receipt scanning, and customizable expense tracking in an interface that’s refreshingly easy to use. This list of best accounting software for self-employed wouldn’t be complete without Freshbooks, a platform that was originally built with freelancers in mind—that’s why it’s incredibly simple to use. A software that was once built as an invoicing and time-tracking tool for self-employed individuals evolved into a popular solution for freelancers, sole proprietors, and micro businesses.


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