Bookkeeping for Independent Contractors: Everything You Need to Know

And when you want a big-picture view, head to the Reports section, where you can create your custom reports in addition to the five that are already in place. It’s great for a quick overview or to make important business decisions—because yes, we’re self-employed, but we’re running a business all the same. The user interface is bright and tidy, with some quotes about life and business to shake up your day. The onboarding is fast, as QuickBooks only wants to know your industry to give you some advice on expenses folks in your industry usually write off. From then on, you’ll have a set of messages on the dashboard to help you set everything up, from adding your business details to checking whether you’re married or not (relevant for taxes).

Best self-employed accounting software for organizing your business

These tools can help you streamline your finances and keep you organized, so you can focus more on your work and less on administrative tasks. Keep reading to discover our top picks for the best independent contractor apps out there. accounting software for independent contractors Cloud storage services are another key component in software integration. Integration with other tools allows for automated backups and version control, which protects data integrity and provides easy access.

Key Features:

accounting software for independent contractors

Check out some ideas for how to automate QuickBooks with Zapier, or try one of these examples.

  • The software has a simple interface and provides essential functionalities, making it suitable for self-employed individuals.
  • You run the danger of an IRS audit if you fail to file your profit and cost statements.
  • It suggests actions you can take to keep your finances sharp, such as nudging clients to pay invoices, taking care of your bills, and viewing the status of your bank accounts.

Role-based permissions help you control who sees what, protecting sensitive financial data while still enabling teamwork. For subscription-based businesses, automated recurring billing can also help you keep consistent revenue without having to manually invoice and bill clients every month. QuickBooks Self-Employed is a popular choice for independent contractors. With MyCountSolutions, you get a committed bookkeeper who is assisted by a group of knowledgeable small company specialists. We’re here to eliminate uncertainty from running your own business permanently.

accounting software for independent contractors

What should freelancers look for in accounting software?

  • Shoeboxed integrates with over 12 apps, including QuickBooks, Xero, and Wave, to automatically synchronize with your accounting software, making bookkeeping and tax time a breeze.
  • But different free accounting options have different benefits, so we recommend looking over our list of the best free accounting software for small businesses to find the right one for you.
  • Payroll software automates the complex calculations of employee wages, deductions, and taxes, ensuring accuracy and compliance with ever-changing tax laws.
  • This approach not only attracts various customer segments but also allows businesses to optimize their expenditures.
  • Many platforms also offer a range of advanced accounting software features, including tax management capabilities, to support businesses operating in multiple locations or jurisdictions.

Keeping track of side gig finances should be straightforward and simple. Otherwise, the side gig may take up too much of your time — especially if you already have a full-time job. Here are NerdWallet’s top accounting software picks for different types of businesses. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.

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Plus, the free plan limits your online payment gateways to Stripe and PayPal. For more app options, we recommend Xero (which syncs with over 1,000 third-party apps) or QuickBooks (which syncs with around 800 apps). Knack makes it easy to turn raw estimate data into meaningful insights. You can create custom dashboards that show real-time performance metrics, from average job costs to profit margins.

Additionally, independent contractors are responsible for their tax payments, including unemployment taxes, unlike employees who have their employer withhold taxes from their wages. As an independent contractor, keeping track of your finances is crucial for the success of your business. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs. In this article, we will discuss the best accounting software for independent contractors.

Instead, read all about the best accounting software for small businesses. If you’re searching for accounting software that’s user-friendly, full of smart features, and scales with your business, Quickbooks is a great option. 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.

We were particularly happy that we could manage our inventory of construction materials through the app ― inventory features are rare with accounting mobile apps. For low-cost accounting basics alongside a surprisingly robust mobile app, go with Sage. Starting and growing a construction business can be expensive and although you need to spend money to earn money, minimizing costs is key. Zoho Books’ flexible pricing plans, which we found quite feature-rich for their price points.

In this case, accounting software for individual contractors can help you track your expenses. Independent contractors also make use of this software for tracking their finances, managing payroll and invoicing. If you are an independent contractor, you might want to take a look at some of the most popular accounting software on the market and decide which is best for your needs. Go ahead to know what is the best accounting software for independent contractors. As independent contractors need accounting software, it is important to choose with careful consideration. Although, we also provide a list of some of the best accounting software for small businesses or for independent contractors.

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