How much does small business accounting software cost?

Updated October 2026 · How we answer

Typical Price Ranges

Entry-level plans often run $15–$30 per month and cover basic income and expense tracking, invoicing, and reports. Mid-tier plans, usually $30–$60 per month, add features like accounts payable, multiple users, and project tracking. Premium plans can exceed $80 per month and include advanced inventory, payroll, or dedicated support.

Some providers, like Wave, offer a free plan for core accounting, but you'll pay for payment processing (around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) and payroll add-ons. FreshBooks starts around $15 per month for limited clients, while QuickBooks Online ranges from about $30 to $200 per month.

• Free: Wave (basic accounting)
• $15–$30/month: FreshBooks Lite, QuickBooks Simple Start
• $30–$60/month: Xero Growing, QuickBooks Essentials
• $60+/month: QuickBooks Plus, Xero Established

What Affects the Price

Number of users, payroll, inventory, and advanced reporting all push the price up. Some software charges per additional user, while others include unlimited users on higher tiers. Annual billing often gives a discount of 10–20%.

Don't forget add-ons: payment processing fees, payroll (often $30–$100+ per month plus per-employee fees), and third-party apps. These can double your total cost.

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