5 Top Cloud Accounting Packages for Freelancers and Small Business (Internationally) Xero, MYOB, Saasu, Freshbooks & Crunch

Paul Dunstone in Business, Tech for jobstock.com writes: So much of the business activity we undertake these days is via the cloud, so why not our accounting? Cloud accounting packages are affordable, highly suitable to freelancers, sole traders, contractors, small businesses and anyone looking to scale their business activity over time. With a number of service providers in the marketplace, and millions of freelancers across the globe handling numerous financial records on a daily basis using all manner of methods ranging from the “good old shoebox” to complex desktop solutions, we thought we’d do our best to identify five top cloud accounting packages you might want to consider using as part of your financial management processes.
If you haven’t used a cloud accounting package before, or any accounting package for that matter, fear not. The following list is compiled of the services we believe you’ll find most simple to use, have the best support, and can grow with you and your business over time.

Xero

Pricing: Starting at $29 AUD per month
Free Trial: Yes
Support: Online support
Locations: Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, U.S.A
Mobile App: iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone
Xero is an online accounting software package rapidly growing in popularity across the world. Now boasting over 200,000 users, Xero has managed to capture it’s audience by providing competitive pricing, an attractive cross platform product, and a simple and easy to use service that is becoming a favorite of SME’s and freelancers world over.
Xero offers all the standard features you would expect in a cloud accounting package such as bank reconciliation, invoicing, multi-currency support, payroll, fixed asset depreciation, contact management, and the ability to pay all your bills and track all your expenses. Alongside this functionality, Xero provides a really nice set of financial reporting tools to help you stay on top of things, and the added advantage of offering their service across just about every mobile platform including iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone mobile platforms for on-the-go convenience.
What we really like about Xero (apart from their really cool commercial) is that they’ve spent a lot of time focusing on the user, providing a beautiful user interface you’re sure to find very appealing. If you’re a little more tech-savvy, Xero also offers a number of great add-ons to help you extend their service even further.

MYOB Live Accounts

Pricing: Starting at $29 AUD per month
Free Trial: Yes
Support: 24/7 phone and online support
Locations: Australia
Mobile App: No
MYOB are one of the best known accountancy software providers in the marketplace, so it’s of no surprise that they’ve rolled out a cloud accounting package to the masses. According to MYOB, Live Accounts is perfect for small businesses with simple accounting needs, people new to accounting or accounting software, and businesses that have outgrown a shoebox. We found the MYOB cloud offering to be an easy to pick-up service which busy professionals should have no difficulties managing and distributing the knowledge base internally as staff change roles. Not only this, but because so many accountants and book keepers have used MYOB before at previous roles, Live Accounts will be of no problem to transition to at all, ensuring smooth and hassle free financial management.
MYOB Live Accounts offers cashflow management, invoicing, expense management, payroll, bank feeds, excellent security, and like most cloud accounting packages; the ability for your team to work together on projects from multiple locations. MYOB is suited to those looking for an easy to use cloud accounting package where they can manage all their business activity and run financial reports on that activity in real time.

Saasu

Pricing: Starting at $9 AUD per month
Free Trial: Yes
Support: Online support
Locations: Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom
Mobile App: iOS
Saasu is another very well-known cloud accounting package used broadly across the small business sector. Saasu’s focus is to take the tools that big business has been able to afford and use for years, and make them available to smaller scale businesses at an affordable price.
Saasu’s bold mission statement really demonstrates their commitment to their customers. By offering fantastic products and services, Saasu is building a sizable and loyal customer base all over the globe. However Saasu’s mission statement is not the only big thing going for them. Saasu offers invoicing, contact management, banking, inventory management, payroll, really great reporting, and a number of fantastic add-ons which can help you to extend their service far beyond it’s initial scope.
Saasu lets you take charge of your accounts and lifestyle, sync all your systems together and get paid sooner. Saasu really can become the business pulse of your organizations and help to boost productivity significantly.

Freshbooks

Pricing: Starting at $19.95 per month
Free Trial: Yes
Support: Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm
Locations: Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, U.S.A
Mobile App: iOS
Freshbooks has over 5 million customers using their service worldwide. Why? Because their service is simple to use, it makes accounting fun, and saves customers time and money managing their billing online.
Over time, Freshbooks has become a darling of the cloud accounting world, is beloved by freelancers and small business all over the world, with a rapidly growing customer base. Freshbooks is renowned for being highly intuitive ensuring that accounting does not become intimidating for those who are not accounting professionals or familiar with the industry.
As part of the Freshbooks service, you’ll be able to work anywhere and collaborate on projects with ease. Freshbooks offers online invoicing, customer management, expense tracking, time tracking, quality reporting and many more top features sure to please users ranging in experience from beginner to advanced.
If you’re a fan of cloud based software packages, you certainly won’t be disappointed with Freshbooks.

Crunch

Pricing: Starting at £59.50 + VAT/month
Free Trial: Yes
Support: Monday 9am – 8:30pm, Tuesday to Friday 8:30am – 5:30pm
Locations: United Kingdom
Mobile App: iOS
Of all the accounting packages we reviewed, Crunch definitely has the best catch phrase; “love accounting”. Crunch’s love of accounting is obvious with a really simply to use, modern online accounting solution for small business. Crunch offers its users a fantastic accounting dashboard where users can manage their financials including generating invoices, managing expenses, completing bank reconciliations, payroll and VAT returns (if in the U.K).
Crunch’s attractive user interface is designed specifically to cater to the needs of freelancers, contractors, small business and can also be used by umbrella companies looking to take advantage of accounting via the cloud. What is really great about Crunch is that the team at Crunch offer a wealth of accounting experience and can assist you with your needs beyond their popular cloud service.
Crunch differs to all our other cloud accounting packages in that they don’t just service every type of business, rather they are specific to particular business models, and focus on providing the best possible service for businesses of a particular size and type.