22 types of clever accounting add-ons for running your business / From payroll to invoices and expenses, these clever accounting add-ons might save you a lot of time and help you do some constructive planning for your business.

Daniel James with Business IT writes:  Accounting software is about more than just accounting these days. Functions such as enhanced reporting, payroll that allows staff to login and look at their statements and apply for leave, electronic invoices with a "pay now" button clients can click, CRM and more.

The aim here is to introduce you to some of the useful types of add-ons and integrated extras you can use with MYOB, Xero and the like.

Whether these are included in the main product, offered at extra cost by the vendor, or available as a third-party add-on, varies between systems.

Bank feeds 

Instead of typing transactions into your accounting software, the system automatically sees transactions in your bank account and records them in your accounting software.

Cloud backup 

In some cases, third-party backup services exist to automatically and regularly extract your data and make it available to you if your accounting provider has a catastrophic failure.

Customer Relationships 

While some packages include basic CRM functions, many businesses require something more advanced. It’s easier if details flow between the two systems to avoid re-entering data.

Dashboard

While any decent accounting system can provide you with important information about your business, a dashboard puts the crucial figures right in front of your face.

Data capture 

Your accounting software may not be able to read the invoices you receive, but there are services that take PDF invoices, extract the details and feed them into your accounts.

Debtor tracking 

Automating your debtor tracking and invoice chasing can save time and keep that side of the relationship on a more businesslike and less personal level.

E-commerce 

Can dramatically reduce the amount of manual processing and keep the books up to date. Typically achieved through ‘connector’ software that bridges the two systems.

Expenses 

Make it easier for staff to record and substantiate their expenses. A mobile phone app may be a component, allowing staff to photograph the receipt and enter the important data.

File storage 

Invoices and receipts need to be stored for a period. Being able to attach digital documents (eg. PDF invoices or scans of those received on paper) makes it much easier to find them.

Human resources 

It can be a fine line between payroll and human resources. With a payroll function a roster can flow into a timesheet and into the number of hours an employee must be paid.

Industry-specific management software 

Rather than doing all the work these programs often integrate with accounting programs. That way you get software from the experts.

Inventory 

Don’t rule out accounting software if it doesn’t have this function - it’s an add-on for some packages. With real-time integration you always know where you stand.

Job management

It’s basically about keeping an eye on profitability, making sure that the correct prices or rates are applied, and perhaps also being able to see that projects are progressing.

Membership 

If you run a membership-based organisation such as a private club, membership management software that integrates with accounting software can be a timesaver.

Mobility 

This might let you check on key information at any time, entering orders or invoices while in the field, or being told which client you need to visit next.

Office tools 

Useful for merging accounting information into a form letter, or to create a new invoice with items based on rows in a spreadsheet. Or simply keep both sets of contacts in sync.

Pay now 

It’s becoming increasingly common practice to send invoices by email, and a growing number of accounting packages let you include a link to a web page where your customer can pay.

Payments 

Being able to generate an electronic payment from the accounting system can be a time saver. Think of it as the modern equivalent of printing cheques rather than writing them by hand.

Payroll 

Some systems provide employees with online access so you don’t need to print and distribute payslips. They may also enter leave requests, timesheet details and so on.

Quoting/invoicing 

in any situation where you have to provide a quote it’s far more convenient if it flows into the accounting system if the job goes ahead.

Point of Sale 

In most cases you want the POS system to be integrated with the accounting system. That helps keep books up to date and eliminates the laborious task of transferring data.

Reporting 

All accounting programs provide at least the basic reports, but in some cases you need to opt for a more-expensive version to get a full range or the customisability you want.