In today's fast-paced business world, automation is key to streamlining processes and increasing efficiency. One area where automation can have a significant impact is accounting.

Automated accounting software takes the burden off businesses by automating bookkeeping tasks, saving time and money. In this post, we will explore the best available automated accounting software options available today, with a focus on their core features and benefits.

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Key Takeaways from this Post

Automation is key: In the fast-paced business world, automating accounting processes is essential to streamline operations and increase efficiency. Automated accounting software saves time and money by automating tasks like bookkeeping, invoicing, and tax management.

Choose the right fit: When selecting an accounting automation solution, consider factors such as your business size and complexity, integration with other systems, user-friendliness, scalability, and cost. Finding the right software that aligns with your specific needs will ensure smooth operations

Unlock the benefits: Automated accounting tools offer significant advantages, including time savings, real-time financial insights, cost-effectiveness, improved compliance, and streamlined reporting. Embracing automation empowers you to focus on growing your business while maintaining accuracy.

1. Link My Books

Description and functionalities: Link My Books is an automated bookkeeping software designed for businesses selling on platforms like Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and Etsy. We help save time and money by automating the accounting process. All sales, refunds, fees, and taxes are accurately accounted for, and it offers automatic bank deposit matching with Xero and QuickBooks. We also support VAT, GST, and Sales Tax.

Core features and benefits: We allow users to connect their preferred sales channels in just a few clicks. Users are a to connect their Xero or QuickBooks Online account in seconds. The guided setup wizard simplifies the process of choosing accounts and tax rates. The software provides clear views of all payouts and allows users to send clean summary invoices for each payout to Xero or QuickBooks in one click.

Unique selling points: We are trusted by thousands of leading e-commerce specialist accountants. It helps e-commerce sellers save time on bookkeeping, allowing them to focus on adding new products. For accountants, it can increase the number of clients they can work with without increasing their workload.

2. Xero

Description and functionalities: Xero is an online accounting software that connects businesses to their banks, accountants, bookkeepers, and other business apps. It offers tools for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers. Some of its functionalities include bill payment, expense claims, and bank connections.

Core features and benefits: Xero provides automatic data capture with Hubdoc, allowing bills and receipts to be pulled into Xero automatically. It offers access anytime, enabling users to track their business on the go and be confident in their numbers wherever they are.

Unique selling points: Xero is used by over 3.7 million subscribers. It offers a free trial and is designed to keep practices a step ahead with its accounting software. It also provides free setup support for the first 90 days.

3. QuickBooks Online

Description and functionalities: QuickBooks Online is more than just accounting software. It helps businesses track income, expenses, and stay ready for taxes. It also offers a mobile app that allows businesses to run their operations on the go.

Core features and benefits: QuickBooks Online offers features like income and expense tracking, invoicing and payments, tax deductions, receipt capture, mileage tracking, cash flow management, sales and sales tax management, estimates, contractor management, and the ability to connect to sales channels. It also provides powerful reporting tools.

Unique selling points: QuickBooks Online offers a free guided setup where a QuickBooks expert can walk users through connecting their banks and credit cards, automating the tasks they perform most, and learning best practices to use QuickBooks with confidence.

4. FreshBooks

Description and functionalities: FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses. It offers functionalities such as professional invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and financial reporting. It also provides tools for project management and collaboration.

Core features and benefits: FreshBooks offers features like professional invoicing, which allows businesses to create and send professional invoices to clients. It also provides tools for tracking income and expenses, managing receipts, tracking billable time, and generating comprehensive financial reports. FreshBooks also offers a mobile app for managing business operations on the go.

Unique selling points: FreshBooks is designed to be easy to use, with features like automated recurring billing to get businesses paid faster. It also offers a free guided setup to help new users get started.

5. Melio

Description and functionalities: Melio is an intelligent, easy-to-use accounts payable software that gives businesses the flexibility to pay vendors, suppliers, and contractors exactly the way they want. It allows businesses to pay all their bills online, either by free ACH bank transfer or with a card (2.9% fee). Vendors receive a paper check in the mail or an instant direct deposit, without needing to sign up.

Core features and benefits: Melio offers features like accounting software sync, approval workflows, easy bill capture, credit card rewards, international payments, combined payments, partial payments, and secure checks. It also provides a mobile app for managing payments on the go.

Unique selling points: Melio is designed to simplify invoice payments and amplify cash flow. It allows businesses to control their payment process and choose how they pay and how their vendors get paid. It also offers a dashboard for accountants to manage all their clients' payments from one place.

6. BlackLine

Description and functionalities: BlackLine is a platform that unifies accounting data and processes, automates repetitive tasks, and empowers teams to focus on business growth. It integrates, orchestrates, and automates end-to-end accounting processes. It is trusted by over 4,200 companies to solve their most complex accounting challenges.

Core features and benefits: BlackLine offers solutions for financial close management, accounts receivable automation, and intercompany financial management. These solutions help businesses close faster, reduce risk, maximize working capital, and unlock growth capacity. It also provides features like task management, transaction matching, journal entry, financial reporting analytics, and variance analysis.

Unique selling points: BlackLine is designed to create capacity for finance and accounting to focus on what matters most. It helps businesses reduce time spent on audits, unapplied cash, manual effort, intercompany variances at month-end, and FX exposure.

7. Kashoo

Description and functionalities: Kashoo is an accounting software designed for small business owners. It offers tools for tracking income and expenses, sending invoices, and preparing for tax returns. Kashoo also provides a customizable chart of accounts for businesses ready for traditional accounting software.

Core features and benefits: Kashoo offers features like double-entry accounting software, detailed reporting, invoice tracking, expense tracking, and automated bookkeeping. It also provides a simple user interface and functionality that accountants appreciate.

Unique selling points: Kashoo is designed to be simple and easy to use. It is praised for its ability to automate accounting workflows while using built-in safeguards to ensure numbers are always accurate and up-to-date.

8. ZarMoney

Description and functionalities: ZarMoney is a powerful, all-in-one cloud accounting solution. It offers advanced accounting, bookkeeping, inventory management, invoicing, billing, and reporting tools.

Core features and benefits: ZarMoney provides a range of features including reporting, multiple user access control, bank reconciliation, invoicing, bill management, advanced inventory, online payments, bank connections, quotes/estimates, purchase orders, sales orders, and sales tax automation.

These features enable businesses to streamline their financial processes, enhance professionalism, and improve cash flow. They offer tools for managing finances, inventory, and orders, automating sales tax calculation, and facilitating online payments. With these capabilities, businesses can maintain control, efficiency, and accuracy while reducing costs.

Unique selling points: ZarMoney is designed to be simple to use, offering a comprehensive set of tools for managing various aspects of business finance. It provides a free 2-week trial, allowing businesses to test out its capabilities before committing to a subscription.

9. Sage Business Cloud Accounting

Description and functionalities: Sage Business Cloud Accounting is a financial management solution designed to assist small businesses in effectively managing their finances. It provides a range of features including invoicing, expense tracking, and cash flow forecasting.

Core features and benefits: Sage Business Cloud Accounting offers features like invoicing, expense tracking, cash flow forecasting, compliance, and tax management. It provides real-time access to business finances from any device, enabling users to make informed decisions on the go.

Unique selling points: Sage Business Cloud Accounting offers a user-friendly interface, a comprehensive set of features, and seamless integration with other Sage products.

10. Oracle NetSuite Software

Description and functionalities: Oracle NetSuite is a cloud-based accounting software that simplifies various financial management tasks. It enables businesses to record transactions, manage payables and receivables, collect taxes, and perform bookkeeping tasks efficiently.

Core features and benefits: Oracle NetSuite offers core features such as general ledger, cash management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, tax management, close management, fixed assets management, and payment management. It provides real-time insights, task automation, and remote financial process management capabilities.

Unique selling points: Oracle NetSuite offers a unified platform integrating multiple business management functionalities. It seamlessly integrates with other NetSuite modules and capabilities, allowing businesses to focus on growth rather than system management.

How to Choose the Best Accounting Automation Solution

eCommerce Accounting can be complex which means choosing the right accounting automation solution is a critical decision that can significantly impact your business's efficiency and financial management. It's not just about picking the software with the most features, but rather selecting a tool that best fits your business needs. Here are some key criteria to consider:

Business Size and Complexity

The size and complexity of your business operations will significantly influence your choice of accounting software.

If you're running a large business with complex operations, you'll likely need a robust accounting solution that can handle a high volume of transactions, multiple users, and advanced reporting capabilities. This might include features such as multi-currency support, inventory management, payroll processing, and advanced budgeting tools.

On the other hand, if you're a small business owner or freelancer, you might not need all these advanced features.

Instead, you'll likely prefer a simpler, more user-friendly software that provides basic accounting features like income and expense tracking, invoicing, and simple financial reporting. The key is to choose a software that matches your business's complexity level without overwhelming you with unnecessary features.

Integration with Other Systems

In today's interconnected digital world, your accounting software shouldn't exist in isolation. It should be able to integrate seamlessly with other systems you use in your business.

This might include your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, your e-commerce platform, your payment gateway, or even your project management tools.

Seamless integration allows for a smooth flow of data across your business operations, reducing the need for manual data entry and the risk of errors.

For example, if your accounting software can integrate with your e-commerce platform, it can automatically pull in sales data, eliminating the need for you to manually enter this data into your accounting system. This not only saves time but also ensures your financial data is accurate and up-to-date.

User-Friendliness

No matter how feature-rich, an accounting software that's difficult to use can be more of a hindrance than a help. The software should have a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation. It should be easy to set up and get started, and everyday tasks should be straightforward to perform.

Look for software that provides clear instructions and helpful prompts. It should also have a solid support system in place, including a comprehensive help center, tutorials, and customer support, to assist you if you run into any difficulties.

Scalability

Your business isn't static. It will grow and change over time, and your accounting software should be able to adapt to these changes. Look for software that offers scalability, allowing you to add more users or features as your business expands.

For example, you might start as a sole proprietor but later expand and hire employees. In this case, you'll need to upgrade your accounting software to include payroll processing capabilities.

Or, you might start selling internationally and need to add multi-currency support. A scalable accounting software can grow with your business, ensuring you always have the tools you need to manage your finances effectively.

Cost

Cost is always a crucial factor in any business decision, and choosing accounting software is no exception. However, it's important to consider not only the upfront cost of the software but also ongoing costs.

Most accounting software providers operate on a subscription model, where you pay a monthly or annual fee to use the software. Make sure to consider this ongoing cost in your budget. Also, be aware that some providers charge extra for additional features or users, or for premium support.

Remember, the most expensive software isn't necessarily the best. It's more important to choose software that offers the best value for money, providing the features you need at a price that fits your budget.

Here's a simple table to compare feature scores among the competitors:

| **Software** | **Ease of Use** | **Integration** | **Scalability** | **Cost-Effectiveness** | **Compliance & Reporting** | **Overall** | | ------------------------------ | --------------- | --------------- | --------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------- | ---------- | | Link My Books | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | | Xero | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | | QuickBooks Online | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | | FreshBooks | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | | Melio | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | | BlackLine | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.3 | | Kashoo | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | | ZarMoney | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | | Sage Business Cloud Accounting | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.4 | | Oracle NetSuite | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 |

Why Use an Automated Accounting Tool?

Automated accounting tools offer several significant advantages that contribute to the efficiency and growth of your business. Let's delve into more detail:

Save Time and Reduce Errors

The primary benefit of using an automated accounting tool is the time savings it provides. Manual accounting processes can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

By automating these processes, businesses can significantly reduce the time spent on mundane tasks such as data entry, invoicing, and reconciliations. This not only saves time but also reduces the chances of errors, which can lead to financial discrepancies and compliance issues.

Automated accounting software can automatically import transactions from various sources, calculate taxes accurately, generate invoices and receipts effortlessly, and eliminate manual data entry.

Real-time Financial Insights

Another significant advantage of automated accounting software is the real-time access it provides to financial insights. Traditional accounting methods often involve a delay between the occurrence of a transaction and its recordation in financial reports.

This delay can hinder timely and informed financial decision-making. With automated accounting software, transactions are immediately recorded and reflected in your financial reports, providing up-to-date insights into your business's financial situation.

You can track cash flow, monitor income and expenses, analyze trends, and make data-driven decisions about budgeting, spending, and investment.

Cost-Effective

While there may be upfront costs associated with purchasing and implementing automated accounting software, the long-term benefits outweigh these expenses.

By automating your accounting processes, you can reduce the need for manual bookkeeping and accounting services, which can be costly. Additionally, you can minimize the time spent by your staff on accounting tasks and redirect their efforts towards more productive activities.

Automated accounting software helps you avoid costly errors and discrepancies in your financial records. It also ensures compliance with tax laws and regulations, helping you avoid penalties and fines. Ultimately, the time and cost savings provided by the software contribute to improving the overall bottom line of your business.

Improved Compliance and Reporting

Compliance with tax laws and accounting standards is of utmost importance for businesses. Non-compliance can result in penalties, fines, and even legal action. Automated accounting tools help businesses ensure compliance by accurately applying relevant rules and regulations.

For example, the software can automatically calculate and apply the correct tax rates for different types of transactions and jurisdictions, generate necessary reports and documents for tax filing and auditing purposes, and keep track of changes in tax laws and accounting standards.

Additionally, these tools offer robust reporting features that enable the generation of various financial reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and tax reports. These reports provide valuable insights into your business's financial situation, aid in decision-making, assist in planning, and support compliance efforts.

Automate Your Accounting with Link My Books:

In today's fast-paced business environment, efficiency and accuracy are paramount. Manual accounting processes can be time-consuming, error-prone, and inefficient. By automating your accounting processes with a reliable solution like Link My Books, you can save time on bookkeeping, have access to a clear and accurate view of your financial situation, and focus on growing your business.

Link My Books stands out among accounting automation solutions due to its ease of use, robust features, and excellent customer support. Specifically designed for e-commerce businesses, Link My Books seamlessly integrates with popular sales channels such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and Etsy. It accurately accounts for sales, refunds, fees, and taxes while offering automatic bank deposit matching with Xero and QuickBooks. With comprehensive support for VAT, GST, and sales tax, Link My Books provides a clear view of all payouts and simplifies the invoicing process.

Closing Thoughts: Embrace the Power of Automation

As businesses strive to thrive in the dynamic business landscape, automating accounting processes has transitioned from a luxury to a necessity. Automated accounting software solutions like Link My Books, Xero, QuickBooks Online, and others offer a range of features that streamline bookkeeping tasks, provide real-time financial insights, and ensure compliance with accounting standards. Ultimately, when we look at how to automate your ecommerce business, you'll need to pay keen attention to what your business needs.

Make an informed decision by considering factors such as scalability, integration, user experience, customization, security, cost, customer support, and compliance. Delve deeper into each software's capabilities and functionalities, considering how they align with the unique needs of your business.

Automated accounting tools provide significant benefits, including time savings, real-time financial insights, cost-effectiveness, and improved compliance and reporting. Choose the solution that suits your business best, whether it's Link My Books or another software, and unlock the full potential of automation for your business's efficiency and growth. Sign up to our 14 day free trial to save time, stress & money!