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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Xero Review

Pros
This online accounting software is a full accounting solution with traditional features such as chart of accounts, aged accounts receivable reports and general ledgers. It can also manage more complex accounting tasks such as fixed assets and depreciation.
Cons
While Xero provides adept basic accounting tools, most other types of business support services have to be added using a compatible add-on. To make this a complete business solution, you'll have to add quote creation and time-tracking tools.
The Verdict:
 8.5/10
 
Xero easily manages basic accounting tasks. It supports unlimited users, processes payroll and allows up to 100GB of file storage. It also can support multiple currencies and tax rates. However, if you need job or time tracking, you will have to seek out additional technology.

Xero accounts, regardless of the version, support unlimited users and give you mobile access for iPhone and Android devices. This cloud-accounting software can also manage basic inventory and fixed asset depreciation. However, it provides limited project or job-tracking tools. Xero provides project, time and task management through an assortment of add-ons. So, while these tools are available, they require an additional monthly fee. The Xero accounting plans are not based on the number of invoices sent, but rather on payroll and file storage limitations.

Xero can easily create personalized, professional invoices featuring your logo. You can edit invoices by altering margins, padding, fonts, titles, logo placement and terms. You can also create and save custom layouts as well as upload template files. You can create new invoices easily with auto-filled information such as customer and inventory data. For instant payment, you can add a credit card or PayPal payment link to invoices. Invoices can be configured to display in a choice of over 160 currency denominations. Plus you can add default currencies to specific customers.

However, Xero provides few project, job and time-tracking tools. For example, you can create a budget to track project expenses such as advertising, printing, travel or wages related to that budget. This is a workaround, but it works for basic projects. Xero also tracks expenses, and you can attach images of receipts to expense tickets for your records. In terms of inventory, it can save the item code or name, a description, the unit price, the account and tax rates. Inventory tools are adequate for those who manage limited stock or services, which is the case for most micro businesses.

Xero's online accounting service provides mobile tools for Blackberry, iPhone, Android and Windows mobile platforms that are available for free in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store. Using mobile apps, you can create and send invoices, submit expenses and receipts, and manage overdue invoices from anywhere. The mobile version is slimmed down, but it includes useful tools for the road such as the ability to take a picture of a receipt using your phone to submit and track expense approvals. However, though it can track expenses, it does not have tools for tracking time. For mobile time tracking you will need to utilize a third-party solution.

Zoho Books Review

Pros
Zoho Books provides complete accounting tools and the ability to track projects across platforms, including on PCs, Macs and most mobile devices. It also provides a service that will mail invoices to your clients for you.
Cons
Although Zoho Books includes the ability to manage projects, the features are limited. To utilize project tracking tools, you will have to use its Projects product alongside Zoho Books
The Verdict:
 8.88/10
 
 
This cloud-based business app includes the tools you need to quickly create custom invoices, accept payments, and track time and expenses. It works with numerous other Zoho apps and most mobile phones. Zoho Books is especially useful for those who work on the go or do not need to manage a lot of inventory.

Zoho offers numerous productivity tools that work together, from chat apps to CRM tools. For the purpose of this review, we looked at Zoho Books. Zoho Books is online accounting software with the ability to track projects and automatically download bank data. Although Zoho Invoice does much of what this version does, Zoho Books includes more accounting functions, invoice templates and reports for only slightly more than the Invoice version. We also looked at what the project module in Books can do compared to what Zoho Projects does.

Zoho Books can create invoices from a choice of templates using your logo and online payment provider, such as PayPal, 2Checkout or Authorize.net. Zoho Books accounts provide unlimited invoicing for one organization for a low monthly price. This business tool can help freelancers and consultant teams track expenses, time, clients, payments due, vendors, account balances and overdue invoices. Using this cloud-accounting service, you can create customized invoices from a selection of invoice styles with your logo, personal messages, terms and conditions, and payment links.

Invoices can be configured to be recurring, and you can clone invoices that you want to use again. Invoices can be sent by email or saved as PDF files. Zoho will also mail invoices to your clients via snail mail using stamp credits you purchase. Zoho Books provides most traditional accounting tools as well as more than 30 insightful reports for you and your accountant, such as tax reports, profit and loss statements, and journal reports. It can also assist with preparing and printing 1099 forms.

This accounting system has a tool for tracking projects. Project files include the ability to assign billing method, project cost, budget type and budget amount. This service will also track time, billable and nonbillable expenses, and project-associated tasks. Receipt images can be attached to expense records to help you keep your records accountable. If you need additional project tracking tools for collaboration, detailed tasks, milestone management, document storage and other project management, you can add Zoho Projects to Zoho Books for an additional monthly fee.

Zoho provides a variety of mobile tools through a single interface. Using Zoho mobile, you can create invoices, monitor project activity, access contact information, manage documents, view email, access your calendar and more, depending on the Zoho services you are signed up to use. The mobile app works on most smartphones, including iPhone, Android and Windows mobile phones.

This app provider is not limited to one product. Therefore, if you would like to add features beyond basic invoicing and project tracking, you can easily – and they are all compatible with one another. Business applications include remote support tools, a bug tracker for development teams, marketing tools, CRM, an HR app, reporting apps and customer support apps. Collaboration tools include chat, document storage, discussion tools, email, online meetings and a wiki tool. If you need online accounting tools with a bit more, Zoho can help you.