How do companies handle their account work online?
Getting the accounts of your business right from the get-go can set the tone for any start-up. Managing your business’ income and ensuring accountability for every cent earnt and every cent spent is important for many reasons; not least to ensure that your business pays the tax it owes. Traditionally, businesses like yours may have used spreadsheets to monitor invoices raised and when the funds have been paid into your company account. You might have even used paper-based bookkeeping. However, these methods are time-consuming and fraught with danger, with the potential for making human errors higher than it needs to be. That’s because the best invoicing software and applications can automate some of this process and streamline your business finances.
What is Invoicing Software?
Whenever you sell goods or services as a business, your first port of call is to raise an invoice in order to receive payment from your customers. In the past, when cash payments were rife and bookkeeping was typically a manual process, businesses were all too often stung with unforeseen tax bills due to erroneous billing procedures that didn’t give a full – and correct – picture of their income.
That’s where the best invoicing software comes in. More recently, invoice management software has made accounting that much easier for small businesses without a dedicated in-house finance department to oversee accounts payable. Digital or cloud-based invoicing software allows businesses like yours to personalize all aspects of the invoicing process, creating your own invoice templates, populating all the data you need and importing generated invoices into an overarching accounts dashboard where you can keep track of paid and unpaid invoices.
How to choose the best Invoicing Software
Just as you would with any other type of software for your business, you need to do your research into the best invoicing software options to select the right platform for your needs. Primarily, you will want an invoice program that is safe to use, and keeps all your business and customers' data secure. Those new to choosing the best online invoice program may also wish to choose the best billing software that commits to 24/7 around-the-clock customer support, complete with manuals, tutorials and knowledge centers to help you hone your craft.
Usage of Invoice Software
The most intuitive and best invoicing software platforms are a sound investment for your business, simply because they can help to automate a string of regular and irregular accountancy tasks that may have been traditionally handled via manual processes. However, there are some invoicing software options that are better suited to certain business demographics:
Infrequent usage
Let’s say you are a small business or self-employed freelancer that only submits invoices once a month, there are cost-effective solutions for occasional invoicing. That’s because the best invoicing software platforms offer no monthly subscription fees and free distribution of occasional invoices
Frequent usage
On the flip side, there are businesses that create and distribute hundreds of invoices daily that require rock-solid invoicing software, with ‘Pro’ subscription plans that offer high-volume client lists
Free software
It’s also possible to get your hands on free invoice software that may not have the functionality and intuitive user experience of more expensive platforms but is still designed to help businesses comply with their tax obligations.
Features of Invoicing Software
If you are entirely new to the concept of automated invoicing and how digital and cloud-based platforms can take total control of your business’ financial picture, let’s take a look at some of the powerful capabilities of systems available to companies big and small:
Creating new online invoices
Most invoice software providers will enable you to create initial estimates. First and foremost, this will give clients an idea of what their actual bill will be. Secondly, it’s then easy to convert these estimates seamlessly into genuine invoices that are registered in the system with the date they are sent out to customers
Online invoicing
Once invoices are generated and distributed digitally to clients, it’s then possible to reconcile your books with your business bank statements in a bid to spot recordkeeping issues that could affect your end-of-year accounts
Auto-reminders
Gone are the days of having to sit by the telephone and hound your customers for payment. With invoice software, it’s possible to create and distribute automated invoice reminders for overdue invoices. You get total flexibility to set how many days you wish to give your customers until an automatic payment reminder is sent
Recurring billing
Do you have monthly retainer work with clients? Instead of preparing the same invoice to send to clients each month, use invoice software to create recurring billing on specific dates, saving precious time and effort
Time and payment tracking
Most invoicing software platforms give you the freedom to create your own Chart of Accounts (COA) to begin monitoring account activity, tracking income and expenses, as well as assets and liabilities
Revenue reporting
Seamless interactions within invoicing software make it possible to apply income received to the right products or services in your account dashboard. It’s also possible to merge bank and credit card accounts and transactions into one overarching ledger for ultimate account reporting
Client portals
The beauty of invoice software is that it’s often packaged up in a neat, intuitive application that’s far easier to engage with than an Excel spreadsheet or a pile of paperwork. A client portal provides equipped interface for "self service".Most invoice software apps are designed for seamless cross-platform use on desktop, tablet and smartphone devices too, allowing you to keep track of your income on the go
Mobile billing
There are web applications and cloud-based invoice software available on iOS, Android and many other smartphone operating systems. All of which are designed to make it easier to bill clients and keep track of payment management at home or on the move between business meetings.
Pros & Cons of Invoicing Software
The benefits invoicing software providers send invoices digitally; something which has become increasingly accepted among small businesses and their customers. It’s the quickest and easiest solution for all parties, with no need to send physical invoices, ensuring payment management can be handled with the utmost professionalism, without affecting client relations.