The 7 best self-employed accounting software platforms in 2025 Whether you’re self-employed, a freelancer, or a sole trader, the right accounting software can make your life so much easier – here’s our pick of the very best options Written by Eddie Harris Reviewed by Olivia Bond Updated on 3 March 2025 Our Research To recommend the best accounting software, our writers and researchers focused on the factors that matter most to small business owners – ease of use, features, design, scalability, and suitability for the UK taxation system. Written and reviewed by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Olivia Bond Research Executive Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. The new tax year is rapidly approaching in April 2025, so for the self-employed, there’s no better time than now to start getting to grips with new accounting software. While you’ll undoubtedly want the best accounting software for your small business, there will be specific plans and providers that are more suited to your needs than others.Thanks to the exhaustive work, analysis and hands-on testing of our research department, we have determined that Zoho Books is the best self-employed accounting software. It came out on top thanks to its solid range of features, coupled with unrivaled usability.That’s not to say another provider won’t have a specific tool or feature that’s exactly what you need, though. Read on for our reviews of the best accounting software for self-employed people, sole traders, and freelancers to help you spend less time keeping track of your bills, and more time actually running your business. Best self-employed accounting software at a glance Zoho Books: best overall self-employed accounting softwareFreeAgent: best self-employed accounting software if you’ve just started your own businessQuickBooks: best for self-employed business owners who want a lot of customisationXero: best for self-employed business owners with accounting experience and a long-term client baseSage: best self-employed accounting software for those who want to maintain strong branding FreshBooks: best self-employed accounting software for those who need a simple platform and extra supportClear Books: best if you’re willing to pay extra for reliable, MTD-compliant tax support for VAT Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward BEST OVERALL Zoho Books FreeAgent QuickBooks Xero Sage FreshBooks Clear Books Price From Free Price From £10 per month (excl. VAT)£5 per month for the first six months (excl. VAT) Price From £10 per month (excl. VAT)£1 per month (excl. VAT) for the first six months Price From £16 per month (excl. VAT)£1.60 per month (excl. VAT) for the first six months Price From £15 per month (excl. VAT)First three months free Price From £15 per month Price From £13.50 per mont (excl. VAT)£6.75 per month for the first three months (excl. VAT) Rating 4.8 Rating 4.5 Rating 4.5 Rating 4.3 Rating 4.2 Rating 4.2 Rating 4.0 Free Trial Free Trial Free Trial Free Trial Free Trial Free Trial Free Trial Compare Deals Compare deals Visit Quickbooks Visit Xero Compare Deals Compare Deals Compare Deals Making Tax Digital: what do I need to know before April 2026? The Making Tax Digital (MTD) legislation came into effect on April 1 2022. Since that date, all VAT-registered businesses—including those that are voluntarily registered—are now required to store their VAT accounting records digitally, using HMRC-recognised accounting software.But soon, HMRC will be expanding this regulation further – the government plans for it to become relevant to all self-employed people with gross income of over £30,000 per year (HMRC is still deciding how the rules will apply to people who make less than that).Due to be introduced in phases from April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will require you to submit quarterly income and expenses reports to HMRC (compliant accounting software should be able to generate and send these automatically), and submit ‘end of period statements’ at the end of the financial year to replace Self Assessment tax returns.Why are we mentioning this now? Well, the accounting software platforms we’ve highlighted on this list are all already compliant with this rule, meaning the decision you make now could be a smart move that will save time and effort when the 2026 deadline approaches. 1. Zoho Books 2. FreeAgent 3. QuickBooks 4. Xero 5. Sage 6. FreshBooks 7. Clear Books Buying guide: How to choose your self-employed accounting software How we test accounting software for self-employed business owners in the UK 1. Zoho BooksBest overall self-employed accounting software Zoho Books Starting price from: free Free trial: 14 days Highly effective importing and exporting capabilities Excellent free plan for solopreneurs and micro-businesses Mobile app for real-time financial management Summary Zoho initially made its name from CRM systems, but has been providing accounting software since 2011. Zoho Books stands out for its clean and modern interface, and seamlessly aligns with the broader Zoho products. While the platform is geared towards small businesses, we would also recommend it to sole traders, as the tools can be used by inexperienced users. Show moreless How much does it cost? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Plan Free Plan Standard Plan Professional Plan Premium Cost Free Cost £12 per month (excl. VAT)£10 per month (excl. VAT) Cost £24 per month (excl. VAT)£20 per month (excl. VAT) Cost £30 per month (excl. VAT)£25 per month (excl. VAT) What’s great about Zoho Books, and where it stands ahead of competitors, is that it has a completely free plan, that we even named our top choice for free accounting software. But if you want more organisational ability, including custom reports, the Standard plan is only £10 per month.Why is Zoho Books a top choice for the self-employed?If you’re self-employed, freelance, or a sole trader, ease-of-use is going to be a major consideration. You need to be able to work as quickly and efficiently as possible, and this is exactly where Zoho Books shines. When we tested the software, it came out as a clear front runner for the most user-friendly platform, while still being incredibly effective when it came to the core functions you’ll need from accounting software.Zoho Books excels at being simple and easy-to-use. Source: Startups.co.ukIn particular, you’re going to need a straightforward, easy-to-use invoicing system, and we found Zoho Books’ to be exceptionally simple. The slick, modern design is really well suited to non-experienced users, so if you need something you can quickly pick up and get to grips with, look no further. What our users had to say… “The navigation was straightforward, especially around invoices and quotes – I didn’t really need to leave that section once I was in it.” Of course, usability doesn’t amount to very much if the software doesn’t have the tools and features you’ll need to effectively manage your bookkeeping and finances. Luckily, Zoho Books is loaded with helpful tools and features.What are the standout features?At-a-glance insights into your cash flow and paymentsComprehensive mobile app for managing your finances on the moveCustomer portal that your clients can view and manage their transactionsVAT tracking and returnsAre there any cons I need to know about?The hours for live chat and phone help are limited to 9am to 6pm, which isn’t great when your working day isn’t confined to traditional business hours. Xero by comparison, has 24/7 online support.We also found its payment reminder emails to be a little old-fashioned, as you could only add images using a URL. The process of finding and customising payment reminders also left us confused during our testing. Suitable if: You’re looking for a free plan You want an easy-to-use platform You want a comprehensive mobile app to manage your finances on the go Not suitable if: You want 24/7 help and support You want to be able to integrate third-party software outside the Zoho ecosystem 2. FreeAgentBest self-employed accounting software if you’ve just started your own business FreeAgent Starting price from: £10 per month Free trial: 30 days The only software we tested that gives you built-in tax forecasting and planning tools at no extra cost Helpful cash flow alerts about potential surpluses and shortfalls Free plan available with certain qualifying banks Summary Originally launched in 2007, FreeAgent is based in Edinburgh and now helps over 200,000 small businesses, and was acquired by NatWest Group in 2018. Our recommendation is that FreeAgent is best suited to freelancers, sole traders, and novice accountants. It’s a good middle ground for those who need a feature-filled system that’s not overly complex. Show moreless How much does it cost? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Plan Landlord Plan Sole Trader Plan Partnership/LLP Plan Limited Company Cost £10 per month (excl. VAT)£5 per month for the first six months (excl. VAT) Cost £19 per month (excl. VAT)£9.50 per month for the first six months (excl. VAT) Cost £27 per month (excl. VAT)£13.50 per month for the first six month (excl. VAT) Cost £33 per month (excl. VAT)£16.50 per month (excl. VAT) Starting at £19 per month for the Sole Trader plan, FreeAgent is a pretty expensive proposition for self-employed business owners. But, if you bank with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, or Mettle, you can qualify for a free plan. So if this applies to you, it’s a no-brainer.Why is FreeAgent a top choice for the self-employed?FreeAgent’s a great choice if you’ve just started your own business because it excels at simplifying complicated financial tasks. FreeAgent does simplicity well – its layout is nice and clear, and while it might not be quite as modern as Zoho Books, it does exactly what you need it to.The clear layout is a big positive when using FreeAgent. Source: Startups.co.ukWe found tasks like quickly adding clients, managing our expenses, and setting up automatic reminders were all a cinch. Essentially, if you need something that will easily handle the basics without overwhelming you, FreeAgent’s a good fit for your needs. It strikes that delicate balance between simplicity and functionality. What our users had to say: “It definitely felt like it understood its audience—maybe novice accountants, freelancers, or sole traders—so it seems to fulfill what it’s aiming for pretty well.” What are the standout features?User-friendly templates for both invoices and estimatesReliable tools for streamlining your processes, such as tax reminders and end-of-year reportsThe timeline feature for invoicing—giving you a clear look at what stage your invoice is at—is really helpful for inexperienced usersCash flow alerts will keep you updated about your financesAre there any cons I need to know about?We would have liked FreeAgent to include the ability to remember frequently used account codes. Xero does this, and it can really speed things up when you’re working at a rapid pace.We also found it a little unhelpful for freelancers that the default time unit was set to hours. In general, we felt an improved onboarding experience would massively benefit FreeAgent. Suitable if: You want software that has intuitive navigation and clear layouts You want comprehensive and reliable tax tools You want cash flow alerts Not suitable if: You want a smooth onboarding experience to hold your hand You want software that will remember account codes for faster entry You want the most budget friendly option 3. QuickBooksBest for self-employed business owners who want a lot of customisation QuickBooks Try QuickBooks Starting price from: £10 (self assessment only) Free trial: 30 days Automatically flags mismatched balances Cash flow projection tools to help with your financial visibility Custom reports and templates tailored to your business’s needs Summary Part of the American multinational company Intuit Inc, QuickBooks is accounting software that’s specifically designed for SMEs. It currently has 6.5 million subscribers worldwide. We think its intuitive layout combined with detailed features makes it suitable for more advanced business operations. It’s more suited to those working in accountancy rather than small business owners themselves, due to the complexity of the software and steep learning curve. Show moreless How much does it cost? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Plan Sole Trader Plan Simple Start Plan Essentials Plan Plus Plan Advanced Cost Monthly:£10 per month (excl. VAT)£1 per month for seven months (excl. VAT)Annually:£108 per year (excl. VAT)£10.80 for the first year Cost Monthly:£16 per month (excl. VAT)£1.60 per month for seven months (excl. VAT)Annually:£172 per year (excl. VAT)£17.20 for the first year Cost Monthly:£33 per month (excl. VAT)£3.30 per month for seven months (excl. VAT)Annually:£356 per year (excl. VAT)£35.60 for the first year Cost Monthly:£47 per month (excl. VAT)£4.70 per month for seven months (excl. VAT)Annually:£507 per year (excl. VAT)£50.70 for the first year Cost Monthly:£115 per month (excl. VAT)£11.50 per month for seven months (excl. VAT)Annually:£1242 per year (excl. VAT)£11.50 for the first year Best suited for: Sole traders and single property owners are who registered for VAT Best suited for: Sole traders and small business owners who are managing income tax and VAT Best suited for: Small businesses that are working with suppliers Best suited for: Small businesses that are managing projects and inventories of stock Best suited for: Businesses that need more sophisticated support like custom permissions and tailored insights Features Helps you prepare your Self Assessment tax returnReceive income tax estimates Send out invoices Features MTD compliant – submit your VAT return directly to HMRCChecks your VAT return for errorsGives you VAT deadline reminders Features Bill managementMulti-currency support (over 145 currencies)Employee time tracking so you can invoice your clients accurately Features Track your products, and see what’s selling the mostSee the profitability of each of your projectsSmart budgeting Features Automatic data backupAutomate workflowsCustom charts and customised dashboards QuickBooks’ Sole Trader plan starts at a very competitive £1 per month, and there’s currently a promotion where you can get your first six months for just £1 per month. Considering there’s no setup fee or hidden costs, this is an attractive option.Why is QuickBooks a top choice for the self-employed?QuickBooks should certainly be on your radar if you prefer to have lots of options for customisation. You can tailor the menus to your liking, so if you know there’s a certain feature you won’t need to use, you can remove it to create a more streamlined experience. You also get access to extensive, customised reports, which you can modify to suit your needs.With QuickBooks you can modify your reports and tailor them to your needs. Source: Startups.co.ukWhile there was a steep learning curve (especially compared to FreshBooks), once we got going, what stood out to us was how well-organised the layout was – superior to all its competitors. All of the essential features were logically categorised, which made navigation a dream.What are the standout features?Separate personal and business expenses with AIEasily get all the figures you need when it comes to submitting your self-assessment tax returnEasily convert estimates into invoicesClear, beginner friendly setup guideAre there any cons I need to know about?The main drawback for QuickBooks is the time and investment it takes to master all of its quirks and complexities. If you’re willing to spend this time, you’ll get a lot out of it, but it shouldn’t be the first choice for those who need to hit the ground running with a simple platform. FreshBooks is a more novice friendly software. What our users had to say… “The learning curve is quite steep. Compared to FreshBooks, where you could go in and get started straight away, it takes more time to understand where to do things.” Suitable if: You’re looking for extensive and customisable reporting You want cash flow projection tools You already have experience using accounting software Not suitable if: You don’t want to have invest time and effort to master the software You need time-tracking functionality You don’t have experience setting up workflows 4. XeroBest for self-employed business owners with accounting experience and a long-term client base Xero Starting price from: £16 per month Free trial: 30 days Your clients can securely view and interact with their financial data through the Xero Portal Track the depreciation and amortisation of your fixed assets over time Connect with over 1000 possible integrations Summary Based in New Zealand, Xero was founded in 2006 and now boasts 4.2 million subscribers. Xero is tailored mostly towards experienced professionals and accountants, predominantly positioning itself towards high-turnover businesses with long term client bases. We wouldn’t recommend it to new users. Show moreless How much does it cost? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Plan Ignite Plan Grow Plan Comprehensive Plan Ultimate Cost £16 per month (excl. VAT)£1.60 per month for the first six months (excl. VAT) Cost £33 per month (excl. VAT)£3.30 per month for the first six months (excl. VAT) Cost £47 per month (excl. VAT)£4.70 per month for the first six months (excl. VAT) Cost £59 per month (excl. VAT)£5.90 per month for the first six months (excl. VAT) If you’re just looking to calculate a TAX return and file a self-assessment there are options out there that might be a better fit cost-wise (like Zoho Books free plan). However, while this isn’t the most beginner friendly option, if you need something a bit more heavyweight you might consider Xero worth the asking price.Why is Xero a top choice for the self-employed?While we wouldn’t recommend Xero as a ‘starter software’ (it lacks the usability of Zoho Books, and the newbie-friendly approach of FreshBooks) what Xero is suited to is self-employed business owners who have existing, long-term clients. For starters, you’ll get the Xero Portal, a designated, reliable client portal.Xero is a more complex software, but it provides a lot of functionality. Source: Startups.co.ukNext up is the very useful expenses feature. What’s so handy is that it allows you to upload receipts, input mileage, and associate expenses with specific clients. We also found the bills tool very easy to use, as it offers straightforward client creation, simple description entry, and flexibility over currency settings. What our users had to say… “The expenses were really good, better than FreshBooks and Quickbooks. It was really clear where to upload the picture of the receipt. I like that you can put in your mileage and the cost of 45p. It was easy to associate it to the client too.” Essentially, if you’ve got a long list of clients, and you want to effectively manage them and offer them a dedicated client portal to use, Xero will be a top choice.What are the standout features?Xero Portal allows clients to securely view and interact with their financial dataAutomated calculationsTrack fixed assets and their depreciation and/or amortisation over timeEnhanced security – Xero is fully GAAP and IFRS compliantAre there any cons I need to know about?Xero is best suited to those who already have accounting experience. It comes with a seriously steep learning curve, and many of our testers found the system to be old-fashioned and difficult to use.Even some of the more basic functions were described as being unnecessarily complex and archaic. Zoho Books is a better fit for those that want something that feels more modern, and FreshBooks will be a far stronger choice for those who just want to nail the basics. What an external accountant had to say… “Xero may look corporate, blue, and unintuitive at first, but it is powerful and offers strong automation at a basic package level.” Suitable if: You have previous accounting experience You have a lot of clients You want to connect your software to a large ecosystem of integrations Not suitable if: You’re looking for an easy-to-use system You want a modern-looking interface You want a straightforward, simple workflow 5. SageBest self-employed accounting software for those who want to maintain strong branding Sage Starting price from: £15 per month Free trial: 30 days Ability to create custom reports that are tailored to your needs Customisable themes and logos to establish a strong brand identity Fully GDPR and PCI compliant ensuring top-tier security and regulatory assurance Summary Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, as of 2017 Sage is the UK’s second largest technology company, the largest supplier to small businesses, and has 6.1 million worldwide customers. We feel its accounting software is best suited for service-based businesses: like builders, contractors, and handymen. While it’s good for managing quotes and invoicing, we feel it may lack the functionality needed by more established businesses. Show moreless How much does it cost? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Plan Accounting Start Plan Accounting Standard Plan Accounting Plus Cost £15 per month (excl. VAT)First three months free Cost £30 per month (excl. VAT)First three months free Cost £59 per month (excl. VAT)First three months free Sole traders can get started on Sage’s Accounting Start plan, which costs £15 per month. It’s not the cheapest option out there, but it’s about average.There are no hidden or extra fees, though, which is a bonus.Why is Sage a top choice for the self-employed?What Sage offers you is the ability to make your accounting software fit into your business’s overall branding: it provides customisable themes and logos for your documents that you can tailor to your liking. So when you send out quotes and invoices to your clients they’ll maintain your businesses branding and style.Sage provides branding tools, like themes and logos, for your external documents. Source: Startups.co.ukBeyond just the superficial, we also really appreciated the customisable profit and loss statements. These are great for freelancers who want to gain a more nuanced look into their business’s finances.Sage is a good fit for a range of businesses, thanks to the seamless invoice management. It’s particularly good for freelancers working in service-based roles (like contractors or handymen) thanks to its strong features for customisable invoicing, invoice workflows and quoting. It makes managing regular quotes and invoicing a simple task. What our users had to say… “I found the accounts receivable really straightforward. The whole workflow of creating a quote, converting the quote to an invoice, recording the payment, and then recording a card payment – all done quickly, one after the other, because of the way they’ve set up the platform.” Unfortunately, we did have some mixed feelings when it came to Sage’s usability. While it might look nice, the beauty is only skin deep in some areas, and trying to access features like the payment reminders and expenses was frustrating.Completing expense reports was another area we found frustratingly complicated. We also felt that it wouldn’t the best fit for users that need to upload a large volumes of expenses, as Xero has tools that are better equipped to support this. Suitable if: You want assistance from AI You want to create custom reports You want to establish your brand using tailored logos and themes Not suitable if: You want detailed time tracking You want to automate client follow-ups You often upload a large volume of expenses 6. FreshBooksBest self-employed accounting software for those who need a simple platform and extra support FreshBooks Starting price from: £15 per month Free trial: 30 days (if another business is added, this gets another 30 day free trial) Get support at any hour from the 24/7 customer support chatbot Precise Time Tracking for billable hours Intuitive, user-friendly interface Summary Based out of Toronto, Canada, FreshBooks is designed primarily for SMEs. To date, over 30 million people have used FreshBooks in over 160 countries. We feel that it’s certainly geared towards the needs of small businesses and sole traders, but high-level accountants and larger operations may find it too limited. Show moreless How much does it cost? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Plan Lite Plan Plus Plan Premium Cost £15 per monthOr £162 per year Cost £25 per monthOr £270 yearly Cost £35 per monthOr £378 per year FreshBooks’ Lite plan starts from £15 per month, which is about average when compared to competitors’ similar plans. However, one downside with the Lite tier is that it’s limited to sending invoices to up to just five clients.Why is FreshBooks a top choice for the self-employed?What jumped out to us about FreshBooks was how intuitive and user-friendly the platform was, especially compared to a software like Clear Books. We feel this simple learning curve makes it particularly suited to sole traders with no experience using accounting software. We really liked the clear and aesthetically appealing interface, which we felt was easy to understand, and not overwhelming.FreshBooks has a nice, clear interface. Source: Startups.co.uk What our users had to say… “I did think it was very intuitive to use, and finding things was easy.” In particular, we liked the vertical navigation bar, which made it really simple to find key features, like invoicing. For us, it struck that all important balance between functionality and accessibility. Crucially, if you do find yourself running into any bother, you can get support at any time of the day or night from the 24/7 chatbot.What are the standout features?Client self-service portalTax time reportsAt-a-glance performance dashboardsUnlimited time trackingAre there any cons I need to know about?The aspect we felt could use the most improvement was FreshBooks’ messaging system. It currently feels quite cumbersome and tricky to use, and considering your clients need to use it for it to work, it seems likely this will cause some issues.And while the user support chatbot is available round the clock, which could be extremely helpful for inexperienced users, the phoneline is only open from 1pm until 12am, and is focused on sales calls, rather than help for existing customers. Suitable if: You’re just looking for the basics You want 24/7 assistance from a chatbot You want an aesthetically pleasing interface Not suitable if: You want a mobile app to monitor your financial data from You want custom reporting You want a simple messaging system to contact clients 7. Clear BooksBest if you’re willing to pay extra for reliable, MTD-compliant tax support for VAT Clear Books Starting price from: £13.50 per month Free trial: 30 days Well designed search function enables easy access to important information Efficient and easy customisation, such as quote creation Easily create new projects with helpful pop-up feature Summary Started in 2008, ClearBooks is a UK based accounting software firm specifically designed with small businesses in mind. We feel that freelancers, as well as small businesses, could benefit from ClearBooks, mainly thanks to its easy-to-use project creation. Show moreless How much does it cost? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Plan Small Plan Medium Plan Large Cost £13.50 per month (excl. VAT)£6.75 per month for the first three months Cost £29 per month (excl. VAT)£14.50 per month for the first 3 months (excl. VAT) Cost £36 per month (excl. VAT)£18 per month for the first six months Clear Books starts at £13.50 per month, which will get you access to its core features, so it’ll be able to get the basics done. However, crucially, if you want to be MTD VAT and CIS compliant, you’ll need to pay for the Medium plan, which is a heftier £29 per month. This won’t be ideal for sole traders looking to do a VAT Return for the cheapest price possible.Why is Clear Books a top choice for the self-employed?Clear Books provides some very strong features to keep you on top of your taxes as a freelancer or sole trader. You can track VAT, and it takes just three steps to submit your MTD VAT returns to HMRC. You can make sure you’re ready for tax season, but as we highlighted above, this only applies to users on the Medium tier.You can customise the Clear Books dashboard to your liking, so it displays the key metrics that you need. Source: Startups.co.ukClear Books can help you simplify tax calculations, and convenience was definitely the word that came to mind when we tested out Clear Books for ourselves. The search function, for example, was incredibly intuitive, which made hunting down the key information we needed refreshingly simple. What our users had to say… “The dashboard is really clean. The accounts receivable end of it is really straightforward, so it’s really easy to find out who owes you money and turn quotes into invoices.” What are the standout features“Pop-up” project creator, which is very user friendlyMobile app for managing contacts, invoicing clients, creating quotes, and moreSubmit MTD VAT returns directly to HMRC (only on the Medium plan)Straightforward customisation tools – you can toggle different features to suit your needsAre there any cons I need to know about?We did feel there was quite a steep learning curve when getting to grips with Clear Books – more so than user-friendly options like QuickBooks and Zoho Books, and even more so than Xero.If you do run into difficulties, another limitation of the platform is the support hours. Support is available 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, so if you need support outside of regular working hours you’ll be out of luck. We also felt the customisation options, while simple, were limited and a little old fashioned, such as the limited options for logos on your invoices (Sage has a much wider range of options for branding your documents). Suitable if: You want to simplify tax calculations You want a simple and reliable way of submitting VAT returns through MTD You want a platform that prioritises convenience and usability Not suitable if: You’ll want support outside of standard business operating hours You want a platform that’s quick to learn You want to track the status of your invoices Buying guide: How to choose your self-employed accounting softwareRegardless of whether you’re self-employed, a sole trader, or a freelancer, choosing your accounting software is the same as choosing anything else for your business: you need to decide what your ‘must haves’ are, and what you can live without.Understandably, price is going to be a headline issue for anyone who’s self-employed, as you won’t have the resources of a company. You’re going to need to keep overheads low: but don’t just automatically go for the budget option. It might be missing a critical feature you’ll need, like the ability to calculate Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) deductions, for example.Think about usage limits, as some plans will have a cap on client numbers, and be realistic about what advanced features you’ll actually end up using. If you’re just using accounting software to submit a self-assessment tax return, there’s no point in paying for complex tools like mult-currency bank accounts.You should also think about your skill level when it comes to accounting software. If you’ve got years of previous accounting experience, a more complicated platform like Xero might be well suited to you. If you’re an accounting novice, and you struggle with new technology, prioritise a user-friendly platform like Zoho Books.Oh, and it’s always worth keeping an eye out for providers that offer a free plan, or at least a free trial – it’s always better to take new software for a test drive before you get your credit card out! The top five factors you should consider in software for the self-employed Usability: make sure it’s user friendly! You’re a one-person-band after all, and you need something that’s quick and easy to use.Core functions: these features will be the backbone of your system, so make sure it’s equipped to handle easy and customisable invoicing, clear expense tracking, reliable tax management, and detailed financial reporting.Mobile app: the self-employed often find themselves rushing around, so you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for accounting software that offers a well-designed mobile app to stay on top of your accounts wherever you are.Seamless bank integration: connecting your accounting software with your bank will make your life so much easier, and import transactions much faster.Scalability: you never know where your self-employed venture will take you, so make sure you have a platform that will be able to grow along with you. How we test accounting software for self-employed business owners in the UKAt Startups, it’s imperative to us that the product recommendations we give to you are useful, accurate, and based on thorough product testing.This is why our dedicated, in-house research team carried out 37 user tests, which amounted to a total of 57 hours of actual testing.We completed a massive 555 tasks on seven different accounting software platforms. These tasks were separated into the six categories we felt were the most essential to accounting software for self-employed people in the UK:The core accounting tools and features of the software.The tools that equip you for financial planning, and visibility over your finances.How efficiently the software helps you run the daily operations of your business, including integrations and mobile apps.What help and support the platform offers, and what hours these are accessible in.The price of the software, including hidden fees and extra costs.And finally, the usability of the platform.Each of these was then given an appropriate weighting that related to how crucial they are for freelancers, sole-traders and self-employed. Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags Topic spotlight Written by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Reviewed by: Olivia Bond Research Executive Olivia is driven by a deep curiosity about what makes people tick and the underlying factors that shape our decisions and behaviours. She honed her qualitative and quantitative skills with a degree in Psychology from UEA, while also contributing to an 18 month project to improve neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessments; an endeavour with potentially life-changing results for some. She now applies the same degree of care to the professional environment, assessing how managers and employees interact to support potentially game-changing results in business. Her core interest in human behavior guides her approach to every project, revealing the true reasons behind effective workplace processes, and ensuring her findings when assessing key products and industries are both truly accurate and deeply insightful. Olivia is dedicated to rigorous research practices, and strives to help business owners find the most reliable solutions to drive the best outcomes for their needs.