16 Best Small-Business Apps of August 2022
These apps can help you with point-of-sale, accounting, invoicing and payroll.
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The best small-business apps can help you run your company, startup or side hustle more efficiently, saving you time and money. Here are NerdWallet's top picks for accounting, point-of-sale, payroll and invoicing.
The best small-business apps can help you run your company, startup or side hustle more efficiently, saving you time and money. Here are NerdWallet's top picks for accounting, point-of-sale, payroll and invoicing.
Best Small-Business Apps
Our pick for
Point-of-sale systems
Point-of-sale systems allow you to ring up customers and complete sales, and the best ones can be customized to fit your business and industry. Restaurants, for example, need POS systems that allow for table management and coordination. Retail shops, meanwhile, require robust inventory management features in their retail point-of-sale systems.

on NerdWallet's secure website
Toast POS

Payment processing fees
2.99% + $0.15Monthly fee
$0Starter Plan. Essentials Plan also available
on NerdWallet's secure website

on NerdWallet's secure website
Vend POS

Payment processing fees
N/AMonthly fee
N/ASoftware: $99/month (billed annually) and up. Hardware: Works with industry-standard hardware for Mac and PC; also runs on iPad. A Starter Hardware Kit for iOS through Vend's partner is $600; a Tablet Success Kit is about $94. Payment processing: Not included; you’ll have to add service separately.
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Our pick for
Accounting
With careful bookkeeping and good accounting software, you can track your business's revenue, profit margins and overall financial health. It can also help you answer important questions, like, "How much can I afford to spend on marketing this month?"

on NerdWallet's secure website
Wave Accounting

Starting at
$0Free (Wave makes money via paid money management products).
Promotion
N/Aon NerdWallet's secure website

on NerdWallet's secure website
Zoho Books

Starting at
$0Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-14-day free trial of the Premium plan.
on NerdWallet's secure website
Our pick for
Payroll
Paying your employees is a must, and good payroll software can make it easier to manage and track wages, withholdings and tax filings. Many programs also give employees access to a portal so they can view their pay history.

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Payroll4Free

Starting at
N/APromotion
N/Aon NerdWallet's secure website
Our pick for
Invoicing
If you send bills or invoices to customers, invoicing software can be a key tool to keep track of transactions and what you’re still owed. The best options also handle quotes and estimates, time tracking and integration with payment processing and accounting systems.

on NerdWallet's secure website
Zoho Invoice

Starting at
$0Free
Promotion
N/Aon NerdWallet's secure website
Point-of-sale
NerdWallet's pick for: Best overall.
Software cost: Free and up. (Additional hardware and payment processing are additional costs.)
NerdWallet’s pick for: Restaurants
Software cost: Free and up. (Additional hardware and payment processing are additional costs.)
NerdWallet’s pick for: Inventory management.
Software cost: $69 per month (billed annually on a plan with Lightspeed Payments) and up. (Hardware and payment processing are additional costs.)
NerdWallet’s pick for: E-commerce.
Software cost: $29 per month and up. (Hardware and payment processing are additional costs.)
NerdWallet’s pick for: Retail.
Software cost: $99 per month (billed annually) and up. (Hardware and payment processing are additional costs.)
Accounting
NerdWallet's pick for: Best overall.
NerdWallet’s pick for: Unlimited users.
Cost: $12 and up per month.
NerdWallet’s pick for: Free option.
Cost: Free (Wave makes money through payment processing).
NerdWallet’s pick for: Low-cost, high-value.
Cost: Free for businesses with annual revenue under $50,000; otherwise $15 per month and up (billed annually).
Payroll
NerdWallet’s pick for: Best overall.
Cost: $40 per month plus $6 per person for the basic package, which includes tax filings and payments.
NerdWallet’s pick for: Integrated payroll solution.
Cost: $45 per month (50% off for first three months) plus $4 per employee per month for the basic package, which includes tax filings and payments.
NerdWallet’s pick for: Low-cost option.
Cost: $17 per month plus $4 per employee or contractor for basic payroll (tax filings and payments not included).
NerdWallet’s pick for: Best overall free option.
Cost: Free (monthly fees apply for two optional services: tax filings and direct deposit).
NerdWallet’s pick for: Larger businesses.
Cost: Prices begin at $59 per month plus $4 per employee for basic payroll, which includes tax filings and payments.
Invoicing
NerdWallet’s pick for: All-in-one invoicing and accounting solution.
Cost: $15 per month and up (60% off for first six months).
Zoho Invoice
NerdWallet’s pick for: Best overall.
Cost: Free.
Last updated on January 19, 2022
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Small-Business Apps of August 2022
- Square POS: Best for Point-of-sale systems
- Toast POS: Best for Point-of-sale systems
- Lightspeed POS: Best for Point-of-sale systems
- Shopify Retail POS: Best for Point-of-sale systems
- Vend POS: Best for Point-of-sale systems
- QuickBooks Online: Best for Accounting
- Xero: Best for Accounting
- Wave Accounting: Best for Accounting
- Zoho Books: Best for Accounting
- Gusto Payroll: Best for Payroll
- QuickBooks Payroll: Best for Payroll
- Patriot Payroll: Best for Payroll
- Payroll4Free: Best for Payroll
- RUN Powered by ADP: Best for Payroll
- FreshBooks Invoicing: Best for Invoicing
- Zoho Invoice: Best for Invoicing