16 Best Small-Business Apps of August 2022

Why we like it

Pros

• First magstripe credit card reader is free; free plan available.

• Transparent, flat swipe fees.

• No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.

• Versions available for retail, restaurants or professional services; offers inventory management, table and menu management, multi-location setup, appointment scheduling and online orders.

• Live support available by phone, instant message or email.

• Subscription fees are generally month-to-month and easy to cancel if needed.

Cons

• Loyalty program and email marketing features cost extra; appointment-booking for more than one person is an additional fee.

• Ability to create and print barcodes isn’t available on free version.

Why we like it

Pros

• Promises no additional transaction fees or markups.

• Restaurant-friendly features for managing tables, inventory and employee performance.

• Multi-location management and the ability to publish different menus and set different prices at different locations.

• Live support available by phone, email or instant message.

• Pay-as-you-go plan with no monthly fee available.

Cons

• Some features, like online ordering and the loyalty program, may cost extra based on the package you choose.

• If you close your account before your contract term ends, you’ll have to pay the remaining subscription and software financing fees.

Why we like it

Pros

• Transparent, flat swipe fees; can also use POS with certain other payment processors if you don’t use the in-house option.

• Promises no complicated or cryptic fees on your statements. (Chargeback fees are $15.)

• A comprehensive inventory management system to keep detailed records of your products across multiple locations and set automatic reorder points so you don't run out.

• The restaurant POS features an adjustable floor plan, easy-to-edit menus, multi-location management and reports showing peak times and employee performance.

• Live support available by phone, instant message or email.

Cons

• No free plans available.

• Loyalty, e-commerce, accounting integrations and analytics features only included on more expensive plans.

• If you cancel your subscription, you’ll immediately owe the remaining installment fees in your plan, if any apply. Prepaid annual and monthly fees are nonrefundable.

Why we like it

Why we like it

Pros

• Inventory management feature allows you to forecast trends and automate reorder points so you don’t run out of stock.

• Unlimited users.

• Ability to add customer profiles and create custom loyalty programs.

• No transaction fees from Vend (though the payment processor you select will charge these fees).

• Live support available by phone or instant message.

Cons

• No free plans available.

• Loyalty program is only available on more expensive plans.

• Payment processing isn’t included, so you’ll have to shop for this separately; however, Vend has some payment processing partners that offer exclusive rates to their clients.

• Prepayments are nonrefundable; if you prepay for a year and don’t use the full term, you can’t get the money back.

Why we like it

Pros

• Full suite of reports, including profit and loss statements and balance sheets.

• Easy sharing with outside accountants or bookkeepers.

• Double-entry accounting.

• Access across devices, including mobile and browser (in addition to a desktop app).

• Live full-service bookkeeping support available (pricing is based on your company’s average monthly expenses).

Cons

• Can take a little effort to learn.

Why we like it

Pros

• Unlimited users in all pricing plans.

• Inventory management in all plans.

• Full reporting included with all subscription levels.

• Automated bill and receipt capture.

Cons

• No live phone support.

• Limits on bills and invoices with the entry-level plan (five and 20 monthly, respectively).

Why we like it

Pros

• Free.

• Ease of use.

• Unlimited income and expense tracking.

• Unlimited partners, collaborators or accountants.

Cons

• Limited scalability. Wave lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails.

• Free plan doesn’t include customer support with a human (self-service resources are all that’s available).

Why we like it

Pros

• Ease of use.

• Can integrate with a family of other Zoho products and several third-party apps.

• Ability to automate workflows in the Professional plan and up.

• Free plan available, though it’s limited to businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.

• Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.

Cons

• Third-party app integrations are more limited than other choices.

• The top-tier plan only includes 15 users.

Why we like it

Pros

• Benefits administration (401(k)s available in all 50 states; health benefits are available in 38 states and Washington, D.C.).

• Time-tracking features at higher-price tiers (limited at Simple level).

• HR support available (at the Plus level).

• One-month free trial; terms apply.

• Next-day direct deposit (at Plus and Premium levels).

Cons

• More expensive than some options.

• Limited hours for live support.

Why we like it

Pros

• Benefits administration at all levels.

• Time-tracking features available (Premium and up).

• Next-day direct deposit at Core level (same-day at Premium).

• HR support available (Premium and up).

• The option to choose a 30-day free trial or 50% off base price for first three months; terms apply.

• Easy integration with QuickBooks Online.

Cons

• Limited integration with non-QuickBooks products.

• Additional fees if you have employees in more than one state.

Why we like it

Pros

• Time tracking available as add-on.

• HR support available as add-on.

• One-month free trial; terms apply.

• Covers up to 100 employees.

Cons

• Doesn't offer benefits administration.

• Extra fee for 1099 e-filing (at Basic level).

• Limited accounting integration options.

Why we like it

Why we like it

Pros

• Benefits administration available as add-on.

• Time-tracking features available as add-on.

• HR features offered at higher tiers, including HR help desk support.

• First three months free; terms apply.

• Ability to scale up for growing businesses.

Cons

• Opaque pricing.

• Limited HR support at base level.

Why we like it

Why we like it

Pros

• Schedule invoices to automatically send at a later date.

• Set up recurring invoices.

• Highly customizable templates.

Cons

• No direct integration with Zoho Inventory.