How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Wave is the cheapest real option: its free Starter plan covers unlimited invoices and expense tracking for a solo owner at no monthly cost.
- QuickBooks Solopreneur at $10 a month is purpose-built for one-person businesses, with tax deductions tracking and mileage that free tools do not bundle as neatly.
- If you hate bookkeeping itself, Bench puts a real bookkeeper on your account starting at $199 a month, which is cheaper than a part-time hire.
- Xero and FreshBooks earn their higher prices through stronger invoicing and bank reconciliation, not through features a solo owner will use on day one.
- Zoho Books offers the most generous free tier among paid-quality tools: a full free plan for one user plus one accountant.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 QuickBooks | solo owners who want tax-season help | $10 per month (Solopreneur plan) | Free trial (30 days) |
 Wave | solo owners who want to spend $0 | $0 (Starter plan) | Yes |
 FreshBooks | service businesses that invoice constantly | $21 per month (Lite) | Free trial (30 days) |
 Xero | owners who want the cleanest bank reconciliation | $27 per month (Early) | Free trial (30 days) |
 Zoho Books | the most capable free plan available | $0 (free plan) | Yes |
 Patriot | simple flat-rate accounting without surprises | $20 per month (Basic) | Free trial (30 days) |
 ZipBooks | a clean free tier with room to grow | $0 (Starter plan) | Yes |
 Bench | owners who would rather never touch the books | $199 per month (Bookkeeping Light) | No |
 Sage | owners who trust an established brand | See website | Free trial (30 days) |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best accounting software for single member LLC
Starting price$10 per month (Solopreneur plan)
Free planFree trial (30 days)
QuickBooks is the default answer for a reason, and for a single-member LLC the Solopreneur plan is the one that actually matches your shape. At $10 a month it covers unlimited invoices, mileage tracking, receipt capture and tax deduction estimates, plus income and expense separation between business and personal. That last part matters more than it sounds: the single biggest bookkeeping failure in a one-person LLC is mixing personal and business spending, and QuickBooks makes the split visible.
The honest catch is the pricing treadmill. Intuit raised prices across the upper QuickBooks Online tiers in August 2026, leaving Simple Start at $38 a month untouched. The Solopreneur plan has held at $10 so far, but if you outgrow it, the next step up is a meaningful jump. Go in with that knowledge. The integration ecosystem (over 800 apps) is unmatched, and most accountants already know the interface, which makes handing off books at tax time frictionless.
What we like- Solopreneur plan built for one-person businesses
- Tax deduction tracking and mileage
- Huge integration ecosystem
Watch out for- Price rises are frequent
- Interface can feel built for accountants
Starting price$0 (Starter plan)
Free planYes
No other tool on this list lets you run a real business at zero monthly software cost. Wave's Starter plan includes unlimited invoices, expense tracking, bank reconciliation (via manual statement upload) and accounting reports, and you can add unlimited users, so your accountant gets in free. Wave makes its money on payment processing and payroll, not on the software itself, which is why the free tier can stay free.
The limitation is deliberate and worth knowing before you commit. Automatic bank transaction imports, automatic categorization and unlimited receipt capture sit behind the Pro plan at $19 a month. On the free tier you upload statements manually. For a single-member LLC with modest transaction volume, that manual step costs maybe twenty minutes a month. If that trade-off sounds fine, Wave is the obvious starting point, and upgrading to Pro later is painless.
What we like- Genuinely free core accounting
- Unlimited invoices and users
- No credit card required
Watch out for- Automatic bank imports require the paid Pro plan
- No inventory management
Starting price$21 per month (Lite)
Free planFree trial (30 days)
FreshBooks started as invoicing software and it shows in the best way. Creating a professional invoice takes seconds, recurring invoices and automatic late-fee reminders are built in, and time tracking feeds directly into invoices without a third-party tool. For a solo LLC that bills by the hour or by the project, that workflow saves real time every week. The Lite plan at $21 a month covers 5 billable clients, which is enough for many one-person shops.
Where FreshBooks loses points for a single-member LLC is accounting depth. It handles the basics (expenses, reports, tax categories) but it is not a full double-entry accounting system at the level of QuickBooks or Xero, and there is no free plan, only a 30-day trial. If invoicing is 80 percent of what you do, that trade is fine. If you need multi-currency, inventory or serious reporting, look elsewhere on this list.
What we like- Best-in-class invoicing workflow
- Time tracking built in
- Gentle learning curve
Watch out for- Lite plan caps at 5 billable clients
- Extra team members cost $11 each
#4
Xero
Best for: owners who want the cleanest bank reconciliation
Visit xero.com
Starting price$27 per month (Early)
Free planFree trial (30 days)
Xero's bank reconciliation is widely considered the best in its class, and that is the feature a solo owner uses most often. Connect your accounts, and Xero matches transactions with suggestions that are usually right, so month-end close takes minutes. Every plan includes unlimited users, which means your accountant never costs you an extra seat. The Early plan, now $27 a month after the October 2026 price change, includes quotes, Hubdoc receipt capture and W-9 and 1099 management.
The Early plan's caps are the real constraint: 20 invoices and 5 bills a month. A quiet solo consultant fits. A busy freelancer with 30 clients does not, and Growing at $59 a month is the next step. Also note that US payroll runs through Gusto rather than natively, which adds a separate subscription if you ever hire. For a pure single-member LLC with no employees, though, that is irrelevant, and Xero's core workflow is excellent.
What we like- Excellent bank reconciliation
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Receipt capture with Hubdoc included
Watch out for- Early plan caps at 20 invoices and 5 bills a month
- Payroll needs Gusto in the US
#5
Zoho Books
Best for: the most capable free plan available
Visit zoho.com
Starting price$0 (free plan)
Free planYes
Zoho Books quietly offers one of the best deals in small business accounting. Its free plan supports one user plus one accountant, up to 1,000 invoices a year, bank reconciliation, recurring invoices, expense and mileage tracking, and integrations across the Zoho suite. That is a fuller product than most paid plans at this price, and it is genuinely free, not a trial. When you outgrow it, the Standard plan is $20 a month (or $15 billed annually).
The catch is the learning curve. Zoho packs a lot into the interface, and a solo owner who just wants to send invoices can feel overwhelmed by options they will never use. It also helps most if you already use other Zoho products. But if you want maximum capability at minimum cost and are willing to spend an afternoon learning the layout, the free plan is hard to argue with.
What we like- Full free plan including accountant access
- Cheap paid tiers
- Deep Zoho ecosystem
Watch out for- Interface feels dense for beginners
- Some advanced features need higher tiers
Starting price$20 per month (Basic)
Free planFree trial (30 days)
Patriot takes the opposite approach from QuickBooks: two accounting plans, flat prices, no per-user fees, and free US-based phone, email and chat support included at every level. The Basic plan at $20 a month includes unlimited customers and invoices, automatic bank imports, income and expense tracking, account reconciliation and financial reporting. Patriot's patented dual-ledger lets you toggle between cash and accrual accounting, which matters because LLCs can generally choose either method.
This is accounting software for owners who want the books done, not a platform to explore. The integration library is smaller than QuickBooks' and there is no inventory tracking, so product sellers should look at Xero or Sage instead. Patriot only serves US businesses, which is fine for this audience. Support quality is consistently praised by users, which counts when you are the only person in the company who deals with the books.
What we like- Flat pricing with unlimited customers and invoices
- Free US-based support on every tier
- Cash and accrual toggle
Watch out for- No inventory tracking
- Smaller integration ecosystem
- US businesses only
Starting price$0 (Starter plan)
Free planYes
ZipBooks is a smaller US vendor that has survived by keeping things simple. The free Starter plan covers unlimited invoices, unlimited vendors and customers, digital payment acceptance through Square or PayPal, basic reports and one connected bank account. The Smarter plan at $15 a month adds time tracking, recurring invoices with auto-bill, automated reminders and up to five team members. The software auto-categorizes transactions after you link your bank, which reduces the manual sorting that eats a solo owner's time.
The trade-off for the simplicity is ecosystem depth. ZipBooks integrates with far fewer tools than QuickBooks or Xero, and its reporting is adequate rather than impressive. It also does not offer payroll natively. For a single-member LLC that wants clean, modern software without paying for a brand name, it is a solid pick, but check that your bank connects before you commit your history to it.
What we like- Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices
- Intelligent transaction categorization
- Simple interface
Watch out for- Thin integration list
- Reporting is basic on lower tiers
#8
Bench
Best for: owners who would rather never touch the books
Visit bench.co
Starting price$199 per month (Bookkeeping Light)
Free planNo
Bench is not software. It is a service, and that distinction is the whole point. You get a dedicated bookkeeper who categorizes your transactions, reconciles your accounts and prepares year-end financial statements, all inside Bench's platform. The Light plan at $199 a month covers businesses under $250,000 in annual revenue. The Core plan at $399 a month is the standard offering, and Bookkeeping plus Tax at $649 a month adds income tax filing.
For a single-member LLC, the math is straightforward. If you bill $75 or more an hour and spend three hours a month on bookkeeping, Bench Light pays for itself in recovered time, and the books will be cleaner than what most owners produce alone. If you actually enjoy the control of doing your own books, or your revenue does not yet justify the cost, one of the free or cheap tools above is the better choice. Bench also offers hourly QuickBooks-native bookkeeping if you want a human inside your existing QBO account instead of migrating.
What we like- A dedicated human bookkeeper does the work
- Tax-ready financials every month
- Catch-up bookkeeping available
Watch out for- Far more expensive than software-only options
- Runs on its own platform
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial (30 days)
Sage has been selling accounting software since the early 1980s, and that history is its pitch. Sage Accounting is a cloud product aimed at small businesses, with invoicing, bank reconciliation, cash flow forecasting and reporting that cover everything a single-member LLC needs. Accountants who trained on Sage desktop products will find the concepts familiar, which can make the tax-season handoff smooth.
The honest weakness is polish. Next to QuickBooks or Xero, Sage's interface feels a generation older, and its US pricing has shifted enough that the vendor page is the only reliable source (hence "See website" above). It is a dependable choice rather than an exciting one. If your accountant already works in Sage, that compatibility alone may settle the decision.
What we like- Decades of accounting credibility
- Straightforward plans
- Strong reporting
Watch out for- Interface feels dated next to newer tools
- Pricing varies by region and changes often
How we chose
We reviewed each vendor's current pricing page, product documentation and feature lists in October 2026, then checked what public reviewers on G2, Capterra and Reddit actually complain about. We prioritized tools that fit a one-person LLC specifically: reasonable cost at low transaction volume, Schedule C friendly tax features, invoicing, bank reconciliation and easy accountant access. We did not run hands-on trials, so we make no claims about using these tools daily. What you read above reflects published facts and widely reported user experience.
What a single-member LLC actually needs from accounting software
Tax treatment first. A single-member LLC is a disregarded entity by default, which means your business income lands on Schedule C of your personal return. Your software should track deductible expenses by category, separate business from personal spending cleanly and produce a profit and loss statement your tax preparer can use directly. Every tool on this list does that. The differentiators are how much of it is automatic.
Second, think about the bank boundary. The IRS respects your LLC as separate from you only if you act like it is separate. Accounting software that connects to a dedicated business bank account and keeps personal transactions out is not just convenient, it protects the liability shield you formed the LLC to get. Open the business account first, then connect the software.
Third, mind the invoice limits. Entry plans often cap monthly invoices or billable clients. Count your average monthly invoices before choosing. A plan that fits at 15 invoices a month breaks at 35, and the upgrade step is where vendors make their money. Finally, confirm your accountant can access the books without you buying an extra seat. Most of these tools include free accountant access, but check before tax season, not during it.
Free versus paid: when the upgrade is worth it
Start free if your situation is simple. Wave or Zoho Books at $0 will carry a solo LLC with under a few dozen transactions a month for a long time, and there is no shame in staying there. The honest signal to upgrade is time: when you catch yourself spending more than two or three hours a month on bookkeeping, a paid plan with automatic bank imports and receipt scanning buys those hours back for less than your hourly rate.
The second signal is tax complexity. If you have contractors to pay, multiple income streams or a home office deduction you want tracked properly, the Solopreneur or Early-tier plans earn their keep at tax time. The third signal is growth toward employees. The moment you hire, you need payroll, and that changes the shortlist entirely. Until then, keep it simple and keep the money.
Frequently asked questions
Does a single-member LLC need accounting software?
Legally, no. Practically, yes. The IRS expects you to report business income and expenses accurately on Schedule C, and clean books make that filing cheaper and less stressful. Software also protects your liability shield by keeping business and personal finances visibly separate.
What is the cheapest accounting software for a single-member LLC?
Wave's Starter plan and Zoho Books' free plan both cost $0 and cover the essentials: invoicing, expense tracking and bank reconciliation. Wave's free tier is simpler; Zoho's free tier is more capable but has a steeper learning curve.
Should I use QuickBooks Solopreneur or Simple Start?
Solopreneur at $10 a month is built for one-person businesses and includes tax deduction tracking and mileage. Simple Start at $38 a month is the entry to the full QuickBooks Online line with more reporting and accountant collaboration. Most solo LLCs should start with Solopreneur.
Can my accountant access my books for free?
With most of these tools, yes. QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books and Wave all include free accountant access on their plans. Confirm the exact policy on the vendor's site before you invite your accountant, since terms change.
Do I need payroll as a single-member LLC?
Usually not. Without employees, there is no payroll to run. If you elect S-corp taxation, you become an employee of your own company and must run payroll, which is a different software decision entirely.
Is Bench worth it for a one-person business?
It depends on your hourly rate. At $199 a month for the Light plan, Bench makes sense if bookkeeping costs you more than that in time. If you enjoy the books or your transaction volume is tiny, a free tool plus an annual accountant review is cheaper.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing/
- https://quickbooks.intuit.com/solopreneur/
- https://www.freshbooks.com
- https://support.waveapps.com/hc/en-us/articles/208621296-Is-Wave-free
- https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans
- https://www.zoho.com/us/books/
- https://www.bench.co/pricing
- https://www.patriotsoftware.com/pricing/
- https://www.zipbooks.com
- https://www.sage.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.