Every February, our team sees the same thing happen with business owners and bookkeepers across Canada and the U.S.: year-end books are wrapping up, questions are piling up, and suddenly the big realization hits…
“I’m not sure if my accounting software still fits my business.”
If that thought sounds familiar, don’t worry – you’re not alone – this is exactly the season when many entrepreneurs take a step back and reassess their systems as a whole. And it’s a smart move! If your bookkeeping systems and processes are feeling more confusing, messy, or harder than they should be these days, the issue may not be you – it may simply be the wrong tool for the job.
At Accounting By Sal, we’ve trained hundreds of business owners, bookkeepers, and growing entrepreneurs in QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks – and we can easily tell you this:
There is no “best” software.
There is only one question: Which Accounting Software Fits My Business best?
It’s not a cookie-cutter approach. Your goals, your habits, and your workflow must all be taken into consideration when choosing your ideal software, and we’re here to help shed some light on the situation.
Below is a simple, honest breakdown to help you choose the right platform for your business – and identify when it’s time to upgrade, migrate, or get up-to-date training so the software actually works for you and not against you.
Let’s dive in!
QuickBooks Online | The Most Robust Multifaceted System
QuickBooks is the tool we work with most often at Accounting By Sal – not because it’s perfect, but because it adapts beautifully as a business and its accounting demands grow.
It’s an ideal choice if you want:
- A full bookkeeping and accounting system that scales from startup to a multi-employee operation
- Strong reporting tools that provide accuracy every time
- Payroll options to help you pay your people accordingly
- Seamless tax season preparation and documentation
- The ability to automate everyday bookkeeping workflows and take the tedious tasks off your plate
Most business owners choose QuickBooks because they’re ready to get organized, get confident, and gain clarity with their accounting implementation skills and overall know-how and vocabulary – without relying on spreadsheets or guesswork.
Why clients choose QuickBooks with Accounting By Sal:
With 1-on-1 QuickBooks Online Training, we help you:
- Set up your account properly right from day one.
- Customize your QuickBooks system to match how your business works and needs to work moving forward.
- Learn everyday transactions (classic money in & money out systems).
- Thoroughly understand reports so you can track growth and know what you’re looking at.
- Automate tasks so QuickBooks does the repetitive work for you so you can put your focus elsewhere.
- Navigate your payroll, invoicing, reconciling, and sales tax documentation and implementation with confidence.
This is especially helpful if you want the support of a warm, patient guide who explains the “why,” the “how,” and the “what this means for your business.”
If QuickBooks is the accounting software that fits your business best, we can help guide you every step of the way.
Xero | Simple, Cloud-First, & Extremely User-Friendly
Xero is an excellent choice for business owners who might be thinking: “I don’t want something complicated. I just want something clean, simple, and easy to understand.”
We hear you! Why complicate things when they can be simple and easy?
Compared to QuickBooks, Xero feels lighter, more intuitive, and more flexible, and is great for:
- Freelancers and/or consultants
- Businesses with smaller teams
- Bookkeepers who want a clean cloud-based platform
- Business owners who want to connect and integrate apps they’re already using
Why clients choose Xero with Accounting By Sal:
Our 1:1 Xero Training focuses on:
- Smooth setup from start to finish
- Understanding features you’ll actually use
- Creating invoices and tracking revenue
- Managing daily transactions with clarity
- Automating your repetitive work
- Reconciling accounts accurately
- Preparing for tax season
- Troubleshooting common issues
- Learning accounting concepts behind the software
Xero works beautifully as long as it’s set up correctly and in alignment with what your business needs – and of course, when you know how to use its tools with clear confidence.
If Xero feels like the accounting software fits your business best, our customized training removes the overwhelm and replaces it with clarity so you can master your bookkeeping in no time!
FreshBooks | Easy to Navigate, Clean, & Perfect for Service Providers
FreshBooks is a favourite among most freelancers, professional creatives, contractors and consultants, and new entrepreneurs who simply want the basics – invoicing, expense tracking, simple reporting – without the complexity of a full accounting software.
It’s the easiest platform to learn, and many business owners choose it because they want something that feels straightforward, easy to understand and not “too accounting-heavy.”
Why clients choose FreshBooks training with Accounting By Sal:
We help you:
- Set up your account
- Import your existing data
- Understand invoicing, expenses, payments, and time tracking.
- Learn how to invite your accountant
- Use basic reporting
- Build confidence managing simple books
If FreshBooks feels like the accounting software fits your business best, that’s perfectly okay!
Many business owners, entrepreneurs, or creative professionals start here and eventually transition to QuickBooks or Xero as their businesses grow. Sometimes it’s good to start where you’re at and upgrade when your business calls for it.
So… Which One Is “Right”? | Your Best Match for Bookkeeping
Here’s the truth that we share with every client: The right software is the one that gives you clarity, saves you time, and grows with your business – not the one you feel pressured into.
Here’s a simple comparison for better understanding:
Your Priority: Strongest Reporting & Growth Potential
Your Best Fit: QuickBooks Online
Your Priority: Clean, simple, intuitive cloud-first design
Best Fit: Xero
Your Priority: Simple invoicing & basic bookkeeping
Best Fit: FreshBooks
Your Priority: Lots of automation
Best Fit: QuickBooks / Xero
Your Priority: Support for more complex businesses
Best Fit: QuickBooks
If you’re still unsure which accounting software fits your business, that’s completely normal – that’s why February is genuinely the best month to reassess your systems and set yourself up for a smoother year ahead.
Make the Switch | How Do You Know It’s Time to Migrate?
Here are simple but common signs that your software may no longer fit your business:
- You find yourself constantly confused or frustrated.
- Your reports don’t make sense as they should.
- You can’t track profit easily, and you don’t have all the information in one place.
- Invoicing or reconciling is too time-consuming.
- You have outgrown the “starter” features and require a more robust system for your growing business.
- You want automation, but your current tool can’t support it, so you do everything manually, yourself.
If these challenges or frustrations sound all too familiar, a migration to QuickBooks or Xero might be exactly what you need – and we can handle all the migration and app setup for both platforms and walk you through every step.
How We Support Our Clients | Accounting By Sal Has Your Back
When clients come to us overwhelmed, frustrated, lacking confidence and desperate for solutions, we always help them realize that they don’t have to do this alone.
In fact, all you need is someone who understands your business and can guide you.
That’s where our 1:1 personalized advisory and training come in!
Whether you choose QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks, Accounting by Sal is here to help you:
- Pick the right software for you and your business
- Set it up properly for sustainable use
- Clean up or migrate your existing data for easier navigation
- Learn only the features you need to thrive
- Build confidence in your financial systems so you are always in the know
- Feel supported every step of the way and never in the dark on anything
Because the goal isn’t just to choose software. The goal is to choose a system that gives you clarity, confidence, and control over your business’s financial health.
Ready to Choose the Right Software? Let’s Dive In with Support – Not Stress!
If you’re feeling unsure about which accounting software fits your business best, or you’re thinking about switching platforms but don’t know where to start, we can help!
Let’s look at your business together and choose the system that actually supports your growth. Connect with Accounting By Sal today, and we’ll guide you step-by-step until you feel confident, clear, and fully in control of your books!
