FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software preferred by numerous small to medium enterprises for its ability to easily manage and streamline finances. Core features include expensive tracking and invoicing, and it also helps improve operational transparency through reporting and time-tracking features.
Capabilities |
|
---|---|
Segment |
|
Deployment | Cloud / SaaS / Web-Based, Desktop Mac, Desktop Windows, Mobile Android, Mobile iPad, Mobile iPhone, On-Premise Linux |
Training | Documentation |
Languages | English |
FreshBooks was easy to set up and manage to track revenue and expenses, create invoices, and prepare for taxes. I don't like accounting - FreshBooks eliminated the drudgery by offering a great solution at an affordable price that delivers a good user experience. I did not take advantage of all of the features, but I believe they offer a comprehensive solution with everything a small business needs.
I did try to implement the option to accept credit cards with my invoices, and had a tough time setting it up. I called customer support and they told me to contact their partner, who was providing the service. I found that odd as I've always had good customer support from FreshBooks. In the end I did not integrate this option.
I don't want to think about the accounting aspect of my business, and FreshBooks was easy enough for me to set up so I could focus on business development and providing the services I offer. My accountant likes my reports at tax time, as they are so much more organized than when I was doing those myself.
Turns invoicing and account into something actually manageable. Love the ability to hook up your Paypalaccount and give the ability to your users to pay online directly.
Sometimes when delete blank items lines on my invoice templates, but the keep re-appearing after I save. Haven't figured out how to avoid that yet.
Not provided
Invoices created by this software looked very unique and professional Easy handling of expenses by linking to bank accounts and email.
I used once for accounting purposes but it is not made for easy use. Only accounting professional can use it correctly.
I used this software for invoice creation for my clients. And handling expenses which are readily available at the time of taxation purposes and for auditors as required by them for audit purposes
Ease of use Nice interface Team collaboration Good time, mileage and inventory tracking
No quarterly tax estimates Minimal helpdesk supports Need improvement on mobile app
Payroll and invoice systems Mileage and time tracking
The flexibility of plans according to the size of the business and the ability to create reports for clients and my business.
It’s still confusing to work on clients that pay advanced deposit but it’s an hourly (tracking) project.
Time tracking for projects to be able to quote future projects better
I love how easy it is to use FreshBooks. I'm a sole proprietor, and I can do almost all of my accounting tasks with the program.
The timer isn't great, so I use another provider to track time.
The new interface makes invoicing a bit clunkier. There's an extra step to save an download.
Cloud-based, easy to navigate, good plug-ins for ACH, credit card payments, good combo of accounting, time-tracking and invoicing
Expense category learning is a bit weak. Repeating expenses, even with same vendor and recurring amounts, do not always learn. Can be erratic so needs manual management
CC payments within the platform, time-tracking and expensing on-the-go, easy management of multiple projects for each client.
Freshbooks is super easy to use and has great reports. I've used it for about 8 years and highly recommend it. They even have a chart of accounts now!
Cannot custom the chart of accounts and it's difficult to stop and adjust recurring expenses when trying to do it a few months after they should have stopped.
Bookkeeping and reporting are the main reasons I use it.
The search feature allows me to find things easily. It helps me keep track of expenses by linking to all the banking accounts and card Is utilize. The ability to invoice clients is very easy. End of year reporting is seamless.
Client limitations and pricing structure
Tracking expenses and accounting.
Freshbooks is streamlined and easy to use. Features and reports are intuitively placed making it easy to track my time, create estimates, manage invoices, and track expenses.
The only downside of Freshbooks is that I cannot process a credit card for my clients without upping my subscription status two levels. As a solo-entrepreneur, I don't need to add extra employees or use any of the other features available at that level so it is simply not cost-effective. As a result, I am forced to process through another provider and then track invoice payments and fees separately and manually.
Before Freshbooks, I was trying to keep track of everything on my own using spreadsheets and creating invoices in Word. Now, everything is in one spot. Even though I don't charge by the hour, I do keep track of the hours I spend on each project using Freshbooks Time Tracking so that I make sure my estimating is on-point.
invoicing is fairly easy. Time tracking is fairly easy
Not being able to set home page graphs for a rolling period of time. Preset to Jan-Dec. Not being able to report against invoices for a single person.
Time tracking and invoicing is main use
FreshBooks is easy to use and perfect for freelancers. The ability to get paid traditionally or via credit cards is great. I’m a small business and it fits my budget perfectly. They keep improving and enhancing the product as well. Thanks FreshBooks.
Need to generate more traditional past due and aging reports that can be sent to individual clients verses a resubmitted invoice.
Client billing and tracking.
Customer support and simple to use services like time tracking and invoicing. I particularly appreciate the automated invoice features like client reminders and showing me if they've viewed the invoice or not.
Very little to dislike, but there are things that can be improved to fit better with how I run my business. At the moment there's no issues (otherwise I would have already asked customer service about them).
As a freelancer, optimizing my time and reducing time spent on operating tasks like time tracking and invoicing is huge. By spending less time on invoicing and time tracking, I am freed up to work more billable hours and develop my business.
It was recommended by Dave Ramsey. I'm a huge fan of his, so I knew anything he endorsed would be good. It's fairly user friendly. I like the price point. It's affordable for a business owner.
The support is good. It takes awhile to find their phone number to call but once you do, and get someone on the phone, there very supportive.
Invoicing
Invoicing my clients and their ability to pay online. Automate tasks like invoicing, organizing expenses, tracking your time.
It's expensive, they continue to send branded emails/invoices even though I am paying for the service. If you want to advertise to my clients, either pay me or stop charging me for the service. Support pretty much sucks. I would leave but I will need a day or so to get everything together to move away...of course I have been saying that for years...especially when I was forced to pay an extra $8-$10/month when they "upgraded".
Invoicing my clients.
The customer service is good and responsive, and the overall design is good once you've spent some time learning it.
The software often crashes or has glitches that sometimes results in lost time entries or edits to invoices or estimates, which is not only frustrating, but also potentially costly to my business.
It's good for keeping all of my expenses and time entries in one place and makes it easy to collect hours from subcontractors.
Clear simple and concise both online and on the app
I wish the app was more full fledged like the website. Also when invoicing the item options should be more flexible.
Budgeting and invoices
The way it looks and it is very representative to your clients.
Could not find my own bank in the payment methods.
As an accountant is find that my customers find it easier to use as an online accounting software with a minimum of accounting knowledge.
As a contract paralegal I was looking for simple timekeeping and billing software that would allow me to manage my clients without being overly burdensome or confusing. I didn’t need something that would cost more than my PC itself. FreshBooks gives me the ability to track time, expenses (with bank integration), and invoice right from the website. It is also easy to find invoices and time entries with an easy search!
The only real complaints I have are that sometimes, the bank integration doesn’t work, and that I wish I could set different default rates by client rather than by project or service.
I basically have a streamlined process for invoicing my clients that makes it easier for them to pay me - which of course gets me paid faster!
I like the ability to easily create invoices based on unpaid clocked hours and easily track payment on those invoices. The interface is very user-friendly.
My hourly rate does not auto-populate on the invoice and reads as $0 so I have to go through and fill it out myself.
I use freshbooks to track my freelance work hours and send invoices to my employer.