Let’s face it. Invoicing is the uninvited yet most loved guest at every agency. It’s that pesky task that nobody wants to deal with.
You know the drill — endless spreadsheets, manual calculations, and the dreaded chase for overdue payments. It’s time to ditch the chaos and find a better way.
And we’ve done the legwork for you. After testing countless options, we’ve narrowed down the best billing software for service providers out there. Get ready to say goodbye to billing nightmares and hello to smooth payments.
Quick List of 7 Best Agency Billing Software
- Agency Handy: Best for digital agencies to manage client, orders, and billing in one platform.
- FreshBooks: Ideal for small businesses seeking user-friendly invoicing and expense tracking.
- QuickBooks: Good choice for SMBs with lower transaction fees.
- Wave: Free basic accounting and invoicing tool with affordable paid add-ons for SMBs.
- Xero: Best for B2B and B2C businesses with cloud-based accounting and billing and strong bank reconciliation.
- Zoho Invoice: Secured, customizable invoicing with project and expense management features for small businesses.
- HoneyBook: Ideal time billing software for remote workers and teams to create invoices.
Now that we’ve identified the top agency billing software options, let’s explore each in detail to help you find the best fit for your agency’s specific needs and requirements.
What is Agency Billing Software?
Agency billing software is a financial management tool designed specifically for creative, marketing, and professional service agencies. This software is built to meet the unique billing needs of these agencies.
It combines several useful features—like time tracking, expense management, invoicing, and financial reporting—into one central platform.
This setup helps you keep accurate track of billable hours, manage project budgets, create professional invoices, and get a clear view of your financial performance.
Advantages of Using Agency Billing Software
Agency billing software offers numerous benefits for agencies:
- Streamlined Workflow: You can centralize client onboarding, project management, and billing in one platform, reducing administrative overhead.
- Automated Invoicing: You’ll be able to generate invoices based on tracked time and expenses, saving hours of manual work each month.
- Improved Cash Flow: Get faster invoicing and online payment options leading to quicker payments from clients.
- Client Transparency: Client portals can provide your clients with easy access to project status, invoices, and communication history.
- Team Management: You can track employee productivity and workload to balance assignments effectively.
- Reduced Errors: Your automated calculations and data entry will minimize billing mistakes and disputes.
By utilizing the advantages of an agency billing system, you can focus more on client work and less on administrative tasks, increasing productivity and profitability.
The 7 Best Agency Billing Software for All Digital Agencies
To help you make the right choice, we’ve created a quick comparison table showing top agency billing software, comparing features like automated invoicing, split payment options, payment types, and pricing.
| Billing Software | Automatic Invoicing | Split Payment | Payment Type | Best For | Pricing (Billed annually) |
| Agency Handy | Yes | Yes | Online, ACH, PayPal, Stripe | All digital agencies | $49/month |
| FreshBooks | Yes | No | Online, Credit Cards, Bank Transfers, Apple Pay | Small business | $160/year |
| QuickBooks | Yes | No | Online, Credit Cards, ACH, PayPal | SMBs | $97/year |
| Wave | Yes | No | Online, Credit Cards, ACH, Bank Payments | Freelancers and small business | $170/year |
| Xero | Yes | No | Online, Credit Cards, ACH, PayPal | Small to growing business | $15/month |
| Zoho Invoice | Yes | No | Online, Credit Cards, Bank Transfers, PayPal | SMBs | Free |
| HoneyBook | Yes | No | Online, Credit Cards, Bank Transfers | Freelancers and small business | $16/Monthly |
Now that you have a brief view of what each software can do, let’s continue reading for a more detailed understanding and see which one truly resonates with your billing needs.
1. Agency Handy
Best for digital agencies needing client, orders, and billing management in one platform.
Agency Handy is the top choice for agency billing software, working like a dedicated accountant for digital agencies of any size. It addresses common billing problems, such as cluttered billing, overlooked invoices, and split payments.
Once a client places an order, you’ll get an automated client profile and invoice for that specific service. Even add-on pricing will be added to that invoice. No need to create manual invoicing!
But if there’s a need to do manual invoicing, you can do that, too.
For instance, if you have a $200 service, but there’s a request for additional features, you can create an order manually and send the customized invoice to the client. It’ll link directly to the order, removing any guesswork for both parties.
Aside from billing, Agency Handy can help you with client management and proposals. Despite its features, it remains user-friendly and is designed specifically for agencies.
Unlike general accounting software such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks, Agency Handy is tailored to meet the specific needs of digital agencies alongside financial matters.
While FreshBooks and QuickBooks are great for general accounting, they aren’t built for agency project management. Agency Handy understands the unique requirements of digital agencies — both client and finance management.
And let’s talk about customer support.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by the slow support from FreshBooks or QuickBooks, you’ll appreciate the quick and expert assistance from Agency Handy’s support team. They are available just right when you need them — 24/7.
Overall, Agency Handy functions effectively as agency bookkeeping software, offering detailed financial analytics and reporting to help monitor your financial performance.
Features of Agency Handy
Here are a few features of Agency Handy that make it the top agency billing software alongside a client portal.
Automated Invoicing
Automated invoicing allows you to generate invoices automatically based on your service pricing and orders. This feature saves you time, reduces errors, and ensures consistent and timely billing for the services you render.
Custom Invoicing
Custom invoicing lets you manually create and customize invoices. This flexibility is crucial for handling unique billing situations or adding personalized touches to your invoices.
Invoice Status Tracking
Invoice status tracking allows you to update invoice statuses, such as draft, sent, paid, and void. This helps you keep track of payment collection and the overall financial health of your agency.
Split Payment
With split payment, you can invoice your clients at different stages of order completion, such as the start, middle, and end. This flexibility helps you manage cash flow better and align payment schedules with project milestones.
Multiple Payment Gateways
By integrating with platforms like Stripe, Paypal, and manual banking, you can offer various payment options to your clients. It increases convenience for them and can lead to faster payments.
Subscription Management
With subscription management, you can automate recurring billing for your subscription-based services. This streamlines your invoicing process for ongoing services and maintains a steady cash flow.
Client Portal Integration
Client portal integration provides your clients with access to their billing history and outstanding invoices. This transparency builds trust and allows clients to easily track and manage their payments.
Revenue Tracking and Reporting
With the Agency Handy Dashboard, you can get a complete view of your revenues from clients and orders. It’ll help you monitor your financial performance and make data-driven decisions.
Best Use Cases of Agency Handy
In the following segment, you can see how Agency Handy excels in different industries — a combo of CMS and billing. Here are a few of the best use cases of Agency Handy:
Digital Marketing Agency
If you’re in digital marketing, Agency Handy makes billing for multiple campaigns easy to handle. You can create clear invoices for each client, listing all the work done and the costs.
Automated reminders help ensure you get paid on time, so you can spend more time focusing on your strategies, this is what makes a great marketing agency billing software.
Brand Consulting Firm
Brand consultants can use Agency Handy to make billing easier. You can create detailed invoices for services like strategy sessions and market research. The platform sends automatic payment reminders, helping you keep a steady income and reducing paperwork.
Web Design Studio
For web designers, Agency Handy helps manage billing throughout the design process. You can send invoices for things like design drafts, changes, and final website handovers. Clients can review and pay invoices directly, making the payment process smooth and fast.
Content Production House
If you work in content creation, Agency Handy helps you manage billing for different projects, like videos or podcasts. The platform sends reminders for payments and tracks outstanding invoices, making sure you get paid on time so you can focus on creating great content.
Tech Support Services
For tech support teams, Agency Handy simplifies billing. You can create invoices for services like fixing issues or providing access to helpful resources. The system sends automatic payment reminders, making it easier for clients to pay and helping you keep a steady cash flow.
Travel Agency
Travel agencies can use Agency Handy to manage bookings and associated billing efficiently. The software allows for detailed travel agency billing such as invoicing for travel packages, ticketing, and accommodation services. It integrates with various payment gateways, ensuring a smooth transaction process for clients globally.
Independent Health Care Providers
For healthcare providers, Agency Handy offers tailored solutions to manage patient billing and insurance claims. It can also work as medical billing agency software that can generate detailed invoices, track payments, and handle multiple payment types.
Pros of Using Agency Handy
- Offers a 14-day free trial.
- Ideal for all types of agencies— small to large.
- Quick upselling possibility for additional sales and invoices.
- Flexible invoicing with split payment options, enhancing cash flow management.
- Maintains all international payment laws and regulations.
- Supports over 100 currencies for invoicing and payments.
- Detailed financial analytics and reporting for insights into performance and profitability.
Pricing
Solopreneur – $49/month (billed annually) and $69/month (billed monthly)
Best for Freelancers or solo entrepreneurs looking to optimize their agency finance operations.
Suitable for a single user, it includes unlimited clients and orders, service listing and customization, client profiles and onboarding, quotations and proposals, order and project workflow management, task delegation, team communication tools, issue tracking, and invoicing capabilities.
Teams – $99/month (billed annually) and $149/month (billed monthly)
Best for: Perfect for growing agencies that need to manage multiple projects and billings simultaneously.
Supports up to 10 users and includes all features of the Solopreneur plan. Designed for small to medium-sized agencies, it offers collaborative tools for efficient task management, client communication, and project workflow across team members.
Pro – $149/month (billed annually) and $199/month (billed monthly)
Best for: Agencies with complex and large-scale projects and billing.
Allows up to 20 users. Offers comprehensive features for larger agencies, supporting unlimited clients and orders, advanced project management capabilities, and sophisticated workflow tools.
What Users Say About Agency Handy?
Rating on G2: 5 out of 5
“Handy is a fantastic client portal tool for agencies due to its user-friendly interface, making it easy for clients to access and navigate through the platform.” – Andrew J.
Rating on Product Hunt: 5 out of 5
“A great tool for agency management. AgencyHandy solves all my management problems easily. A hassle-free tool you should add to your list.”- Shamima Nasrin
Rating on Trustpilot: 3.8 out of 5
“I am extremely satisfied with Agency Handy. It has streamlined our client management process and has become an essential tool for our business operations.
Features and Functionality:
Customer Management: Adding customers is incredibly straightforward, allowing us to maintain a well-organized database with ease.
Proposal Generation: The feature to send proposals is efficient and professional, saving us time and enhancing our client communication.
Invoicing System: Generating invoices is a breeze with Agency Handy. The system is reliable and helps us get paid faster.
Task Management: The Kanban-style task management has revolutionized how we handle our workload, providing clarity and boosting productivity.” – Vikas Patil
Why Should You Choose Agency Handy for Billing and Invoicing?
Agency Handy is tailored specifically for agencies to optimize their operations and financial management. Here’s a table to show how Agency Handy solves any agency billing issues.
| Limitations of Traditional Agency Billing Software | How Agency Handy Solves It |
| Limited customization for invoices | Offers highly customizable invoice templates, including branding and detailed customization. |
| Complicated billing processes | Provides an intuitive, user-friendly interface with automated billing workflows to simplify the process. |
| Lack of integration with payment gateways | Integrates various payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and banking for seamless transactions. |
| Inconsistent and manual invoice creation | Automated invoicing per order, payment reminders, and recurring billing cycles. |
2. FreshBooks
Best for small businesses seeking user-friendly invoicing, expense tracking, and time management features.
FreshBooks is an accounting and invoicing software that transforms financial management for small businesses and freelancers. It’s designed to simplify your financial tasks, allowing you to focus more on running your business instead of worrying about your finances.
What makes FreshBooks stand out is its user-friendly interface. You don’t need any accounting expertise to use it. The software offers intuitive features like customizable invoice templates, automated payment reminders, and expense tracking.
Even if you dislike dealing with numbers, you can handle these tasks with ease.
While using FreshBooks, we’ve found its time-tracking capability amazing. You can easily log hours spent on projects and automatically convert that time into invoices. This seamless integration saves time and ensures accurate billing for every minute worked.
Additionally, FreshBooks provides excellent reporting features. You can generate profit and loss statements, expense reports, and tax summaries with just a few clicks.
Compared to QuickBooks, FreshBooks focuses on simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for freelancers and small business owners.
QuickBooks, on the other hand, offers a broader range of advanced features suitable for larger businesses, such as inventory management and extensive integration capabilities.
To be noted, you’ll find the customization of reports somewhat limited, making it challenging to generate specific financial insights.
Features of FreshBooks
Let’s look at the features of FreshBooks below:
- Invoicing: Create and send professional invoices with customizable templates, logos, and personalized thank-you emails. Set up recurring invoices and automate payment reminders.
- Expense Tracking: Connect bank accounts and credit cards for automatic expense import. Categorize expenses and capture receipts using the mobile app.
- Time Tracking: Built-in timer for desktop and mobile. Assign time to specific clients or projects and automatically bill for tracked hours.
- Payments: Accept online payments via credit cards and bank transfers. Set up recurring billing profiles and save credit card information for easy billing.
- Accounting: Double-entry accounting system with bank reconciliation, customizable chart of accounts, and general ledger.
- Reporting: Generate various financial reports, including Profit & Loss, Sales Tax Summary, and Accounts Aging. Access a dashboard with a business performance overview.
Pros of FreshBooks
- Offers time-saving features like automated bank reconciliation to streamline bookkeeping tasks.
- Customizable invoicing options create a professional image for your business.
- Mobile app for on-the-go expense tracking and invoicing.
- Detailed reporting tools provide valuable insights into business performance.
- Offers a 30-day free trial.
Cons of FreshBooks
- No real time notifications for paid invoices.
- Limited reporting customization options, particularly for generating 1099 reports.
- Restricted to 5 clients on the lowest-tier plan, which can be limiting for growing businesses.
Pricing of FreshBooks
Lite Plan: $19/month (if paid monthly) or $15.75/month (if paid annually)
Get 5 billable clients, unlimited invoices, expense entries, estimates, and time tracking. This plan is ideal for self-employed professionals and small businesses just starting.
Plus Plan: $33/month (if paid monthly) or $27.50/month (if paid annually)
This plan includes everything from the Lite package plus 50 billable clients, double-entry accounting, scheduled late fees, and client retainers. It’s perfect for growing businesses with more clients and complex needs.
Premium Plan: $60/month (if paid monthly) or $50/month (if paid annually)
Get unlimited billable clients and all Plus features, plus project profitability tracking and customized email templates. This plan is designed for larger businesses or those with a high volume of clients.
What Users Say About FreshBooks?
Rating on Capterra: 4.5 out of 5
“Good, but only for beginners”
Overall: Great at first, however, my company grew out of the services offered.
Pros: It’s good for those who have very little experience in accounting and a fairly small business to run. Has all of the basic tools you need to keep all of your business finances organized.
Cons: Not enough features for invoice-heavy-based businesses. Storage capacity is minimal for a heavy workflow.”- Tiara H.
3. QuickBooks
Best for small to medium-sized businesses requiring accounting features alongside invoicing and billing.
QuickBooks is an excellent choice for billing software for small businesses and accountants. It covers the full financial management — from invoicing and expense tracking to inventory management and payroll processing.
While using the platform, we truly loved its versatility. It’s a finance expert at your fingertips, handling everything from basic bookkeeping to complex financial reporting.
One of QuickBooks’ highlighted features is its reporting capabilities. Want to know your cash flow situation at a glance? Do you need detailed insights into your profit margins? QuickBooks delivers customizable reports that give you a clear picture of your financial health.
QuickBooks also connects to your bank accounts and credit cards, automatically categorizing transactions and reconciling your books.
Moreover, QuickBooks integrates seamlessly with hundreds of third-party apps. You can connect your CRM, e-commerce platform, or project management tools directly to manage your accountings.
When we compared QuickBooks vs HoneyBook, QuickBooks offers more comprehensive accounting capabilities, with features for inventory management, extensive financial reporting, and processing payrolls.
While HoneyBook is perfect for those needing an easy-to-use client management tool with invoicing.
Features of QuickBooks
Let’s now look at the features of QuickBooks:
- Invoicing: Create custom invoices tailored to your agency’s branding and services. Set up recurring invoices to save time on repeat billing and send automated payment reminders to ensure timely payments.
- Expense Tracking: Connect your bank and credit card accounts to import transactions, making expense tracking effortless automatically. Categorize expenses for better financial management and attach receipts for accurate record-keeping and easy reference during audits.
- Bank Reconciliation: Automatically import bank transactions to keep your financial records up to date. Simplify the reconciliation process by matching imported transactions with your recorded expenses and income, ensuring your accounts are always accurate.
- Tax Management: Track sales tax on all transactions and generate detailed tax reports to stay compliant. Prepare for tax season with organized financial data, making it easier to file taxes and avoid any last-minute surprises.
- Inventory Management: Track inventory levels in real-time and set reorder points to avoid stockouts. Monitor bestsellers and total sales to make informed purchasing decisions and optimize your inventory management.
- Reporting: Generate comprehensive financial reports, including profit & loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Customize reports to fit your specific needs, providing clear insights into your agency’s financial health.
- Payroll: Calculate and file payroll taxes accurately, reducing the risk of errors and penalties. Offer direct deposit to your employees for a seamless payroll process and generate essential documents like W-2s and 1099s, available as an add-on service.
- Time Tracking: Track billable hours by client or employee to ensure accurate invoicing. Easily add tracked hours to invoices, providing transparency and ensuring you get paid for all work.
- Project Profitability: Track income and expenses for each project to analyze profitability. Use this data to make informed decisions about future projects, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall agency performance.
Pros of QuickBooks
- Offers a 30-day free trial.
- Provides real-time financial data visibility for making informed business decisions.
- Automatically stores your data in the mobile app to access it on the go.
- Automates categorization of transactions, reducing manual data entry.
- Seamlessly integrates with popular business apps to create a cohesive workflow.
- Quick collaboration with team members and accountants through multi-user access.
Cons of QuickBooks
- Bank feed occasionally drops transactions without notification, leading to reconciliation issues.
- Limited project tracking capabilities, with difficulty separating items by class and project.
Pricing of QuickBooks
Simple Start Plan: $18/month (if paid monthly)
Get income and expense tracking, invoicing and payments, tax deductions, and receipt capture. This plan is ideal for self-employed individuals and new small businesses.
Essentials Plan: $27/month (if paid monthly)
This plan includes everything from Simple Start plus bill management and time tracking. It’s suitable for growing businesses with more complex financial needs.
Plus Plan: $38/month (if paid monthly)
Get all Essentials features, plus inventory tracking and project profitability. This plan is perfect for businesses that need to manage inventory or track project costs.
Advanced Plan: $76/month (if paid monthly)
This plan offers all Plus features, plus business analytics, employee expenses, and batch invoicing. It’s designed for larger businesses or those with advanced reporting needs.
What Users Say About QuickBooks?
Rating on G2: 4 out of 5 stars
“efficient, intuitive and rationally priced bookkeeping instrument”
What do you like best about QuickBooks Online?
We like that it is easy to start accounting journal entries for any new entities that are considered to have separate balance sheets. It has a large variety of ready-to-use and set-up functionality. QB has connectivity to most baking APIs and has a connection to factoring accounts in Northam. Priced very well for every size of company and use case.
What do you dislike about QuickBooks Online?
“It is hard to customize accounting ledgers. Good to have an audit log with tracking time and location records to supervise contractors’ activity. Would be awesome if there were pre-configured GAAP/IFRS forms used for audit and securities reporting procedures. Missing stable connectivity to resource tracking tools like inventory or fleet management systems – causes errors upon synchronization. Needs clear instructions for per project accounting to avoid doubling of partners in the system.”- Andrii L.
4. Wave
Best for freelancers and small businesses looking for free basic accounting and invoicing with affordable paid add-ons.
Wave is a financial tool for budget-conscious entrepreneurs. This cloud-based accounting software offers a unique proposition: core features are free.
It offers major tools, including invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning. Suitable for small business owners and freelancers!
Besides that, our review team found that Wave’s user interface was a breath of fresh air. It’s clean and intuitive and doesn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary complexity. Even if numbers make your head spin, Wave makes bookkeeping a breeze.
More surprisingly, you’ll like its automated bank reconciliation. It updates around the clock, matches your transactions, and keeps your books in order. No more late nights squinting at spreadsheets!
Wave also offers paid add-ons for payroll and payment processing. These seamlessly integrate with the core accounting features, creating a smooth financial workflow.
Compared to Xero, Xero offers a more comprehensive suite of features, including advanced inventory management, project tracking, and a wide range of integrations.
On the other hand, Wave stands out for its cost-effectiveness, providing essential accounting tools at no cost, which is perfect for startups and freelancers.
Overall, Wave’s simplicity and affordability make it an excellent choice for those looking to manage their finances without breaking the bank.
Features of Wave
Here are the features of Wave:
- Accounting: Double-entry accounting system with income and expense tracking. Connect bank accounts for automatically import transactions, making it easier to keep your financial records up-to-date.
- Invoicing: Create and send professional invoices with customizable templates. Set up recurring invoices to automate billing for repeat clients and send automatic payment reminders to ensure timely payments.
- Payments: Accept online payments via credit cards and bank transfers. Fast payout options are available. Benefit from fast payout options to access your funds quickly!
- Receipt Scanning: Capture and store receipts using OCR technology via the mobile app. Automatically convert these scanned receipts into bookkeeping records, reducing manual data entry and ensuring accuracy.
- Financial Reporting: Get financial reports, including cash flow statements, profit & loss, and balance sheets. These reports provide valuable insights into your business’s financial health, helping you make informed decisions.
- Payroll: Pay employees and contractors, and handle tax payments and filings. Provide self-service portals for employees to access their pay stubs and tax documents. This feature is available in the USA and Canada.
- Bank Reconciliation: Connect your bank accounts and easily reconcile transactions to ensure your financial records match your bank statements. This process helps identify discrepancies and maintain accurate bookkeeping.
- Multi-Business Support: Easily manage multiple businesses from a single account, simplifying your financial management across various ventures. This feature is perfect for entrepreneurs and business owners with diverse portfolios.
- Estimates: Create and send professional estimates to clients and easily convert them to invoices once approved. It streamlines the sales process and ensures that all project details are captured accurately from the start.
Pros of Wave
- Core features are available in a free plan.
- Simplifies client transactions and improves cash flow with built-in payment processing.
- Supports unlimited income and expense tracking for maintaining accurate financial records.
- Saves time on expense management with automated receipt scanning.
- Allows management of multiple ventures from one account with multi-business support.
Cons of Wave
- The mobile receipt scanning feature now requires a paid subscription ($8/month in the US).
- The lack of inventory tracking features limits the usefulness of product-based businesses.
Pricing of Wave
Free Plan: $0/month
Get unlimited income and expense tracking, invoicing, and bank connections. This plan is ideal for small businesses and freelancers looking for basic accounting features at no cost.
Pro Plan: $16/month (monthly billing) or $14.17/month (annual billing)
This plan includes all Free plan features plus unlimited bank account connections, automatic transaction import and categorization, and premium support. It’s designed for businesses needing more advanced features and support.
What Users Say About Wave?
Rating on Capterra: 4.4 out of 5
“Compact invoicing software”
Overall: Was positive till a section of the app was discontinued for non-US subscribers.
Pros: I love the ease of use and functions that match my business needs. Allows branding and customization of invoices. Love that I can clone invoices saving time for repeat services to the same clients ( art coaching in my case)
Cons: Disappointed that they removed wave receipts for non-US clients. This particular feature was critical to document hard copies of receipts on the go, into the online wave system. Now there is nothing else to integrate the hard copies of receipts into the wave system”- Soma D.
5. Xero
Best for growing businesses needing flexible, cloud-based accounting and billing with strong bank reconciliation features.
Xero is more than just accounting software. It’s packed with advanced features like multi-currency support, inventory management, and extensive third-party integrations.
It provides a clear, real-time overview of your finances, accessible anytime, anywhere. With intuitive dashboards and real-time data, you no longer have to wait until the end of the month to understand your finances.
The standout feature of Xero that is its bank feed. This feature automatically imports and categorizes bank transactions, ensuring your books are always up to date.
Another remarkable feature is Xero’s ecosystem. It integrates seamlessly with over 800 third-party apps, from inventory management to time tracking, making it the central hub of your business operations.
If you have a dedicated team for accounting, you can easily grant access to your accountant or team members, increasing transparency and teamwork. This eliminates the need for emailing spreadsheets back and forth.
If you compare Zoho Invoice with Xero, Zoho Invoice is ideal for small businesses looking for straightforward invoicing solutions, while Xero offers a more scalable platform for managing all aspects of your business finances.
And in terms of reporting, Xero excels with its customizable reports. These reports provide deep insights into your business performance, helping you make informed decisions.
Features of Xero
Here are the features of Xero:
- Accounting and Bookkeeping: Automate record-keeping for accurate financial data. Use the real-time financial dashboard and customizable reports to monitor your finances.
- Bank Connections: Connect with over 21,000 financial institutions for seamless financial management. Automated bank feeds and intelligent transaction matching keep your records current.
- Invoicing: Create and send online invoices, set up recurring invoices, and send automated reminders. Simplify the invoicing process and improve cash flow.
- Expense Management: Capture expenses on the go using mobile apps for easy tracking. Reimburse employees quickly and gain insights into spending trends to help control costs and make informed financial decisions.
- Project Tracking: Plan, budget, and track time and costs for your projects with comprehensive tracking tools. Monitor project profitability by comparing actual expenses to your budget, ensuring projects stay on track and within budget.
- Inventory Management: Track stock levels in real-time and set alerts for low inventory to ensure you never run out. Integrate inventory management with your accounting system to streamline the invoicing and ordering processes.
- Payroll: Integrated with Gusto for US customers, this payroll solution automates tax calculations and filings, reducing the risk of errors. Manage employee payments seamlessly, ensuring compliance with payroll regulations.
- Multi-Currency Support: Handle transactions in over 160 currencies, making it easier to manage international business. Instant currency conversions provide real-time exchange rates, simplifying the process of multi-currency transactions.
- Fixed Asset Management: Efficiently track and manage your fixed assets, from acquisition to disposal. Maintain detailed records of asset locations, maintenance schedules, and depreciation.
Pros of Xero
- Ensures real-time data access with its cloud-based platform from anywhere, anytime.
- Streamlines bookkeeping processes with robust bank reconciliation tools.
- Expands functionality with extensive third-party app integrations to suit various business needs.
- Offers on-the-go financial management with a user-friendly mobile app.
- Supports international business operations with multi-currency capabilities.
- Enhances communication with accountants and advisors through collaborative features.
- Offers a 30-day free trial.
Cons of Xero
- Limited customization options for financial reports compared to some competitors.
- Project tracking and job costing features are only available on the highest-tier plan.
Pricing of Xero
Early Plan: $15/month (monthly billing) or $12.50/month (annual billing)
Get 20 invoices, 5 bills, and bank reconciliation. This plan is suitable for new businesses with basic needs.
Growing Plan: $42/month (monthly billing ) or $35/month (annual billing)
This plan includes unlimited invoices and bills, plus bulk reconciliation. It’s ideal for growing businesses with increased transaction volumes.
Established Plan: $78/month (monthly billing) or $65/month (annual billing)
Get all Growing features, plus multi-currency support, expenses, and projects. This plan is perfect for established businesses with complex needs or those operating internationally.
What Users Say About Xero?
Rating on G2: 4.3 out of 5
“What do you like best about Xero?
Accounting functions are very easy to use.
Bank reconciliation is done very easily in minimum time.
What do you dislike about Xero?
It difficult to find function due to graphics of presentation.”- Arjun P
6. Zoho Invoice
Best for small businesses wanting free, customizable invoicing software with project and expense management capabilities.
Zoho Invoice is more than just a billing tool—it’s a comprehensive solution for service-based businesses to manage their invoicing needs efficiently. Designed to ensure timely payments, Zoho Invoice streamlines the entire invoicing process.
With Zoho Invoice, you can create professional invoices quickly and easily. Its customizable templates allow you to add your logo, adjust colors, and design invoices that reflect your brand.
Beyond invoicing, Zoho Invoice offers features like expense tracking, time billing, and project management. These tools provide a centralized hub for managing your cash flow and business operations, ensuring all financial aspects are covered.
Zoho’s another key point is its multi-language support. If you have clients across the globe, you can send invoices in their preferred language, facilitating faster payments and improving client satisfaction.
We saw the client portal in Zoho Invoice is a significant advantage for maintaining strong customer relationships. Clients can view invoices, make payments, and approve estimates, all in one place.
Additionally, Zoho Invoice integrates seamlessly with various payment gateways and other Zoho applications, allowing you to build a customized business toolkit. This integration capability ensures that all your financial processes work together smoothly.
When comparing Zoho Invoice to HoneyBook, it’s essential to consider your specific business needs.
HoneyBook is designed with creative professionals in mind, offering comprehensive client management features. It excels in creating all-in-one proposals that include invoices, contracts, and payments, streamlining client interactions.
Zoho Invoice, on the other hand, focuses more on invoicing and financial management, with additional tools like expense tracking and multi-language support.
Features of Zoho Invoice
Here are the features of Zoho Invoice:
- Invoicing: Create professional invoices with customizable templates to reflect your brand. Support for multiple languages and scheduled invoicing ensures timely and accurate billing for your global client base.
- Quotes: Generate professional quotes and easily convert them to invoices once approved. Track quote history and enable client approval for a seamless workflow from proposal to payment.
- Time Tracking: Log billable hours for projects and automatically calculate amounts owed. This ensures accurate billing and helps maintain transparency with clients.
- Expense Management: Track expenses, categorize them, and convert billable expenses to invoices. Upload receipts and generate detailed expense reports to keep your financial records organized.
- Payment Management: Accept online payments through multiple gateways. Set up automated payment reminders and provide a customer portal for clients to make payments conveniently.
- Project Management: Create and track projects, bill based on tasks or overall projects, and monitor unbilled hours and expenses to ensure accurate invoicing.
- Reporting and Analytics: Generate real-time invoice reports, sales summaries, and tax reports. Customize reports as needed to gain insights into your business’s financial performance.
- Automation: Set up recurring invoices, automate payment reminders, and configure auto-charging for recurring transactions to streamline your billing process.
- Integrations: Set up recurring invoices, automate payment reminders, and configure auto-charging for recurring transactions to streamline your billing process.
Pros of Zoho Invoice
- Offers a completely free solution with comprehensive invoicing features.
- Access key features via mobile devices for on-the-go management.
- Creates professional-looking invoices tailored to your brand with customizable templates.
- Improves billing accuracy with time tracking and project management tools.
- Facilitates communication with international clients through multi-language support.
- Helps manage cash flow with automated payment reminders.
- Creates a unified business management system with integration across other Zoho products.
- Offers a free version with full access.
Cons of Zoho Invoice
- The login process can be slow, sometimes taking up to 30 seconds to access the account.
- Limited ability to resize logos or signatures on invoice templates.
- Confusing process for changing currency on individual invoices, requiring multiple steps.
Pricing of Zoho Invoice
Free Plan: $0/month
Get access to all features including customizable invoices and estimates, time tracking, project management, expense tracking, multiple payment gateways, and a client portal. This plan is suitable for businesses of all sizes looking for comprehensive invoicing solutions at no cost.
What Users Say About Zoho Invoice?
Rating on Capterra: 4.7 out of 5
“Invoicing Tool to Cover Basic Needs”
Pros: It is easy to understand and set up. Every user does not need training.
Cons: Often bugs occur. PDF support in various languages is desired to be better. Some features are unusable.”- Anonymous User.
7. HoneyBook
Perfect for solopreneurs and small teams who need time-tracked billings.
HoneyBook is a client management platform designed for freelancers and small businesses with billing features. You can access it via web browsers or mobile apps on Android and iOS devices.
With HoneyBook, you can send invoices, sign contracts, book appointments, manage projects, and accept payments online. It also offers professional invoice templates, secure payment options, and automatic reminders to help ensure you get paid on time.
We loved how it combines invoices, contracts, and payments into one simple proposal. This simplifies the process of booking clients. You can also manage your schedule, set up branded scheduling pages, and sync with Google Calendar.
Also, you’ll love the automation tools, allowing you to set up custom sequences for emails, tasks, and file sharing based on specific triggers. It prioritizes security with features like secure online payments, fraud protection, and support for resolving disputes.
Besides, the platform integrates easily with other tools and offers different pricing plans to suit various business needs, giving your clients a professional experience.
Compared to Agency Handy, while both are great for managing clients, Agency Handy is better for detailed project workflow management, from onboarding clients to sending invoices, regardless of the agency size.
On the other hand, HoneyBook is a good choice for managing regular agency operations, thanks to its all-in-one proposals, secure contracts, and advanced scheduling tools.
Overall, HoneyBook is ideal for freelancers and service-based businesses that want to improve client relationships and keep track of payments in real time.
Features of HoneyBook
Here are the features of HoneyBook:
- Invoicing: Create and send professional invoices with customizable templates that reflect your brand. Support for secure online payments and automatic payment reminders ensures timely and accurate billing.
- Contracts: Easily send and sign contracts with secure online e-signatures. Use customizable templates to ensure your contracts are professional and legally binding.
- Scheduling: Manage client appointments and meetings with integrated online scheduling tools. Customize meeting types, manage availability, and send automated confirmation and reminder emails.
- Client Portals: Provide clients with dedicated portals for accessing invoices, contracts, project updates, and file sharing. This fosters better communication and transparency throughout the project lifecycle.
- Payment Management: Accept online payments through multiple gateways, including credit/debit cards and bank transfers. Set up automated payment reminders and offer clients a convenient portal for making payments.
- Proposals: Create all-in-one proposals that include invoices, contracts, and payment options. Use professional and flexible templates to streamline the client booking process and improve the overall client experience.
- Expense Management: Track and categorize expenses, converting billable expenses to invoices as needed. Upload receipts and generate detailed expense reports to keep your financial records organized.
- Project Management: Create and track projects, billing based on tasks or overall projects. Monitor unbilled hours and expenses to ensure accurate invoicing and project profitability.
- Automation: Set up custom step-by-step automation sequences for emails, tasks, and file sharing. Configure behavior or date-based triggers, automate payment reminders and manage recurring transactions to streamline your workflow.
- AI-Powered Tools: Utilize AI Composer for generating personalized responses and Priority Leads for predicting high-value leads. These tools enhance productivity and client engagement.
- Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with various payment gateways and other Zoho applications to enhance functionality and streamline your business processes.
Pros of HoneyBook
- Offers a 7-day free trial.
- Easy-to-use invoicing and secure payment processing.
- Delivers a polished and professional client experience.
- Boosts productivity with a user-friendly interface.
- Integrates smoothly with widely used applications.
Cons of HoneyBook
- Limited advanced client management features such as detailed reporting and analytics.
- Customization options for workflows.
Pricing of HoneyBook
Starter: $19/month or $16/month (billed annually)
This plan includes unlimited clients and projects, a calendar, a client portal, basic reports, all professional templates, proposals and contracts, invoices, and payments.
Essentials: $39/month or $32/month (billed annually)
This plan includes up to 2 team members, a scheduler, QuickBooks integration, removal of the ‘Powered by HoneyBook’ branding, standard reports, automation, expense management, and profit and loss reporting.
Premium: $79/month or $66/month (billed annually)
This plan includes unlimited team members, multiple companies, an onboarding specialist, and priority support. Advanced reporting will be available as an upcoming feature for this plan.
Note: Check out more details on HoneyBook pricing if it’s a good call for you.
What Users Say About HoneyBook
Rate on Capterra: 4.8/5
‘Provides a good experience
Pros: I manage the entire flow of information from my clients in a more organized way, controlling and monitoring each one, it allows me to be more agile in the processes that I have to carry out with my clients and thus provide them with better attention and speed in document delivery. invoices, contracts, and digital signatures. I can do many things at the same time and it helps me perform better at my job.
Cons: The system has never failed me, I feel satisfied with each tool I use and I am convinced that it has been the most efficient platform that I use for my work tasks.’ Anthony R.
Key Features to Consider While Choosing Agency Billing Software
To recap, let’s talk about the most important key features you should consider while choosing agency billing software:
Ease of Use
The software should have an easy-to-navigate and user-friendly interface, so everyone on your team can use it without needing extensive training. Look for options that offer tutorials, help guides, and good customer support to make the transition smoother.
Flexible Invoicing
Your billing software should offer flexible invoicing capabilities, including customization options, automated invoice generation, and managing recurring invoices. Customizable templates help you maintain consistent branding across all client communications.
Automatic Invoicing
Invoicing capabilities are essential, including customization options, automated invoice generation, and the ability to manage recurring invoices. This ensures accurate and timely billing, supporting cash flow management.
Split Payment
If your agency handles multiple stakeholders or projects with shared costs, the ability to manage split payments is essential. The software should make it easy to divide payments among different parties.
Proposal and Quote Management
It should give you the flexibility to create personalized proposals and quotations, tailored to each client’s needs, to enhance professionalism and improve business opportunities. With that, you can go for extra cash.
Client Management
A dedicated client portal and comprehensive client profiles significantly improve client relationships. Look for software that centralizes client communications, project histories, and billing details in one accessible place.
Time Tracking
Accurate time tracking is important for billing clients for hours worked. The software should make it easy to log billable hours and integrate them with invoicing to ensure all work is accounted for and billed correctly.
Reporting
Reporting features are necessary to provide insights into financial health, project profitability, and overall performance. Look for software that offers customizable reports to meet your specific business needs.
Multi-Language Support
If your agency deals with international clients, multi-language support can facilitate communication and improve client experience. Software should support language preferences for invoices, client communications, and reports.
So, What’s The Best Agency Billing Software?
Agency Handy is the best billing software combined with client management, designed to streamline financial management for digital agencies.
With white labeling, you can custom invoices tailored to your brand. You can set up recurring invoices to automate billing for ongoing orders, ensuring timely and consistent cash flow.
One of the most impressive features of Agency Handy is its ability to handle split payments. This is particularly useful for agencies working on orders with multiple stakeholders or shared costs.
You can easily divide payments among different clients or orders, simplifying what could otherwise be a complex and error-prone process.
Proposal and quote management is another area where Agency Handy excels. You can generate personalized proposals and quotes, which can be seamlessly converted into invoices upon client approval.
However, besides Agency Handy, you can check out other invoicing softwares like Zoho Invoice, QuickBooks, Wave, FreshBook, etc.
Zoho Invoice and Wave both are free to use and you can use them as a solopreneur or along with your team. You can manage payrolls, track expenses, overdue bills, get financial reports, etc.
On the contrary, FreshBooks and QuickBooks are dedicatedly accounting softwares designed for small teams. They do have different plans for accountants and large businesses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right agency billing software can revolutionize your financial management processes. From streamlining invoicing to improving cash flow, the benefits are substantial.
While each option has its strengths, Agency Handy stands out for its comprehensive features tailored specifically for agencies. Remember to consider your agency’s unique needs when selecting software.
With the right tool, you can focus more on creative work and client relationships, leaving the financial intricacies to your digital assistant. Take the time to explore these options and find the perfect fit for your agency.
FAQs
How can agency billing software improve cash flow?
Agency billing software can improve cash flow by automating invoice generation, sending payment reminders, and providing real-time financial insights. This automation reduces delays in billing, speeds up payment collection, and gives you a clear picture of your agency’s financial health.
Is it worth investing in paid agency billing software?
Investing in paid agency billing software is often worth it because it can save you time, reduce errors, and improve client relationships. While free options exist, paid software typically offers more robust features, better security, and dedicated customer support, which can be crucial for growing agencies.
Can agency billing software integrate with other tools we use?
Many agency billing software solutions can integrate with other tools you use. Look for software that offers integrations with popular project management, accounting, and CRM platforms. These integrations can help create a seamless workflow across your agency’s operations.
