Plowing the earth, chasing chickens, milking the cows, and an entire day of taking care of barn animals can make anyone exhausted beyond their capacity. And being a farmer means conducting these tasks daily!
No doubt, the hectic job of a farmer isn’t for everybody. Imagine coming back to your farmhouse after a long day of harvesting crops and mending fences only to realize that you still can’t rest: because you haven’t updated your accounting records yet!
Now the thought of scrunching up numbers when all you want to do is sleep can be such a challenging situation. And it becomes extra-tiresome if you’re accounting manually. Some of you farmers might be a little tech-savvy and have made excel spreadsheets or slightly optimized your process, but that can still be just too tedious.
Upfront Conclusion
The best accounting software for farmers right now is Freshbooks and Zoho Books.
Trending Accounting Solutions
What if we tell you that there’s an easy way out of the whole conundrum? What if we give you a way to get your accounts handled in a matter of minutes through fantastic accounting software?! Yes, with just the right farm accounting software, you’ll need to set up your accounts once and then only make minor updates to them every day.
What’s more, is that you get tons of other features along which can make bookkeeping a piece of cake for you. Some of the best accounting software for farmers have specialized features designed to convenience farmers in multiple ways. Here, we’ll be giving you a tour of the best options out there.
But first, it would be wise to tell you what actually makes farm accounting software worthwhile. So here are the key elements your accounting software should possess to make it an ideal fit for the purpose.
What makes farm accounting software great?
Ease-Of-Use
When picking accounting software for farmers, it would be wise to choose an intuitive user interface and a straightforward control mechanism. You, as a farmer, might not have time to learn complicated accounting terms or dive into the technicalities of complex software. So we recommend choosing easy-to-use and straightforward software with farming terms that can make the whole process so much simpler.
Cost
Cost is one element everyone looks at the minute they are introduced to a package. While it’s always good to have low-cost software, keep in mind that you might be comprising essential features that an expensive software might give you.
So if you’re picking cheap software, make sure that it offers all the features you need.
Cloud or Desktop
You can access cloud-based software if you’re connected to the internet. This is perfect if your farm has a fast, stable, and reliable internet connection. In the long run, desktop software usually is less expensive, but it needs installation and daily updates on your computer.
Other features for farms
Your accounting software should be able to import bank account transactions and categorize them into relevant expense accounts. This will allow you to compare the bank account with your monthly statement. If you have any staff, payroll incorporated into accounting software is a big relief. Calculate the benefit or loss from specific endeavors by adding up costs by field or whatever unit you’re using. Inventory should be kept track of items like grain, feed, and cattle held for resale.
Best Accounting Software For Farmers (Summary)
| Brand | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Freshbooks | $4.50/month | Farmers who are on a budget |
| 2. Zoho Books | $12/month | All-in-one finance solution |
| 3. Sage | £6.00 – £16.50/month | Reliable accounting features |
| 4. EasyFarm | $159 – $595/year | Separating farm essentials from personal ones |
| 5. FarmBooks | $395/one time | Shoestring budget |
| 6. The Farmer’s office | $25 – $49/month | Keep track of direct expenditures |
| 7. Wave Accounting Software | $1/transaction | Advanced accounting features |
1. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is the ideal accounting software for farmers who do not want to go through the hassle of manually tracking and managing their farm records and accounting. The best part is that FreshBooks is cloud-based, which means a farmer can easily access his records from anywhere, even if he travels on vacation.
Did you know that with FreshBooks, you can quickly generate your farm’s financial statement with just one click? I bet you didn’t, and the best part is that there are still many more features that FreshBooks offers.
Easy-to-use
As a farmer, you don’t need to be an expert or have advanced technical knowledge of software to use FreshBooks because, with FreshBooks, even a novice can find his way around the software. FreshBooks has a simple outlook, is very easy to use, and has an intuitive user interface.
Features
- FreshBooks is one of the best accounting software for setting up and automating recurring payments and billing for farm purchases.
- FreshBooks supports numerous integrations, making it easy to have all your needed tools and software in one platform; you can add as many as 100 integrations to your account. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
- With FreshBooks, you can set up an e-payment portal for your customers to pay for your farm products online; this saves you and your customers the stress of moving/keeping cash.
- Invoicing is easy with FreshBooks; you even get notifications when your customers open your invoices. Isn’t that great?
- You can keep track of all of your farm’s invoices and receipts without worrying about them getting missing or lost.
- FreshBooks also has an expense-tracking feature as well as a time-tracking feature.
2. Zoho Books
Just as its name implies, Zoho Books is a convenient software for your farm’s bookkeeping needs. The many amazing features of Zoho Books make managing farm records and transactions very easy and simplified. The best part is that small farms with less than $50,000 annual revenue can use Zoho Books for free forever. The Zoho Books software is cloud-based; hence, you can manage your farm records and finances from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection.
Easy-to-use
Beginners with little or no knowledge of accounting will find Zoho Books easy to use and navigate due to Zoho Books’ intuitive and user-friendly interface.
Features
- The inventory management feature on Zoho Books lets you manage all your farm assets, goods, and produce, including your machinery, farm equipment, the available quantity of each stock, purchase price, farm supplies, and more.
- Zoho Books integrates a variety of payment gateways, including credit cards, PayPal, and Paytm, that you can use to receive payments from your customers.
- Zoho Books offers an expense-tracking feature that tracks your purchases and allows you to categorize your costs. You can even import records from elsewhere as well as export records to elsewhere.
- With Zoho Books, you can create estimates using the Quotes option, describe the details of the estimates, and even create retainer invoices simultaneously.
- You can create custom invoices for your customers and add digital signatures. You can even create partial invoices for your customer’s approval. Zoho Books also lets you send automatic email prompts to your buyers.
- Zoho Books’ Payroll feature helps you manage the salaries and wages of your farm workers. You can send out payslips and automate salary calculations, deductions, and taxes.
- Account reconciliation is easy with Zoho Books because you can import your bank records and match them with your Zoho Books records.
- Zoho Books lets you easily track all your receivables and payables.
3. Sage
Sage Accounting software optimizes your farm. Prioritize your tasks by cutting down on administrative time, and as your farm expands, get a full view of everything from the amount and worth of your livestock to your cash flow. There is a lot to monitor on a farm, from livestock and fertilizer to machinery and equipment. So that you’re always in charge, Sage Accounting makes it quick and simple for farmers to see stock levels.
Using Sage , you can monitor the amount and worth of your livestock whether you’re on the farm or away from it, issue invoices, record receipts, and keep track of payments.
Easy-to-use
Farming is more than a profession; it’s a way of life. And we recognize that it occupies the top spot on your list. Sage Accounting was created to support your business because of this. It’s easy to use, provides you a clear method to manage your money, and saves you time with automated administration so you can concentrate on what matters.
Features
- Raise quotations and bills quickly to be paid quicker with recurring invoicing.
- Sage Payroll ensures that employees get paid on time, every time.
- Instant invoice and payment reports provide access to detailed company information.
- Sage Accounting’s mobile app lets you keep track of your money while on the move.
- Keep track of the amount and value of livestock.
- Allow your accountant or book-keeper to examine your accounts for better cooperation.
- View cash flow estimates and real-time data to have a better understanding of your finances.
- Maintain compliance by creating and submitting HMRC-compliant VAT returns.
4. EasyFarm
Now all farmers tend to mix their personal cash/funds with those of their farms. EasyFarm came into being with the objective of not letting you do THAT anymore!
Your farm is a separate entity, and mixing your personal resources with the farm’s resources could turn your accounts into a pickle. Apart from helping you separate farm essentials from personal ones, EasyFarm also offers other features.
Easy to Use
As the name suggests, EasyFarm really is super easy to use for farmers. They’ve replaced all those mind-boggling accounting terms with simple farm terminology to help you handle your accounts better. But while this terminology may make it easier for you, as a farmer, other bookkeepers might not be too familiar with the whole science behind it to manage your books. So make sure you’re clear about where the terms would go in a normal bookkeeping process.
The GUIs also pretty intuitive and makes farm accounting a breeze. You need not familiarize yourself with complex software technicalities.
Desktop Program
Since EasyFarm is a desktop program, you can use it without a continuous internet connection. It will run smoothly offline. However, you will have to make a few updates from time to time.
Features
- EasyFarm allows you to set up various personal and bank accounts on the software and even print checks.
- You can monitor transactions by customer. Note that if you want to send and track invoices to your clients, you’ll need to pay $169 for the accounts receivable module.
- Paying workers and allocating time to cost centers is easy. You can print payroll reports on a quarterly and annual basis, as well as Form W-2.
- When inventory is bought or sold, an easy input screen helps you change inventory and provide information.
- To track profit and loss by lands, livestock, or any other asset or operation, you can create cost centers.
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5. FarmBooks
Next on the list of the best accounting software for farmers is FarmBooks. FarmBooks could be the answer if you’re on a shoestring budget but want software that’s simple to use and designed primarily for farmers. FarmBooks is a complete bookkeeping program with personalized financial accounts that enable non-bookkeepers to get up and to run quickly.
Easy-to-Use
The software is designed specifically for farms’ accounting and bookkeeping needs, with a user-friendly interface that allows farmers to get up and to run quickly. Like EasyFarm, FarmBooks also uses terms that farmers would be easily able to understand and comprehend. So updating information on FarmBooks won’t be much of a problem.
Users need not have a background in accounting to create reports and accounts in FarmBooks.
Features
Apart from being very affordable, FarmBooks also has other features that make it one of the best in the industry. The following are some of the features you get by paying a minimal price for FarmBooks:
- With FarmBooks, you’ll be able to print tax reports for a variety of purposes easily.
- Calculating payroll is about to become a breeze if you plan on subscribing to FarmBooks. You can easily calculate payrolls and print cheques for employees. You can also print payroll tax returns.
- All the financial statements like the balance sheet and income statement are presented in a neat format that is easy to understand. You no longer need to ask an accountant to come and make them for you.
- Apart from all this, you can track inventory, track sales taxes, and create amortization schedules as well!
6. The Farmer’s office
Next, we have The Farmer’s office, which can definitely come under our list of the best accounting software for Farmers. Suppose you cultivate fields that belong to someone else. In that case, Datatech’s The Farmer’s Office can help keep track of direct expenditures and assign overhead so you can conveniently bill the property owner.
The Farmer’s Office is a very efficient farm bookkeeping and management system and a helpful function for farm managers.
Features
- The Farmer’s Office allows you to monitor direct farm expenditures and allocate overhead costs for billing purposes to the landowner. It’s a pretty solid and detailed farm accounting and management tool that helps farmers who don’t have farms keep track of their production and expenses.
- Through this software, you’ll be able to keep track of costs billed to the owners of the land and also other costs like equipment charges, chemical markets, payroll taxes, etc.
- The advanced cost accounting technology that the Farmer’s office has incorporated allows farmers to account for equipment and distribute costs among the different farm segments.
- You can quickly write or print cheques, conduct bank reconciliations, enter deposit amounts, and much more through the Farmer’s office.
- You can also keep track of unpaid bills. Just enter the amount, and the software will trace them until they are paid in full.
- For payroll, you get customized features like making payroll tax returns and paying the employees directly through the software.
- All the reports generated by this software are in a clear format that doesn’t cause any difficulties in reading. You will be able to easily understand and analyze the income statements, balance sheets, and other statements.
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7. Wave Accounting Software
Now, if you don’t have a budget allocated AT All for decent accounting software, then Wave is your go-to accounting software. It’s completely free and will give you most of the features that you need in an accounting system.
While Wave may not be able to give you very advanced accounting features for farm management such as profit calculation by herd or land or even offer accounting services using simple Farmer’s language, it is still a pretty great option because it’s completely free.
So we’ve decided to include it on our list of the best accounting software for farmers.
Easy-to-Use
Wave is a very well-integrated accounting program created to make accounting easier for small companies and farmers. It has an easy-to-use GUI and a simple setup method that is suitable for users with no previous experience.
Wave can be used on any computer at any time and from any location. If you need help navigating its functionality, you can go to its Help Center.
Features
- With Wave, you’ll be able to link your bank and credit card information to the accounting system, and the transactions will be updated and classified automatically.
- You can also get access to bank reconciliations and credit card information completely free of cost.
- You can print all the essential financial systems for free. Get the ledger accounts, income statement, balance sheet all through using Wave.
- You can enter the details of unpaid bills into Wave, and it will help track the bills until they are paid.
- Apart from all this, Wave also allows you to issue invoices and track all kinds of payments, and you can view graphs to keep track of how well your company is doing.
Conclusion
So if you’re looking for the best accounting software for farmers, don’t forget to consider the above five solid candidates. You can now make the whole accounting process so much simpler and more accessible for your farm!
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