When do I need a bookkeeper or an accountant?

Bookkeeper: typically at $5-10k MRR or when you have more than a few transactions per week. Accountant: by year-end of your first year of revenue, no matter your size.

For pre-revenue and solo founders with <100 transactions/month, yes. Once you cross that, the time you spend in Wave starts to outweigh the paid alternatives.

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Comparison · Finance

Best accounting software for startups

The right accounting stack at $0 MRR is different from the right stack at $1M ARR. Don't over-invest early; don't under-invest late. Editorial picks; no paid placement.

Last updated May 21, 2026 · Editorial picks; no paid placement.

Who this is for

Founders setting up their accounting stack for the first time, or replacing what's not working.

Best overall

Xero (rest of world) / QuickBooks Online (US)

Best budget

Wave (free tier)

Best for solo

FreeAgent (UK) / Bench Done-For-You (US)

The tools

Xero

Free plan: 30-day trial · From $15/mo

Best for: Most UK / EU / AU / NZ startups

Pros

· Cleanest UI in the category
· Excellent bank reconciliation
· Strong app ecosystem

Cons

· Limited US market share
· Some tax tooling weaker than QuickBooks

QuickBooks Online

Free plan: 30-day trial · From $30/mo

Best for: Most US startups

Pros

· Industry default for US accountants
· Strongest tax tooling
· Universal accountant familiarity

Cons

· UI is dated
· Subscription pricing rises annually

Pilot

Free plan: No · From $499/mo

Best for: US startups who don't want to do bookkeeping themselves

Pros

· Done-for-you bookkeeping
· Tax filing included
· Trusted by YC founders

Cons

· Expensive for very small businesses
· US-only

Wave

Free plan: Yes · From Free (paid add-ons)

Best for: Pre-revenue or very small businesses

Pros

· Genuinely free
· Good enough for solo founders
· Includes invoicing

Cons

· Limited integrations
· No multi-currency on free
· Future paid migrations are painful

Frequently asked questions

When do I need a bookkeeper or an accountant?: Bookkeeper: typically at $5-10k MRR or when you have more than a few transactions per week. Accountant: by year-end of your first year of revenue, no matter your size.
Is Wave enough?: For pre-revenue and solo founders with <100 transactions/month, yes. Once you cross that, the time you spend in Wave starts to outweigh the paid alternatives.

Editorial independence: Some marketplace links may be affiliate links. Editorial placement is not determined by commission. See our affiliate disclosure.

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