Accounting Software for Small Business
If you run a business in Australia, proper accounting software is essential for tracking income and expenses, invoicing clients, managing payroll, and lodging your BAS (Business Activity Statement) with the ATO. Three platforms dominate the Australian market.
| Feature | Xero | MYOB | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $29-78 | $0-65 | $15-44 |
| Bank feeds | Excellent | Good | Good |
| BAS lodgement | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in |
| Payroll | Add-on ($5/mo) | Built-in (paid) | Built-in |
| Invoicing | Excellent | Good | Good |
| App integrations | 1,000+ | 300+ | 600+ |
| Accountant support | Widest adoption | Strong legacy | Growing |
| Mobile app | Excellent | Good | Good |
Our Verdict
Best overall: Xero — the most popular choice among Australian accountants and bookkeepers. Beautiful interface, excellent bank reconciliation, and the largest ecosystem of add-on apps. Most accountants prefer working with Xero clients. Best for sole traders: QuickBooks — cheapest starting price and simplest to use. Perfect if you just need basic invoicing and expense tracking. Best for established businesses: MYOB — strong payroll features and deeply embedded in Australian business culture.
For Chinese Business Owners
If you're running a restaurant, retail shop, or import business, Xero integrates well with most POS (Point of Sale) systems and inventory management tools. Ask your accountant which platform they prefer — working on the same system makes tax time much smoother and cheaper. All three platforms support STP (Single Touch Payroll) which is mandatory for reporting employee wages to the ATO.