The Best Small Business Software for Mac Users | Avast

As a small business, it’s important to make administrative tasks as streamlined and effortless as possible so you can focus on the things that add value to your business. Fortunately, there is a huge range of software designed to do just that, and the good news is – they’re now as good on Mac as they are on PC.

Small business software for Mac

It’s no secret that software creators have historically catered primarily to PC users. In recent years, however, we have seen a considerable shift in the number of options for Mac users, particularly with the rise in cloud-based software.

There is now a wide range of business tasks that can be supported by Mac-compatible software. This includes complete accounting solutions that cover everything from invoicing to inventory, through payroll systems, time tracking programs, and tax assistants.

In this guide, we’ve pulled together the best small business software for Mac users. But rather than simply create a directory of all the Mac software available, we have focused on solutions that strengthen your capabilities in specific categories. In addition, we have chosen software that:

• Caters for the Mac ecosystem – allowing you to use the software on your iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch, as well as using features such as Dark Mode and Siri.
• Makes use of the iCloud sync feature – keeping your documents up-to-date across all of your devices.
• Has an accompanying iOS mobile app – letting you raise invoices, track expenses and payments, and manage your budget on-the-go.
• Has great customer support – as a small business we understand that you need to be able to solve problems quickly and easily.
• Is intuitive and easy to use – letting you focus on the things that matter, like growing your business.

How can small business software for Mac help you?

The best small business software for Mac lets you work smarter. The right software should allow you to:

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•     Save time by streamlining admin processes and automating tasks like sending invoice reminders and collecting payments.
•     Generate insights with powerful reporting features that help you make better decisions about your business.
•     Collaborate with accountants, partners, and employees by easily sharing data.
•     Get paid faster with easy online invoice payment options.
•     Keep your business data secure with advanced encryption and secure login, and easy management of users and access rights.

Endpoint protection for your business Mac

One of the key advantages of being a Mac user is that you can effortlessly work across a suite of devices, allowing you to pick up on one where you left off on another. The only drawback is that more devices means more opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit any security weaknesses you may have in your network. 

Small businesses are often a target of cybercrime – valuable data about customers, transactions and staff can be sold on the Dark Web or used to infiltrate larger businesses. As such, it is essential to protect your small business with antivirus. 

Endpoint protection refers to software that secures each device (endpoint) within a network, reducing the number of potential entry points for a bad actor. This typically includes antivirus plus security features such as email protection and firewalls. 

Macs are sometimes referred to as ‘less risky’ than PCs because of the type of operating system they use. However, this is largely a misconception as they by no means offer guaranteed protection from cybercriminals. 

Securing your business network reduces the risk of data breach, which can lead to downtime and damaged reputation. It can also help reduce the likelihood of human error by creating layers of protection such as antivirus, two-factor authentication, password management, etc.

Mac CRM software for small business

While we won’t cover CRM (customer relationship management) software in depth in this guide, it’s worth noting what it can do for your business.

Essentially, Mac CRM software for small business unifies and organizes your company’s customer data from each department such as sales, marketing, and customer service. This allows you and your employees to effectively lead customers through the sales funnel and increase sales. Some great options available for Mac include HubSpot CRM and monday.com.

Small business accounting software for Mac

With small business invoicing software for Mac, keeping on top of accounting tasks doesn’t have to be a headache. In this section, we will look at the best all-round accounting software, plus some excellent options for invoicing and bookkeeping.

Best small business accounting software for Mac

Originally launched for the British market, FreeAgent is an award-winning small business accountancy app that is now available outside of the UK.

FreeAgent provides feature-rich small business accounting software for Mac users. Create recurring invoices, snap and store your receipts on-the-go, use smart sheets to log your billable hours for each client, and use the dashboard to quickly get an overview of your cash flow.

The iOS app ensures that you, and your employees, don’t miss a thing. Plus, with cloud-based storage, you can be sure that your data will be synced and up to date across all of your devices.

Cost:

$24 per month

30-day free trial

Pay for 5 months and get 12 (initial purchase)

Pay annually to get 12 months for the price of 10

Best small business invoicing software for Mac

Freshbooks offers a full range of accounting features, from cash flow and expenses to financial reporting. Where it really shines, though, is with its super simple, professional invoicing capabilities.

As Freshbooks is cloud-based, you can choose to manage your business from wherever suits you. You can even send invoices directly from your mobile using the Freshbooks iOS app, which keeps everything you need at your fingertips.

Freshbooks has the option to integrate with a range of other small business services, including Shopify, Stripe, and G Suite.

Cost:

Free 30-day trial

Plans start from $6 per month to $20 (plus custom packages are available)

Best small business bookkeeping software for Mac

Not only does Wave Accounting offer some of the best bookkeeping software for small business users, but it provides it free of charge. A full-featured accounting package, Wave Accounting lets you track your income and expenses, scan receipts straight from your phone, process payments online, and raise and send professional-looking invoices.

If you process your payments through Wave or Stripe, you can automate your bookkeeping for even greater efficiency. The highly-rated iOS app lets you create and send invoices on the fly, receive payment notifications, and send invoice reminders and payment receipts.

Cost:

Free

Small business tax software for Mac

Tax is a notoriously tricky area for any business and with strict audit requirements and hefty fines for non-compliance, getting it right is essential. Thankfully, small business tax software for Mac makes it easy to file your tax returns, with many providers offering support throughout the process.

H&R Block (also known as “Block”) offers multinational tax software, tailored to your specific geo-location. Its software provides step-by-step guidance to walk you through your business tax return, offering advice to help you maximize your allowances and deductions.

Online tax returns for small businesses can take as little as 10 minutes, with features such as the ability to drag and drop last year’s returns helping to speed up the process. H&R Block also offers the option of visiting one of its brick-and-mortar offices for extra help and support should you need it.

Cost:

Premium & Business Tax Software package for small business owners with more than 10 itemized expenses, $89.95

Small business financial software for Mac

While some accountancy software includes inventory, payroll, and financial management capabilities, you may find that you outgrow it and need dedicated software. The options in this section will provide exactly that.

Best small business financial software for Mac

Xero offers hugely popular small business financial software for Mac. Its fully cloud-based system makes it easy to sync all of your data across multiple devices and users.

In-depth features cover every aspect of your small business financial management – from invoicing and bank reconciliations to managing bills and expenses – making it a complete solution that can grow with your business.

Xero offers over 800 integrations with other software and services so you can customize it to work with any compatible programs your company uses.

In terms of cost, there is a range of plans to choose from. Keep in mind that it could become expensive if you have a large team with individual user profiles or a large number of separate projects – these are billed at an additional $5 and $10 respectively.

Cost:

30-day free trial

Plans range from $25 to $65 per month

Best small business inventory software for Mac

Zoho Inventory effortlessly takes your inventory management capabilities to the next level. If you’re already using Zoho Books for accounting, you can seamlessly integrate the two to sync your contacts and orders.

Zoho Inventory lets you easily manage stock levels, but what sets it apart is the ability to integrate with major shipping carriers. This enables real-time shipping details and rates, end-to-end tracking of individual items of inventory, and a comprehensive order management function.

Its iOS mobile app lets you stay connected from anywhere with real-time order status.

Cost:

Four-tiered pricing plans are available, ranging from free to $199 per month (billed annually). 

Best small business payroll software for Mac

Sage has a wide range of payroll options tailored to businesses in individual countries, allowing you to choose the right payroll solution for your geo-location and local legislation.

Purpose-built for the small business market, Sage’s small business payroll software for Mac takes the stress out of the payroll process. Its simple, four-step pay run allows you to pay your staff quickly, accurately, and seamlessly.

Sage offers a range of options, allowing you to upgrade and scale your payroll solution to fit the needs of your business as it grows. All packages are cloud-based which means you can access, amend, and track your payroll from any Mac device.

Cost:

Free 30-day trial

From £7 per month (up to 5 employees) 

Easily protect all of your devices with cutting-edge endpoint protection for Mac from Avast Business.

All prices, features and offers correct April 2020.