What is the best accounting software for Macs and Mac users?

This is a question that we at Rockstar CPA get time and time again. For years the accounting industry paid very little attention to the needs of Mac users because... there were so few businesses using Macs to "run" their business. My how the tides have turned. Mac accounting software is now in high demand, and there are many players coming to the market. But to know which package is the best Mac accounting software for you, a little insight goes a long way. That's why we at Rockstar CPA have taken our experience (and the experience of our clients) and synthesized the best offerings on the market right now. Mac accounting software just for you.

You're not going to see all 30 or 40 options out there. We don't have the time to explain them all and you don't have the time to read it. We'd rather cut to the chase and give you our top recommendations based on the kind of user you are. So take a look below and decide which role suits you best. Then get ready for your personalized recommendation for the best mac accounting software.

	The Sole Proprietor Do you self-identify with any of these phrases: self-employed, sole proprietor, independent contractor, freelancer, solopreneur? If so, you fall into one of the fastest-growing segments of the US economy today. Sole proprietorships are not incorporated. They are one person, doing business under (usually) their own name and (usually) their social security number. The income and expenses from this activity will be reported on Schedule C of your individual tax return. Your Recommendation: Outright is a relatively new accounting system that is web-based and works like a charm on a Mac. All browsers as well. Why is this a great Mac accounting software for sole proprietors? Because it does all the things it needs to do really well: importing transactions from the bank and credit cards automatically to reduce your data entry, creating reports that keep you current, making invoicing easy so you get paid faster. And it does one thing REALLY well that we love: it actually keeps a running tally for you of how much self-employment tax you stand to owe. Curious how much you stand to owe the IRS next April? Just log in and it's calculated for you. They'll even tell you if you ought to send in a quarterly estimate or not. Brilliant. Cost:     Free to try, $9.95 a month for the full version that includes the tax tracking. (Definitely worth it.)
	Multi-Member Startup If you and your friends set up a partnership for your design collective or record label or vintage storefront, then odds are pretty good you did so by setting up an LLC that's taxed as a partnership. Whether you are an LLC or an early-stage S-Corp with more than one owner, the accounting tools meant for a one-person business won't be robust enough to handle your needs. You'll need some friendly Mac accounting software that can begin to tackle the challenges of a multi-facted business. Your Recommendation: Freshbooks has grown immensely in its user base over the last five years, in great part due to its enthusiastic staff and customer support. They initally targeted the sole proprietor market, but in our experience have make significant improvements in the overall functionality of their system. Freshbooks is great for the early-level partnership or simple S-corp that needs great invoicing tools, automatic bank transaction sync, and basic reporting functions. One of the most appealing aspects of Freshbooks has to be the dozens and dozens of add-ons and integrated services. Using these tools, this system can grow with you for a while. Cost:     Free for up to 3 clients, $19.95/mo for up to 25 clients, $29.95/mo for unlimited clients, and $39.95/mo for unlimited plus extra project management tools.
	The Mature Business Sure, nobody likes to grow old. But as your business matures and develops more sophisticated needs, you'll want an accounting package that can handle anything life throws at you. Multi-currency invoicing, integrated payroll, ownership payouts, class tracking, 1099 reporting, budgeting, inventory management--these are all tools that might mean something to your business one day. And when they do, you turn to a system built with one thing in mind. Your Recommendation: QuickBooks for Mac has undergone dramatic improvements in 2010 and the years since. Prior to that time, it wouldn't have landed even close to our list of top Mac accounting software. Intuit (the parent company of QuickBooks) had largely neglected Mac users until then and it showed. The software was always years behind its PC counterpart. But then as the market changed, Intuit made big strides to get the Mac version up to speed. And today, it stands fairly comperable. There are still a few things you won't be able to do on the Mac--compare the Mac to Pro versions here. But in the end, QuickBooks doesn't have the lion's share of the market for no reason. Decades of user feedback and process improvements have made QuickBooks the leading accounting software for Mac users in the US. Take the time to set it up right and you will be amazed at what it can do. Cost:     $184-230, depending on whether or not you have our amazing discount offer to the left.

Ok. And we had to throw one last tool in the mix for you. Hopefully you have all your business receipts nice and organized and all you're looking for is some mac accounting software that will make your life easier. HOWEVER, if you find yourself in a place where your receipts are filling on overstuffed duffle bag, or you took the "shoebox" method of accounting literally, we have a great recommendation for you. The folks at Shoeboxed will literally take your nasty, messy, crumpled-up pile of receipts and scan them, read off all the relevant information, and give you access to all the images as well as totalled up reports. Perfect? Yes it is. Shoeboxed + Mac accounting software = Smiling Business Owner. Mac accounting software for you. The best mac accounting software available. Only Mac accounting software.

**Self-employment tax is an additional tax that sole proprietors pay on their business profit. The tax is comprised of both the employer and the employee sides of social security and medicare. If you're not expecting it, this can amount to thousands of dollars at the end of the year on top of the income taxes you already owe. It's not a reason to avoid being in business altogether, but it's reason enough to manage this carefully. Grab some mac accounting software and stay ahead of the curve.