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How to Calculate the ROI of Accounting Software

Published: February 18, 2019
PA

Pavel Aramyan

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Calculating the ROI of accounting software helps small business owners truly appreciate the value that it brings to their organization. As a business owner, it’s important to manage your resources properly.

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows.

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows. A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team.

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows. A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows.

Understanding the price of accounting software

The general formula for calculating return on investment is:

Gains - Costs/Costs * 100%

Start by listing the tools and user accounts you need today. Compare the regular subscription price with any introductory offer, then check the cost of additional services. A trial is useful for testing your daily workflow before choosing a plan.

Start by listing the tools and user accounts you need today. Compare the regular subscription price with any introductory offer, then check the cost of additional services. A trial is useful for testing your daily workflow before choosing a plan. Review billing terms directly with the provider and allow room for your business to grow.

Start by listing the tools and user accounts you need today. Compare the regular subscription price with any introductory offer, then check the cost of additional services. A trial is useful for testing your daily workflow before choosing a plan. Review billing terms directly with the provider and allow room for your business to grow. Start by listing the tools and user accounts you need today. Compare the regular subscription price with any introductory offer, then check the cost of additional services. A trial is useful for testing your daily workflow before choosing a plan.

The value of accounting software

Even when you solely focus on the most accessible calculations, you will see that cloud-based accounting software saves you money. For instance, assume you’re paying $25 per hour for outside accounting services. If using software saves you just two hours of work per week, you’re looking at $2400 annual savings.

However, the true value is much, much higher. ROI calculations require you to determine the following three variables for your business:

  • How much do you pay for accounting services?
  • The amount of time you (and your team) spend each month on accounting
  • How much time could save each month with accounting software?

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows.

Our top picks for September 2026

Once you’ve got this, you’ll need an accounting tool. Most market-leading cloud-based accounting software vendors like QuickBooksA clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows. A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business.

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows.

This way, you’re looking at $35,000 savings on accounting tasks per year. Let's now include the accounting costs we mentioned above.

How to Calculate the ROI of Accounting Software

 

Calculating the ROI of Accounting Software

By calculating the value of accounting software, you can determine your gains. Let’s figure out the rest and calculate the ROI of accounting software.

FreshBooksA clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows.

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows. A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business.

Let’s assume that you’ll need to hire freelance accountants to help you keep up with the accounting tasks for the first month. This will help with the transition from manual accountingA clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows.

Now that we have all the variables, let’s calculate the ROI of accounting software:

Formula - Gains - costs/costs * 100%

This is translated as formula minus gains minus costs divided by costs times 100%. So our calculation looks like this:

$35,000-$14,400/$14,400 * 100% = 143% ROI.

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows. A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team.

Now, this is what we call a profitable investment.

Conclusion

A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business. Bring invoices, expenses and financial reports together, then review the details that matter to your team. Compare the available tools, try the everyday tasks yourself and choose a setup you can maintain as your business grows. A clear view of your accounts starts with a workflow that fits your business.

Our top picks for September 2026

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Pavel Aramyan

Pavel is a writer with over 5 years of experience in researching and comparing consumer products from a variety of industries.