Invoicing is a highly sensitive action. That's why many professionals are looking for reliable tools to automate their processes and meet legislative requirements.
As a result, using an invoice software package quickly becomes a priority. But the question is: should you choosefree or paid invoicing software ? Here are some answers.
Why use invoicing software?
Choosing the right invoicing software is a matter of course for the vast majority of companies and entrepreneurs. However, selecting the right invoicing software requires a thorough understanding of your business. Before even asking yourself whether your business requiresfree or paid invoicing software, you first need to identify your needs.
Thus, the theoretical role of invoicing software is to: save time by reducing invoice payment times, automate the accounting process, reduce the costs associated with the physical processing of documents, and increase trust between customer and vendor.
To begin with, you need to anticipate the extent to which invoicing software will help you save time in all these areas.
What's the difference between paid and free invoicing software?
Free invoicing software is generally easy to use, and is ideally suited to the needs of small businesses and independent contractors. Here, the basic functionalities are provided: invoice and quotation editing, invoice number assignment, customer file creation via the database.
On the other hand, paid estimate and invoice software will offer users customization, automation and tracking possibilities that go far beyond the simple free solution:
- Proposal of different invoice models
- Customize font, logo, etc.
- Remote access
- Customer-specific automation of invoices and estimates
- Follow-up on payments, reminders and late payments
A paid-for solution will also offer other advantages, notably in terms of usability: ergonomics are generally more intuitive, data security is enhanced(RGPD), and contact management proves more intelligent.
The limitations of free invoicing software
In the final analysis, the functionalities offered by free invoicing software remain very standard, to the point where some office tools offer processes almost similar to those offered by a free solution.
If your organization needs to be equipped with invoice and quotation software, the sensible thing to do would be to try out the various offerings through their trial offers: this way, you can test several solutions free of charge to make the right choice. For example, Kafinea, one of the best invoicing software packages in the business, has set up a tailor-made offer enabling users in doubt to take advantage of a free trial of features to make up their own mind.