Running a landscaping business is hard work. Between managing clients, tracking materials, and handling labor costs, bookkeeping can quickly become overwhelming. I remember when I first started helping out with a landscaping company, the constant stream of invoices, equipment costs, and employee payrolls made it hard to know where the money was going. That’s where the right bookkeeping software saves your business.
Good bookkeeping software for a landscaping business isn’t just about recording transactions—it’s about helping you understand your true costs, track jobs, manage payroll, and plan for tax season. Let’s dive into the best bookkeeping software options for landscaping businesses so you can choose one that works best for you.
Best Bookkeeping Software for Landscaping Business
1. FreshBooks
Why It’s Perfect for Landscaping
- Time Tracking: Keep track of hours worked per job, which is crucial for landscaping businesses with multiple clients and workers.
- Client Management: Easily manage client profiles, send invoices, and track payments all in one place.
- Mobile App: You can track expenses and invoice clients from the job site, so you’re not stuck doing everything from a computer later.
- Project Profitability Tracking: It helps you see which projects are making you money and which ones are costing more than they’re worth.
Pros
- Easy to use, with an intuitive interface.
- Strong invoicing and client management features.
- Ability to send estimates and convert them into invoices.
Cons
- No direct integration with landscaping-specific tools.
- Limited inventory tracking, which could be an issue for larger landscaping companies with a lot of materials to manage.
Best For: Small-to-medium landscaping businesses that need time tracking, invoicing, and simple expense management.
2. QuickBooks Online
Why It’s a Landscaping Powerhouse
- Job Costing: QuickBooks lets you track income and expenses by job, which is crucial for landscaping businesses with multiple projects.
- Estimates & Invoices: Create detailed estimates, send them to clients, and convert them into invoices once the work is done.
- Payroll Management: QuickBooks has excellent payroll features, making it easy to manage employees and subcontractors.
- Mobile App: Manage your finances on the go, track expenses, and even capture receipts while you’re out at job sites.
Pros
- Advanced job costing features.
- Easily integrates with other tools like time tracking apps and CRMs.
- Payroll and tax automation makes it easier to manage larger teams.
Cons
- Can be expensive, especially as your business grows.
- The learning curve can be steep for those unfamiliar with accounting software.
Best For: Landscaping businesses that need detailed job costing and payroll management.
3. Jobber (With QuickBooks Integration)
Why It’s Tailored for Landscaping
- Field Service Management: Jobber is designed specifically for service businesses like landscaping, making it easy to schedule jobs, track time, and communicate with clients.
- Estimates & Invoices: Send estimates to clients and convert them into invoices when the job is done.
- Job Tracking: Monitor the progress of jobs, track time worked, and calculate expenses—all within the app.
- QuickBooks Integration: Jobber integrates smoothly with QuickBooks, so you can get the field service benefits with the bookkeeping power of QuickBooks.
Pros
- Built for field service businesses like landscaping.
- Excellent for tracking jobs, schedules, and invoicing.
- Integration with QuickBooks gives you the best of both worlds.
Cons
- You’ll need to pay for both Jobber and QuickBooks to get full functionality.
- Some advanced accounting features still need to be done in QuickBooks.
Best For: Landscaping businesses that need strong field service management tools alongside powerful bookkeeping.
4. Xero
Why It’s a Great Option for Landscaping
- Job Tracking: Xero allows you to track jobs and expenses across different projects, so you know exactly where your money is going.
- Inventory Management: Manage your tools and materials easily, tracking what you’ve bought and what’s used on each job.
- Invoicing: Like QuickBooks, Xero offers strong invoicing features, making it easy to bill clients and manage payments.
- Payroll: It has strong payroll features, perfect for managing your team, especially if you have a mix of full-time employees and subcontractors.
Pros
- Affordable pricing, especially for small-to-medium-sized businesses.
- Great job and inventory tracking capabilities.
- Integrates with many third-party apps for additional customization.
Cons
- Like QuickBooks, it requires some time to learn the system.
- Fewer specialized features for landscaping businesses compared to software like Jobber.
Best For: Landscaping businesses needing inventory and job tracking at an affordable price.
5. Zoho Books
Why It’s Ideal for Budget-Conscious Landscaping Businesses
- Affordable: Zoho Books offers a range of affordable plans, making it a great option for smaller landscaping companies or startups.
- Estimates & Invoices: You can send estimates to clients and easily convert them into invoices once the work is done.
- Expense Tracking: Keep an eye on material and labor costs to ensure that jobs stay profitable.
- Client Portal: Clients can view their estimates and invoices through a dedicated portal, reducing back-and-forth communication.
Pros
- Very affordable pricing, with many features available at a low cost.
- User-friendly interface.
- Strong invoicing and project tracking features.
Cons
- Lacks advanced features found in QuickBooks or FreshBooks.
- Less customizable when it comes to tracking specific landscaping-related costs like job-specific material expenses.
Best For: Small landscaping businesses or startups looking for a low-cost solution with basic bookkeeping and invoicing features.
How to Choose the Right Bookkeeping Software for Your Landscaping Business
When choosing bookkeeping software, consider the following key factors:
- Job Costing: You need software that can track costs and profits for individual jobs to see which projects are making you money.
- Payroll: Landscaping businesses often need payroll features for employees and subcontractors, so make sure your software can handle this.
- Invoicing and Estimates: Being able to send professional estimates and convert them into invoices is essential for your cash flow.
- Mobile Access: You’re often working outside of an office, so mobile access to your bookkeeping software can be a big help.
- Integration: If you’re already using other tools for field management (like Jobber), make sure your bookkeeping software integrates smoothly.
Conclusion: FreshBooks Takes the Lead
For most landscaping businesses, FreshBooks offers the perfect blend of simplicity, strong invoicing, and job profitability tracking. It’s designed to help service-based businesses keep track of time, expenses, and client communication, which fits well with the needs of landscapers.
While QuickBooks Online provides more advanced features like payroll and job costing, and Jobber offers field-specific tools, FreshBooks remains a top choice for its ease of use and ability to keep you organized without getting bogged down in complex features.