If you are looking for an integrated solution that combines payroll and accounting needs, consider trying Patriot Accounting from Patriot Software. The platform features robust accounting functionality and can be further complemented with the Patriot Payroll tool. In this Patriot Accounting Software Review, we are going to further explore the functionality of Patriot Accounting specifically, as well as the pros and cons of the platform. Let’s get started!
The strong features and an affordable price point of Patriot Accounting help it stand out among the competition. The platform is designed with small businesses in mind and is available at two budget-friendly pricing plans ranging from $20 to $30 per month. At additional cost, you can also sign up for Patriot’s Payroll solution to handle all the financial needs of your business within the same platform. In addition, Patriot’s top-notch customer service team is always ready to provide ongoing support, and its simple user interface won’t leave you struggling.
Patriot Is Best For
Businesses on a budget looking for user-friendly accounting software
Customers looking for an integrated accounting and payroll tool
Contractors and freelancers who need strong invoicing software
Patriot Is Not Recommended For
Businesses that require inventory accounting
Businesses that require project accounting
Customers who work remotely and need access to a mobile app
What Is Patriot Accounting?
Founded in Canton, Ohio in 2022, Patriot Software first entered the market with their Patriot Payroll platform. Soon, the company expanded to offer accounting-specific software, known as Patriot Accounting.
Patriot Accounting is a fully-online accounting platform suitable for U.S.-based businesses and individual accountants alike. The software is easy enough to be used by individuals with little or no accounting background, while it also offers powerful capabilities suitable for professional accountants.
Pros and Cons of Patriot Accounting Software
Pros
Cons
How Does Patriot’s Accounting Software Work?
With Patriot Accounting, getting started is incredibly easy. On the Patriot’s official website, you can either explore the product with a self-guided demo or start a free 30-day trial to see whether the software is the right fit for your needs.
1. Head to the company’s website and select “Try It for Free for 30 Days” or “See a Demo”. If you decide to see a demo first, you can explore the software by yourself or book a one-on-one demonstration with an official Patriot representative.
2. Alternatively, you can start a free trial right away. Here, you would be asked to provide some personal details, such as your name and email address. Then, once you select “Start My Trial!” and review the company’s terms and conditions, you would be asked to select your plan.
Both Patriot Accounting and Patriot Payroll offer two different monthly plans. For Patriot Accounting, you can choose between the Accounting Basic and Accounting Premium plans.
3. If you choose to start a free demo first, you will be able to try out the Accounting Premium and Full Service Payroll plans with pre-filled information. Some of the main payroll tasks you may see on the left task menu include “Overview”, “General Ledger”, “Receivables”, “Payables”, and “Financial Tasks”.
One important advantage of using Patriot Accounting is that it is very closely integrated with the Patriot Payroll solution. If you choose to sign up for both, you will be able to access the two tools from the same user interface: both Accounting and Payroll tasks can be found in the purple toolbar on the left of the screen.
Given that the platform handles a lot of personal information, Patriot is dedicated to ensuring the top-notch security of their website. All the data is encrypted and annually audited. Furthermore, Patriot closely adheres to all federal security, privacy, and anti-fraud laws.
Patriot Accounting Features
The Premium plan of Patriot Accounting offers an unlimited number of users with permissions, with no additional cost. Each user can invoice customers through customized templates, pay unlimited 1099 contractors and vendors, and keep track of every dollar spent or received.
The user-friendly and responsive website works perfectly when viewed from both desktop and mobile devices, which means that no mobile app is needed. All you need to access all the data and features is any device with reliable internet connection.
Let us take a closer look at some of the main features of Patriot Accounting.
General Ledger
Under the “General Ledger” tab, you can view all of your financial activity by account and generate detailed reports for specific time periods.
Receivables
Patriot Accounting also features a comprehensive “Receivables” functionality. This includes an editable spreadsheet with customer information, a price list for products and services, and a convenient tool to generate estimates and invoices.
Payables
Under the “Payables” section, you can enter and pay bills, record past payments, edit vendor information, and print out vendor checks.
For example, in order to pay a bill, you would navigate to the “Pay Bills” window. Then, you would need to select the bills to pay, review and approve payments, and, finally, print checks.
Financial Tasks
Finally, under “Financial Tasks”, you can easily enter new transactions, record deposits/withdrawals to/from various accounts, reconcile accounts, and more.
For example, here is how the window to record a new deposit or withdrawal would look like:
Patriot Accounting Pricing
Patriot Accounting comes with two levels of subscription to choose from: Accounting Basic and Accounting Premium.
The Accounting Basic plan costs $20 per month and is ideal for new or small businesses. The package includes all the must-have features to complete the accounting process. As such, it allows you to record journal entries, generate source documents, view ledgers, prepare financial statements, and more.
The Accounting Premium package includes everything that Accounting Basic does plus a number of extra features. For example, it allows you to create account reconciliation reports, send estimates and recurring invoices, access customized invoice templates, manage receipts, and more. In addition, with the Accounting Premium plan, there is no limit to the number of users, - this means that the entire Accounts Department can be using the software at no extra charge.
If you wish to integrate your Patriot Accounting software with Patriot Payroll and its add-ons, you would need to pay for these services additionally on a monthly basis.
Plan
Price
When to Use
Patriot
Accounting Basic
$20 per month
If your business is new or still very small.
If you are looking for basic accounting features at an affordable price.
Patriot
Accounting Premium
$30 per month
If you run a small- to medium-sized business and would benefit from an unlimited number of users.
If you require more extensive accounting features.
Additional Patriot Accounting Costs
Patriot Accounting doesn’t have any add-ons you would need to pay separately for. However, many users choose to sign up for both Patriot Accounting and Patriot Payroll at the same time. In this case, you can expect to pay additional $17 to $37 per month for the payroll capabilities, plus an extra $6 to $12 for Patriot Payroll add-ons like HR and Time & Attendance.
Patriot Accounting Ease of Use
Patriot Accounting is loved for its intuitive, simple interface, as well as top-notch customer service and training materials. The software is suitable for small business owners with little accounting expertise, as it avoids professional jargon and complex, unnecessary tasks. Non-accountants should not have any troubles figuring out Patriot’s functionality and performing basic tasks. Should you have any problems, you can always contact dedicated customer support or review helpful articles and explanation videos featured on the website.
Patriot Accounting Customer Service
Patriot’s exceptional customer service truly makes it stand out from the competition. For example, Patriot Accounting offers email, phone, and live chat support available from 9am to 7om EST, Monday through Friday. In addition, Patriot’s website features a comprehensive FAQ section, as well as video tutorials that cover common problems and processes.
Patriot Accounting User Reviews
Patriot Software LLC is a reliable company with thousands of great user reviews across the internet. As such, it has earned an impressive rating of 4.8 / 5 on TrustPilot, according to more than 1,700 user reviews.
Software Advice, another independent review website, has rated Patriot Accounting at 4.69 / 5 based on over 300 individual Patriot Accounting Software reviews. Most of the customers mention the company’s top-notch customer support, budget-friendly plans, intuitive interface, and overall ease of use.
Alternatives to Patriot Accounting
If you are looking for an all-in-one payroll and accounting software, two companies come to mind: Patriot and QuickBooks. Priced at $55 to $200 per month, QuickBooks Online is a considerably pricier option, albeit it is among the most established online accounting platforms and is more suitable for larger businesses.
While Patriot Accounting can easily be integrated with other Patriot products, the range of its external integrations is somewhat limited as compared to other popular accounting solutions like QuickBooks and FreshBooks.
Looking at the price, Patriot seems to be offering the best bang for your buck. While FreshBooks plans start at $16 per month (comparable to Patriot pricing), another competitor offers an even lower cost: with Sage Accounting, you can pay as little as $10 per month. However, the cheaper Sage Start plan is only suitable for one user, and the outdated user interface makes the platform more difficult to navigate.
In summary, Patriot Accounting is definitely not the only accounting solution out there. However, if you are looking for a simple and affordable accounting solution, Patriot is well-worth considering. Plus, if you wish to combine your accounting and payroll tasks, your only other alternative is QuickBooks Online, - which is more expensive and suitable for larger-sized businesses.
Bottom Line
As seen in this Patriot Accounting Software review, the platform presents a flexible and user-friendly online accounting tool ideal for small and medium businesses. The software is created specifically to be suitable for non-accountant customers: it doesn’t use any complex jargon and is incredibly easy to navigate. Furthermore, should you have any questions, a useful FAQ section on the website, countless tutorial videos, and helpful customer support team are available at your disposal. So, make sure to take advantage of Patriot’s free 30-day trial policy and explore the platform for yourself.