Cloud invoicing is much than we can imagine. With different providers vending many similar, yet distinct, solutions, the market is, indeed, huge.
Cloud invoicing software includes several features along with invoicing. It is a basic need for smaller businesses. If you want to find the right software for business, you must consider the following tips listed below:
#1: Company Size
Businesses have different needs depending on their size and capacity. While globally giant companies and small businesses have varied needs, some solutions address both. Nevertheless, it is always convenient to choose software tailored to the size of your company to get a better experience.
Indeed, cloud invoicing software isn’t one-size-fits-all. So, take your time to analyze the specific needs of your company before choosing the product.
#2: Cost & Budget
Budget is important as you pay for what you receive. There are dozens of free products available on the market, but most of these would lack features.
On the contrary, you can find cloud invoicing packages exceeding your expectations and business needs, though it might cost you more.
Here, the choice is dicey. You have to select a combination of good features and competitive pricing to proceed.
#3: Features
Research features of the invoicing software before you buy. The following points are noteworthy:
- What type of finance and invoicing tasks you would undertake?
- Do you only need software to send invoices, or you want it to be tax capable with a forecasting feature?
Once you know what you want or expect from the software, your search becomes easier. It is always good to involve people, who would use this software, in your research.
#4: Reputation
Reputation is crucial for a business. Consider these three broad categories:
- Does the software provide a demonstration showing that it can meet compliance needs?
- Does the software demonstrate how it can meet security needs, keeping data safe from loss and/or theft?
- Does the software have good user reviews and testimonials?
#5: Growth
Do you expect the business to grow significantly in the near future? If that’s obvious, ensure you understand how the solution of the invoice software provider can fit this.
If this indicates that you should switch providers, ensure you understand the options to export data from your provider and import the same into another.
#6: Customer Support
Customer support is the backbone of online services. It could make or break your decision. Ensure you understand options available to you, (such as email, live chat, and telephone), days and time of operation, response time, and customer support ratings and reviews by users.
#7: The Look and Feel of it
Watch multiple demo videos of the software that interests you. Ideally, you can also take a free trial for the experience. You should also include the person who would be using the software in the business to determine ease of use and understanding.
#8: App Integration
The most obvious topic is to explore app integration of the software. While it is impractical to expect the cloud invoicing software to cover all aspects of the business workflow, but it should connect with all the existing apps. It would be worth reading some online reviews that talk about the quality of app integration.
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right software can benefit your business in the long run. Take your time to research and match your choice with your needs, before taking the final call.
