Best Accounting Software for Real Estate Agents

Jim Gray, Lead Generation Expert9/23/2024

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Real estate agents, it’s time to get serious about your finances. Whether managing a small solo operation or overseeing a growing team, staying on top of your bookkeeping isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a must.The right accounting software can make your life easier by handling everything from payroll to expense tracking and tax compliance. This frees you up to focus on closing deals while growing your business.But, with so many tools out there, how do you pick the right one for you? We’ve done the heavy lifting for you, so we’ll break down the best accounting software for real estate agents. We’ll talk about the pros, cons and key features.Whether you’re looking for a quick way to manage expenses or a full-on financial management solution, we’ve got you covered.

We’ll dive in and find the best accounting tools to help keep your business and profits on track.

Key Takeaways

  • Accounting software is essential for real estate agents to manage expenses, track commissions, and simplify tax prep so they can focus on growing their business.
  • Cloud-based solutions offer flexibility and convenience so real estate agents can manage their finances from anywhere.
  • User-friendliness and scalability are crucial when choosing accounting software to ensure it fits your current needs and can grow with your business.

Accounting Needs in the Real Estate Industry

In real estate, managing your finances is more than just balancing books. It’s about staying organized, maximizing profitability and ensuring compliance.

Real estate professionals need software to manage expense tracking, commission management, and tax preparation while monitoring cash flow. In addition to basic bookkeeping, agents and brokers often handle rental income, property management, and team payroll.

The right accounting tool helps simplify these processes and ensures you’re always on top of your finances, allowing you to focus your attention elsewhere.  

What’s the Best Accounting Software for Real Estate Agents?

With so many accounting tools on the market, it’s important to find one that fits the unique needs of real estate professionals. The right software can make all the difference, from managing expenses and tracking commissions to handling taxes and payroll.

The 6 Best Accounting Software Products for Real Estate Agents

  • #1 Overall: Best Accounting Software for Real Estate Agents: Bench
  • Best for Useful Integrations: Zoho Books
  • Best for Project Management: FreshBooks
  • Best Accounting Software for Real Estate Agents On-The-Go: Xero
  • Best for Business Growth: QuickBooks
  • Best Accounting Software for Realtors on a Budget: Sage Accounting

#1 Overall: Best Accounting Software for Real Estate Agents: Bench

A+

Top Features

: Hands-off basic bookkeeping with a tax service included
Starting at $$$

Key Features:

  • Hands-off bookkeeping with tax services included
  • One-on-one support from dedicated bookkeepers
  • Financial reporting with profit and loss tracking
  • Retro services for catching up on overdue bookkeeping

Best For: Real estate agents looking for a completely hands-off accounting solution that takes the guesswork out of managing finances.

If bookkeeping sounds like a nightmare and you’d rather someone else handle it, Bench might be the answer.

Bench is a bookkeeping service that takes care of everything behind the scenes. You sync your bank accounts and payment platforms, and their team of bookkeepers and tax pros does the rest—no complicated software, no learning curves.

Not only do you get detailed financial reports, but Bench also has tax prep services that make tax season way less stressful. 

If you need to catch up on your books, they have retro services to get you back on track. Perfect for real estate agents who want to focus on their business without getting bogged down with numbers.

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Bench Pros
  • Free 30-day trial (includes one month of bookkeeping)
  • Tax services are part of the package
  • Dedicated support with no software learning curve
Bench Cons
  • No option for self-management—everything is done for you
  • Lacks payroll services
  • Not specifically tailored for the real estate industry
Starting at $$$

Best for Useful Integrations: Zoho Books

A

Top Features

: Lots of integrations to tailor the solution to your unique business
Starting at $$

Key Features:

  • Over 50 integrations to customize your business setup
  • End-to-end accounting with invoicing, inventory, and project management
  • Tax compliance tools with real-time liability calculations
  • Mobile app for on-the-go access

Best for: Small and medium-sized real estate agents looking for flexible accounting software with many integrations and scalability.

Zoho Books could become your go-to solution if you like having everything in one place and want to keep your business running smoothly. The cloud-based platform is ideal for real estate pros needing more than basic accounting. It covers invoicing, project management, and even tax compliance all in one package.

One thing that really sets Zoho apart is its ability to integrate with more than 50 apps, tailoring the software to your specific needs.

Plus, you can handle your finances on the go with their mobile app.

The system simplifies end-to-end accounting, helps you stay tax-compliant and lets you export 1099s.

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Zoho Books Pros
  • Free plan available
  • Mobile app with a wide set of features
  • Excellent tax compliance tools
Zoho Books Cons
  • Limited to 10 users per plan
  • Some advanced features require higher-tier pricing
  • Payroll services can be tricky to navigate
Starting at $$

Best for Project Management: FreshBooks

A

Top Features

: Tax time is made easy because all estimates and sales records are at your fingertips
Starting at $$

Key Features:

  • Easy expense tracking with photo and email receipt imports
  • Time tracking for billable hours and payroll
  • Project management to keep teams, clients, and contractors on the same page
  • Automated payments and customizable invoicing
  • Mileage tracker for realtors on the go

Best for: Small business owners, sole proprietors, and freelancers who want an intuitive and organized way to manage property-related finances.

FreshBooks is great if you’re juggling multiple projects and need to stay on top of payment, expenses and client management. It’s designed with simplicity in mind. It’s an intuitive platform where you can take pictures of your receipts, track mileage, and manage projects—all in one place.

What makes FreshBooks a standout is its seamless project management feature. Realtors can share updates and files with clients and contractors, keeping everyone in the loop.

With automated payments and customizable invoices, you’ll get paid faster without any hassle. The mobile app lets you manage your bookkeeping on the go, which is ideal if you’re always in the field.

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FreshBooks Pros
  • Easy-to-use interface with double-entry accounting
  • Great for project management and tracking mileage
  • Affordable pricing, especially for smaller businesses
FreshBooks Cons
  • Not suited for larger companies
  • Adding extra team members comes with additional costs
  • Fewer customization options compared to more robust software
Starting at $$

Best Accounting Software for Real Estate Agents On-The-Go: Xero

B+

Top Features

: Full-feature but easy-to-use accounting software that’s always accessible
Starting at $$$

Key Features:

  • Cloud-based, always accessible from any device
  • Automatic bank reconciliation and expense tracking
  • Project management with job tracking and profitability insights
  • Accept payments through integrations like Stripe and GoCardless

Best For: Real estate agents who need a powerful accounting solution that works seamlessly on the go.

Xero can be an excellent choice for real estate agents who are constantly on the move. This cloud-based accounting software allows you to manage everything from paying bills to tracking expenses from your phone or laptop.

Xero integrates with your bank and keeps transactions flowing automatically.

The project tracking feature is a good fit if you’re an agent juggling multiple properties.

Xero also can scale with your business. You can handle everything from payroll to reconciling your bank account. The platform’s built-in contact management system makes tracking client interactions and payments easy.

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Xero Pros
  • Unlimited users and clients
  • Extensive tutorials to learn advanced features
  • Free 30-day trial with a wide range of tools
Xero Cons
  • Quotes and invoices are capped at 20 per month
  • Involves a learning curve for more complex features
  • Multi-currency support is only available at higher tiers
Starting at $$$

Best for Business Growth: QuickBooks

B

Top Features

: Pop-ups help to teach agents to identify common bookkeeping issues
Starting at $$

Key Features:

  • Job costing to track profitable and unprofitable projects
  • Easy expense tracking, invoicing, and bill management
  • Advanced bookkeeping with customizable reports
  • Payroll system with same-day direct deposit and tax penalty protection

Best For: Real estate agents and businesses focused on growth need a powerful tool to manage finances, payroll, and expenses as they scale.

QuickBooks is one of the top names in accounting software, and for good reason. Whether you’re a solo agent or managing a team, QuickBooks has the tools to help you keep your finances in check.

From tracking job costs to creating invoices and managing bills, managing your financial needs is simple.

Advanced bookkeeping is one feature that lets you create custom, professional work with minimal manual work.

QuickBooks integrates with apps like Salesforce and Docusign, so it grows with your business.

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QuickBooks Pros
  • Widely used and trusted by accountants
  • Easy financial tracking and advanced bookkeeping tools
  • Integrates with premium apps for seamless business growth
QuickBooks Cons
  • Subscription plans can get pricey
  • The AI might over-complicate simple tasks at times
  • Customer support could be more robust
Starting at $$

Best Accounting Software for Realtors on a Budget: Sage Accounting

B

Top Features

: New tools help landlords easily manage multiple tenants seamlessly
Starting at $$

Key Features:

  • Accounts receivable automation with invoicing and collections
  • General ledger for financial visibility and reporting
  • Cash management tools for tracking working capital
  • Order management for high-volume transactions and inventory

Best For: Realtors and small business owners looking for an affordable, all-in-one accounting solution to streamline their financial processes.

Sage Accounting is a budget-friendly option. It’s a cloud-based platform that integrates core financials like invoicing, reporting and cash management, making it ideal for agents managing multiple tenants or properties.

Automation features boost productivity and save time; real-time reporting gives you an overview of your finances whenever needed. 

The system is packed with tools to handle everything from cash flow forecasts to purchasing workflows, allowing you to make smarter financial decisions. A six-month discount is also available to get you started.

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Sage Accounting Pros
  • Time-saving workflow automation
  • Cash flow forecasting for better financial planning
  • 6-month promotion for 70% off
Sage Accounting Cons
  • No free plan is available
  • Lacks real estate-specific tools
  • Does not include payroll processing
Starting at $$

About the Author

Jim Gray got licensed in 2013 and sold 57 houses in his first year. Over the next 6 1/2 years he went on to sell 437 homes with a small team. He went on to manage the lead generation department of the 13th largest expansion team at Keller Williams and designed lead generation and conversion systems for 60 agents in 7 locations in 4 states that drove 600 home sales in a 2 year period. Jim currently does real estate team development and coaching for some of the largest real estate teams in the country.

Last Updated: 9/23/2024