10 Best Accounting Software That Integrates With Stripe

August 6, 2025
Jason Berwanger
Accounting

Find the best accounting software that integrates with Stripe to streamline your financial operations and ensure accurate, real-time data synchronization.

Accounting software dashboard on a laptop with financial charts, beside a phone displaying a pie chart.

Making smart business decisions requires clean, reliable data. But if your Stripe sales data lives in one place and your financial records in another, you never have a true, real-time picture of your company’s health. You’re left guessing about cash flow and profitability until you complete a painful month-end close. An integration creates a single source of truth for your revenue. By connecting your systems, you ensure every sale, fee, and refund is recorded accurately. Choosing the best accounting software that integrates with Stripe for your needs is the first step toward gaining the financial clarity you need to grow with confidence.

HubiFi CTA Button

Key Takeaways

  • Go Beyond Convenience and Automate for Insight: Integrating Stripe with your accounting software creates a single source of financial truth. This automation eliminates manual data entry and provides real-time data, freeing you to analyze your business performance instead of just reconciling it.
  • Choose Software That Scales With You: The right software fits your specific business model, volume, and budget. Prioritize non-negotiable features like automated transaction recording, multi-currency support, and scalability to ensure the tool supports your needs now and as you grow.
  • Manage Your Integration Actively: A successful connection is more than a one-time setup. You must correctly map your data, establish a consistent reconciliation workflow, and follow security best practices to maintain a clean, compliant, and audit-ready financial system.

Why Should You Integrate Your Accounting Software with Stripe?

If you’re using Stripe to process payments, you’re already off to a great start. But if you’re still manually entering Stripe sales, fees, and refunds into your accounting software, you’re leaving a lot of efficiency on the table. Integrating the two isn’t just a minor convenience; it’s a fundamental step toward creating a reliable, automated financial workflow.

Connecting your systems allows you to build a single source of truth for your revenue data. Instead of spending hours trying to match transactions and reconcile accounts, you can let technology do the heavy lifting. This frees you and your team to focus on what really matters: analyzing your financial health and making strategic decisions to grow your business. Think of it as building a bridge that allows critical information to flow freely and accurately, eliminating data silos and manual errors for good.

Automate Your Payment Processing

Manually exporting data from Stripe and importing it into your accounting software is not only time-consuming but also a recipe for errors. An integration automates this entire process. Every time a customer makes a purchase, the transaction details—including the sale amount, customer information, and invoice data—are automatically sent to your accounting platform. This seamless transfer of information ensures your payment data is always current. It simplifies cash reconciliation and gives you a consistently accurate picture of your cash flow without the tedious manual work, allowing for more robust financial management.

Sync Your Financials in Real-Time

One of the biggest advantages of integration is gaining access to real-time financial data. Instead of waiting until the end of the month to see how your business performed, you can get an up-to-the-minute view of your finances. A direct connection syncs everything automatically, including individual transactions, Stripe processing fees, payouts, invoices, taxes, and even customer details. This continuous flow of information means the numbers in your accounting software always reflect what’s actually happening in your Stripe account. This allows you to make faster, more informed decisions based on current data rather than outdated reports.

Reconcile Your Books Without Errors

Bank reconciliation is a critical accounting task, but it can quickly become a nightmare when your records don’t match. Manual data entry is a common source of errors that can throw your books out of balance, leading to hours of frustrating detective work. Integrating Stripe with your accounting software dramatically reduces this risk. By automating the data transfer, you ensure that every transaction, fee, and refund is recorded accurately and consistently across both platforms. This creates a clean, reliable data trail that makes reconciliation straightforward and helps you close your books with confidence, knowing your financial records are accurate and up-to-date.

Save Time and Reduce Costs

When you add up the hours spent on manual data entry, error correction, and reconciliation, the cost to your business becomes clear. Automating your Stripe accounting saves you valuable time that can be reinvested into growth activities like marketing, product development, or customer service. It also reduces overhead costs associated with manual labor and fixing accounting mistakes. By streamlining your entire process from sale to reconciliation, you create a more efficient and cost-effective operation. An automated solution is an investment that pays for itself by giving you back your most valuable resource: time. You can schedule a quick demo to see how our solution can streamline your workflow.

Key Features to Look For in Accounting Software for Stripe

Choosing the right accounting software isn't just about finding one that "works" with Stripe. It's about finding a partner that streamlines your entire financial workflow. When you're vetting your options, look for a platform that doesn't just sync data but actively makes your life easier. The goal is to move from manual data entry and spreadsheet headaches to a smooth, automated system that gives you a clear picture of your business's health. To get there, you’ll want to prioritize a few non-negotiable features that separate the basic tools from the truly powerful ones.

Automated Transaction Recording

The whole point of integrating Stripe is to eliminate manual work. Your accounting software should automatically pull in every transaction, including sales, refunds, and those tricky Stripe fees. This ensures your records are always up-to-date without you having to lift a finger. When payment and invoice data flows seamlessly between systems, you not only save countless hours but also make cash reconciliation a breeze. This automation is the foundation of a solid financial tech stack, giving you more time to focus on strategy instead of data entry. You can find more insights on financial automation that can help you streamline other parts of your business, too.

Multi-Currency Support

If you sell to customers around the world, this feature is essential. Stripe makes it easy to accept payments in various currencies, but your accounting software needs to be able to handle that complexity. Look for a platform that can manage and report on multiple currencies without causing a bookkeeping nightmare. It should automatically convert transactions to your base currency for accurate reporting while still allowing you to see the original transaction details. This simplifies your international bookkeeping and gives you a true understanding of your global sales performance, ensuring your financial statements are always accurate, no matter where your customers are.

Tax Management Tools

Taxes are complicated enough without having to calculate them manually for every single sale. The best accounting software will integrate with Stripe’s tax features to automate sales tax, VAT, or GST calculations based on your customer's location. This helps you stay compliant with ever-changing tax regulations across different states and countries. The software should not only calculate the tax but also generate reports that make filing your returns much simpler. This built-in support is a huge weight off your shoulders, protecting your business from compliance risks and saving you from a major headache come tax season.

Custom Report Generation

Your business is unique, and your financial reports should reflect that. Canned, one-size-fits-all reports often don't tell the whole story. You need software that lets you generate custom reports to track the metrics that matter most to you. Whether it's sales by region, revenue per product, or detailed cash flow statements, the ability to customize is key to making informed decisions. Stripe provides detailed data on sales and payments, and your accounting software should leverage that to offer deep, actionable analytics. Seeing these custom analytics in action can reveal powerful insights about your business performance.

User Access Controls

As your team grows, you'll likely have multiple people—like a bookkeeper, an accountant, or a business partner—who need access to your financial software. However, you don't want everyone to see and edit everything. Strong user access controls let you set specific permissions for each team member. You can grant view-only access to some, full administrative rights to others, and specific permissions for tasks like invoicing or running reports. This is crucial for maintaining data security and integrity. It ensures that team members only have access to the information they need to do their jobs, reducing the risk of accidental errors or unauthorized changes.

Scalability for Your Growing Business

The software that works for you today should also work for you in three years. As your business grows, your transaction volume will increase, and your financial needs will become more complex. Choose a platform that is built to scale with you. This means it can handle a high volume of transactions without slowing down and offers advanced features you can grow into. It should also support a wide range of third-party integrations, allowing you to connect other tools like CRMs or inventory management systems as your operations expand. A scalable solution prevents the painful process of migrating to a new system down the road.

The Best Accounting Software That Works With Stripe

Once you’ve decided to connect Stripe to your accounting software, the next step is choosing the right platform. With so many options available, it can feel a bit overwhelming. The best choice for your business really depends on your specific needs, like your company’s size, sales volume, and budget. Are you a freelancer who just needs simple invoicing? A growing ecommerce store with complex inventory? Or a high-volume subscription business that needs to follow specific revenue recognition rules?

Each software on this list offers a direct integration with Stripe, but they all have different strengths. Some are known for their simplicity and are perfect for small businesses just getting started. Others offer robust, enterprise-level features designed for scaling companies with complex financial operations. Think about what you need today and where you see your business in a few years. A scalable solution might save you the headache of migrating systems down the road. We’ll walk through some of the top contenders to help you find the perfect fit for your financial workflow.

HubiFi

If you’re a high-volume business, especially one dealing with subscriptions or complex contracts, HubiFi is built for you. It goes beyond standard accounting integration by specializing in automated revenue recognition, ensuring you stay compliant with standards like ASC 606. HubiFi connects your Stripe data with your other financial systems to give you a complete, real-time picture of your revenue. This is less about basic bookkeeping and more about providing deep financial insights for strategic decision-making. If you’re tired of manual data entry and complex spreadsheets to figure out your monthly recurring revenue or deferred revenue, you can schedule a demo to see how HubiFi can automate the entire process.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is one of the most popular accounting platforms for small businesses, and for good reason. It’s known for being incredibly user-friendly, making it easy for entrepreneurs without a deep accounting background to manage their finances. When you connect your Stripe account, transactions, fees, and refunds sync automatically, which takes the manual work out of reconciliation. This automation helps keep your books accurate and gives you a clear view of your cash flow. Its seamless integration capabilities and comprehensive reporting make it a solid, reliable choice for businesses looking to streamline their day-to-day financial tasks and get a handle on their numbers.

Xero

Xero is a fantastic option for businesses that want flexibility and a well-connected tech stack. It stands out with its ability to integrate with over 1,000 third-party apps, allowing you to build a customized ecosystem around your accounting hub. Connecting Stripe to Xero is straightforward and helps ensure your sales data flows directly into your financial records, which significantly reduces the risk of manual errors. This is especially helpful for businesses that also use tools like HubSpot or other CRMs. According to a Xero vs. QuickBooks comparison, its strength in integrations makes it a top contender for tech-savvy businesses that want all their systems to work together seamlessly.

FreshBooks

If your business is heavily focused on client services and invoicing, FreshBooks is an excellent choice. It was originally designed for freelancers and small service-based businesses, and its interface is exceptionally intuitive and easy to use. The platform’s strength lies in creating professional invoices, tracking time, and managing expenses. Integrating Stripe allows your clients to pay their invoices directly with a credit card, which helps you get paid faster. For many small businesses, the combination of FreshBooks' powerful invoicing and Stripe's simple payment processing creates a smooth and efficient workflow. It’s a great alternative to QuickBooks if invoicing is your top priority.

Sage

Sage offers a range of accounting products that can support your business as it grows. Whether you're a small startup or an established enterprise, there's likely a Sage solution that fits your needs. Its software is known for being robust, with strong core accounting features, inventory management, and payroll services. Integrating Stripe with Sage allows you to accept payments and automatically record those transactions in your general ledger. This makes it a versatile and scalable accounting software package for businesses that anticipate future growth and need a system that can handle increasing complexity over time.

Wave

For new businesses, freelancers, or solopreneurs working with a tight budget, Wave is an incredible option because it’s completely free. It provides all the essential accounting features you need to get started, including invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. You can connect your Stripe account to accept payments on invoices, and the transactions will flow directly into your Wave account for easy tracking. While it may not have the advanced features of some paid platforms, it’s a powerful tool for managing your finances without any monthly subscription fees. It’s one of the best accounting software for Stripe if you're looking for a cost-effective solution to get your business off the ground.

Zoho Books

Zoho Books is a strong contender, especially for businesses already using or considering the broader Zoho ecosystem of apps. It offers comprehensive accounting features, from invoicing and expense tracking to project billing and inventory management. The platform integrates smoothly with Stripe, allowing for easy payment collection and automatic reconciliation. One of the biggest advantages of Zoho is that it can serve as an all-in-one solution for your business operations, connecting your finances with your CRM, project management, and more. This Stripe accounting software integration helps create a unified system for managing every aspect of your business from a single place.

NetSuite

When your business outgrows simpler accounting software, NetSuite is ready to step in. As a true Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, it’s designed for larger, more complex businesses that need advanced financial management, supply chain, and commerce tools all in one place. NetSuite provides a comprehensive view of your entire operation, and its Stripe integration helps streamline payment processing within this sophisticated framework. It’s ideal for scaling companies that require detailed reporting, multi-subsidiary management, and complex revenue recognition. While it’s a significant investment, NetSuite provides the advanced financial management capabilities that fast-growing enterprises need to succeed.

Kashoo

If you believe that simple is better, Kashoo might be the right fit for you. This software is designed specifically for small business owners who want straightforward, no-fuss accounting. It focuses on the essentials—income and expense tracking, invoicing, and reporting—without overwhelming you with features you’ll never use. The interface is clean and easy to follow, making bookkeeping less of a chore. You can connect your Stripe account to automatically import your sales transactions, which helps keep your records accurate with minimal effort. Kashoo is a great choice for entrepreneurs who want to manage their finances easily and get back to running their business.

ZipBooks

ZipBooks is another excellent free accounting software that offers a surprising number of smart features. Like Wave, it covers all the basics, including invoicing and expense management, with a seamless Stripe integration for payment processing. What sets ZipBooks apart is its focus on providing actionable insights. The software analyzes your transactions and offers feedback on your business's financial health, even giving you a "business health score." This makes it a great tool for new entrepreneurs who are not only looking to manage their books but also want to learn and grow. It’s a fantastic free accounting software for those who appreciate data-driven advice.

Breaking Down the Costs: What to Expect

Figuring out the total cost of your accounting software can feel like solving a puzzle. It’s not just about the monthly subscription; you also have to consider transaction fees, integration costs, and any other charges that might pop up. Let's walk through the different pricing models you'll encounter so you can find a solution that fits your budget without any surprises.

Free vs. Paid: Which is Right for You?

Everyone loves free, but when it comes to your finances, it’s important to know what you’re getting. Some integrations, like Stripe’s connection with Xero, are genuinely free. Others, like certain QuickBooks sync apps, offer a free version that’s great for getting started. These free plans are perfect if you're just launching or have very simple needs. However, they often come with limitations on transaction volume or features.

As your business grows, you’ll likely need more power. Paid plans offer advanced reporting, multi-currency support, and better automation. Think of it as an investment in your company’s efficiency and accuracy. Most paid tools offer a free trial, which is the best way to see if the software works for you before you commit.

Transaction-Based Pricing Models

This is a big one. Payment processors like Stripe have their own fees, with a standard rate often around 2.9% plus 30 cents for every successful card payment. It’s crucial to remember that this fee is separate from your accounting software subscription. Some third-party integrators might also add a small fee per transaction.

While these percentages seem small, they add up quickly, especially for high-volume businesses. You need to factor these costs into your pricing strategy to protect your profit margins. When evaluating options, always calculate the total transaction cost—from the payment processor and any integration tool—to get a clear picture of what you’ll actually be paying on every single sale.

Monthly Subscription Plans

Most accounting software operates on a monthly subscription model, usually with a few different tiers. A basic plan might be perfect for a solo entrepreneur, while a premium plan could offer multi-user access, advanced inventory management, and in-depth analytics for a larger team. The key is to find the sweet spot between what you need now and where you plan to be in a year.

Don’t pay for a dozen features you’ll never touch, but don’t choose a plan so restrictive that you’ll outgrow it in a few months. Carefully compare the features in each tier. Many platforms include their Stripe integrations at no extra cost within their subscription plans, which adds a lot of value.

What About Integration Costs?

Connecting Stripe to your accounting software is the whole point, so let’s talk about what that connection costs. Some accounting platforms have a built-in, native integration that’s included with your subscription. Others rely on third-party apps to bridge the gap, and these apps often have their own monthly fee.

While another subscription might sound like a pain, a good integration app is worth its weight in gold. These tools automatically record your Stripe sales, sales tax, and fees directly into your books, saving you hours of manual data entry and preventing costly errors. A seamless connection that keeps your data clean is one of the smartest investments you can make for your back office.

Watch Out for Hidden Fees

No one likes surprise charges. As you compare software, keep an eye out for costs that aren’t advertised on the main pricing page. These can include one-time setup fees, charges for adding more users, or extra costs for premium customer support. If you sell internationally, you’ll also want to understand the fees for currency conversion.

The best way to avoid these surprises is to ask direct questions. Before you sign up, read the terms of service and get clarity on the total cost of ownership. A transparent company will be upfront about its pricing structure and help you understand exactly what you’re paying for. This ensures your accounting stack supports your growth without draining your budget.

How to Set Up and Manage Your Integration

Connecting Stripe to your accounting software is one of the best moves you can make for your financial operations. It’s like building a bridge that lets crucial data flow automatically, saving you from hours of manual data entry and the inevitable errors that come with it. But getting it right involves more than just clicking "connect." A successful integration requires a thoughtful setup and ongoing management to ensure your data is clean, accurate, and truly useful for making smart business decisions. Without a solid plan, you might end up with a messy digital shoebox of transactions that creates more problems than it solves.

Think of it as setting up a new home. You don’t just move your furniture in; you decide which room everything goes in, set up your security system, and create a system for keeping things tidy. The same principles apply here. We’ll walk through the key steps, from the initial configuration and data mapping to managing revenue recognition and reconciliation. Following these steps will help you build a reliable financial system that not only saves time but also gives you the clear insights you need to grow your business. With the right approach, you can turn your integration from a simple convenience into a powerful strategic tool that supports your company's financial health and compliance.

Your Step-by-Step Configuration Guide

Getting started is usually the easiest part. Most modern accounting platforms are designed to connect with payment processors like Stripe. You’ll typically find an option within your accounting software’s settings or app marketplace to add a new connection. Once you authorize the link between the two accounts, the systems can start talking to each other. The main goal is to sync your financial data automatically. This means your transactions, fees, payouts, and customer information will move from Stripe to your accounting software without you having to lift a finger, creating a foundation for accurate bookkeeping.

Map Your Data Correctly

Data mapping is where you tell your information where to go. When a transaction comes in from Stripe, your integration needs to know how to categorize it in your accounting software. Is it a sale? A refund? A processing fee? You’ll need to map data points like sales, taxes, fees, and customer details to the correct accounts in your chart of accounts. Getting this right from the start is critical for maintaining organized and accurate books. A proper setup ensures every dollar is accounted for correctly, preventing major headaches when it’s time to close the books or file taxes.

Meet Key Security Requirements

Connecting financial systems means you have to prioritize security. Both Stripe and reputable accounting software providers invest heavily in securing their platforms, but it’s your responsibility to follow best practices. Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. When you authorize the integration, be sure you understand the permissions you are granting. A secure connection protects your sensitive business data and your customers' information, helping you build trust and maintain a strong reputation. Regularly review who has access to these systems to ensure only authorized personnel can view or modify financial data.

Set Up Your Reconciliation Workflow

Once data is flowing into your accounting software, you need to reconcile it. Reconciliation is the process of matching the Stripe payouts deposited into your bank account with the batches of transactions recorded in your books. This step confirms that your records are accurate and that no transactions are missing. While automation does the heavy lifting of bringing the data in, you still need a workflow to review and approve these matches. This regular check-up ensures your cash flow is reported correctly and helps you spot any discrepancies right away.

Handle Revenue Recognition with Ease

For businesses with subscriptions, deferred revenue, or complex contracts, simply syncing transactions isn’t enough. Proper revenue recognition under standards like ASC 606 requires you to recognize revenue as it’s earned, not just when cash is received. A basic integration might not handle this correctly, leading to compliance issues. This is where specialized solutions shine by automating complex revenue schedules. HubiFi’s automated revenue recognition ensures your financials are always accurate and audit-ready, giving you a clear picture of your company’s performance.

Manage Your Transactions

With a well-managed integration, your daily transactions are recorded automatically. Every sale, refund, and dispute that happens in Stripe is logged in your accounting software with the right details, including sales tax. This eliminates the risk of manual entry errors and keeps your financial records up-to-date in near real-time. Instead of spending hours typing in data, you can shift your focus to analyzing it. This gives you more time to make strategic decisions based on current, accurate information about your business’s health.

Optimize Your Fee Structure

Stripe charges processing fees on each transaction, and it’s crucial that your accounting system handles these correctly. A good integration will automatically split out the Stripe fee from the gross sale amount, recording it as a separate expense. For example, on a $100 sale, you might see the full $100 as revenue and the $2.90 + $0.30 fee as a business expense. This gives you a much clearer view of your true profitability on every sale and helps you accurately track your cost of goods sold and operating expenses.

Staying Secure, Compliant, and Trouble-Free

Connecting your financial tools is a huge step forward, but it’s important to manage the integration responsibly. Keeping your data secure and your books compliant isn’t just good practice—it’s essential for long-term success. A solid integration should make this easier, not harder. By setting things up correctly and establishing good habits, you can ensure your financial operations run smoothly and stay protected against potential issues. This means being proactive about security, understanding your reporting obligations, and knowing where to turn when you need help. Let’s walk through the key areas you need to focus on to keep your integrated financial system secure, compliant, and trouble-free.

Protect Your Customer Data

When you handle payments, you're also handling sensitive customer information. Protecting that data is your top priority. The great thing about using Stripe is that it’s designed to vault and secure sensitive payment details, drastically reducing your PCI compliance burden. When you integrate it with your accounting software, the goal is to transfer transactional data—not sensitive card numbers. A secure integration ensures this data flows between systems without exposure. By automating the process, you also limit the need for manual data handling, which reduces the risk of human error and keeps customer details out of spreadsheets and emails where they could be compromised.

Adhere to Financial Reporting Standards

For any growing business, especially those with subscription or complex billing models, adhering to financial reporting standards like ASC 606 is non-negotiable. These standards dictate how you recognize revenue, and getting it wrong can lead to serious compliance headaches. An integration between Stripe and your accounting software is your first line of defense, as it ensures the data flowing into your books is consistent and accurate. For businesses with high transaction volumes, a specialized solution is even better. HubiFi’s automated revenue recognition tools are built to handle these complexities, applying the right rules automatically so your financial statements are always accurate and compliant.

Maintain a Clear Audit Trail

If you’ve ever faced an audit, you know how critical a clear audit trail is. It’s the detailed, chronological record of every transaction that has occurred in your business. When you integrate Stripe with your accounting software, every sale, refund, dispute, and fee is automatically logged in your general ledger. This creates an unbroken, digital trail that auditors can easily follow. There’s no guesswork or missing information. This not only makes audits significantly less stressful but also provides you with a trustworthy, real-time view of your financial history, giving you and your stakeholders confidence in your numbers.

Key Security Protocols to Follow

While your software provides a secure foundation, your team’s habits are just as important. Start with the basics: enforce strong, unique passwords for both Stripe and your accounting platform, and make sure two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled for every user. It’s also wise to regularly review who has access to your financial systems and what their permission levels are. Limit access to only what is necessary for each person's role. Finally, make it a routine to reconcile your Stripe payouts with your bank statements. This helps you quickly spot any discrepancies and investigate them before they become bigger problems.

Look for Compliance Certifications

When choosing software, don’t just look at features—look for proof of security and compliance. Stripe is a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider, the highest level of certification available in the payments industry. Your accounting software should also have strong credentials. Look for certifications like SOC 2, which verifies that the company has effective systems in place to protect your data. These certifications aren't just fancy badges; they are assurances that the platforms you rely on are committed to security. This extends to tax compliance, too, as many integrations can help you manage tax documents and automate calculations.

How to Solve Common Technical Issues

Even with the best tools, you might occasionally hit a snag. The most common integration issues are often related to data mapping—for example, sales tax being recorded in the wrong account or transactions not syncing. The first place to check is your integration’s dashboard, which usually has an error log that can point you in the right direction. Sometimes, simply disconnecting and reconnecting the integration can resolve the issue. If you’re dealing with more complex problems, especially around revenue recognition or fee allocation, it might be a sign that a basic connector isn’t enough. A more robust integration platform can often prevent these issues from happening at all.

Find the Right Support Resources

When you can’t solve a problem on your own, knowing where to find help is key. Start with the official support channels. Both your accounting software and Stripe offer extensive knowledge bases and help guides. Stripe’s developer documentation, for instance, is incredibly detailed and useful even if you aren't a developer. If you’re using a third-party application to connect your systems, their support team should be your go-to resource. For tailored advice on complex setups or revenue recognition challenges, don’t hesitate to schedule a demo with a specialist who can walk you through the best practices for your specific business needs.

Keep Up with Platform Updates

The software you use is constantly being improved. Stripe and your accounting platform regularly release updates to introduce new features, enhance security, and fix bugs. It’s important to stay informed about these changes. A quick scan of the platform’s blog or release notes can keep you in the loop. Sometimes, an update might require you to re-authenticate your integration or adjust a setting. Staying current ensures your integration continues to function smoothly and securely. It also allows you to take advantage of new capabilities that could further streamline your financial workflow.

Create a Data Backup Strategy

While your data is secure in the cloud, having your own backup strategy provides the ultimate peace of mind. Think of it as your personal insurance policy. Most accounting platforms allow you to export key financial reports, such as your general ledger, profit and loss statement, and balance sheet. Get into the habit of doing this on a regular basis—monthly is a good starting point. Download these files and store them in a separate, secure location, like an encrypted external drive or a secure cloud storage folder. It’s a simple step that ensures you always have a copy of your essential financial data under your control.

Related Articles

HubiFi CTA Button

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm just starting out. Is a free accounting software option really enough? Free tools like Wave or ZipBooks are fantastic for getting your business off the ground. They cover the essentials and allow you to accept payments and track basic income and expenses without a monthly fee. However, as your business grows, you'll likely find you need more robust features. Paid platforms typically offer better reporting, scalability for higher transaction volumes, and advanced tools like inventory management or multi-currency support that become critical as you expand.

My business uses a subscription model. Will any integration work for me? This is a crucial point. While most integrations can sync a simple sale, subscription businesses have more complex needs due to revenue recognition standards like ASC 606. You have to recognize revenue as you earn it, not just when the customer pays. A basic integration often can't handle this, which can lead to inaccurate financial statements and compliance issues. For subscriptions or any business with complex contracts, you need a solution built specifically for automated revenue recognition to ensure your books are always accurate and audit-ready.

What's the most common mistake people make when setting up their integration? The biggest misstep is rushing through the setup and failing to map the data correctly. It’s essential to tell your systems exactly where every piece of information from Stripe should go in your accounting software. This means correctly assigning sales, refunds, sales tax, and processing fees to the right accounts in your chart of accounts. If you skip this step, you risk creating a digital mess that requires hours of manual cleanup later, which defeats the whole purpose of automating.

If I automate my Stripe accounting, does that mean I don't need a bookkeeper anymore? Not at all. Automating your accounting doesn't replace the need for a financial professional; it makes them more valuable. The integration handles the tedious, time-consuming data entry, freeing up your bookkeeper or accountant to focus on higher-level work. They can spend their time on financial analysis, strategic planning, cash flow forecasting, and ensuring your business stays compliant. The technology handles the "what," while the human expert helps you understand the "why" and "what's next."

Beyond the software subscription, what other costs should I be aware of? It's smart to look at the complete picture. First, remember that Stripe charges its own processing fees on every transaction, which is separate from your software costs. Some accounting platforms require a third-party app to connect with Stripe, which may have its own monthly fee. Finally, be sure to check for any potential extra charges for things like adding more users, accessing premium support, or one-time setup fees. A transparent company will be upfront about these costs so you can understand the total investment.

Jason Berwanger

Former Root, EVP of Finance/Data at multiple FinTech startups

Jason Kyle Berwanger: An accomplished two-time entrepreneur, polyglot in finance, data & tech with 15 years of expertise. Builder, practitioner, leader—pioneering multiple ERP implementations and data solutions. Catalyst behind a 6% gross margin improvement with a sub-90-day IPO at Root insurance, powered by his vision & platform. Having held virtually every role from accountant to finance systems to finance exec, he brings a rare and noteworthy perspective in rethinking the finance tooling landscape.