Accounting software for sole traders and freelancers
Spend less of your day piecing records together. Keep customer invoices, business purchases and bank activity in one place, starting with Accounting Free.
From your first quote to the money received
For a freelancer, consultant or independent tradesperson, a simple sales workflow can make the end of the month easier. Create a quote for the agreed work, prepare an invoice and follow the customer's payment against the same records. Keep descriptions and dates clear so both you and the customer can see what the invoice covers.
When the deposit reaches your business bank account, import and review the transaction in reconciliation. Match it to the existing invoice where appropriate instead of recording the payment as a second sale. Outstanding invoices remain useful work to follow up, while completed payments become part of the accounting picture.
Keep purchases and GST ready for review
Record supplier bills and everyday business costs as you go. Good source records are more useful than reconstructing a quarter from bank descriptions alone. Check the account and GST treatment when recording a purchase, and keep business records separate from personal spending. Your adviser can help decide whether a cost belongs in the business and how it should be treated.
If your business is registered for GST, Ledra's GST tracking and BAS preparation help bring the relevant transactions together for review. They do not replace registration advice, tax advice or the separate lodgement process. Agree the start date and opening balances before moving from an existing system so periods are neither omitted nor recorded twice.
Choose only the modules you need
Accounting Free gives a low-cost starting point for everyday records. The current inclusions and capacity shown below are read from the live plan catalogue. Additional reporting, recurring workflows or project capacity may require another accounting plan; compare the actual features rather than assuming that every demonstration feature is included in the free subscription.
Being a sole trader does not automatically mean you need payroll for your own drawings. Seek advice on your business structure and obligations. If you employ someone, review Payroll Free or a paid payroll plan separately. A payroll subscription does not automatically grant accounting access. Explore the Sales and Accounting samples first, then choose the plan that matches the work you will actually do.
A consultant keeps sales and expenses together
A sole trader agrees the work with a quote, converts it to an invoice and records travel or software bills with their supporting documents. When payment arrives, it is matched to the invoice. A GST-registered business can then review the period using the reporting basis chosen in accounting settings.
Accounting Free: current inclusions
Simple accounting tools to help growing businesses stay organised and in control — forever free.
$0/month. Free forever.
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited invoices and quotes
- Unlimited purchase orders and bills
- Fast online invoice payments
- Smart bank reconciliation
- GST tracking and BAS preparation
- BAS and reconciliation reports
- Performance dashboard
- Mobile access
- Hassle-free onboarding
- Inventory management - up to 5 items
- Fixed assets - up to 2 active assets
- Company backup and recovery
Accounting and Payroll are separate plan choices. A demonstration can show features outside your selected plan. Compare reporting, recurring workflows and capacity before choosing.
Compare current plans and limitsCommon questions
Can a freelancer start on Accounting Free?
Yes. Accounting Free is an ongoing $0 starting point for invoices, bills, bank reconciliation and GST tracking. Compare the current capacity limits and paid features below against the way you work.
Can I work on a cash basis?
Ledra has accounting and GST reporting settings for the company's selected basis. Review these during setup with your bookkeeper or registered adviser; the appropriate basis depends on your business, not on choosing a free or paid subscription.
Do I need a payroll plan for my drawings?
A sole trader's drawings are not automatically an employee pay run. Get advice on your business structure and obligations. Choose a separate payroll plan if you employ people and need payroll records and STP reporting.
Explore the connected workflow
See the seven Ledra modules, find a workflow for your business, or compare current plans.