Getting paid shouldn’t be the hardest part of running a service business. The right invoicing tool sends professional invoices, tracks who’s paid and who hasn’t, and handles the tax-time paperwork without you touching a spreadsheet.
We compared three popular options: QuickBooks Solopreneur, FreshBooks, and Wave.
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Where we mention hands-on testing, that reflects our own use of the tool. Everything else is based on researched pricing, features, and publicly available information.
Quick verdict
Wave if you’re just starting out and want software cost at zero until cash flow justifies an upgrade. FreshBooks if you bill a small, defined client list and care most about professional-looking invoices and proposals. QuickBooks Solopreneur if you’re a sole proprietor who wants QuickBooks’ plan for solo businesses (check QuickBooks’ site for current features and price).
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Starting Price | Free Plan? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Solopreneur | See QuickBooks’ site | Check current offer | Sole proprietors who want QuickBooks’ plan for solo businesses |
| FreshBooks | $23/mo (5 clients) | 30-day trial, no free tier | Freelancers who bill a handful of clients and want polished invoices |
| Wave | Free (Starter) | Yes — real free tier | Budget-conscious solo businesses comfortable with manual bank imports |
QuickBooks Solopreneur
QuickBooks Solopreneur is QuickBooks’ plan for sole proprietors and independent contractors. QuickBooks’ main pricing page doesn’t list its current price or features, so check QuickBooks’ site for the details before you decide.
Best fit: sole proprietors who already know they want QuickBooks and a plan built for a one-person business.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is built around invoicing first, accounting second, which shows in how polished its invoices and client-facing tools are.
Four tiers: Lite at $23/month (5 billable clients), Plus at $43/month (50 clients, adds proposals, retainers, and accountant access), Premium at $70/month (unlimited clients, project profitability tracking), and a custom-priced Select tier for high-volume billing. Every plan includes one user; additional team members are $11/month each. FreshBooks Payments charges 2.9% + 30¢ per card transaction and 1% for ACH bank transfers.
Best fit: consultants and coaches who bill a small, defined client list and want invoices and proposals that look genuinely professional.
Wave
Wave is the rare tool on this list with a real free tier. The Starter plan includes unlimited invoices, estimates, and bookkeeping records at no cost, though bank transactions have to be imported manually rather than syncing automatically.
The Pro plan runs $19/month (or $190/year) and adds automatic bank transaction imports, receipt scanning, automated late-payment reminders, and discounted card processing on your first 10 transactions each month. Wave lists live chat and email support on weekdays, but on the free Starter plan it comes only with an optional add-on. Card fees start at 2.9% + 60¢ on Starter, dropping to 2.9% + $0 for your first 10 monthly transactions on Pro.
Best fit: businesses just starting out who want to keep software costs at zero until cash flow justifies the upgrade.
Our Recommendation
Not ready to spend anything on software yet? Start with Wave’s free Starter plan and upgrade only once manual bank imports start costing you more time than the $19/month is worth. Care most about how your invoices and client-facing documents look? FreshBooks is built around that. Already leaning toward QuickBooks as a sole proprietor? Look at QuickBooks Solopreneur on QuickBooks’ site.
FAQ
Do I need a separate invoicing tool if my CRM already has one?
Maybe not. CRMs like HoneyBook and Dubsado (see our CRM comparison) include invoicing built in. A dedicated tool like the ones above makes more sense if you want deeper accounting or tax features than your CRM offers.
Do I need double-entry accounting as a solo business owner?
Not necessarily. Double-entry accounting matters more once you have a bookkeeper or accountant reconciling your books regularly. A solo consultant with straightforward income and expenses can often get by without it.
What’s the real cost once I factor in payment processing fees?
All three charge separate card processing fees (roughly 2.9% + a small flat fee per transaction) on top of any subscription. If you invoice a lot in small amounts, ACH/bank transfer options usually cost less than card payments.
Pricing reflects publicly listed rates as of publication and may change — check each provider’s site for current pricing before subscribing.
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