FreshBooks

★★★★★ 4.7

The Choice for Client-Based Service Businesses

FreshBooks is built for business owners who are not accountants. It is the premier platform for service-based professionals, agencies, and consultants who need to track time, manage projects, and get paid faster through professional invoicing.

Service-Focused Time Tracking Client Portal Proposal Tool Project Profitability

Best for Freelancers, Creative Agencies, Consultants, and Professional Services.

Decision Indicators

Best ForService Agencies
Billing UXIndustry Leading
Time TrackingNative & Integrated
Client PortalCollaborative
ProposalsBuilt-in Suite
ReportingProject Profitability
PricingPlans from ~$17/mo
Ease of UseExtremely High

Kiree Verdict

FreshBooks is the "Specialist" for service-based businesses. While Xero and QuickBooks are general-purpose accounting tools, FreshBooks is laser-focused on the workflow of a professional who bills for their time and expertise. Its interface is arguably the most user-friendly in the industry, and its integrated proposal-to-payment workflow is unmatched for agencies. If your business is about clients and projects rather than stock and inventory, FreshBooks is your best partner.

Best For

  • • Freelancers & Independent Consultants
  • • Creative & Marketing Agencies
  • • Professional Service Firms (Law, Arch)
  • • Businesses needing simple Time Tracking
  • • Owners who want a stress-free UX

Not Recommended For

  • • Ecommerce Sellers (No deep inventory)
  • • Product-based Retailers
  • • Large Manufacturing Companies
  • • Complex Multi-entity Corporations

Agency Readiness Checker

Determine if FreshBooks' service-first approach is the right fit for your client billing needs.

YES

Service Match

Billing

Elite

Tracking

Built-in

Client Portal

Included

Ease of Use

10/10

Professional Invoicing & Proposals

FreshBooks offers the most professional-looking invoices in the industry. Beyond billing, it includes a built-in proposal and contract suite to help you win more clients.

Create Proposal → Client Accepts & Signs Online

Convert to Invoice → Integrated Payment Link

Automatic Reminders → Real-time Payment Status

Billing Features

  • • Professional Templates
  • • Online Credit Card Payments
  • • Automated Late Fees
  • • Recurring Retainers
  • • Multi-currency Invoicing

Native Time Tracking

No more third-party plugins. Track time directly within FreshBooks on your desktop or mobile, and automatically pull those billable hours onto your invoices.

Time-to-Invoice Flow

1

Track Hours on Projects/Tasks

2

Select Unbilled Hours for Client

3

Auto-Generate Itemized Invoice

Tracking Benefits

  • • Team Time Tracking
  • • Mobile App with Timer
  • • Billable vs Non-billable Tracking
  • • Daily/Weekly/Monthly Views

Professional Client Portal

Give your clients a dedicated space to view proposals, pay invoices, and see project status. This transparency builds trust and gets you paid faster.

Client Experience

Client Views Proposal Online
Client Pays via Credit Card / ACH

Portal Benefits

  • • Centralized Billing History
  • • Commenting on Proposals
  • • Secure Document Sharing
  • • Professional Brand Image

Integrated Project Management

Collaborate with your team and clients on specific projects. Track project profitability in real-time to ensure your agency is staying in the green.

Task Lists

Shared Files

Discussions

Profitability

Recommended Agency Stack

FreshBooks is the client-facing hub that manages your revenue and time.

Creative Agency

Billing: FreshBooks

Payments: Stripe / WePay

Project: Asana Sync

Solo Consultant

Billing: FreshBooks Lite

Banking: Wise Business

Time: Native Tracker

Marketing Firm

Billing: FreshBooks Plus

Expenses: QBO Integration

CRM: HubSpot Sync

Pricing Plans

Lite

~$17 / mo

  • • Up to 5 Clients
  • • Unlimited Invoices
  • • Track Expenses
  • • Mobile App

Plus

~$30 / mo

  • • Up to 50 Clients
  • • Recurring Billing
  • • Double-Entry Accounting
  • • Mobile Receipt Capture

Premium

~$55 / mo

  • • Unlimited Clients
  • • Project Profitability
  • • Custom Email Templates
  • • Automated Late Fees

FreshBooks Limitations

No Inventory

FreshBooks is not for product sellers; it has zero native inventory management.

Client Limits

Pricing is based on the number of clients, which can become expensive for high-volume soloists.

Basic Accounting

While it has double-entry now, it is still not as robust as Xero or QBO for complex audits.

Limited Payroll

Relies heavily on Gusto integration for full-service payroll needs.

FreshBooks vs Others

FreshBooks vs Xero

Xero is a better "all-around" accounting tool. FreshBooks is superior for client-facing work, proposals, and integrated time tracking.

FreshBooks vs Wave

Wave is free and basic. FreshBooks is a premium, paid tool that provides a much more professional experience for growing agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FreshBooks good for solo freelancers?

It is arguably the best tool on the market for solo freelancers who need to look professional and get paid on time.

Can I invite my accountant?

Yes, FreshBooks allows you to invite your accountant for free so they can access your reports and tax data.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes, the FreshBooks mobile app is highly rated and allows you to track time and send invoices on the go.