QuickBooks vs FreshBooks vs Wave: Best Accounting Software for Your Lawn Care Business
For your lawn mowing, leaf blowing, or snow removal business, keeping track of money is crucial. Don't wait until tax time to figure out your finances. QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and Wave are popular accounting tools, but each works best for different types of lawn care and landscaping businesses. Picking the right one now saves you huge headaches later.
READY TO TAKE ACTION?
Use the free LaunchAdvisor checklist to track every step in this guide.
The quick answer for your lawn care business
Choose QuickBooks if your lawn care business is growing fast, has employees, takes on big landscaping projects that need careful costing, or if you plan to hire an accountant. Pick FreshBooks if you mostly do mowing, leaf blowing, or hourly work and need simple invoicing and to see profit per job. Go with Wave if you're just starting, maybe still in school, and need free basic tracking for your first clients and equipment expenses.
Side-by-side breakdown for lawn and landscape businesses
QuickBooks Online is the most complete accounting tool for a growing lawn care company. It handles invoicing for weekly cuts, tracking expenses like gasoline and mower repairs, bank reconciliation, and even payroll for summer helpers. It can track assets like your commercial mower or truck, and most accountants who work with landscapers prefer it. Starts around $30/month.
FreshBooks is built for service businesses like solo lawn care operators or small landscaping crews. Its invoicing for recurring services is very easy to use. It has built-in time tracking for hourly work like weeding or mulching. Its project reports tell you if a specific landscaping job, like building a small patio, was actually profitable. Starts around $17/month.
Wave is free accounting software perfect for very small or new lawn care ventures. It lets you track income from mowing jobs, expenses like fuel and oil, and send basic invoices to clients without a monthly fee. Payroll and payment processing are paid add-ons. It's good for simple money tracking but has fewer features and less help than paid options. It works well if you're just starting with a single push mower and a few clients.
When to choose QuickBooks for lawn care
QuickBooks is the right choice when your lawn care business has complexity that basic tools cannot handle. This means if you have multiple employees, manage a fleet of commercial mowers and trucks, track inventory like fertilizer or pavers, or bid on large landscaping contracts that require detailed job costing. It is also the standard choice if you plan to work with an accountant to handle your business finances, especially for preparing quarterly estimated taxes or year-end reports for a growing operation.
When to choose FreshBooks for landscaping services
FreshBooks wins for solo lawn care operators or small teams focused on service work. If you bill clients for weekly mowing, hourly weeding, or per-project tasks like spring cleanups or snow removal, FreshBooks shines. Its invoicing is simple and professional. You can easily track time spent on a yard and see if that specific mulching job or leaf removal project was actually profitable after paying for gas and labor. It's purpose-built for keeping track of your specific services without extra complexity.
When to choose Wave for a new lawn mowing business
Wave is the perfect starting point for your lawn care business if you're just getting off the ground, maybe earning your first few dollars from neighbors or family. It's free and helps you track income from mowing jobs and expenses like gas for your mower or oil changes. It handles simple invoicing for your first clients. Once you hire your first helper, buy a second commercial mower, or start doing bigger landscaping projects, you'll likely outgrow it and need to move to a paid option.
The verdict for lawn care business accounting
For a big landscaping company with employees and lots of equipment: QuickBooks. For a solo lawn mowing or yard maintenance service that bills by project or hour: FreshBooks. For a brand new, solo, low-budget operation: Wave. Most lawn care businesses will likely want to step up to QuickBooks as they grow beyond just a few clients.
How to get started with your lawn care finances
Start with Wave if you're just cutting lawns on the side or in your first season. Move to QuickBooks or FreshBooks before you hire your first employee for snow removal or summer landscaping. Connect your business bank account, if you have one, or a separate personal account you use just for the business. Track all your gas, equipment, and client payments for one month. This habit will make tax time much easier.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
QuickBooks Online
The industry-standard small business accounting platform
FreshBooks
Invoicing and project profitability for service businesses
Wave
Free double-entry accounting for small businesses
Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use Wave and then switch to QuickBooks?
Yes, but the migration requires exporting data and re-entering or importing into QuickBooks. Do it before your first tax year ends so you have clean records. Many bookkeepers charge a fixed fee to handle the migration.
Do I need a bookkeeper if I use accounting software?
Accounting software records transactions. A bookkeeper reconciles, categorizes, and ensures the records are accurate. For businesses with significant revenue, a part-time bookkeeper saves more than their cost in avoided errors and tax savings.
What is the difference between accounting software and invoicing software?
Invoicing software creates and tracks invoices but does not do double-entry bookkeeping. Accounting software maintains a general ledger, income statement, and balance sheet. You need accounting software, not just invoicing, for tax compliance.
Apply This in Your Checklist