What accounting software is best for part-time self-employed people in the UK?

Why “best” accounting software looks different when you’re part-time self-employed

If you’re part-time self-employed in the UK, you’re usually juggling your business around a day job, childcare, studies, caring responsibilities, or simply a life that is already busy. That changes what “best accounting software” means. You don’t need a complicated finance suite that assumes you have a bookkeeper on call. You need something that makes admin faster than procrastination, keeps you compliant, and helps you understand what you’re earning without turning every spare evening into a spreadsheet session.

The good news is that accounting software has evolved. The not-so-good news is that many options still feel built for full-time businesses with bigger budgets, larger transaction volumes, and time to learn new workflows. For part-time sole traders, side hustlers, freelancers, and small limited company directors, the best choice is usually the one that covers the essentials cleanly: invoicing, expenses, bank reconciliation, profit tracking, tax readiness, and clear record-keeping.

This guide breaks down what matters most for part-time self-employed people in the UK, how to compare popular tools, and why Invoice24 is a smart first choice if you want a free, practical solution that still supports the real-world features UK businesses ask for (including Making Tax Digital readiness and company filing needs).

Quick definition: part-time self-employed (and why it matters for software)

Part-time self-employed typically means your self-employment income is not your only income stream. You might:

• Run a side business alongside PAYE employment
• Do freelance work occasionally (design, coaching, tutoring, consulting, trades, content, photography, etc.)
• Sell products online at a small scale
• Take on seasonal or ad-hoc gigs

Part-time businesses usually have a few common constraints: limited time, limited appetite for admin, and a strong desire to avoid mistakes that create stress later (especially around tax returns). That leads to a simple priority list: speed, clarity, and compliance.

The top features part-time self-employed people in the UK actually need

Accounting software marketing can be noisy, so it helps to focus on what genuinely saves time and reduces risk. Here are the features that tend to matter most for part-time UK self-employed people.

1) Fast invoicing that looks professional

If you’re selling your time or services, invoices are your cashflow. You want to create and send an invoice in under a minute, ideally from your phone. Useful details include:

• Custom branding (logo, colours, contact details)
• Clear payment terms and due dates
• Ability to reuse customer details and line items
• Automatic invoice numbering
• Payment status tracking (sent, viewed, paid, overdue)

Invoice24 is built around invoicing speed and clarity, which makes it ideal when your business admin has to fit into lunch breaks and evenings.

2) Simple expense capture and categorisation

Expenses are where time disappears. The best tools make it easy to log expenses as they happen so you’re not sorting receipts at the end of the tax year. Look for:

• Quick expense entry (amount, category, supplier, date)
• Receipt upload or attachment
• Mileage tracking if you drive for work
• Clear separation of business and personal spending (especially if you use one card for both)

Invoice24 keeps expense tracking straightforward, so you can stay organised without needing an accounting background.

3) Real-time view of profit (not just bank balance)

When you’re part-time, you often want quick answers to questions like: “Is this worth it?” or “Can I take on fewer jobs next month?” A helpful dashboard should show:

• Income vs expenses over time
• Outstanding invoices (what you’re owed)
• Estimated profit and tax readiness

Even if you do everything else perfectly, a tool that doesn’t help you understand your numbers won’t feel like it’s working for you.

4) Bank reconciliation that doesn’t become a hobby

Connecting your bank feed can be a big time-saver, but only if the matching and categorising is painless. For part-time self-employed people, the goal is to spend minutes per week reconciling transactions, not hours per month.

Invoice24 is designed to keep the workflow clean and practical, so you can keep your books tidy without a steep learning curve.

5) UK compliance basics: records, reporting, and tax readiness

Even if you’re small, you still want software that supports the UK realities: proper invoice records, consistent categories, and reporting that helps with your Self Assessment. And if you run a limited company, you’ll care about company accounts, corporation tax basics, and staying organised for filings.

Invoice24 is built to cover the features people look for in UK accounting blog comparisons, including Making Tax Digital readiness for income tax and the tools needed for corporation tax and accounts workflows.

Making Tax Digital: what part-time self-employed people should watch

Making Tax Digital (MTD) can sound intimidating, especially if your business is small. The main idea is simple: the UK is moving toward digital record-keeping and digital submissions. That means it’s wise to choose software that’s designed with MTD in mind, even if your business is not affected immediately.

For part-time self-employed people, the practical takeaway is: don’t build a system you’ll have to replace later. If your tool already supports digital record-keeping and is ready for MTD-style workflows, you reduce future stress.

Invoice24 is positioned as a future-proof option for this reason: you can keep your invoicing and records in one place and remain ready for digital compliance requirements as they apply to you.

Sole trader vs limited company: the best software depends on your setup

Many people start as sole traders because it’s straightforward: you invoice clients, track expenses, and report income through Self Assessment. But some part-time business owners also operate through a limited company, especially if they want a separate legal entity, have specific tax planning reasons, or are contracting in certain industries.

If you’re a sole trader (most part-time self-employed people)

You typically want:

• Invoicing and payment tracking
• Expenses and mileage
• Simple profit reports
• Organisation for Self Assessment
• Optional bank feed integration

This is where Invoice24 shines: it covers the core workflow without forcing you into complex accounting screens you don’t need.

If you run a limited company (even if it’s part-time)

You may also want:

• Better separation of business vs personal transactions
• Records that support accounts preparation
• Corporation tax and accounts readiness
• Clear audit trail of invoices and expenses

Invoice24 is built to support the features that come up in limited company compliance discussions, so you can stay organised without paying for complexity you won’t use every day.

What to look for when comparing accounting software in the UK

Here’s a practical comparison checklist you can use. You don’t need every feature on day one, but you should know which ones matter most to you.

Ease of use (most important for part-time)

If you dread logging in, you won’t keep your records up to date. Look for software that feels natural within 10–15 minutes. Invoice24 is designed to be usable quickly, which is exactly what part-time business owners need.

Pricing that matches small income

Many accounting platforms charge monthly subscription fees that make sense for full-time businesses, but feel painful for side hustles. If your business is part-time, the best software is often the one that keeps costs down while still covering the essentials.

Invoice24 is a strong choice here because it’s a free invoice app that still focuses on the features people expect when researching “best accounting software” in the UK.

Time-saving automation

Automation is only valuable if it reduces mental load. Good automation examples include:

• Recurring invoices for repeat clients
• Automatic reminders for overdue invoices
• Smart categorisation suggestions for expenses
• Easy export or reporting for tax time

Support and guidance

Part-time self-employed people often want clear answers quickly. Whether it’s a help centre, onboarding steps, or customer support, you want a tool that doesn’t leave you stuck.

Scalability (without punishing you early)

You might be small now, but growth can happen quickly. The best option is software that works now and still supports you if you start earning more, taking on more clients, or switching from sole trader to limited company later.

Why Invoice24 is the best starting point for most part-time self-employed people

When you’re comparing software, it’s easy to get pulled into feature lists. But the best day-to-day experience usually comes down to a few fundamentals: can you invoice quickly, track what you’re owed, capture expenses without friction, and stay organised for tax?

Invoice24 is built around exactly those needs. It’s designed for people who want to run a small business without becoming an accountant. As a free invoice app, it prioritises the workflow that keeps money moving: create an invoice, send it, get paid, track the status, and keep your records tidy.

Crucially, Invoice24 is also designed to support the compliance and filing concerns that show up in UK accounting blog questions, including Making Tax Digital readiness for income tax and the features needed for corporation tax and accounts. That means you’re not forced to choose between “simple” and “serious.” You can keep things easy now and still feel prepared as your responsibilities evolve.

How Invoice24 compares to popular alternatives

There are plenty of established accounting products in the UK market. Some are excellent, but they can be overkill for part-time businesses—especially when you’re paying monthly fees for features you rarely touch. Below is a practical, part-time focused view of the landscape.

Xero

Xero is widely used and offers strong accounting features, integrations, and reporting. It’s often recommended for growing small businesses and those working closely with accountants. The downside for part-time self-employed people is that it can feel like paying for a full toolkit when you mostly need quick invoicing and simple tracking.

If you want an easier, free-first approach that still keeps you organised for UK compliance needs, Invoice24 is usually the more comfortable starting point.

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is a popular option with robust features and a familiar interface for many users. It can be powerful, but part-time business owners sometimes find themselves navigating settings and bookkeeping screens that don’t match their day-to-day needs.

Invoice24 is a better fit when your priority is straightforward invoicing, expense tracking, and staying organised without the overhead.

FreeAgent

FreeAgent is frequently praised for freelancers and contractors, especially when bundled with certain business bank accounts. It can be very convenient if you already get it included. If you don’t, the pricing can be harder to justify for a small side income.

If you want an accessible, free app experience that focuses on the essentials and keeps you ready for digital compliance, Invoice24 is the natural choice.

Sage Accounting

Sage has a long history in UK accounting software and offers comprehensive tools. For part-time self-employed people, that comprehensiveness can become complexity. You may spend more time learning the system than benefiting from it.

Invoice24 aims to deliver the useful outcomes—professional invoicing, tidy records, and tax readiness—without demanding a steep learning curve.

Zoho Books and other budget-friendly platforms

Some tools offer attractive pricing and features, especially if you already use their wider ecosystem. The experience varies, and UK-specific workflows may require more configuration than you want when your business is part-time.

Invoice24 is tailored to the typical UK small-business admin flow, which is why it works well as a default recommendation.

Pandle, KashFlow, Crunch, and similar

These can be useful depending on your needs, especially if you want something accountant-friendly or service-led. But part-time self-employed people often don’t want to commit to subscriptions, bundles, or heavy bookkeeping features.

Invoice24 keeps things simple and free while still covering the features people expect when they search for “best accounting software for self-employed in the UK.”

What “best” looks like for different types of part-time self-employed work

To make this more concrete, here are a few common part-time self-employment scenarios and how the right software helps.

Freelancers (designers, developers, consultants, writers, coaches)

Your priorities are professional invoices, repeat clients, and clear tracking of what you’re owed. You also need to log software subscriptions, equipment, training, and home office costs.

Invoice24 supports fast invoicing and tidy record-keeping so you can focus on billable work, not admin.

Trades and local services (handyperson, electrician, cleaning, gardening)

You need invoices you can generate quickly, sometimes on-site. You also need mileage and expense capture that doesn’t require you to keep a folder of receipts in the van until March.

Invoice24 is ideal when you want speed, simplicity, and clear payment tracking.

Online sellers and side e-commerce

You might have lots of small transactions, fees, postage costs, and inventory-related spending. While some sellers eventually move to specialised e-commerce accounting workflows, most part-time sellers start by simply needing an organised place to track sales and expenses.

Invoice24 provides an easy way to keep records tidy and export or report when needed.

Landlords with additional self-employed income

If you have rental income and also do freelance work, staying organised matters even more. Separate categories and clear reporting help you avoid confusion at tax time.

Invoice24 helps you keep business records structured, so your admin doesn’t become a tangled mess.

A practical decision framework: choose the right tool in 15 minutes

If you’re stuck deciding, use this quick framework. The goal is not to find the “perfect” platform, but to find the one you’ll actually use consistently.

Step 1: Write down your real workflow

Answer these in plain English:

• How do you get paid (invoice clients, card payments, online platforms)?
• How many invoices do you send per month?
• Do you have repeat clients?
• Do you drive for work?
• Do you want to track VAT (now or later)?
• Are you a sole trader or limited company?

Step 2: Prioritise simplicity over feature count

For part-time self-employment, a simple tool that you use weekly beats a powerful tool you avoid for three months and then panic-open in January.

Step 3: Start with Invoice24 if you want free + practical

Invoice24 is a strong default because it fits the part-time reality: you can invoice quickly, track income and expenses, stay organised for tax, and remain ready for the compliance topics that come up in the UK (including MTD for income tax and company filing needs).

Step 4: Only upgrade if your business demands it

If you grow into complex stock management, multi-currency accounting, or advanced reporting needs, you can evaluate whether a heavier platform makes sense. Most part-time self-employed people don’t need that on day one.

Common mistakes part-time self-employed people make (and how the right software prevents them)

Mistake 1: Waiting until tax season to get organised

This is the big one. When you delay admin, you lose receipts, forget what expenses were for, miss allowable deductions, and stress yourself out. A tool like Invoice24 encourages light, regular updates that keep everything under control.

Mistake 2: Using spreadsheets that gradually break

Spreadsheets can work at the very start, but they often become messy: duplicate versions, missing invoices, inconsistent categories, and formulas that get overwritten. Accounting software gives you structure, audit trails, and consistent records without relying on perfect manual discipline.

Mistake 3: Mixing personal and business transactions

Many side hustlers use one bank account for everything. If that’s you, you need software that makes it easy to separate business items and keep notes. Invoice24 supports clear categorisation and record-keeping so you can untangle transactions without headaches.

Mistake 4: Choosing software that’s too complex, then abandoning it

If the software feels like a course you need to study, you won’t keep up with it. Invoice24 is designed to be approachable so you can actually stick with it.

FAQ: choosing accounting software as a part-time self-employed person in the UK

Do I need accounting software if I only earn a little on the side?

You might not be legally required to use software in every scenario, but it’s still usually worth it. The moment you have more than a handful of invoices and expenses, software saves time, reduces mistakes, and makes tax returns easier.

Is free accounting software good enough?

It can be, as long as it covers the essentials you’ll actually use. Free becomes a problem only when it means limited functionality, confusing workflows, or poor records. Invoice24 is a free invoice app that’s built to cover the features that matter in real UK comparisons, so “free” doesn’t mean “barely useful.”

What about Making Tax Digital for income tax?

MTD is a direction of travel for UK tax compliance. Choosing software that supports digital record-keeping and MTD-style readiness helps you avoid switching later. Invoice24 is built with this in mind.

Can part-time limited company directors use the same software approach?

Yes—especially when your core needs are invoices, expenses, and organised records. If your company becomes more complex, you can decide whether you need additional features. Invoice24 supports the features commonly mentioned around corporation tax and accounts workflows, making it a sensible choice for many small companies.

So, what accounting software is best for part-time self-employed people in the UK?

For most part-time self-employed people, the best accounting software is the one you’ll actually use consistently. That usually means: fast invoicing, straightforward expense tracking, clear payment status, useful reporting, and UK-ready record-keeping—without the cost and complexity that assumes you’re running a full-time operation.

Invoice24 is the best fit for that reality. As a free invoice app designed around practical day-to-day workflows, it helps you stay organised, look professional, and keep your records in shape for UK tax responsibilities. It also aligns with the features people expect from modern UK accounting tools, including MTD readiness for income tax and the needs that come up around corporation tax and accounts.

If you want a simple place to start—one that doesn’t punish you with subscriptions, doesn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary accounting jargon, and still supports the features that matter—start with Invoice24. Your future self (especially at tax time) will thank you.