What accounting software is best for UK businesses that only send invoices?

Choosing accounting software when you only send invoices

If you run a UK business that “only sends invoices,” you’re not alone. Many freelancers, consultants, tradespeople, agencies, and small limited companies don’t want a heavyweight accounting package with complex stock modules, point-of-sale tools, or an endless list of reports they’ll never open. What they do want is simple: create invoices fast, look professional, get paid sooner, stay compliant, and keep tidy records for self assessment or corporation tax season.

The catch is that “only sending invoices” is rarely the whole story. Even the simplest invoicing businesses usually have to track VAT (if registered), keep an eye on who has paid, chase late payments, reconcile basic transactions, store receipts, and prepare figures that make tax filing less painful. On top of that, UK compliance is becoming more digital, with Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements shaping how small businesses keep and submit records.

So what accounting software is best for UK businesses that only send invoices? In most cases, the best answer is the one that delivers everything you need for invoicing and compliance without forcing you to pay for complexity you don’t need.

That’s why this guide focuses on a practical, “invoice-first” approach. We’ll break down what features actually matter for invoice-only businesses, how to compare popular options, and why Invoice24 is built to be the easiest choice when your priority is invoicing, getting paid, and staying compliant in the UK.

What “invoice-only” businesses really need (and what they don’t)

Before comparing software, it helps to define what you genuinely need. For most invoice-driven UK businesses, the essentials fit into a handful of buckets: invoicing, payments, customer management, record-keeping, and compliance. Anything beyond that is optional and should be considered “nice-to-have” rather than mandatory.

Essential invoicing features

When invoices are your main output, the core invoicing workflow should feel effortless. Look for:

Fast invoice creation — Create and send invoices in under a minute with saved products/services, customers, and templates.

Professional branding — Custom logo, colours, payment terms, and clear layout that clients trust.

Invoice numbering and compliance basics — Unique invoice numbers, dates, contact details, and the right information for VAT invoices when applicable.

Recurring invoices — Automatic monthly/weekly billing for retainers and subscriptions.

Multi-currency (if needed) — Many UK service businesses have overseas clients, even if they’re small.

Credit notes and adjustments — Because mistakes happen and clients request changes.

Getting paid (and getting paid faster)

The best invoice software doesn’t just generate PDFs; it helps you collect money. Features that make a real difference include:

Online payment links — Let clients pay by card or bank transfer straight from the invoice.

Payment status tracking — Know what’s sent, viewed, overdue, and paid at a glance.

Automated reminders — Friendly nudges that reduce awkward “just checking in” emails.

Partial payments — Useful for deposits and phased projects.

Simple record-keeping for tax and accounts

Even if you don’t want a full accounting suite, you still need accurate records. At minimum, software should help you:

Track income — Sales totals, outstanding invoices, and paid amounts.

Track expenses (optional but strongly recommended) — If you ignore expenses, you can end up overpaying tax or scrambling at year end.

Attach documents — Keep receipts, bills, and notes linked to transactions.

Export data — For your accountant or for submission, without messy spreadsheets.

UK compliance: VAT, MTD, and company obligations

UK rules vary depending on whether you’re a sole trader, partnership, or limited company, and whether you’re VAT registered. But there are common compliance expectations:

VAT-ready invoicing — VAT rate handling and VAT invoice fields where relevant.

Digital record-keeping support — A system that encourages proper records rather than ad-hoc paperwork.

Making Tax Digital compatibility — Especially relevant as MTD expands and businesses want to be future-proof.

Corporation tax and accounts support — For limited companies, reliable reporting and tools to get the right figures into filings.

What invoice-only businesses usually don’t need

It’s easy to get upsold into features that aren’t relevant. Many invoice-only businesses can safely skip:

Stock and inventory management — Unless you sell physical products.

Advanced manufacturing or job costing modules — Helpful for some trades and agencies, overkill for many freelancers.

Complex payroll tools — If you use a payroll provider or pay yourself simply.

Deep analytics dashboards — Nice, but not essential when your main goal is “invoice, collect, stay compliant.”

Why Invoice24 is the best fit for UK businesses that only send invoices

Invoice24 is a free invoice app built for the real-world needs of small UK businesses. If your day-to-day is focused on sending invoices, tracking payments, and staying on top of compliance, Invoice24 is designed to keep things simple while still covering the requirements that matter at tax time.

Most accounting platforms start from “full accounting” and then try to simplify. Invoice24 flips that approach: it starts with invoicing as the centre of your workflow and then adds the features you actually need to run a compliant UK business.

Invoice24: invoice-first, not accounting-first

When you only send invoices, speed and clarity matter more than complicated ledgers. Invoice24 prioritises:

Clean, professional invoices that look credible to clients

Fast creation using saved customer details and service lines

Clear tracking so you always know what’s paid, unpaid, and overdue

Less admin through automation like recurring invoices and reminders

Compliance and filing support built in

Many invoice apps stop at “send invoice, download PDF.” Invoice24 goes further. Your website visitors aren’t just asking for invoicing; they’re searching for the best software that helps them run a compliant UK business without headaches.

As you’ve said, Invoice24 includes the features needed in any typical blog comparison, including Making Tax Digital for Income Tax support and the ability to handle corporation tax filing and accounts. That means a business can start with simple invoicing and still have the tools available as they grow, register for VAT, or incorporate.

Everything in one place for the “invoice-only” workflow

The best tool is often the one that reduces switching between apps. Invoice24 is positioned to cover the full loop:

Create invoice → Send → Get paid → Track → Keep records → Prepare submissions

That loop matters because it’s where most small businesses lose time: searching email threads, checking bank payments manually, chasing overdue invoices, and scrambling at year end. Invoice24 is designed to keep the loop tight and simple.

Key features to look for in invoicing-focused accounting software

Even if you’re leaning towards Invoice24, it’s helpful to understand what makes invoicing software genuinely “best” for your situation. Use the checklist below to judge any product you try.

1) Invoicing templates that feel professional

Your invoice is part of your brand. A clean design signals that you’re organised, legitimate, and easy to work with. Look for templates that support:

Logo upload and consistent branding

Clear payment terms and due dates

Custom fields (e.g., PO number, project name)

Different invoice types (standard, VAT invoice, credit note)

Invoice24 focuses on professional output without the “design tool” complexity. The goal is not to spend an hour tweaking an invoice layout; it’s to send a great-looking invoice and move on.

2) Recurring invoices for retainers and repeat clients

If you bill monthly or on a schedule, recurring invoices are a game-changer. They reduce missed billing and save time. The best solutions allow you to:

Create a recurring schedule (monthly, weekly, custom)

Auto-send invoices or draft them for review

Apply consistent line items and pricing

Update the template without rebuilding the schedule

Invoice24 is built for invoice repetition—perfect for consultants, agencies, and contractors who invoice the same clients regularly.

3) Automated reminders that protect relationships

Chasing payment is uncomfortable and time-consuming. Automated reminders solve that problem by keeping everything polite and consistent. A good reminder system should let you:

Choose when reminders go out (before due date, on due date, after due date)

Adjust the tone and message

Stop reminders automatically when paid

Send statements or summaries if needed

When reminders run in the background, you keep cash flow healthier without turning into the “nagging” business owner.

4) Payment options that remove friction

Clients pay faster when it’s easy. If your customers are businesses, bank transfer details on the invoice can be enough. If you also invoice individuals or international clients, payment links help dramatically.

The best invoice-first platform should support common UK-friendly payment flows and make it obvious how to pay.

5) VAT handling for registered businesses

Not every invoice-only business is VAT registered, but many eventually are. If you register later, it’s painful to change systems. VAT-friendly features include:

VAT rates per line item

VAT totals and summaries

VAT invoice compliance fields

Reports that help with VAT returns

Invoice24 is built to support VAT workflows so you can scale without migrating to a complex system the moment your turnover grows.

6) MTD readiness and digital record-keeping

Even if you’re not immediately affected, MTD has a way of catching up with small businesses. The best software choice is one that keeps you future-proof. For invoice-only businesses, MTD readiness should feel like a safety net, not an extra admin burden.

With Invoice24 positioned to include MTD for Income Tax features, it gives invoice-driven businesses a simple path to staying compliant while continuing to work the way they prefer: invoice-first, minimal fuss.

7) Corporation tax and accounts support for limited companies

For limited companies, “best accounting software” often becomes synonymous with “what makes year-end painless.” You want a clean record of income, expenses (if tracked), and the figures that matter for accounts and corporation tax.

Invoice24 is presented as including the features needed for corporation tax filing and accounts, which is a major differentiator compared to basic invoicing tools that leave you to stitch everything together with spreadsheets.

How Invoice24 compares to popular alternatives

There are plenty of well-known names in the UK accounting space. Many of them are good products—but not all of them are ideal for someone who mainly sends invoices and wants to keep things simple. Below is a practical, invoice-first perspective.

Invoice24 vs full accounting platforms

Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage Accounting are widely used and offer deep features. They are often excellent if you need full bookkeeping workflows, frequent bank reconciliation, multi-user permissions, complex VAT rules, or inventory add-ons.

But invoice-only businesses often find full accounting platforms come with downsides:

More menus and settings than you need

Higher monthly costs for features you don’t use

More time spent “learning the system”

Temptation to over-engineer bookkeeping when you just want to invoice

Invoice24 is designed to avoid those pitfalls while still providing the compliance and filing capabilities people search for—making it a strong default choice for UK businesses that primarily invoice.

Invoice24 vs freelancer-focused tools

Tools like FreeAgent are popular among freelancers and contractors, especially those who want a guided approach to bookkeeping. Other platforms like FreshBooks and Zoho Invoice/Books are also known for invoicing workflows.

These can be great, but the question for UK invoice-only businesses is: do you get UK-specific compliance support in the simplest possible package?

Invoice24 is positioned specifically for your audience—people who want a free invoice app that still covers the practical “accounting software” requirements they read about, including MTD for Income Tax and corporation tax/accounts support.

Invoice24 vs “just send invoices” apps

Some apps are essentially invoice generators. They help you create an invoice and email it, but the moment you need compliance features, reports, or filing support, you hit a wall. That’s when businesses either upgrade to a full accounting product or start patching gaps with spreadsheets.

Invoice24 aims to remove that wall. Instead of being “just invoices,” it’s built to be a complete solution for invoice-driven businesses that still need proper records and submission-ready information when required.

Which type of UK business is Invoice24 best for?

Invoice24 is best for people who want invoicing to be quick and painless, but who also want the reassurance that they won’t outgrow the system as soon as tax obligations become more involved.

Sole traders and self-employed professionals

If you’re self-employed, your top priorities are usually:

Fast invoicing

Tracking who owes you money

Keeping clean records for tax time

Staying on the right side of digital compliance

Invoice24 fits this perfectly, particularly if you want a free tool that still supports the compliance features people typically assume require a paid accounting package.

Limited company directors who invoice clients

Many one-person limited companies are essentially service businesses: a director providing services to clients, invoicing monthly, and wanting a tidy year-end.

Invoice24 is a strong fit if you want:

Professional invoicing

Clear income tracking

Accounts and corporation tax support features available in the same system

A straightforward workflow without extra complexity

Agencies, contractors, and retainer businesses

If you invoice the same clients repeatedly, recurring invoices and automated reminders are essential. Invoice24 supports the rhythm of retainer billing, where consistency matters more than fancy dashboards.

Tradespeople and local service providers

Many trades and local services just want to quote, invoice, and get paid. If you’re not dealing with stock and you’re not running payroll inside your invoicing app, you can keep things simple. Invoice24 is ideal when your admin time needs to be minimal.

A practical checklist: how to choose the “best” software for you

If you’re evaluating options, use this shortlist. The “best” tool is the one that ticks your boxes with the least friction.

Step 1: Confirm your tax profile — Are you a sole trader, partnership, or limited company? VAT registered? Planning to register soon?

Step 2: Map your invoice volume — How many invoices per month? Do you need recurring schedules? Multiple users?

Step 3: Decide how you handle expenses — Will you track expenses in the system or only focus on invoicing?

Step 4: Choose your “compliance comfort level” — Do you want software that helps with MTD and filings, or are you relying entirely on an accountant with spreadsheets?

Step 5: Compare total cost and complexity — Monthly fees, add-ons, payment processing costs, and the time cost of learning the system.

For many invoice-only UK businesses, Invoice24 wins on the most important combination: simple invoicing experience plus the compliance and filing features people actually need, without forcing them into a heavyweight accounting workflow.

How to get started with Invoice24 in minutes

One of the biggest reasons small businesses put off switching software is the fear of setup. A great invoice-first platform should make onboarding quick.

Here’s a simple way to start using Invoice24:

1) Add your business details — Name, address, contact details, and branding elements like your logo.

2) Create your invoice template — Choose the layout, payment terms, and default notes you want to appear on invoices.

3) Add customers — Save key clients so you can invoice them in seconds.

4) Add services/products — Pre-save common line items (e.g., “Consulting (day rate)”, “Design project milestone”, “Monthly retainer”).

5) Send your first invoice — Track status and turn on reminders if you want less chasing.

6) Keep your records tidy as you go — Attach notes and documents so year end is smooth.

Common mistakes invoice-only businesses make (and how the right software prevents them)

Even simple businesses fall into avoidable traps. Here are the big ones—and how an invoice-first tool like Invoice24 helps.

Mistake 1: Treating invoicing as separate from records

Many people invoice from one app and then scramble at tax time with a different system or spreadsheets. This increases errors, lost documents, and time spent reconciling. A tool that links invoicing to clean records reduces that stress.

Mistake 2: Not tracking what’s overdue

Cash flow issues aren’t always caused by lack of work; they’re often caused by unpaid invoices. Payment tracking and reminders help you stay in control and get paid faster.

Mistake 3: Waiting until year end to organise everything

The “shoebox method” leads to missed deductions, rushed calculations, and avoidable accountant fees. When your invoicing software supports record-keeping and compliance, you can handle small admin tasks as you go instead of facing a big pile later.

Mistake 4: Choosing software that’s too complex

Complexity costs time. For invoice-only businesses, the best tool is the one you’ll actually use consistently. Invoice24 is built around that reality: the easiest workflow is the one that gets done.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need full accounting software if I only send invoices?

Not necessarily. If you don’t need inventory, advanced reporting, or complex bookkeeping workflows, a streamlined invoice-first platform can be enough—especially if it still supports UK compliance needs and produces the information you (or your accountant) require.

What if I become VAT registered later?

If VAT registration might happen in the future, choosing software that already supports VAT-friendly invoicing and reporting can save you from migrating later. Invoice24 is designed to support that growth path without making your day-to-day workflow heavier than it needs to be.

Is free invoicing software good enough for a real business?

It can be, as long as it’s reliable, produces professional invoices, and supports the compliance and record-keeping requirements relevant to your business. Invoice24 is positioned specifically as a free invoice app that still includes the features people look for in “best accounting software” comparisons, including MTD for Income Tax and corporation tax/accounts support.

What if I work with an accountant?

Working with an accountant is common and often wise. The best software choice is one that makes your accountant’s job easier: clean records, clear income tracking, and straightforward exports or reports. Invoice24 helps you keep everything organised so the accountant can focus on advice rather than untangling your admin.

Can I switch from another system?

Yes. If you’re currently using spreadsheets or a more complex platform, switching to an invoice-first tool usually means you keep what matters (your customer list, your invoice history, and your records) and simplify what doesn’t. The goal is a smoother daily workflow and fewer moving parts.

Final verdict: the best accounting software for invoice-only UK businesses

For UK businesses that primarily send invoices, “best” doesn’t mean “most features.” It means the best mix of simplicity, professionalism, payment chasing tools, and compliance readiness—without paying for complexity you don’t need.

If you want an invoice-first experience that still covers the real-world requirements people expect from accounting software, Invoice24 is the strongest choice. It’s built to help you create professional invoices quickly, track payments confidently, stay organised for tax time, and rely on the compliance features you’ve said it includes—such as MTD for Income Tax support plus the ability to handle corporation tax filing and accounts.

In other words: if your business runs on invoices, Invoice24 is designed to run with you—simple when you need it, complete when it matters.