Patriot

General Overview

Patriot Accounting, developed by Patriot Software, Inc., a U.S.-based company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Canton, Ohio, is a cloud-based accounting platform designed for small businesses and nonprofits with straightforward financial needs.

Unlike comprehensive ERP solutions like Oracle NetSuite or hybrid models like Sage 50cloud, Patriot focuses on simplicity and affordability, targeting business owners who may not have accounting expertise. It offers core accounting features such as invoicing, expense tracking, bill payments, and basic reporting, with seamless integration with Patriot’s payroll software for businesses needing both.

Serving thousands of U.S.-based small businesses as of 2025, Patriot is particularly popular among service-based industries like consulting, landscaping, and retail due to its low cost and ease of use. While it lacks advanced features like inventory management or multi-currency support, its budget-friendly pricing and unlimited users make it an attractive option for startups and microbusinesses looking to manage finances without complexity.

Pros and Cons

Usability and Setup

Patriot Accounting is designed for ease of use, catering to small business owners without accounting backgrounds. Setup is quick and guided, starting with a 30-day free trial that requires basic business details like company name and email address. A setup wizard walks users through creating a chart of accounts, connecting bank accounts via Plaid, and adding customers or vendors, typically taking under 30 minutes.

The interface is clean and spacious, using a vertical toolbar for navigation, though the shared toolbar with Patriot’s payroll software can cause minor confusion. The dashboard provides links to tasks and displays account balances and recent invoices, but it lacks the graphical insights of competitors like Zoho Books. Patriot simplifies accounting terminology by asking users to “increase” or “decrease” accounts instead of using debits and credits, enhancing accessibility. While the platform is mobile-friendly on iOS and Android browsers, the lack of a dedicated app means tasks like report viewing can be cumbersome on smaller screens.

Overall, setup and usability are strong for beginners, though the experience is less polished than Xero’s modern design.

Pricing and Plans

Patriot Accounting offers two straightforward pricing plans, both with unlimited users and no hidden fees. As of April 2025, the plans are:

• Additional Costs: No setup fees or per-user charges. Optional add-ons include Patriot Payroll ($10-$30/month plus $4 per employee) and 1099 e-filing services (costs vary).

• Trial and Discounts: A 30-day free trial and a demo account are available, with occasional discounts for annual billing (e.g., 10% off).

Patriot’s pricing is highly competitive, undercutting FreshBooks ($19-$60/month) and Sage 50cloud ($62.50-$149.08/month), though the Basic plan’s limitations may push users to the Premium plan for essential features like bank reconciliation.

Main Features and Integrations

Patriot Accounting provides a focused set of features for basic financial management, prioritizing simplicity over complexity. Here’s an in-depth look at its capabilities:

• Invoicing: Users can create unlimited invoices with customizable fields for products, services, and sales tax rates. Premium plan users can send recurring invoices, convert estimates to invoices, and set automated payment reminders for past-due accounts. Invoices integrate with CardConnect for credit card payments (fees apply).

• Expense Tracking: Patriot allows users to track expenses by connecting bank accounts for automatic transaction imports or manually entering data. Documents and receipts can be uploaded and attached to transactions, securely stored in the cloud for tax compliance.

• Bill Payments: The platform supports unlimited vendor payments via check or bank transfer, with options to print checks directly. Premium users can manage unpaid bills more effectively with detailed vendor reports.

• Bank Reconciliation: Available only in the Premium plan, this feature imports transactions via Plaid (up to 5 accounts for Basic, 10 for Premium) and matches them to records, ensuring accurate bookkeeping. Users praise its near real-time tracking with banks like Chase.

• Financial Reporting: Patriot offers essential reports, including profit and loss, balance sheets, accounts receivable aging, and unpaid invoice summaries. Reports are customizable by timeframe or customer, but they lack the depth of Sage 50cloud’s 100+ reports or NetSuite’s advanced analytics.

• Chart of Accounts: Users can set up and manage asset, liability, equity, income, and expense accounts, with filtering by department or account type for better organization.

• Tax Support: Patriot calculates sales tax based on state laws and generates 1099/1096 forms (with optional e-filing), but it doesn’t support quarterly tax estimates or complex tax filings, requiring an accountant for full compliance.

• Security: The platform uses bank-level encryption, secure cloud storage, and user permissions to protect data, with regular backups to ensure reliability.

Integrations

Patriot’s integrations are limited compared to Xero’s 1,000+ or QuickBooks Online’s 750+ apps, but they cover essential needs:

• Banking: Plaid for connecting bank accounts (e.g., Chase, Citibank) and importing transactions.

• Payments: CardConnect for credit card processing.

• Payroll: Patriot Payroll for seamless payroll integration, though Patriot Accounting doesn’t sync with QuickBooks Online like Patriot Payroll does.

A detailed plan comparison highlights the feature set across Patriot’s plans:

Support Options

Patriot Accounting provides strong, U.S.-based customer support, a key differentiator for small businesses. All plans include free phone, live chat, and email support, available Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM ET. Users consistently praise the support team’s responsiveness and bookkeeping expertise, earning a 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot based on over 5,000 reviews as of 2025.

The help center offers articles, FAQs, and video tutorials, with additional training resources like webinars and setup guides. A demo account allows prospective users to explore features before signing up. While support hours are limited compared to Xero’s 24/7 online assistance, the quality and accessibility make it reliable for most users, though businesses needing round-the-clock help may find it restrictive.

Conclusion

Patriot Accounting is a solid choice for small businesses, nonprofits, and freelancers seeking an affordable, user-friendly accounting solution without the complexity of larger platforms. Its $20-$30/month pricing, unlimited users, and intuitive interface make it ideal for service-based businesses like consultants or landscapers who need basic invoicing, expense tracking, and bill payments.

Integration with Patriot Payroll adds value for those managing employees, and its U.S.-based support is a standout for quick, reliable assistance. However, the lack of advanced features like inventory management, multi-currency support, or robust reporting limits its suitability for growing or product-based businesses, who may prefer Sage 50cloud or NetSuite.

The absence of a mobile app and limited integrations also hinder its flexibility compared to Xero or Zoho Books. For startups or microbusinesses prioritizing cost and simplicity over scalability, Patriot Accounting delivers excellent value, making it a worthy addition to your comparison website for users with basic accounting needs.