Striven

General overview

As of 2025, with over 8,600 organizations using the platform, Striven appeals to businesses seeking an integrated accounting solution that supports real-time financial visibility and automation.

Unlike specialized accounting tools like QuickBooks Online or Xero, Striven’s accounting features are embedded within a broader ERP framework, making it ideal for businesses that need financial management alongside operational insights, though it may require adaptation for users focused solely on accounting.

Pros and Cons

Striven’s accounting module offers significant advantages for businesses needing integrated financial tools, but its ERP context introduces some limitations. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Usability and Setup

Striven’s accounting module is accessible within its cloud-based ERP platform, requiring a thoughtful setup process to maximize its financial management potential. The setup begins with a 7-day free trial, initiated by providing basic business details (e.g., company name, industry) on the Striven website.

Users then configure the accounting module, which involves setting up a chart of accounts, connecting bank accounts via supported methods (e.g., ACH), and customizing invoice templates—typically taking a few hours for small businesses or up to a day for more complex setups.

The dashboard, a customizable hub, allows users to prioritize accounting widgets like financial summaries or unpaid invoices, though navigating between accounting tabs and other ERP features (e.g., CRM) can be initially confusing due to overlapping icons and tabs.

As noted in May 2025 hands-on reviews. In-app tutorials, videos, and a resource navigator guide users through tasks like bank reconciliation and report generation, but the lack of a mobile app limits on-the-go accounting management, relying on responsive web design optimized for Chrome, Safari, and Edge. This setup suits businesses comfortable with ERP systems, though it may challenge those transitioning from standalone accounting tools.

Pricing and Plans

Striven’s pricing is structured around a per-user model, reflecting its ERP focus with accounting as a core component. As of June 2025, the plans are:

• Additional Costs: Each additional user costs $25/month, and premium support plans may add fees. No setup costs are listed, but implementation assistance might vary.

• Trial: A 7-day free trial offers full access to accounting features, with no extended demo publicly detailed.

• Discounts: No specific discounts are advertised, though annual billing or bulk user negotiations might be available based on user feedback.

Striven’s pricing is competitive for an ERP with accounting, starting at $35 per user compared to QuickBooks Online’s $35-$235/month or Xero’s $15-$78/month. However, the per-user fee can escalate for larger teams, contrasting with unlimited-user options like Zoho Books’ free tier.

Main Features and Integrations

Striven’s accounting module is a cornerstone of its ERP system, offering a suite of financial management tools designed to drive smarter business decisions. Here’s an in-depth exploration of its capabilities:

• General Ledger (GL): Striven maintains a dynamic general ledger that tracks revenues, expenses, and budgets with double-entry accounting, compliant with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Users can create custom accounts and categories, ensuring flexibility for diverse financial structures, though it lacks the advanced analytics of NetSuite’s ledger.

• Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR): The AP module manages bills and vendor payments, tracking outstanding debts and due dates with options for ACH, check, or credit card payments via integrations like Authorize.net. The AR module handles invoicing with customizable templates, automated recurring invoices, and payment reminders, plus self-service customer portals for viewing and paying bills. However, manual entry is sometimes required for complex vendor terms, unlike Xero’s smarter matching.

• Bank Reconciliation: Striven supports bank reconciliation by importing transactions from supported accounts (e.g., via ACH), allowing users to manually match them to records. The process separates checks/payments and deposits into columns, but lacks automated matching suggestions, making it more time-consuming than QuickBooks Online’s AI-driven reconciliation, though still effective for small to mid-sized businesses.

• Invoicing and Billing: Users can design professional invoices with logos and brand colors, schedule recurring invoices, and send automated payment reminders. The customer portal enhances client interaction by allowing bill viewing and payments, a feature praised for reducing follow-ups, though initial setup requires detailed configuration.

• Expense Management: Expense tracking integrates with bank feeds for automatic imports or manual entry with receipt uploads, linking expenses to projects or departments for real-time financial oversight. While not as advanced as QuickBooks Online’s AI categorization, it provides sufficient detail for mid-year reviews or tax preparation.

• Financial Reporting: Striven generates detailed reports, including income statements, balance sheets, profit-and-loss (P&L), and cash flow statements, with seven customizable categories. Reports can be exported in CSV, XLSX, or PDF formats, and some include API support for custom integrations. Users note the reporting is comprehensive but not standout compared to Sage 50cloud’s 100+ reports, with enhanced options in the Enterprise plan.

• Budgeting and Forecasting: The platform includes tools to set budgets and forecast future financial performance based on historical data, aiding mid-year adjustments and year-end planning. While not as AI-driven as QuickBooks Online’s Intuit Assist, it offers practical insights for cash flow management.

• Tax Compliance: Striven automates tax calculations based on varying rates, prepares tax filings, and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. It adjusts for tax exemptions and provides tax reports, though it lacks direct e-filing capabilities, requiring integration with tax software for full submission.

• Multi-Currency Support: Supports transactions in multiple currencies with automated conversions and consolidations, making it suitable for businesses with international vendors or clients, a feature less common in simpler tools like Patriot Accounting.

• Security: Utilizes bank-level encryption and role-based permissions to protect financial data, with regular updates to meet 2025 security standards, ensuring safe handling of sensitive accounting information.

Integrations

Striven’s accounting integrations are limited but functional, including:

• Payment Processors: Authorize.net, Stripe, and Square for online payments.

• Banking: Yodlee for bank feed imports (e.g., ACH-supported accounts).

• Productivity: Google Calendar and Microsoft Calendar for scheduling financial tasks.

• Tax Software: Limited direct tax integration, suggesting compatibility with tools like TurboTax or Tax1099 for e-filing.

With fewer than 10 integrations, Striven relies on its native accounting tools, contrasting with Xero’s 1,000+ or QuickBooks Online’s 750+ options. A plan comparison highlights accounting scalability:

Support Options

Striven provides strong support for its accounting module, a key advantage for users. All plans include free phone, live chat, and email support, available Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM EST.

Live chat connects users to real representatives within minutes, with staff lauded for their accounting expertise and willingness to escalate queries, as noted in May 2025 reviews. Support extends to tickets, scheduled screenshares, guides, and instructional videos, with a community discussion board for peer assistance.

Premium support plans offer additional services, though specifics are not public. With a 4.6/5 ease-of-use rating on Capterra based on over 116 reviews as of 2025, users appreciate the support’s responsiveness, though the lack of 24/7 availability may limit global accounting teams. Tutorials aid setup, making support a reliable resource despite the learning curve.

Conclusion

Striven’s accounting module is a robust choice for small to mid-sized businesses seeking an integrated financial management solution within an ERP framework. Its general ledger, AP/AR, invoicing, and multi-currency support cater to businesses with diverse needs, such as professional services or international vendors, while its customizable reporting and tax compliance tools enhance mid-year reviews and planning for 2025.

Priced at $35 per user per month, it offers an affordable ERP alternative to NetSuite, with excellent U.S.-based support to guide users through setup. However, the lack of a mobile app, manual bank reconciliation process, and per-user costs may challenge smaller teams or those needing extensive integrations, where QuickBooks Online or Xero might be more suitable.

For businesses ready to embrace an ERP-driven accounting approach and invest in training, Striven provides significant value.