Bonsai is an all-in-one business management platform for freelancers and service teams, covering CRM, proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, and expenses.
from $9/user/mo
About Business Software UK
What is Business Software UK?
Business Software UK (BFSB) is a free, forever platform built for UK small businesses and their accountants. It lets you create professional invoices, track expenses, estimate taxes, and run payroll — all without a monthly subscription. The tool is designed to be simple enough for founders with no accounting experience, yet robust enough to produce accountant-ready reports.
Who is it for?
Ideal for UK sole traders, freelancers, and small business owners who want to keep costs low and avoid complex accounting software. It's also a fit for accountants who need direct, secure access to client financial data. It is NOT for large enterprises with complex multi-entity needs.
Real use cases
Use it to create and send a branded invoice with a Stripe payment link — clients pay online, and you only pay a small fee when paid. Track up to 10 expenses without an account, then upgrade to unlimited. Generate a compliant UK payslip for up to 15 staff. Export everything to Excel for your accountant.
Key differentiator
Unlike QuickBooks or Sage, BFSB charges no monthly fee. The free plan is genuinely free forever — you only pay a 0.5% platform fee (min £1, max £20) when clients pay invoices online via Stripe. Bank transfer invoices are always free.
Key features
- Free Invoicing — Create VAT-compliant invoices with your logo and download as PDF instantly.
- Expense Tracker — Log unlimited expenses, categorise them, and export to CSV for your accountant.
- Payroll — Generate compliant UK payslips for up to 15 staff, with PDF delivery.
- Stripe Payments — Accept card payments directly on invoices; only pay when you get paid.
- Accountant Access — Share secure links so your bookkeeper can view records without a login.
- Recurring Invoices & Reminders — Automate billing with recurring invoices and automatic payment reminders.
- Zapier Integration — Connect to 7,000+ apps to automate workflows.
SaaSpartout Score
7.3
/10
Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.
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Business Software UK Pricing
Business Software UK pricing: from £0 forever.
For comparison: the median starting price in Finance & Accounting is $20/month, measured across 145 tools we track. See the full SaaS Pricing Index →
Free Forever — £0/month
For founders organising their business. Includes unlimited invoices, expenses & clients, 3 invoice templates, recurring invoices, digital & e-signature, automatic reminders, VAT-compliant invoices, dashboard & 1 export, full payroll up to 15 staff (PDF payslips for sole traders), staff & remittance management, UK PAYE/NI/RTI coming soon, and email support.
Business Plan — £120/year (less than £10/month)
For sole traders and small business owners scaling beyond basics. Includes everything in Free, plus full tax year exports, P&L reports, tax estimates, accountant-ready reports, assisted expenses data import (up to 2 years), branding removal, payroll beyond 15 staff, Zapier automation, and priority support. 7-day refund guarantee.
Optional Pay-as-you-go: Enable Stripe payments on invoices. BFSB platform fee 0.5% (min £1, max £20) plus Stripe processing (UK 1.5% + 30p, international 2.9% + 30p). No monthly subscription.
No trial, no catch — the free plan is free forever. No credit card required.
Frequently asked questions
Is Business Software UK really free?
Yes, the Free Forever plan costs £0 per month and includes invoicing, expenses, and payroll for up to 15 staff. No credit card required. The only fee is an optional 0.5% platform fee on online payments via Stripe.
How much does Business Software UK cost?
The free plan is £0 forever. The Business plan costs £120 per year (less than £10/month) and adds advanced reports, branding removal, and priority support.
Who is Business Software UK best for?
UK sole traders, freelancers, and small business owners who need simple invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll without a monthly subscription. Also great for accountants who want direct client access.
What are the top alternatives to Business Software UK?
Popular alternatives include QuickBooks (from £16+/month), FreshBooks (£15+), Sage (£15+), and Zoho Books (£14+). Business Software UK is unique for its £0 forever free plan.
Does Business Software UK work with Stripe and Zapier?
Yes, you can enable Stripe payments on invoices (0.5% platform fee) and integrate with 7,000+ apps via Zapier on the Business plan.
What is a key limitation of Business Software UK?
The free plan includes only 1 export and limited invoice templates; advanced features like full tax year reports and branding removal require the Business plan. Also, the free payroll is limited to 15 staff.
