Top 10 Accounting Software for Architects

Running your architecture firm can feel like 3 extra full-time jobs.

Bookkeeping, billing, budgeting, cash flow, and profit—it’s a lot.

But if you find the right accounting software for your firm, you can streamline these workflows and focus on what you love.

How do you choose the best accounting software for your firm?

The answer is simple: choose tools designed specifically for the size of your architecture firm. By simplifying workflows and getting insights into your finances, you can build a better business.

Even if you are:

• A small firm with 5–100 employees,
• A large firm growing past 100 employees, or
• Just starting out with 1-4 employees

...there’s an accounting solution tailored to your size, goals, and processes.

In this article, we've found the top 10 accounting software options for architects to help you manage money more effectively.

What Is Architecture Accounting Software?

Accounting is just one piece of running a successful architecture firm, but it’s deeply connected to your firm’s finances and operations. The right software gets these functions working together seamlessly, so you can manage projects profitably and reduce admin overload.

Accounting—What do architects need?

• General ledger and compliance tools for tracking income and expenses.
• Bank reconciliation to ensure accurate financial records.
• Automation of daily bookkeeping tasks to save time and reduce errors.

Finance—What do architects need?

• Phase-based budgeting to manage typical multi-phase architecture projects.
• Flexible invoicing for percent-complete billing, hourly rates, and consultants.
• Profitability reporting by phase, project, and firm, as well as cash flow insights into unbilled fees, accounts payable (AP), and accounts receivable (AR).

Operations—What do architects need?

• Time tracking detailed down to phases and activities, with the ability to add notes.
• Weekly staffing and scheduling aligned with budget progress.
• Utilization reporting with capacity forecasting to manage resources effectively.

If your software is easy to use and designed for architects, you’ll spend less time on admin work and more time focused on what matters: your projects and clients.

How to Choose the Best Accounting Software for Architects

First, architects need to consider these two factors when choosing architecture accounting tools:

1. Finance and operations needs: Accounting is one part of your business. It’s critical to integrate bookkeeping needs with finance and operations tools to manage your firm’s overall health. These include time tracking, billing, forecasting, cash flow and profit reporting.
2. Phase-based project accounting: Architects face unique challenges with project accounting. Phase-based budgeting and financial tracking are essential for managing multi-year projects and understanding profitability at each stage, making specialized tools crucial.

Then, once these basics are covered, your software choice should reflect your firm's scale:

• Small Firms (5–100 Employees): Combine best-in-class tools for accounting, finance and operations that are streamlined for small firms. Examples: QuickBooks Online + Monograph
• Larger Firms (100+ Employees): Invest in ERP systems that handle advanced workflows and support big accounting departments. Examples: Deltek Ajera, Deltek Vantagepoint, Unanet
• Solo Practitioners (0–4 Employees): Consider the simplest tools for basic accounting, invoicing, and time tracking. Examples: QuickBooks Online + Monograph, Wave, FreshBooks

With that in mind, here are the top 10 best accounting software options we found for architects.

1 - QuickBooks Online (QBO) + Monograph

QuickBooks Online (QBO) is a widely trusted accounting platform that provides essential tools for managing your general ledger, chart of accounts, and overall bookkeeping. Its popularity ensures easy access to skilled professionals, like bookkeepers and accountants, who are familiar with the platform, simplifying financial management for your firm.

Many small architecture firms with 5–100 employees pair QuickBooks Online with Monograph because while QBO works well for basic accounting, it alone doesn’t fully meet the unique needs of architecture firms. Together, Monograph and QBO let architects do phase-based time tracking, profitability reporting, and flexible client invoicing—the project accounting features architects need to manage project finances and operations seamlessly.

Real Results

Here are 3 example firms who have seen measureable success by Monograph + QuickBooks:

• Studio Core Architects (5 staff): Switched to QuickBooks Online and Monograph, achieved 25% profit growth, 4x efficiency gains, and reduced monthly invoicing from days to hours.
• Luna Architecture (17 staff): Transitioned to QuickBooks Online and Monograph, saving 50% on admin time, billing 2x faster, and reducing budget overages by 50%.
• Rossmann Architecture (30 staff): Tripled revenue in 9 months without doubling spending and cut weekly meetings by 83% after switching to QuickBooks Online and Monograph.

Features

• Manage the general ledger, chart of accounts, and tax preparation
• Automatically reconcile bank transactions for audit-ready records
• Generate traditional financial reports like Profit & Loss and Balance Sheets
• Track time, expenses and receipts on the go on the web or in AI-enabled mobile app
• Assign staffing plans to projects and auto-sync to timesheets
• Streamline phase-based invoicing synced directly to QBO
• View profitability reports by phase, project, or firm to guide decisions
• Balance workloads to prevent burnout and improve team utilization
• Automatically sync payments and mark invoices as paid across systems
• Forecast staffing needs and hiring months in advance

Pricing

QuickBooks Online starts at $35/month for the Simple Start plan, scaling with features for larger firms. Reviews*:** 4.3 ⭐ (7761 Reviews on Capterra)*

Monograph starts at $25/month per user for the Track plan, offering tools tailored to architecture workflows. Reviews*:** 4.5 ⭐ (234 Reviews on Capterra)*

Related Reads:

• How Monograph + QuickBooks Online work together to simplify accounting for architects
• How to get started with Monograph + QuickBooks

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2 - QuickBooks Desktop (QBD)

QuickBooks Desktop (QBD) has long been a go-to choice for businesses of all kinds, offering local accounting and payroll solutions. Its advanced functionality once made it a better alternative to QuickBooks Online (QBO) for some architecture firms seeking offline reliability and detailed financial tools.

However, QBD is now considered legacy software. Intuit, its creator, has decided to sunset the platform and is no longer making it available for new sales. Instead, they are encouraging users to migrate to QuickBooks Online (QBO), which provides a more modern, cloud-based solution with greater flexibility, scalability, and accessibility. When paired with Monograph, QBO offers architecture firms a more complete and intuitive solution tailored to their unique project accounting and management needs than was ever possible with QBD.

Features

• Comprehensive accounting tools
• Built-in payroll services
• Inventory tracking
• Customizable reporting
• Local installation and offline functionality

Pricing

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise was previously sold via annual subscription. Prices varying by version, with the Gold Edition starting at $1,922/year**.**

Also Read: Compare QuickBooks Online to Desktop

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3 - XERO

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software company founded in 2006 based in Wellington, New Zealand. It has grown to serve customers worldwide, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It’s especially popular among Australian and New Zealand architecture firms for its regional tax compliance and market presence.

Though Xero offers time tracking, invoicing, and basic project tracking, it doesn’t support phase-based workflows. This makes it challenging for architecture firms to manage the complexity of typical phase-based project tracking and billing, limiting its effectiveness as a comprehensive solution.

Features

• Basic time tracking, invoicing, and project tracking
• Cloud-based accounting software
• Payroll integration with Gusto (U.S. market)
• Automated invoicing, reporting, and expense tracking
• Bank feeds for real-time financial insights

Pricing

A Xero subscription starts at $20 per month, with 2 higher plans with more features, such as  tracking projects and claiming expenses.

4 - Deltek Ajera

Deltek Ajera is a software solution designed to combine accounting and project management for architecture firms. It offers a range of tools for financial tracking, invoicing, and payroll, with additional features for project budgeting and forecasting. While it’s a comprehensive platform, users often note a steep learning curve and the need for significant setup and training to unlock its full potential.

The platform’s specialized nature makes it less widely known among accountants compared to tools like QuickBooks. Some firms also use Ajera alongside QuickBooks to cover gaps, which can lead to duplicated efforts. Limitations in customization and challenges in extracting historical data are other factors firms should consider when evaluating its fit. Check out Monograph vs Deltek Ajera

Features

• Dashboards for financial tracking
• Comprehensive tools for accounts payable and receivable management
• Payroll management integrated with employee timesheets.
• Support for multiple billing types like fixed-fee and time-and-materials
• Budget-to-actuals tracking for project-specific financials
• Financial forecasting tools for project planning
• Tracks sales and use tax with compliance reports
• Workflow automation for approvals and notifications

Pricing

Pricing for Deltek Ajera is not publicly available and requires contacting their sales team for a quote. Costs can vary based on customization, data migration, and training needs, which may add up for firms with complex requirements. Annual maintenance fees for support and updates are also part of the overall investment.

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Related Read: Deltek Ajera Alternatives for Architecture Firms

5 - BQE Core

BQE Core is an all-in-one tool for accounting, invoicing, HR, and project management, built for professional services firms. Its strength is in customizable features and detailed reporting.

However, the platform’s complexity makes routine tasks like invoicing or reporting time-consuming, often requiring extensive training and external support. Fewer accountants and bookkeepers are familiar with BQE Core compared to widely-used tools like QuickBooks, leading some firms to use both systems and adding inefficiencies. Checkout Monograph vs BQE Core

Features

• Time and expense entry
• Manage accounts receivable with invoices, payments, and statements.
• Process accounts payable for vendor bills, payments, and credit card charges.
• Organize transactions using a chart of accounts.
• Record manual transaction entries in the general journal.
• Reconcile accounts to ensure accurate financial records.
• Generate financial statements such as profit and loss, trial balance, and balance sheet.
• View financial data summaries through dashboards.
• Track account balances and activities in registers.

Pricing

If you want exact pricing, reach out to their sales team. According to Capterra, plans start at $29/user/month, but costs can climb with add-ons, more users, or training.

Read Also: BQE Core Alternatives For A&E Firms

6 - Wave

Wave is a worth considering for solo architecture firms who don’t plan to hire, offering entirely free cloud-based accounting software. It provides basic financial tools that cater to simple bookkeeping needs, making it an appealing option for smaller firms with simple financial management requirements.

However, Wave lacks the advanced features and integrations that growing firms might need. While its free nature is a huge draw, users should be mindful of its limitations in scalability and support.

Features

• Basic invoicing and payment tracking
• Expense management
• Automated bookkeeping tools
• Cloud-based storage

Pricing

Wave is free to use, but there are transaction fees for payments: 2.9% + $0.30 per credit card transaction and 1% for bank payments. They also offer a Pro plan for $16/mo for more features, such as removing the Wave branding on invoices.

7 - Deltek VantagePoint

Deltek Vantagepoint is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed for architecture firms with 100+ employees. It provides tools for managing project financials, company-wide performance, and accounting workflows. The platform integrates time and expense tracking, invoicing, and cash flow management to streamline financial processes and support operational efficiency.

Vantagepoint offers features like project cost tracking, budgeting, and profitability analysis. Its AI-enabled automation and reporting tools aim to reduce manual effort and assist with tasks like month-end reporting and financial oversight. For larger firms needing a centralized accounting and project management system, Vantagepoint provides a range of features tailored to complex organizational needs.

Features

• General ledger for managing and recording financial transactions.
• Chart of accounts to organize and categorize financial data.
• Accounts receivable tools for tracking client payments and outstanding invoices.
• Accounts payable tools for managing vendor payments and processing invoices.
• Automated bank reconciliation to match transactions and streamline workflows.
• Project-specific cost tracking for budgets, expenses, and profitability analysis.
• Billing tools with draft invoice approvals and batch processing options.
• Month-end reporting with recurring journal entries and customizable dashboards.

Pricing

Pricing for Deltek Vantagepoint is customized based on firm size, features, and implementation needs. Firms must contact Deltek’s sales team for a quote. Additional costs can include setup, data migration, and ongoing maintenance, making this a significant investment for firms with complex financial and operational demands.

8 - Unanet

Unanet AE is designed for larger architecture firms seeking a comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. It integrates accounting, project management, resource planning, and CRM into a unified platform, offering firms centralized workflows and operational oversight.

While Unanet provides robust tools for financial and project management, its extensive feature set can require additional training for full adoption. The platform is well-suited for firms prioritizing industry-specific ERP tools, though its complexity may require a careful evaluation of usability and fit.

Features

• Offers AR, AP, and GL processes with invoicing, payment reminders, and journal postings.
• Provides GL budgeting and forecasting tools with pre-built dashboards.
• Handles bank and credit card reconciliations with dedicated evaluation tools.
• Offers revenue recognition and labor distribution through automated workflows.
• Includes role-based permissions and audit trails for accounting controls.
• Produces financial statements using pre-built reports or a customizable designer.
• Manages multi-company and multi-currency with flexible organizational structures.
• Supports project-based accounting with integrated metrics and lifecycle reports.

Pricing

Unanet AE ERP does not publicly disclose pricing. Firms must contact the sales team for a customized quote. Pricing reflects its extensive features and scalability, with costs varying based on the firm’s size, requirements, and selected add-ons.

9 - Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is a cloud-based financial management platform designed for scalability, making it well-suited for larger firms prioritizing advanced accounting and financial reporting. While it’s not tailored specifically for architecture firms, its robust financial capabilities, including cash management, invoicing, and multi-dimensional reporting, can complement project management tools used by A&E firms.

Unlike platforms that integrate project management and accounting, Sage Intacct focuses on delivering powerful accounting tools. This makes it ideal for firms seeking precise financial oversight while potentially pairing it with other software for operations like resource planning or project tracking.

Features

• Multi-dimensional general ledger for detailed financial organization and reporting.
• Real-time dashboards and customizable reports for monitoring financial metrics.
• Cash management tools to oversee and reconcile financial transactions.
• Multi-entity and multi-currency capabilities for organizations with complex structures.
• Automated invoicing and billing processes, including revenue recognition.
• Integrated purchasing tools for managing procure-to-pay workflows.
• Collaboration tools for internal communication and financial task management.

Pricing

Sage Intacct uses a modular pricing structure based on the specific features and functionalities your business requires. Firms can customize their package to include only the necessary tools, which helps control costs. To get a personalized quote, you’ll need to contact the Sage Intacct sales team directly.

10 - FreshBooks

FreshBooks is explicitly marketed toward small businesses, offering affordable and streamlined bookkeeping solutions. It’s designed to be intuitive, simple, and easy to adopt, making it an attractive option for start-up firms or small service-based businesses.

However, FreshBooks has limitations for architecture firms. While it’s great for basic accounting and invoicing, it lacks advanced customization and can struggle with larger data sets, making it less suitable for firms handling complex projects or scaling operations.

Features

• Time tracking and invoicing
• Automated expense tracking and reporting
• Payment processing
• Client management tools
• Integration with select apps

Pricing

FreshBooks starts at $4.50 per month for up to 5 clients, with the premium plan priced at $15 per month for unlimited clients. A 30-day free trial is available for new users to explore its features.

3 Reasons Why Architects Should Use Accounting Software

There are a lot of benefits for architects to start adopting accounting software.

1 - Organize Your Books and Stay Compliant

Bookkeeping can feel like a never-ending task.

How many spreadsheets can you juggle at once?

Accounting software makes bookkeeping easier.

For example, QuickBooks Online (QBO) automatically organizes your finances into a ledger and chart of accounts, keeping track of income, expenses, and taxes, ensuring your firm stays compliant with minimal effort.

Then, Monograph takes it a step further by helping you track invoices, payments, expenses, and consultant bills directly linked to each project, and syncs them back to QBO.

You can track time accurately to phases and activities, and even add time logs to invoices. This means everyone on your team stays on top of project costs, and invoicing becomes a breeze.

In fact, Monograph users report +67% faster business processes because everything is integrated and streamlined.

"Monograph's system is very streamlined, synced with QuickBooks and beautifully designed - perfect for a designer! It's also very intuitive."
— Michael V., Principal, LVF Landscape Architects

2 - Save Time with Automated Tasks

Accounting tasks can take up more time than you’d like.

How much time do you spend on billing from reviewing timesheets to chasing overdue invoices?

Accounting software makes it all faster.

For example, QuickBooks Online (QBO) automates the basics—like managing your chart of accounts, updating the general ledger, categorizing transactions, and syncing your bank accounts. This keeps your financial processes accurate and up-to-date with minimal manual effort.

Monograph takes it a step further and keeps QBO in-sync to avoid double entry.

With Monograph, architects can create flexible client invoices with progressive fixed fees, hourly billing, and consultants. It pulls data directly from timesheets and project phase budgets, making invoicing faster and more accurate. You can even add time logs to invoices, so every billable hour is accounted for.

Monograph automates payment reminders, so you don’t have to chase overdue invoices. Clients can also access their invoice history, providing better transparency and reducing the need for follow-ups.

In fact, Monograph users report +2.3x faster invoicing and billing processes because everything is integrated and streamlined.

“In addition to allowing our firm to better track our projects, Monograph has greatly simplified our invoicing process. Its growing integration with QuickBooks is helping us automate administrative tasks.”
—Tristan M., Operations Leader, Rossmann Architecture

3 - Get Instant Access to Financial Reports and Insights

Financial reports shouldn’t be a mystery.

How often do you scramble to understand your firm’s financial health?

Balance sheets, income statements, and transaction histories should be ready whenever you need them.

For example, QuickBooks Online (QBO) makes it easier by providing financial reports like balance sheets, cash flow, and profit and loss statements, so you can track income and expenses with ease.

Then, Monograph makes data actionable for architects by giving you project insights—tracking budgets, revenue forecasts, and profitability down to the phase level—by pulling costs in from QBO for the most accurate picture of your bottom line. Plus, it streamlines operations like staffing and resource scheduling, ensuring projects stay on track and within budget.

These efficiencies lead to results, which is why firms using Monograph average an extra $25,480 increase in revenue per employee in their first year.

“Monograph empowers firms with real-time data to drive informed business decisions. It goes beyond scheduling and time-tracking. It streamlines invoicing and payment tracking through a seamless QuickBooks Online (QBO) integration.”
—Bradley H., Operations Leader, Luna Architecture + Design

What Accounting Software is Best for Your Firm?

Setting yourself up with the best accounting software will help:

• Streamline bookkeeping for compliance.
• Save time on flexible invoicing and improve cash flow.
• Stay on budget with accurate tracking across phases.
• Increase staff efficiency and project profitability.

Have you tried any of the software we listed?

Do you have a favorite? How have they helped you manage accounting?