Running a small business in Kenya means keeping a close eye on cash flow, invoices and tax compliance. The right accounting software saves time, reduces mistakes and helps you focus on growth. Below we review five accounting tools that work well for Kenyan SMEs, highlighting strengths, local integrations (like M‑Pesa) and what to watch out for.
What to look for before you choose
- Kenya tax & KRA support — VAT reporting and KRA return support help avoid surprises.
- Ease of use — pick something intuitive if you or your staff aren’t accountants.
- Mpesa & local payments — integration or easy export for mobile payments.
- Cloud & mobile access — manage your books from phone or laptop.
- Budget & scalability — check monthly costs and how the plan grows with you.
Top 5 accounting software (Kenya)
1. Uhasibu (Kenya‑focused)
Best for: Kenya‑based micro & small businesses that need local workflows.
Why choose Uhasibu? Uhasibu is built with East African SMEs in mind — it supports petty cash tracking, mobile monitoring and KRA‑friendly VAT reporting. Local pricing and support make onboarding easy for first‑time users.
Consider: If your business scales very fast you may later want more advanced modules or integrations.
2. Zoho Books
Best for: Cost‑sensitive businesses that want a cloud solution with Kenyan tax support.
Why choose Zoho Books? Offers invoicing, expense tracking and Kenya‑ready VAT/TIMS features. It has flexible plans and a free tier for very small operations.
Consider: Confirm Mpesa/payment gateways or use export/bank feeds for reconciliation.
3. Sage Business Cloud Accounting
Best for: SMEs that prefer a trusted global brand with local presence.
Why choose Sage? Good invoicing, cash‑flow tools and mobile access with Kenya offerings from Sage’s regional product pages.
Consider: Pricing can be higher for add‑ons such as inventory or payroll modules.
4. QuickBooks Online / QuickBooks
Best for: Businesses that want flexible deployment (cloud + desktop options).
Why choose QuickBooks? Widely used globally with strong accounting features for invoicing, reporting and payroll integrations where available.
Consider: Some Kenyan users report limited payment integrations — check whether payment/merchant features are supported for Kenya.
5. Xero
Best for: Tech‑savvy businesses that want automation and many third‑party integrations.
Why choose Xero? Excellent bank‑feeds, reconciliation and app integrations to automate bookkeeping tasks.
Consider: Confirm KRA/VAT workflows and local payment options; costs can add up with extra apps.
Comparison at a glance
| Software | Best for | Strengths | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uhasibu | Kenya‑only SMEs | Localised, Mpesa & KRA‑friendly | May need upgrade when scaling |
| Zoho Books | Small, budget‑aware businesses | Affordable, cloud, Kenya support | Payment integrations vary |
| Sage Business Cloud | Businesses wanting global brand | Reliable features, mobile access | Extra costs for add‑ons |
| QuickBooks | Flexible deployments | Feature rich, large ecosystem | Check Kenya payment support |
| Xero | Automation & integrations | Great bank feeds & apps | Costs climb with add‑ons |
How to choose the right one for you
- List your needs: Users, inventory, bank feeds, Mpesa, invoicing frequency.
- Check budget: Look for monthly cost + add‑on fees.
- Try the free trials: Use your real data for a week to test workflows.
- Check integrations: Bank, POS, payment gateways or Mpesa exports matter.
- Support & training: Local onboarding saves time if you’re not an accountant.
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