MSU Extension Farm Management

Choosing the right software accounting package can be a time-consuming and challenging chore. When it is time to move beyond spreadsheets and paper records, accounting software options are endless. The MSU Extension article Choosing the Right Accounting Software for Your Farm describes some points to consider when making this decision. This fact sheet provides more details, including a spreadsheet format list to assist you.

If you are ready to move beyond spreadsheets, many affordable and easy to learn software packages are available. This document will highlight options the farm business management group has received inquiries about and that are more popular among Facebook farming groups.

Depending on the size of your operation, your budget, and the amount of detail you desire to track, several options exist to fit your needs. The software programs described in this document are just a few of those available.

Accounting Software for Small to Medium Farms

We begin with the programs designed for agricultural use. These typically include a ready-to-use chart of accounts and units of measurement to fit your farm operation, whether it is dairy, livestock, row crops, or other types of farm production. These programs are designed for farms and are supported by staff with agricultural experience.

• PCMars is a straightforward, cost-effective desktop software solution.  It has options for advanced inventory and payroll.  It does not support multiple users simultaneously, but it does allow roles and preferences by user. There is an enhancement available to purchase if you’d like remote access.  Schedule F reports can be printed to help prepare tax forms.  Support is offered by the MSU TelFarm program. This choice would be a good fit for someone looking to do their bookkeeping on a single computer and/or where the internet is not consistently accessible.
• Ambrook is cloud-based accounting software that offers a mobile application and supports multiple users simultaneously.  It is fully banking-integrated with the option to import instead.  Invoicing and credit cards can be processed using the mobile application.  It does not include inventory or payroll.  Schedule F information can be printed or exported. If you are looking for a mobile agricultural accounting application and you do not need to keep inventory, this option may work well for you.
• EasyFarm is a desktop, single-user program with highly customizable options and a one-time fee.  There is an optional crop and field application add-on.  Inventory is included in the base program, but payroll is an added cost.  Many custom reports, including Schedule F information, are available. If you would like a one-time up-front cost with many options to tailor your program, this is worth investigating.
• FarmRaise is cloud-based, accounting-only, with a mobile app for invoices, but it is not linked to inventory.   It is a monthly subscription fee format and currently allows a single user.  It includes weekly updates to FSA funding opportunities. Payroll is an additional option.  Tax form preparation reports are included.

Accounting Software for Mid-to-Large Farm Operations

• Traction software is built for larger farms, offering accounting, field records, equipment tracking, and integration with field-specific data applications, including John Deere Operations Center or Climate FieldView. It is cloud-based, includes mobile applications, and offers multiple users and multiple entities per subscription, paid monthly or annually, and is on the higher end due to the advanced features available. If your operation has grown to the point where you would like to integrate your field and equipment data into your financial results, this option is worth exploring.
• CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture by Red Wing includes more advanced features for medium to larger farms. There is an option to install the software as a desktop application or use a cloud-based version.  Pricing is customized per farm and is not published. If you want flexibility combined with financial analysis and benchmarking information, CenterPoint is one to consider.

Most of the above applications offer advanced features, such as inventory and payroll, for an additional fee. Some applications link only to certain banks, so verify your bank is included if you desire this feature.

Many farmers inquire about a point-of-sale option. Mobile invoicing allows for payment processing but does not always link to inventory levels. If automatically keeping accurate inventory counts when buying, producing, or selling is important to you, EasyFarm offers a point-of-sale program in its Accounts Receivable add-on module, and Traction also offers this feature.

Non-agricultural Accounting Applications

While there are benefits to using software designed for agriculture, farmers can successfully use programs designed for mainstream small businesses. Accountants tend to recommend programs that allow multiple users to access your information easily at tax time. Most accounting applications will provide the reports required for simplified tax preparation, but few allow multiple users to access them simultaneously.  It is also important to note that accounts must be set up correctly, with revenues and expenses properly coded, to create an accurate income statement.

• QuickBooks Online (QBO) is one of the more widely used programs.  It is cloud-based, customizable, and has a monthly subscription fee structure.  There may be more options needed than most farms would use, yet it is preferred by accountants for the reporting and multiple-user ability that allows quick access to your books.  There is a simplified version called QuickBooks Online Simple Start that has limited ACH transactions and fewer options, but it is more affordable.
• Quicken is a well-known accounting and personal financial management program. If you’re looking to combine your personal and farm information, this could work, but it would be limited to basic accounting functions, including invoicing and accepting credit cards using the mobile version.  It can be installed on your computer or run as a cloud-based program.  A monthly subscription varies depending on options.
• Wave is a free, simple, cloud-based accounting application for a single user. Additional options, such as scanning receipts or payroll, are available for a fee.

See below for a table-formatted list of features available for the above software packages.

Disclaimer: This information was obtained from the linked websites above and may need to be verified, as modifications and software updates occur frequently. Most pricing information can also be found using the links, as it is subject to frequent changes and discounts. Prices listed were from July 2025.

+: add-ons, plus or Pro versions available