Accounting software for SMEs: Exact Online, Moneybird or Snelstart?
Exact Online is the Dutch market leader; Moneybird has a free basic plan for small teams; e-Boekhouden.nl costs indicatively from €9/month. Which accounting software fits your SME? Comparison with decision rules.
- For sole traders and small SME teams (1–5 employees), Moneybird and e-Boekhouden.nl are the most accessible options. Moneybird has a free basic plan and a modern interface; e-Boekhouden.nl costs indicatively from €9/month and is trusted by Dutch accountants. Check current pricing on each provider's website.
- Exact Online is the standard for growing SMEs (5–50 employees) and accounting firms: strong payroll module, direct connection to the Dutch Tax Authority and a broad integration catalogue. Snelstart targets small contractors in construction and trades with an offline-first approach.
- All four are SEPA-certified and comply with Article 52 of the General Tax Act (7-year retention obligation). Choose software your accountant also supports: a shared Exact platform or SBR reporting saves hours per financial year.
Which accounting software fits a Dutch SME?
Accounting software records every invoice, payment and VAT return in one place and connects directly to the Dutch Tax Authority for VAT filing via Standard Business Reporting (SBR). For Dutch SMEs the most widely used packages are Exact Online, Moneybird, Snelstart and e-Boekhouden.nl. Exact Online is by far the most common choice at accounting firms and growing SMEs; Moneybird targets sole traders and small teams with a modern UX and a free starter plan; Snelstart is popular in construction, transport and trades; e-Boekhouden.nl is a proven Dutch platform with the lowest entry price. The right choice depends on team size, whether you process payroll, which package your accountant uses and how many technical integrations you need.
Accounting software for SMEs: costs and features
Prices are indicative per month (excl. VAT). Check current pricing on the provider's website; subscription prices change regularly.
Exact Online
Market leader in the Netherlands for SMEs and accounting firms. The Exact suite covers accounting, payroll, CRM and project administration. Indicative price for the accounting module: from approx. €39/month for small businesses (check exact.nl for current pricing and bundle discounts). Direct SBR connection to the Dutch Tax Authority for VAT and EC sales list returns. More than 450 integrations via Exact App Center (Mollie, WooCommerce, Shopify, Salesforce). Direct bank connectivity with ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank and Bunq (check exact.nl for current bank options). EU data centres in the Netherlands; DPA (data processing agreement) available under GDPR Art. 28. Recommended if your accountant already uses Exact or if you expect rapid growth.
Moneybird
Modern cloud accounting for sole traders and small SME teams. Free basic plan (limited invoices and contacts); Business plan indicatively €25/month; Business Plus indicatively €49/month (check moneybird.nl). Strong UX: send invoices, file VAT returns and import bank statements in minutes. Native bank connectivity with ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, Knab and Bunq. SBR VAT filing directly from the platform. Fully developed and hosted in the Netherlands; GDPR compliant. More limited payroll functionality than Exact Online: use an external payroll bureau or integrate with Nmbrs/AFAS.
Snelstart
Targeted at small contractors in construction, transport and trades. Offline-first with cloud synchronisation: works without an internet connection on site. Indicative price from approx. €25/month (check snelstart.nl). Payroll module available as an add-on. Direct bank connectivity with ING, Rabobank and ABN AMRO. VAT filing via SBR. DPA (data processing agreement) available under GDPR Art. 28; check Snelstart for the current data processing agreement. Fewer integrations than Exact Online, but a stable desktop app that feels familiar to traditional SME sectors. Limited API for custom integrations.
e-Boekhouden.nl
Proven Dutch accounting platform with the lowest entry price. Indicatively from approx. €9/month for the starter package (check e-boekhouden.nl). VAT filing, invoicing, bank import and debtor/creditor management included. Popular with sole traders and small businesses that do not need a complex system. Connects via an open API to external tools (Zapier, custom). SBR connection for VAT filing. DPA (data processing agreement) available under GDPR Art. 28; check e-Boekhouden.nl for the current data processing agreement. Retention module helps with 7-year AWR archiving. Less modern UX than Moneybird, but trusted by many Dutch bookkeepers and accountants.
When do you choose which accounting software?
Choose Moneybird if you are a sole trader or have a small team (1–5 employees), have limited technical knowledge and want to start with a low monthly budget. The free plan covers basic invoicing and VAT filing; upgrade to Business once you want your bank connected automatically. Choose e-Boekhouden.nl when entry price is the decisive factor and you want a simple, reliable solution your accountant already knows. Choose Exact Online if your business is growing (5+ employees), you want to process payroll yourself, you need a broad integration catalogue, or your accountant already works on Exact: collaboration becomes significantly faster. Choose Snelstart if you work in construction, transport or trades and prefer offline working or a Windows desktop application over a browser-only tool. Avoid software selection based on price alone: the overhead cost of manual work or a mismatch with your accountant quickly exceeds the monthly subscription. Always ask: which package does my accountant use?
Frequently asked questions about accounting software for SMEs
Which accounting software is best for an SME in the Netherlands?
What does accounting software for SMEs cost per month?
Can an SME keep its own bookkeeping?
Which accounting software connects directly to the Dutch Tax Authority?
Should I choose accounting software my accountant uses?
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