Collective Bewertung: Vorteile, Nachteile, Funktionen und Preise
Collective is an accounting software designed to streamline tax and bookkeeping processes for freelancers and solopreneurs. It's particularly beneficial for solo entrepreneurs and freelancers, offering comprehensive tax management services. Collective provides full-service bookkeeping, income tax filings, and full-time dedicated support.
Collective addresses common pain points like complex tax management and bookkeeping inefficiencies for freelancers, solopreneurs, and sole proprietors. In this article, I'll cover Collective's services, pros and cons, use cases, pricing, and more, so you can decide if this software aligns with your accounting needs and goals.
Collective Evaluation Summary
- From $296/user/month (billed annually)
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
We’ve been testing and reviewing financial software since 2023. As finance specialists ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software.
We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different finance use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our software review methodology.
Collective Overview
Collective is a solid choice for solopreneurs and freelancers, earning over $80,000 annually, who are looking for accounting software that simplifies tax management and bookkeeping. It excels with its personalized support and full-service offerings, making it particularly useful for those who value assistance in tax filings and bookkeeping.
While its pricing might be a hurdle for some, the seamless onboarding and efficient customer support justify the cost. Compared to other tools, Collective might lack some advanced features, but it outshines in providing dedicated support and ease of use. It's best suited for those who prioritize personal support and are willing to invest in a service that handles complex financial tasks.
pros
-
You get personalized support for tax and bookkeeping needs.
-
It's easy to use, making your work smoother.
-
The dedicated customer support is highly responsive.
cons
-
It might lack some advanced features you’re used to.
-
You might find the learning curve steep initially.
-
It’s not ideal for larger businesses with complex needs.
-
Creatio CRM
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
DealHub AI
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
LiveFlow
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.9
How We Test & Score Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final scoring)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final scoring)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Invoicing and Billing: You can easily create and send invoices with a few clicks. This feature helps you manage your cash flow efficiently.
Expense Tracking: Track your expenses in real-time to stay on top of your budget. It simplifies financial oversight by categorizing your spending.
Tax Preparation: Collective helps you prepare your tax returns with ease, minimizing errors. This feature saves you time during tax season. Stay up to date and in compliance with IRS requirements.
S Corp Formation: Collective can assist with an S Corp election to help your company with tax savings.
Bookkeeping Services: Get full-service bookkeeping to keep your financial records accurate. Securely connect your bank account and see a business snapshot all from your Collective dashboard. It relieves you of tedious tasks by handling them for you.
Reporting: Generate financial reports to understand your business performance. This feature provides insights into your earnings and expenses.
Payroll Management: Handle payroll effortlessly without missing deadlines. It ensures your team gets paid accurately and on time.
Ease of Use
Collective scores high on ease of use due to its intuitive interface and straightforward navigation. You’ll find setting up and managing your accounts simple, even if you’re not tech-savvy. Its design focuses on making complex tasks feel manageable, such as invoicing and self-employment taxes.
Compared to other tools, users often praise Collective for reducing the learning curve, allowing you to focus on your work without getting bogged down by confusing software. The clarity in its layout makes your financial tasks less daunting.
Integrations
Collective integrates Gusto for payroll. They used to integrate with Xero for accounting, but have developed their own integrated platform and have therefore transitioned their clients’ accounting needs from Xero. This provides faster service with everything in one place.
If you were using a different accounting software, such as Wave, QuickBooks Online, or FreshBooks, your onboarding accountant will assist you with setting up your new books when transitioning to Collective.
Collective does not currently offer an API or connect with third-party integration tools.
Collective Specs
- 2-Factor Authentication
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- API
- Balance Sheet
- Billing/Invoicing
- BitCoin
- Budgeting
- Calendar Management
- Contact Management
- CRM Integration
- Customer Management
- Dashboard
- Data Export
- Data Import
- Data Visualization
- Expense Tracking
- External Integrations
- Forecasting
- General Account Ledger
- Inventory Tracking
- Multi-Currency
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- P&L
- PayPal
- Payroll
- SAP Integration
- Stripe
- Supplier Management
- Tax Management
