Crunch’s powerful online accounting software, Solo, is now available free to freelances, contractors and micro/small businesses. This software is identical to the premium software, with users being able to manage their bookkeeping, raise invoices and view tax liability and record expenses, at no cost.

Crunch has already built a successful business in online accounting through providing a unique premium product supported by ongoing advice from their team of accountants, this facility is not available with the free software. Now with providing the software for free, Crunch is putting business owners in control, by making them aware of their tax liability whilst speeding up and simplifying the bookkeeping process. This goes against the normal dotcom business model.

Darren Fell, the company’s founder and MD, said: “it’s Crunch’s mission to help the self-employed and small business community by continually improving our cost-effective accountancy services. Today we’re taking that one step further by offering our powerful software for free.

“Most dotcom businesses build a mass following by providing a freemium service before announcing costly upgrades. We now have more than 2,500 clients on our standard subscription package, and opening up our software for free means more people can experience the power of Crunch without any cost commitment.”

Here is the full new range of software available from Crunch, including the free online version:

●      Solo (free) - new free Crunch software access, no accountancy advice, or extras

●      Solo - new service, full access to Crunch software including automated receipt scanning, bank integration, on-the-fly reporting, and full data export facilities to support tax return submission – costs £9.50 p.m.

●      Complete – the original flagship service which offers unlimited support from a personal accountant to answer any tax or accounting query, Complete handles all HMRC returns and acts as official agent – costs £59.50 p.m.

●      Max – new service aimed at bigger businesses, with up to four directors and four shareholders, allowing payroll for up to 10 employees, plus twice yearly financial health check from personal team of accountants – costs £89.50 p.m.