Cost of Outsourcing Social Media: A Guide for UK Businesses
Learn how much it can cost to outsource social media in the UK. Our guide explains average rates, pricing models, cost drivers, and more.
If your company operates across borders or plans to do so in the future, you’ll need the right accounting system in place. International dealings are often more complicated from an accounting perspective.
They may include several currencies and different rules for VAT, reporting, and taxes. It’s a smart move to invest in global accounting software to simplify your accounting and compliance tasks and to get a clear overview of your finances across markets, so you can plan your overseas growth. So, which option is best for UK companies?
Keep reading to discover our list of the top global tax and accounting platforms, including options like QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage Intacct, and others. While you're looking for an international accounting software provider, check out Wise Business. Wise Business seamlessly integrates with accounting systems, whilst helping you receive, hold and convert funds across currencies, with less friction.
💡 Learn more about Wise Business
Before we explore what international accounting software is and why it matters, here's a quick summary of some of the top providers for UK businesses.
| Provider | Target Market | Monthly Price Range (Excl. VAT) | Multi-Currency? | Key International Payment Features | Trustpilot Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | Small & Medium Businesses | £38+ | Yes (Essentials+) | Send payments to 140+ countries; auto-FX rate updates via IHS Markit. Open API. | 3.9 |
| Sage Intacct | Growing SMEs & Mid-sized | Custom Quote | Yes (Unlimited) | Automated multi-entity consolidation; OANDA live exchange rates; global tax compliance (IFRS/GAAP). | 3.8 |
| FreeAgent | Micro-businesses (<10 staff) | £10 – £33 | Yes (Banking) | Multi-currency invoicing; ideal for freelancers with global clients. Open API. | 4.6 |
| iplicit | Mid-sized & Fast-growing | Custom/£500+ | Yes (Consolidated) | Real-time group P&L; automated intercompany eliminations; Open API. | N/A |
| Xero | Small businesses | £16 – £65 | Yes (Comp/Ult) | Supports 160+ currencies; international bill pay via Crezco; JAX AI for multi-currency reporting. | 4.1 |
| Oracle NetSuite | Mid-to-large / Global ERP | Custom (Modular) | Yes (OneWorld) | Real-time visibility in 200+ countries; 90+ bank payment formats; automated global intercompany management. | N/A |
Global accounting software is designed for businesses that manage finances across multiple countries. It goes further than simply converting currencies. It can monitor and manage complex financial activities across multiple regions. This is to ensure that international tax duties, such as local VAT, GST, and digital reporting rules, are handled in real time.
To show how it differs from standard accounting software, here is a summary of the main functional changes:
| Feature | Regular Accounting Software | International Accounting Software |
|---|---|---|
| Currency Tracking | Tracks transactions primarily in the home currency (GBP). | Full multi-currency tracking with automated, real-time exchange rate updates. |
| Tax Compliance | Ensures compliance with standard UK tax regulations only. | Maintains compliance with tax laws in every country the business operates in. |
| UK Digital Filing | Meets basic HMRC Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements for VAT. | Ready for MTD for Income Tax (ITSA) 2026 mandates and global e-invoicing. |
| Tax Rate Logic | Uses pre-set UK VAT rates (20%, 5%, 0%). | Built-in global sales tax, GST, and VAT rates that update as local laws change. |
| Financial Reporting | Creates standard reports (P&L, Balance Sheet) in GBP. | Generates consolidated reports in multiple currencies and local formats. |
| Filing Capabilities | Submits UK VAT returns directly to HMRC. | Supports International VAT & GST tracking and Global Accounting margin schemes. |
In 2026, the VAT Global Accounting Scheme, a simplified form of the Margin Scheme, remains an important option for UK businesses trading in bulk second-hand goods. It allows VAT to be calculated on the total margin for a period instead of on each individual item.
Global accounting software features
Choosing the right platform is more than just a currency toggle. In 2026, the best solutions leverage AI and real-time data to handle cross-border complexity.
Below is a checklist of the essential features to look for:
Global Value Added Tax (VAT) means managing tax duties across different countries. This is a high-risk area for UK businesses trading internationally in 2026. Since the UK moved to its own tax system, rules like Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) and distance selling have become key to protecting cash flow.
Failing to follow rules, such as the nil threshold for overseas sellers or the £90,000 threshold for UK-based businesses, can result in serious penalties and interest charges. On top of this, HMRC’s 2026 move toward mandatory digital record-keeping means spreadsheets are no longer a reliable way to stay compliant.
Modern accounting software works as a compliance tool. It automatically calculates VAT, identifies the correct Place of Supply, and prepares returns ready for submission. Software that supports the VAT Global Accounting Scheme or the Margin Scheme can also help reduce tax bills while keeping businesses compliant.
Global accounting scheme¹
The Global Accounting VAT Margin Scheme is a UK scheme created for businesses that sell second-hand goods, works of art, antiques, and collectors’ items. The scheme allows eligible businesses to calculate VAT on the total profit margin for these items, rather than on the full selling price.
Its purpose is to make VAT calculations simpler for these types of goods and to help businesses manage VAT on international sales more easily.
The Global Accounting Scheme is mainly for businesses trading in second-hand goods, works of art, antiques, and collectors’ items. This includes, but is not limited to:
Now, let’s look at the top international accounting software options available to UK businesses in 2026.
Below, we’ll cover the key features, latest tiered pricing, Trustpilot ratings, and important updates for 2026 for each provider. We’ve also added clear comparison tables to help you review their AI automation and multi-currency features, so you can choose the best option for your business’s global growth.
Mainly targeted towards small and medium-sized businesses, QuickBooks is a cloud-based accounting software package marketed by US financial software company Intuit.
It can be a strong choice for international accounting because it supports multiple currencies. However, this feature is not included in the cheapest Simple Start plan.
It is only available on the Essentials, Plus, and Advanced plans.
The main features (based on the Essentials plan) include:²
QuickBooks can also be integrated seamlessly with Wise, a global payment platform that helps businesses send and receive money worldwide.
Pricing for QuickBooks starts at £38 a month for the Essentials plan, though QuickBooks occasionally runs special offers that can bring the price down.²
QuickBooks has an ‘Excellent’ rating of 3.9 on TrustPilot, based on over 16,500 user reviews.³
| Feature Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Target Market | Small and medium-sized businesses |
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes (Essentials, Plus, Advanced only) |
| Starting Price | £38/month (Essentials) |
| VAT and MTD Support | Yes |
| AI Features | Cash flow forecasting, VAT error checker |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.9 (‘Excellent’) |
| 💡 See our complete Quickbooks review |
|---|
Sage Intacct is a powerful cloud finance platform built for growing SMEs and mid-sized businesses. Unlike basic accounting software, it is modular. This means that companies can add advanced features as they expand.
For global or multi-location businesses, it offers features such as automated multi-entity consolidation, unlimited currency support, and real-time global tax compliance.⁴
Other key features include:⁵
Sage Intacct does not have a fixed price. The costs depend on your business size and needs. It typically works on an annual subscription. You can choose to pay either quarterly or once a year.
The platform has a ‘Great’ rating of 3.8 on TrustPilot, based on nearly 19,000 user reviews.⁶
| 💡 See how Sage compares to Xero |
|---|
FreeAgent is designed for small businesses with up to 10 employees, particularly those who need to complete a Self Assessment every year. In 2026, it is a leading solution for the mandatory MTD for Income Tax roll-out.
It supports multi-currency banking⁷ but doesn’t offer many other features for managing international transactions. It could still be a good pick for start-ups looking to make their first steps towards international trading.
The key features of FreeAgent include:⁸
FreeAgent also integrates with Wise, so you can track international and multi-currency transactions seamlessly.
💡 Learn more about Wise Business
Let’s take a deeper look at the pricing tiers it offers:
| Plan Type | Monthly Price (Excl. VAT) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Sole Trader | £19.00 | Freelancers needing MTD for Income Tax filing. |
| Partnership/LLP | £27.00 | Unincorporated businesses with multiple partners. |
| Limited Company | £33.00 | Small companies that need Corporation Tax and Payroll. |
| Landlord | £10.00 | Specifically for property owners with income over £50k. |
Like QuickBooks, it occasionally offers discounts and special offers.⁸ It gets an ‘Excellent’ rating of 4.6 on TrustPilot, based on over 2,700 user reviews.⁹
| 💡 See how FreeAgent compares to Quickbooks |
|---|
iplicit is an award-winning cloud accounting platform built for medium-sized businesses and fast-growing companies. It is suitable for organisations that have outgrown entry-level tools such as Xero or QuickBooks but find large ERP systems such as NetSuite too complex or costly.
It has features designed for global businesses, including multi-currency support, global tax functionality and consolidated reporting for companies with multiple legal entities.¹⁰
Other features include:¹¹
iplicit uses a tiered SaaS pricing model based on the complexity of the organisation and the number of users 12.
| Component | Estimated Costs | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly SaaS Fee | From £500+ per month | Typically based on a “Platform Charge” plus user licenses. |
| User Types | Varies | Tiers for “Power Users” (Finance) and “Team Users” (Expenses/Approvals). |
Iplicit doesn’t have a TrustPilot rating, as it’s not listed on the review site, nor have any user reviews been submitted. As for the exact pricing plan, you’ll need to contact the company, book a demo and get a custom quote.
Like QuickBooks, Xero is cloud-based accounting software aimed at smaller businesses. In 2026, it remains popular among UK SMEs for its clean interface and large app ecosystem.
It supports payments in 160+ currencies with instant conversions 13. Note that multi-currency is only available on the Comprehensive and Ultimate plans, not the entry-level Ignite or Grow plans.14
Xero also integrates with Wise, a powerful global payments solution enabling you to send payments in 40+ currencies to 160 countries.
Its prominent features in 2026 include13:
Below is the table illustrating pricing models for Xero ¹³:
| Plan | Monthly Price (Excl. VAT) | Multi-Currency? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignite | £16 | No | New starters (limit of 20 invoices) |
| Grow | £37 | No | Growing businesses needing unlimited invoicing |
| Comprehensive | £50 | Yes | Established businesses trading internationally |
| Ultimate | £65 | Yes | Complex SMEs needing Projects and multi-user Expenses |
The company holds an ‘Excellent’ 4.1 rating on TrustPilot, based on nearly 10,500 user reviews 15.
| 💡 See how Xero compares to Quickbooks |
|---|
Oracle NetSuite is a comprehensive cloud-based business management suite that functions as a Global ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution. It is designed for mid-to-large organisations, particularly those managing complex international subsidiaries.
Its latest features are 16:
NetSuite operates on a modular subscription model. You pay a base platform fee plus a fee per user and any additional modules required.
Also, the platform doesn’t appear to have a verified TrustPilot page, so it doesn’t have a rating or a history of user reviews.
| 💡 You may also like: Best global payroll providers for UK businesses |
|---|
Alongside accounting software, you’re going to need a powerful international payment solution if your company is going global.With a Wise Business multi-currency account, you can manage your company’s money in 40+ currencies.
You can pay invoices, send money all over the world and convert currencies for low fees and mid-market exchange rates. You can also pay up to 1,000 people at once with their handy Batch Payments tool, and automate payroll processes to save even more time.
Getting paid is easy, too. With Wise Business Advanced, you get local account details in 8+ major currencies, so clients can pay you like a local, without extra costs. Have expenses to take care of? The Wise Business debit card is just the right choice, especially if you want to manage employee expenses.
The cherry on top is that Wise integrates seamlessly with a range of accounting software and business tools. And like all of the best business solutions, it’s flexible enough to grow with your company.
After reading this helpful guide, you should have all the info you need to compare international accounting software and choose the right option for you. Or at least book a demo or free trial so you can get a feel for features and functions.
If you’ll be trading internationally, it’s crucial to have the right financial management systems in place from the start. So it’s worth taking the time to find the right one for your company.
*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.
Sources used for this article:
Sources checked on 1-Mar-2026.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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