2026-11-10 · 4 min read · By the Kluvan team
Is free accounting software enough for your business?
When a free accounting plan is enough for a small business in the UAE or Egypt, what Kluvan Books Starter includes, and the signs it is time to upgrade.
For a small business with one person doing the books and a modest number of invoices, yes: a free plan can be enough. Kluvan's Books Starter is free forever and includes 1 full user, 1 free seat for your external accounting firm, the chart of accounts, quotes, invoices, bills and bank reconciliation, with 1 GB of storage and 150 AI credits once. The Books page lists it for up to 25 invoices and 25 bills a month. When you pass those limits, need more people in the books, or want the rest of the suite, you move to a paid plan without moving your data.
What a free plan should give you
A free accounting plan is only useful if it keeps real books, not a toy ledger. Check for these before you type your first invoice:
- Real double-entry books: a chart of accounts, not just a list of invoices.
- Invoices and bills: both sides, so profit means something.
- Bank reconciliation: your bank statement matched to the books.
- Your accountant inside: a seat for the accountant, at no cost.
- A way out: you can export your data and leave.
Books Starter covers all five.
Books Starter at a glance
| Included | Books Starter (free forever) |
|---|---|
| Users | 1 full user |
| Your accountant | 1 external accountant firm seat, free |
| Books | Chart of accounts, quotes, invoices, bills, bank reconciliation |
| Volume | Up to 25 invoices and 25 bills a month (Books page) |
| Storage | 1 GB |
| AI | 150 AI credits once; AI stays off until the owner enables it |
Every Kluvan plan, including the free starter plans, lets you invite your accounting firm with the areas, branches and end date you choose. See the accountant workspace.
Signs you have outgrown the free plan
- You send more than 25 invoices a month, or record more than 25 supplier bills.
- Two people need to work in the books, such as an owner and a bookkeeper.
- You need more than accounting: overdue reminders and payment plans (Collections), staff (HR & Payroll), customers (CRM) or projects.
- Your files grow: receipts, contracts and statements need more than 1 GB.
What upgrading looks like
You don't switch tools; you add a plan to the same organisation.
| Option | Price (per month, billed annually, before tax) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Books on its own | USD 25 | Books with the first 3 full users of your organisation and 5 GB |
| Service Business bundle | USD 119 | CRM, Projects, Field jobs, Books, Contracts, Customer portal, Collections Essentials, Quality; 5 full users |
| Kluvan One | USD 199 | Every app; 10 full users, 20 field users, 50 self-service employees |
Monthly billing costs more, and "Kluvan charges in USD only." Extra full users are USD 12 per seat per month. The pricing page has current prices.
A checklist for your first month on the free plan
- Set up the chart of accounts with your accountant, not alone.
- Invite your accounting firm to its free seat.
- Enter your opening balances on day one.
- Import your bank statement and match it every week.
- Number your invoices in Kluvan from the start; Books issues gapless tax invoices.
- Export a copy at the end of the first month to see what leaving would look like.
If you are moving from spreadsheets, Kluvan vs spreadsheets shows when Excel stops being enough, and moving to Kluvan covers the import with a preview, checks and undo.
When this is not for you
If you need the software to file your VAT return or send e-invoices to the tax authority, Kluvan does not do that today: VAT returns for the UAE (VAT 201) and Egypt are prepared, and "nothing is submitted to the tax authority". UAE e-invoicing is marked "Coming with a provider". If you work offline, Kluvan needs an internet connection. If you are outside the UAE and Egypt, other countries are "Not yet" or "Partial" on the countries page. And if you need a till at a shop counter, Kluvan has no point-of-sale till. Read who Kluvan is not for.
Questions and answers
Is Books Starter really free forever?
Yes. The pricing page lists Books Starter as "Free Forever", with 1 full user, 1 free accountant firm seat, 1 GB of storage and 150 AI credits once.
Can my accountant use it for free?
Yes. Every plan, including the free starter plans, includes one external accountant or partner firm at no seat cost.
What happens to my data when I upgrade?
Nothing moves. You add a paid plan to the same organisation and keep working in the same books.
Does Kluvan file my VAT return?
No. It prepares VAT returns for the UAE (VAT 201) and Egypt; nothing is submitted to the tax authority.
Start your books at no cost: see the free starter plans.
