Books that add up, without the monthly bill.
Footing does real bookkeeping for freelancers and small businesses: invoices, bills, bank imports, reconciliations, financial statements and your quarterly tax estimate. Your books are saved on your own computer, not on our servers.
- No account, no card
- Real double-entry accounting
- Updated for 2026 tax rules
What's inside
Everything a bookkeeper would set up for you.
Laid out the way accountants organize a business: what comes in, what goes out, and the reports that prove it all balances.
1100InvoicesBranded invoices with sales tax, discounts and payment terms. Record full or partial payments and see what's late.1110CustomersWho owes you what, aged by how late it is, with one click to their history.2000BillsEnter bills when they arrive, pay them on time, and keep vendor history for 1099s.2010Expenses and receiptsSplit one purchase across categories. Every category maps to its line on Schedule C.1000Bank importsLoad the CSV from any bank or card. Footing skips duplicates, matches what you already entered and learns your categories.1001ReconciliationTick off your statement line by line until the difference is $0.00, the same way accountants do it.3000Financial statementsProfit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow, on cash or accrual basis, with any date range.4000Quarterly tax estimateSelf-employment tax, income tax and the 20% business deduction, with every 2026 due date.5000Mileage, assets and budgetsLog trips at the IRS rate for the trip's date (72.5¢, then 76¢ from July 1, 2026), depreciate equipment monthly, and track spending against a budget.Real double-entry
Every dollar is recorded twice, so mistakes can't hide.
Most simple money apps keep a list. Footing keeps a ledger: every transaction has a debit and an equal credit. That's what lets it produce a balance sheet that actually balances, and why your accountant will trust the export.
- You invoice Maple Street Cafe for $2,400.
- Footing records it: the cafe owes you, and you've earned income.
- They pay. The money lands in checking and the amount owed clears to zero.
Accounts receivable
Sales
Business checking
Trial balance
Reports
The statements a lender or tax preparer asks for.
Switch between cash and accrual, compare to last period, click any line to see the transactions behind it, then print or export to CSV.
Taxes
Know what to set aside before the IRS asks.
Self-employed people pay their own taxes four times a year. Footing turns your profit so far into a full-year estimate and splits it across the due dates.
Privacy
Your books stay on your computer.
Footing runs entirely in your web browser. There's no account to create and no server holding your numbers.
Pairs well with Footing
Tools a small business usually needs next.
Questions
Before you start
Is Footing really free?
Yes. There's no trial, no account and no card. The site is supported by optional partner offers. If we ever add paid extras, the bookkeeping you use today stays free.
Where are my books saved?
In your browser's storage on the computer you use. That means clearing your browser data erases them, so download a backup file now and then (Settings, then Download backup). To move to another computer, restore that file there.
Does it connect to my bank?
No, on purpose. Download a CSV from your bank or card company and load it into Footing. It takes a minute a month and keeps your bank login private.
Cash or accrual: which should I use?
Cash basis counts income when you're paid and expenses when you pay. Most small businesses file this way. Accrual counts income when you invoice. Footing keeps full records either way, so you can switch any report between the two.
Can my accountant work with it?
Yes. Footing uses a standard chart of accounts and real double-entry. Export the journal or any report to CSV, or print the statements.
Does Footing file my taxes?
No. It keeps your books and estimates what you owe so you can plan. File with your tax software or a tax professional, using Footing's reports. Footing isn't a CPA and doesn't give tax or legal advice.
Can my clients pay me from the invoice?
Footing invoices show what's owed and when. If you want a Pay button your client can tap for Venmo, PayPal, Cash App or a card link, make the invoice in our free invoice maker, Paid Up, then tap Add to my books and it opens in Footing ready to save.
Does it do payroll?
No. If you have employees, use a payroll service and record each payroll as an expense in Footing. Paying yourself as a sole proprietor or single-member LLC is an owner draw, which Footing tracks.