The Streaming Analogy
Think about how media consumption changed. We went from cable TV bundles (200 channels, watched 10) to streaming services where you pick exactly what you want.
Accounting software is still in the cable TV era.
Most platforms sell tiers: a small bundle, a medium bundle, a large bundle. Each tier includes a mix of features you need and features you do not. You pick the tier that contains the one feature you need most, and you pay for everything else as overhead.
What “A La Carte” Means for Accounting
CarteFi applies the unbundled approach to accounting software. Instead of tiers, there are modules. Each module does one thing and has one price.
Want invoicing? That is $8/month. Want time tracking? $6/month. Want both? $14/month. Want neither? You do not pay for them.
The base platform costs $15/month and includes the accounting engine, bank reconciliation, reporting, and a dashboard. From there, you add modules like toppings.
Why This Is Better for Small Businesses
You pay for what you use
A freelance designer who only sends invoices pays $23/month (base + invoicing), not $38 for a tier that also includes inventory and project tracking they will never touch.
You grow at your own pace
When you hire your first employee and need time tracking, you add it for $6/month. You do not jump from a $38 plan to a $75 plan.
You can try before you commit
During the 14-day free trial, all modules are active. After the trial, you keep only the ones you actually used. No guessing.
No features held hostage
Reporting, data export, and API access are free on every plan. Your financial data is yours. We do not lock it behind higher tiers.
The Objection: Is It More Complicated?
The most common objection to modular pricing is complexity. “I do not want to think about which modules I need. Just give me a tier.”
Fair point. That is why CarteFi includes preset scenarios:
- Solo Consultant: Base + Invoicing + Time Tracking ($29/month)
- Small Team: Base + 4 users + Invoicing + AP + Time + Projects ($69/month)
- Full Suite: Everything ($119/month for 10 users)
One click applies a preset. You can customize from there if you want, or just go with the preset. The simplicity of tiers, with the flexibility to change.
The Bottom Line
A la carte accounting means you build the plan that fits your business, not the other way around. You never pay for features you do not use, and you never have to upgrade to a higher tier to reach a single feature.
See the pricing calculator to build your plan, or start a free trial with all modules included for 14 days.