Service
Tally or Zoho Books, and getting someone to work in it safely
Good software will not fix poor records, and a poor setup can hide them. Here is how the two commonly used options differ and what to settle before anyone starts. AccountOrbit is not a partner or reseller of either company.
How they compare
Facts below are from each company's own pages, as read in November 2026. Prices and plans change, so confirm before buying.
| Point | TallyPrime | Zoho Books |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Installed on a computer. A separately sold cloud access option is available | In a browser, with apps for desktop and phone |
| Several users | Multi-user licence for unlimited users on the same LAN | User count depends on plan, with roles and permissions |
| Published price, before GST | Silver, single PC: ₹22,500 lifetime or ₹8,100 for 12 months. Gold, multi-user: ₹67,500 lifetime or ₹24,300 for 12 months | Standard ₹749 to Ultimate ₹7,999 a month, billed annually |
| Free option | 7-day trial | Free plan while revenue stays within ₹25 lakh a year, with limits on users and invoices |
| GST features claimed | GST return upload, reconciliation, e-invoice and e-way bill | GST reports and filing, e-invoice and e-way bill |
| Backup | Not stated on the pages we read. Ask how it is set up for you | States automatic cloud backup |
Sources: Tally pricing (opens in a new tab), TallyPrime (opens in a new tab), Zoho Books pricing (opens in a new tab), Zoho Books (opens in a new tab). Comparison by AccountOrbit.
Questions that decide it
- Who will do the entries?
- Many accountants already know Tally. Ask the person you plan to hire what they actually use.
- Do you carry much stock?
- Test your real stock and billing steps in a trial. Do not rely on a feature list.
- Do you want to see figures from anywhere?
- A browser product does this by default. An installed product may need an add-on.
- What does it cost over three years?
- Compare totals, including users, renewals and any accountant's charges.
Safe access for your accountant
- Buy the licence or subscription in your own name
- Give each person their own login, not a shared one
- Limit each role to what they need
- Know where the data file or account lives
- Take backups you can open yourself
- Remove access the day someone leaves
Tally's and Zoho's own help pages explain their user controls. Ask to be shown yours.
If you are moving from one to the other
Moving data is a project, and a cut-off date is what makes it manageable. Zoho publishes a Tally to Zoho Books guide (opens in a new tab), based on exporting masters, vouchers and a trial balance from Tally and importing them.
- Pick a clean cut-off, ideally a year or quarter end.
- Reconcile the bank, parties and stock in the old system first. Do not migrate errors.
- Move opening balances, and decide whether old transactions need to move at all.
- Check the trial balance on both sides after the move.
- Keep the old data, in a readable form, for as long as the record-keeping rules require.
What accounting help in software usually covers
- Setting up the company, ledgers, tax settings and stock items
- Entering vouchers and reconciling bank statements
- Reports such as trial balance, profit and loss and party balances
- Correcting past errors, which is often a one-off project
Knowing the software is not the same as understanding accounts or tax. Ask about both. Software features also do not replace the filing duties discussed under GST return filing.
Warning signs
- Offers a cracked or unlicensed copy to save money
- Keeps your company file on their own laptop, with no copy for you
- Shares one login across staff
- Deletes or overwrites old entries without notes, particularly near filing time
What affects the fee
Voucher volume, stock detail, migration or clean-up, and training. Software cost is separate from any accountant's fee, so ask for both in writing.
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