There are many billing tools for Indian businesses, free and paid. Rather than recommending one, here is a checklist you can apply to any of them, including ours.
Ten questions to ask
- Is the invoice GST-ready? It should show GSTIN, place of supply, HSN/SAC and split CGST/SGST/IGST correctly without manual work.
- Does it cover the documents you use? Tax invoice, quotation, delivery challan, credit and debit note, purchase bill, receipts.
- Is e-invoicing or an e-way bill required for you? If your turnover needs an IRN, check that the software integrates with the IRP. Not every tool does.
- What does the free plan really limit? Count the limit (documents, customers, users) against your monthly volume.
- Can you export your data? You should be able to take your customers, items and reports with you.
- Do the reports help your CA? GSTR-1, GSTR-3B summary, HSN summary, registers and ageing.
- Does it print the way your customers expect? Paper sizes (A4, A5, thermal 80 mm), logo, signature, bank and UPI details.
- Can your team use it safely? Separate roles for cashier, accountant and CA, and a record of who changed what.
- Is your data protected? Look for separate data per business, backups, automatic sign-out and an honest explanation of how it is stored.
- Is help available in your language and time zone? Check how support works before you need it.
How Rashtra Bill answers these
- Free plan: 10 records a month (items, customers, invoices and so on count towards it), no card needed. Starter is ₹499 a year for 500 records a month and Professional is ₹1,999 a year for unlimited records; see pricing. Prices exclude GST.
- Documents: tax and cash invoices, quotations, delivery challans, credit and debit notes, purchase bills and receipts.
- Reports: GSTR-1, GSTR-3B summary, HSN summary, registers, ageing, expenses and profit.
- Roles: Admin, Manager, Accountant, Cashier and CA (view-only), with an activity log.
- Not included today: e-invoice (IRN) generation, e-way bill generation and filing returns on the GST portal.
The best test is to try it. Create a free account, make a couple of real invoices and see whether it fits the way you work.
Frequently asked questions
Is free billing software enough for a small shop?
It can be, if its monthly limit covers your volume and it handles GST properly. Count how many documents, customers and items you create in a typical month and compare it with the plan limit.
Should I choose desktop or online billing software?
Online software works from any device and keeps data backed up for you; desktop software can work without internet. Choose based on whether you need to bill from several places and how reliable your connection is.
This guide is general information for small businesses, not legal or tax advice. GST rules, rates and thresholds are changed by notification, so check the current position on the GST portal or with your chartered accountant before acting.