Is 399Apps good for service businesses — consultants, repair shops, salons and clinics?

Service-business billing: 399Apps vs inventory-first tools

How billing software handles pure service businesses. Prices indicative — verify with each vendor.

Pricing reflects publicly listed plans and is indicative; verify current pricing with each vendor.

Service invoicing with SAC codes — no stock required

Most billing software in India is marketed at shops and traders that move physical goods. That does not mean they refuse service businesses — it means the default screens and demo videos are all about stock, leading service-sector owners to wonder whether the software even applies to them.

Nidhi Books handles service invoices natively. A service line uses a SAC code (Services Accounting Code) instead of a HSN code for goods, and the built-in library lets you search by a description — "management consulting", "mobile repair", "hair colouring" — and the code auto-fills with the correct GST rate. Most professional services are at 18% GST; healthcare is exempt; restaurants are 5%. The software applies the right rate once the SAC is set, so every invoice is compliant without you needing to know the rate from memory.

You do not need to enable the inventory module at all. Add Nidhi Inventory later only if your business stocks spare parts, retail products, or medicines alongside the service — a repair shop that sells replacement parts, for example. Until then, billing and accounts run completely on their own at ₹399/month.

Track outstanding payments — know exactly who owes you

Cash flow for service businesses is almost always a receivables problem: you delivered the work, sent the invoice, and now you are waiting. Nidhi Books keeps a client-wise outstanding view so you can see at a glance which clients have invoices past 30, 60, or 90 days — not just a flat list of unpaid bills.

From any outstanding invoice you can share a payment link and the invoice PDF directly over WhatsApp in one tap. Clients who pay by UPI, NEFT or bank transfer get their payment recorded against the right invoice. For repeat clients on retainers or monthly billing, you raise the same invoice structure each month without re-entering the service lines.

This matters differently by trade. A repair shop needs job-card-to-invoice traceability and part-sale lines on the same bill. A salon needs quick walk-in billing with a payment-collected flag. A consultant needs TDS deducted by the client recorded against the invoice so the 26AS credit is provable. Nidhi Books covers the core receivables workflow that all of these share.

Unlimited users — receptionist, owner, accountant all included

A typical service business has at least two or three people who need billing access: the owner, a front-desk staff member or receptionist, and an accountant or CA who reviews the books. Most per-user-priced tools charge for each of these seats separately, so what looks like affordable software at ₹999/year turns out to cost ₹2,997 once three people need a login.

Every 399Apps plan includes unlimited users with role-based access — you decide who can bill, who can see the accounts, and who has read-only access. Adding your receptionist, a second technician, or your CA costs nothing extra. That flat-price-per-app model is the same reason the total bill stays at ₹399/month even as your team grows.

A 14-day free trial is available through the contact form at 399apps.com/contact — no card required. Set up your service items with SAC codes, raise a few real invoices, and check the outstanding view before you commit. A 14-day free trial is available (no card required).