Comparison \u2014 DIY
Syntharra vs Spreadsheet AR tracking
A spreadsheet tracks who owes you money. Syntharra makes the phone call so you do not have to.
| Dimension | Syntharra | Spreadsheet AR tracking |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | 10% of recovered amount, no monthly fee | Free (your time is the cost) |
| Monthly minimum | None | None |
| Setup time | About 10 minutes | Minutes to build; ongoing maintenance forever |
| Voice AI calls | Compliance-safe voice agent, 3-attempt cap | Manual calls only — or none at all |
| TCPA/FDCPA compliance | TCPA/FDCPA guardrails — see /compliance | No guardrails — your responsibility |
| QuickBooks integration | Native QuickBooks Online OAuth | Manual export or copy-paste from QBO |
| Contract length | Month-to-month, cancel anytime | No contract — but no automation either |
| Funds flow | Paid direct to your Stripe account | You collect however the customer pays |
How to think about this comparison
Tracking overdue invoices in Excel or Google Sheets is how most small businesses start managing receivables — it is free, flexible, and requires no setup. The problem is not the tracking; the problem is what happens next. Once you have a list of overdue invoices, someone still has to call each customer, navigate the conversation, and follow up again if they do not pick up. That step almost never happens consistently, because it is uncomfortable and time-consuming. Syntharra connects to QuickBooks Online, reads your overdue invoices automatically, and places compliance-safe voice calls on your behalf — up to three attempts per invoice, with a minimum of three days between each. The spreadsheet tells you what is owed. Syntharra makes sure someone actually asks for it.
When Spreadsheet AR tracking is the better choice
Tracking AR in a spreadsheet is a reasonable starting point. It stops working when nobody consistently makes the follow-up call. Syntharra replaces that manual step with automated, compliance-safe voice follow-up — so the call gets made whether or not anyone has time to make it.
This is Syntharra's own first-party positioning, not a third-party endorsement. We publish it here so the trade-offs stay explicit.
Questions shops ask when picking between us and Spreadsheet AR tracking
What is wrong with tracking AR in a spreadsheet?
Nothing is wrong with the tracking itself. The gap is what happens after you know the invoice is overdue. Spreadsheets do not make phone calls, do not enforce call windows, and do not know when three days have passed since the last attempt. Syntharra automates those steps.
Is a spreadsheet free compared to Syntharra?
In software cost, yes. In practice, your time spent manually calling clients, updating rows, and re-calling no-answers has real cost. Syntharra charges 10% of what it actually recovers. If it does not recover anything in a month, you pay nothing.
Do I need to keep the spreadsheet if I use Syntharra?
Not for overdue invoices. Syntharra reads overdue invoices directly from QuickBooks Online and manages the follow-up cycle. You can keep using a spreadsheet for other purposes, but you do not need it as an AR tracking tool.
What TCPA risks do I take when calling clients manually?
If you call outside the allowed 9 AM to 8 PM window in the client's local time zone, call more than permitted, or fail to identify yourself properly, you could face TCPA liability. Syntharra enforces these rules deterministically on every call.
How does Syntharra know which invoices to call about?
Syntharra reads your QuickBooks Online account via OAuth, identifies invoices that are three or more days past due, and queues them for voice follow-up automatically. You do not need to export or copy data anywhere.
For full detail on TCPA and FDCPA compliance, see the compliance page.
Connect your books. We take it from there.
Stop updating your AR spreadsheet manually. Connect QuickBooks and let Syntharra make the calls for you.
Connect your booksNo monthly charge. We earn when you recover. Pricing detail.