Is it worth using anything but Quickbooks for a small business' accounting software?
Is it worth using anything but Quickbooks for a small business' accounting software?
Are you worried about if it is worth the price of purchasing other small business accounting software? Or the trouble of using software that isn't as widely used as Quickbooks?
As far as price, it can be worth it, because software like Peachtree is less expensive than Quickbooks, and while I'm unfamiliar with recent versions of these other programs, assume them to be comparable to Quickbooks. But as far as the trouble, it's probably not worth it. Quickbooks is now the standard for small business accounting and it's far easier to find employees familiar with Quickbooks than to find or train people to use these other programs; as well as finding online support, local support, or third party software to help you use these programs.
For example, here in Austin, Peachtree's website lists only one certified expert who can help me with Peachtree, while Quickbooks' website lists 104. For third-party apps that integrate expense management into the accounting software, Peachtree's website only lists five, while Quickbooks has nineteen. Similarly, for third-party apps integrating inventory management, Peachtree lists nineteen, while Quickbooks has fifty-five. And that's because Quickbooks has the critical mass required to attract accountants and developers to work with their program, while Peachtree does not.
I myself have been helping small business clients for over eight years, and have yet to find one who didn't use Quickbooks. While I'm sure they exist, Quickbooks is definitely the standard, while employers pay a small premium for people who can use other software. If you like the cheaper price and plan on doing your own bookkeeping without need for help or third party add-ons, going with Peachtree or other programs might be a good idea. But if you think you'll some day need to find a new bookkeeper to use your system or want to add on extra apps, Quickbooks is the way to go.
If you'd like an in depth comparison of QuickBooks products, there is a great one here, on ChooseWhat.
It sounds like QuickBooks has cornered the market on bookkeeping software for small business. Thanks for the advice!
QuickBooks accounting software is the leading small business accounting software. QuickBooks software delivers enhanced accounting functionality and is very simple to use. QuickBooks application is also the favorite accounting software of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). QuickBooks makes it easy to organize your finances in one place, create reliable tax records, and save time tracking your sales and expenses. QuickBooks application program provides a room for your business to develop swiftly.
QuickBooks hosting is a much better option than local QuickBooks installation. QuickBooks Hosting reduces your expenses, and at the same time increases your business productivity. It provides ability to work from anywhere and at anytime. It reduces your travel time and expenses. Many employees can access data simultaneously from different locations. Your CPA, business partners, and employees, always have access to the most current version of your information. Small businesses get one click logon access to all relevant data.
For more information, see: http://www.myrealdata.com/quickbooks-hosting.html
The one thing about QuickBooks desktop versions is that when you grow, you can upgrade your version (like from Pro to Premier to Enterprise). If you are using the online version, it is very difficult to get all of your transactions into a new version.
The other plus for QB is that it is an automatic double entry system which means both sides of the transaction are taken care of for you once your Chart of Accounts is set up. If you start with Peachtree or something else and want to convert to QB later, sometimes your data will not transfer correctly or completely. Best to start with the best.
And with Intuit's new Pro Plus option, you can get 24/7 support, latest version upgrade and their add on services like Intuit Data Protect (online backup), QuickBooks Mobile (connectivity with a smartphone) and other goodies included for as little as $12.95/month.
Thanks for the post DeBorahBeatty. You make great points, it is "Best to start with the best." Although, I haven't been able to find that price for QuickBooks Pro Plus anywhere. From what I've seen, the cheapest you can acquire Pro Plus is by paying for a year up front and end up spending around $20.80 per month. If you can, please link me to where you see that pricing. We'd love to feature that on ChooseWhat's QuickBooks comparison section.
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