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July 17, 2009 
The Best Accounting Software for Troubled Times
best small business accounting software
Anyone who’s running a small business knows that new money is hard to come by these days. Chances are, you’re going to have to make do with what you’ve got for a while.
So it’s time to pinch those pennies until they scream, and that means keeping a very close eye on your accounts and your cash flow. Whether your staff consists of just you or an entire crew, you can’t afford to be doing your bookkeeping on Post-it notes. Powerful, inexpensive, and easy-to-use accounting packages abound, and we’ve reviewed four of the best to help you pick the right one for your business.
Learning a new interface can be time-consuming and frustrating, but with Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2008, chances are it won’t be. Assuming you’ve already used the software goliath’s Office application, you’ll feel right at home—this small-biz accounting package shares the same look and feel. Not surprisingly, it also integrates with Office better than the three rivals we look at here. There’s room for improvement—for example, businesses with heavy-duty inventory or time-billing needs will need to look
elsewhere—but otherwise, this package is a worthy contender for your
accounting dollars.
But even if you do complex hourly billing or have a warehouse packed with items that can be sold in a dizzying number of configurations, you don’t have to sacrifice usability. MYOB Premier Accounting 2008 doesn’t look or act like Microsoft Office, but you won’t have to spend much time learning how to get around. It is one of the cleanest, most easily navigable of these products, and its time-billing and inventory modules are excellent. If the company
improves the product’s online-banking features, MYOB could become the
best small-business accounting package around.
Peachtree by Sage Complete Accounting 2009 gives you more flexible database forms for customers, vendors, and inventory items than its competitors, and its transaction forms are equally adaptable. The product’s time-billing section goes into greater depth than those of its competitors, its inventory capability shines, and the company’s payroll solutions are impressive. All that holds it back is its interface, but if you’re willing to put the extra effort into learning your way around, your time will be rewarded.
The giant in small-business accounting is, of course, Intuit, and the company’s QuickBooks Accounting Pro Edition 2009 is the most ell-rounded of these four competitors. The company’s products are well regarded for their thorough setup interviews, and this software goes a little further with the process than the competitors. Some rivals offer more structured follow-up, though, and have forms that allow you to enter more details. On the other hand, QuickBooks has robust time-billing features and offers more good choices for payroll processing. It also does more online.
In the current economy, you need quick access to your business’s
financial information. You can’t afford not to get every dollar you’re owed, or to not know where every dollar is going. Whether you run a sole-proprietor operation or a small business, one of these programs will meet your needs. Read the reviews of these products by clicking on the links in this article or those in the short descriptions that follow.
Featured in This Roundup:
Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2008
From $199.95 direct
A familiar, Outlook-like interface, robust integration with other Microsoft Office apps, and a good help system make this one of the easiest-to-use accounting products you’ll find. The package is a good choice for small businesses that need integrated online-sales capabilities, want a familiar, Microsoft Office look and feel, and have
simple inventory-tracking needs.
MYOB Premier Accounting 2008
From $299 direct
If you don’t need extensive online services, MYOB Premier Accounting 2008 will serve you well. It has a clean, exceptionally navigable interface and a solid set of accounting tools, including a very capable inventory-tracking system.
Peachtree by Sage Complete Accounting 2009
From $269.99 direct
This software offers exceptionally thorough modules, good overview tools, and three payroll levels. The application deals with accounting issues capably, excelling especially at inventory. With an interface overhaul and enhanced usability, Peachtree by Sage Complete Accounting 2008 could become a star.
QuickBooks Accounting Pro Edition 2009
From $199.95 direct
Small businesses will find an excellent stable of features here. You get good management overviews, expansive payroll options, marketing tools, and more. QuickBooks Accounting Pro Edition 2009 may not be the strongest package in every area, but of all the small-business accounting programs available today, it offers the best combination of usability and accounting features.
Source : The Best Accounting Software
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