New business - non accountant. Which accounting software?

By: Timcharles Moss

You're setting out on a new business venture and you want to set up your brand spanking new company with the best accounting system you can. At the same time, you're no accountant and you can't afford to hire a trained bookkeeper. What do you do? Frankly, as far as I'm concerned there's only one answer for the beginner who has little accounting knowledge, but wants to keep a clean set of books with the easiest software to learn and understand and that has a decent backup resource available for when you get in to trouble. And you will, right? So what do I suggest - Intuit's QuickBooks is going to give what you want and need.

QuickBooks comes in a variety of levels Basic, Standard and Premium. There is also a completely online version where the books are on Intuit's servers, not yours. There has to be an overriding reason why QuickBooks is clearly the number one software based on sales world wide. Price! But there are other reasons too. QuickBooks has the enviable reputation of the easiest of all ease of use features in the marketplace. The tools offered by the company to help you become a comfortable user are also unparalleled.

The three versions are priced (essentially $200, $300 and $500) so that most beginning users can afford to set themselves up and be confident that they can meet statutory requirements, prepare all the management reports they'll ever need and that they can grow the software as the business grows.

QuickBooks has 75 templates tailored for specific businesses, including one for real estate. It is an out-of-the-box accounting software that is most suitable for small and medium-sized businesses that have standard accounting needs. If your business needs unique data reports, make sure the accounting software you choose offers customizable reports. If you run a service-related business, check to be sure the accounting software includes features such as a time and billing module. See how complicated this can get? Recommendation - keep it simple and use QucikBooks. If there is a little adaptation necessary, let it be you. It's quicker and easier that way.

Still uncomfortable about making a choice? Then try the QuickBooks Simple Start System. This is a free download and you can try the thing to see if you can get comfortable quickly. QucikBooks claims it won't overwhelm you with tools you don't need and states it will help you create professional-looking invoices, print checks, track expenses all in a few minutes. You can track 20 customers, employees or vendors. Not too shabby.

The only counsel I would add to that is, don't take too long to make up your mind. Now QuickBooks is going to make it easy to convert over to one of the main vehicles seamlessly. In fact you'll keep getting reminders about that. Figure to be marketed out of your mind as you try to choose. Keep a cool head and ask all the questions you need. You might want to ask an accountant to validate your choice. Again remember most accountants have a vested interest and they're used to complicated systems and they know how to straighten things out when they're screwed up. That's how they make a living. For the foreseeable future QuickBooks will be just fine.