| The world of small business accounting software | | | | opinion because they live and breathe this stuff. |
| can be a minefield for any business owner. | | | | 4. Best Value for Money |
| However choosing the right package is one of the | | | | Let’s understand that a low price and high |
| most critical business decisions you will make. | | | | quality equals the best value. Shop around as the |
| Here are the seven things you must consider | | | | price can vary greatly and the product is exactly |
| before making a purchase that will help you | | | | the same. However price is only one part of the |
| achieve your businesses goals. | | | | equation, so if there is a great merchant locally |
| 1. Scalability | | | | with support or installation assistance this may be |
| Businesses change over time so it's critical that | | | | far more valuable. |
| the small business accounting software you | | | | 5. Major Brands |
| choose can change too. Some things that often | | | | There are two major players in the small business |
| change are the number of products and services | | | | accounting software market. They are |
| offered and the number of employees. When you | | | | QuickBooks and Peachtree. Microsoft is expected |
| choose your package try and imaging the | | | | to enter the market soon. I recommend choosing |
| business in 5 years or 10 years time and how | | | | a major brand so that you can get regular |
| different it will be. Use this information to guide | | | | updates and you know the company will be |
| your purchase decision. It may well be better to | | | | around as long as your business needs them. |
| pay a little more now for the software knowing | | | | 6. Ease of Use |
| that it can be easily up-graded when needed with | | | | Ease of use is a personal thing but it is worth |
| minimum disruption and cost to your business. | | | | trying the software before you buy it if you can. |
| 2. Support | | | | Remember to get the person who will be the |
| It is important that most software has great | | | | main user to test the software as well. Also |
| support for when something goes wrong (and it | | | | consider how well the package can interact with |
| always does). All major companies offer support | | | | other software you use. This is an advantage the |
| but you also need to think about support in your | | | | Microsoft package may have when it's available. |
| local area. It's often much easier to have | | | | 7. Features Needed |
| someone locally come in and do things you need | | | | I touched on this earlier when talking about |
| done with your software than have someone | | | | thinking ahead as to where you business will be in |
| trying to help you over the phone. Make some | | | | 5 or 10 years time. Most accounting software |
| inquiries with other small businesses about the | | | | packages come in several different versions. If |
| package they use and who helps them. | | | | you don't need certain features now and can't |
| 3. Accountant Interface | | | | see a need for them in the future then don't buy |
| It's most unlikely you will handle every aspect of | | | | them. The major differences are usually - number |
| your small businesses accounting. Your accountant | | | | of users allowed, inventory management capability |
| is an important factor in making the right decision. | | | | and number of reports available. |
| What software are they used to working with | | | | To sum up think ahead when planning your |
| and what do they prefer? Can you easily supply | | | | purchase of small business accounting software. |
| them data and reports from your package | | | | You will make a much smarter business decision |
| without the need for any extra work (which you'll | | | | that will save you plenty of trouble and money in |
| have to pay for)? Don't be afraid to ask their | | | | the future. |