Quickbooks

	Quickbooks Accounting In the search for a suitable accounting software solution, local business owners have a myriad of confusing choices. For those who do not have a strong accounting background, the process of selecting the RIGHT product can be daunting and very confusing. In the past, the decision was either a very expensive high-end solution or an inexpensive and inadequate product. Neither decision was good and the loser was usually the business owner! And more often than not, the business owner had to employ a highly trained and expensive bookkeeper to maintain the general ledger and other accounting records. During the last several years, however, one product has emerged as an excellent all-around do-it-yourself low-cost solution: Quickbooks. Initially a DOS-based accounting software package relegated to the back-offices of computer nerds, Quickbooks has matured into a user-friendly Windows-based accounting product. It is currently the best-selling accounting software package nationwide and is the most popular choice for small and medium size businesses. And let’s give credit to where credit is due: Intuit (the makers of Quicken). Intuit’s programmers have made an outstanding product. They took an established check-writing program (Quicken), added a few steroids, threw in every conceivable module and created Quickbooks! Quickbooks provides the strength and firepower of a high-end system which, ten years ago, could easily cost in excess of $5,000. The real winner with Quickbooks is the consumer, because the cost of Quickbooks will fit into any accounting budget. Price isn’t the only reason people are buying this software. Quickbooks is successful because it simplifies the entire accounting process for those who lack intricate knowledge of debits and credits. In addition to the electronic checkbook feature found in Quicken, Quickbooks makes it easy to work with accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, purchase orders, payroll, timesheets, reminder lists, “to do” notes, and other functions. Additionally, Quickbooks now comes with multi-user capabilities, enabling as many as five simultaneous operators. One of Quickbooks’ strongest and most popular features is its ability to create reports. All of the reports are customizable, allowing the user to retrieve data in almost every conceivable fashion. Additionally, every report has “drill down” capabilities, allowing the user to double-click on an item to navigate to the source document. For example, items on an aged accounts receivable report can be double-clicked to reveal individual invoices and payments. This retrieval capability empowers users by providing instantaneous feedback on important operating data. Because Quickbooks is so easy to use, small business owners can operate the entire accounting system themselves. After a quick learning curve, even those without an accounting background can utilize all of the capabilities and features of Quickbooks. Think of the savings by not having to employ a full or part-time accountant! In fact, the real threat from Quickbooks is that it will put the accounting profession out of business! Current surveys taken by ZDNet, PC World and PC Magazine all rank Quickbooks as the leading low-cost solution for small and medium sized businesses. Users appreciate its ease of use, its ability to simplify day-to-day accounting chores, and its universal acceptance. Our firm has used a variety of accounting programs, both high-end and low-end. We have found that Quickbooks is the best overall solution and we recommend it without hesitation.
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