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How to Choose the Right Accounting Software for Your Business  by: Brandon Hall With any good luck and a good amount of hard work, you're having the same problem many business owners today are facing. Your business is growing rapidly and you're having problems controlling your finances. Time and time again, that Microsoft Excel spreadsheet you've been using just isn't getting the job done for you. So, you’ve decided that you’re ready to take the next step, and buy a full-featured accounting software program. Many options are available to choose from, but I believe the best solutions to be Quicken Premier Home and Business by Intuit, QuickBooks Pro also by Intuit, and Peachtree Accounting by Sage. In order to decide on the right package for you, you need define the type of business that you operate. With the rise of self-employment (businesses with one or more owners but no paid employees) a need has arisen to manage business and personal finances on one platform. Intuit has released Quicken 2005 Premier Home and Business to fill this need. This software is perfect for the small business owner who receives income from investments, real estate, and/or internet marketing. Also, Quicken 2005 Premier Home and Business is well priced at only $89.95. For more typical brick-and-mortar business owners, you will usually need a more robust solution like QuickBooks Pro or Peachtree Accounting for functions like payroll reporting and check producing. Each piece of software has its advantages, but don't forget that QuickBooks has been the standard in business accounting software for many years now. As for features and basic operations, both applications will provide you the same functionality and convenience for your business. One additional factor to consider in your decision is that Peachtree Accounting is less expensive than QuickBooks. Both starter versions of Peachtree and QuickBooks are priced at $99.95 each, but the full-featured version of Peachtree is priced at only $199.95 while the full-featured QuickBooks Pro is priced at $299.95. At the end of the day, the biggest advantage QuickBooks offers over Peachtree is compatibility with other applications. For example, most commercial banks (Bank of America, SunTrust, etc...) provide you with files designed to work directly with QuickBooks, so that you can read, study, and decipher transaction details. Also, some banks will allow you to update account information in real-time with QuickBooks. Check with your bank to see what accounting software their online services support, and you should be able to make your decision. About the author: Brandon Hall owns http://www.accountingsoftwareportal.comwhich is a site dedicated to providing resources, links, articles, and news related to accounting software products.

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11/20/2008 03:10 PM

Chinese Accounting Lagging But Improving (Forbes)

Chinese accounting is often derided as imprecise or worse, but education and experience will make things better.

11/21/2008 01:11 AM

Familiar face takes over accounting business (Point Pleasant Register)

Diane Pottorff/photo Richard Walker, Carolyn Walker, Staci Sayre, Tammy Willet and Jeanne Sargent are ready to serve customers and their accounting, tax and financial needs. Walker purchased the firm, which is located at 2409 Jackson Ave. in Point Pleasant, from retired accountant Jim Rossi.

11/20/2008 09:34 PM

Retailers Ring Up Success With New Solutions Business Editors/Software Writers (INO News)

(AP:MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--) (BUSINESS WIRE) _ Nov. 21, 2008-- Small retailers want quick answers to three important questions: "What's selling?" "Who's buying?" And "How can I save and make more money?"

11/20/2008 06:00 AM

A future without programming (InfoWorld via Yahoo! News)

A few years ago, self-proclaimed nondeveloper Kevin Smith worked for a software company that tried to build a project tracking tool using Microsoft .Net. Some 15 developers spent a year with little success. "After burning though a million dollars and still without a product, the company called it quits," says Smith, now managing partner of NextWave Performance, a consultancy in Denver, Colo.

11/21/2008 06:15 AM

Codeless development popular way to sidestep IT department (ITBusiness.ca)

A few years ago, self-proclaimed nondeveloper Kevin Smith worked for a software company that tried to build a project tracking tool using Microsoft .Net . Some 15 developers spent a year with little success.

11/17/2008 10:33 AM

Sage to Launch Hosted Services for Sage MIP Fund Accounting to Help Nonprofits Save Time and Money, Gain ... (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)

Sage North America announced today at Sage Summit 2008, its annual customer conference, that it will introduce hosting services next month for Sage MIP Fund Accounting. The hosted services will help organizations using Sage MIP Fund Accounting to minimize the information technology costs and resources required to maintain their accounting software, while gaining convenient anywhere-anytime ...

11/17/2008 09:48 AM

Charleston, Bluefield accounting firms merge (Charleston Daily Mail)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Charleston accounting firm of Chambers, Paterno & Associates has merged with the Bluefield-based firm of Brown, Edwards & Co. "Were merging forces," said Ruth Cannon, a partner with Brown, Edwards. "No money ...

11/19/2008 06:16 PM

The latest advance in medical care: mobile phones (Times Online)

Mobile phones have been regarded as potential health hazards almost since they were invented. Now they are being used to improve the lives of thousands of Britons with chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma.

11/20/2008 02:32 AM

News Update (Lodi News-Sentinel)

State Controller John Chiang scolded San Joaquin Delta College in a statement released this morning for violating audit protocol when it published a draft report of the agency's critiques before a bond committee meeting two weeks ago.

11/18/2008 06:00 AM

Latest Version of QAD Enterprise Applications QAD 2008.1 Featured at QAD Explore EMEA (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

SORRENTO, Italy----QAD Inc. , a leading provider of enterprise software and services for global manufacturers, today announced the latest version of QAD Enterprise Applications — QAD 2008.1 — at its European regional customer conference being held this week.