Accounting
Software
Makes Record Keeping Easy
Now with less work accounting software lets you get better
information and you don't even have to know double entry
bookkeeping. With the advent of personal computers it has
revolutionized record keeping for businesses. The programs do
it for you.
All the accounting programs provide you with many easy to
run reports giving you valuable insight into the running
of your business. With a click of a button you can
get your monthly profit and loss statements, balance
sheets, cash flow reports. You can analyze sales
data by customers or products. Bank reconciliation's
are easy to do.
The graphs and charts can make it easy to watch your
business trends.
Home and
Business by Quicken
Many small business owners, like those starting out in
network marketing, are running a very part-time business
under their own name and Social Security number for the
tax id. If you are one of those, you may want to consider the
program Home and Business by Quicken.
The program lets you track both personal and business
expenses. It easily lets you separate the two of them.
The program has many reports that you can run on your personal
and business affairs.
This program is only recommended if your business is very
small. It does not provide the double entry accounting that
businesses should have.
What is important is that you will be able to generate
several reports to see how you are doing. The reports and
accounting will get you into the mindset of being a business
owner. It will provide you with a convenient way of
presenting the information to the accountant.
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For the serious home based business owner your choice for a
small business accounting program will be different. At this
point you will probably have:
- Set up a business entity (DBA, LLC, C Corp).
- Opened up a business bank account.
- Found an accountant.
- Selected an attorney.
- Filed for a tax id number.
There are three primary accounting programs for the
home-based business owner. They are QuickBooks, Peachtree, and
Microsoft.
The accountant will most likely have a favorite that they will
recommend. Most business accountants will support all
three.
QuickBooks
by IntuitQuickBooks by Intuit is one of the oldest and the
most popular. They do offer several specialized versions for
specific types of businesses. To get you started they also
offer free accounting software. It is a
full functioning accounting program that will meet the
needs of most home-based businesses. It just does not
have all the bells and whistles of the upgraded
editions.
Peachtree
by SagePeachtree has a long established and respected
history when accounting systems. One of the great
features of Peachtree, is being able to use the ACT
contact manager program with it.
Office
Accounting Express by MicrosoftAlthough Microsoft is the
"new kid on the block" when it comes to accounting, they have
created a popular accounting program. The program offers a
synergy between their Office product and their accounting
products. They do offer free accounting software to get you
started.
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