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Running a business is hard enough, so you need an accounting program that can streamline operations without taxing your brain. To keep your company from waxing nostalgic over the pencil and ledger book, accounting apps can automate data input; reconcile accounts; and draw reports of profits and losses, income and expenses, cash flow, and so on. Above all, you want bookkeeping software with a simple layout and a shallow learning curve.
Depending on the size and style of your business, you're likely to find a fit among one of these four financial accounting programs. We've reviewed the small to medium-size business versions of QuickBooks, Peachtree, MYOB, and Simply Accounting. Each vendor also offers differently priced editions to serve newbies as well as green-lampshade gurus. Peachtree and QuickBooks even sell apps tailored for construction, nonprofits, manufacturing firms, and more.
Among these, Intuit QuickBooks stands out for its generous free year of support; the others make you pay for help queries after 30 days. MYOB Premier Accounting and Simply Accounting Pro manage payroll at no extra cost. We especially liked the straightforward interfaces of Simply and QuickBooks. Peachtree's self-auditing tool is extraconscientious, as it runs 15 checks to prevent your ledgers from raising red flags with the IRS. To serve ultrasmall shops, the new Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting integrates tightly with Excel, while QuickBooks Simple Start doesn't import data from Excel.
If you decide to take your digital ledger on the road, check out the online versions of QuickBooks and Simply Accounting. One advantage to accessing accounts from any Web-based PC is that multiple employees can log in, but the online versions are pricey. You also can't switch back and forth between the online and desktop editions by the same vendor. While Simply Accounting Online manages payroll and inventory, it's the most expensive option in this lineup.
| |
Peachtree Complete Accounting 2006 |
MYOB Business Essentials Pro 2005 |
QuickBooks Premier 2005 |
Simply Accounting Pro 2005 |
Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2006 |
QuickBooks Simple Start |
QuickBooks Online |
Simply Accounting Online |
Rating: Setup and inter-
face |
7 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
| Rating: Features |
8 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
| Rating: Service and support |
6 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
| Editors' rating |
7.0 |
6.0 |
8.0 |
7.0 |
6.7 |
6.0 |
7.0 |
6.0 |
| Price |
$300 |
$300 |
$500 |
$300 |
$179 |
$100 |
$240/year |
$900/year |
Oper-
ating system |
Windows 98 and up |
Windows 98 and up |
Windows 98 and up |
Windows 98 and up |
Windows 2000 SP3 and up |
Windows 98 and up |
Windows 98 and up |
Windows 98 and up |
| Service and support |
30 days free |
30 days free |
One year free |
30 days free |
90 days free |
30 days free |
Free |
$25/
monthly per user |
| Internal audits |
Yes, runs 15 reviews |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Syncs contacts with Outlook |
Yes |
Export and convert data first |
Yes |
Yes, adds toolbar to Outlook |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Export/
import data with Excel and Word |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Not from Excel |
Yes |
Yes |
Manage inven-
tory |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Custom-
ize forms and reports |
145 reports |
Yes |
100+ reports |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Users |
Pay extra for more than two users |
Pay extra for more than two users |
Pay extra for more than two users |
Pay extra for more than two users |
Pay extra for up to five users |
One at a time |
Up to 20 users |
Up to 25 users |
| Other editions |
First, Standard, Premium, Accountant |
Standard |
SimpleStart, Basic, Pro (for Mac), Enterprise, Accountant, Online |
Basic, Premium, Online |
Small Business Manager Accounting |
Basic, Pro (for Mac), Premier, Enterprise, Accountant, Online |
Desktop editions |
Desktop editions |
| Paid extras |
Pay bills online, manage time and billing, third-party point-of-sale option, online backup |
Process credit cards, direct deposit, online payroll |
Payroll, point of sale, remote access, online backup, online payroll |
Process credit cards, direct deposit, remote access, online backup |
Payroll, online banking, credit cards |
Upgrade to another version of QuickBooks for expanded features. |
Process credit cards; payroll |
Process credit cards; payroll is free |
Indus-
try-
specificeditions |
Premium for construction, manu-
facturing, nonprofits, distribution |
No |
Premier for contractors, manu-
facturing, nonprofits, retail, professional services, wholesale |
No |
No |
Premier for contractors, manu-
facturing, nonprofits, retail, professional services, wholesale |
Desktop editions |
No |
Read the CNET editor's take
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6.7 out of 10
7.0 out of 10
