coffee
Well-Known Member
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Im getting pretty frustrated here and this might turn into a bit of a rant. But I just dont understand the accounting software market. All Iam is a small one person shop that is in desperate need of a decent accounting program. However, I do not have a big bankroll. Iam begining to think that simple spreadsheets might be the only way to accomplish my accounting. I would love to pay my taxes and have an accurate view of how Iam doing in business but at this point its looking pretty elusive.
When I first started out I purchased a copy of quickbooks pro and wanted to work with that. However, I ran into some difficulties in creating even simple things like a custom invoice. I started reading around at reviews and asking some select clients about it when I saw them using it. No one seems even remotely happy and everyone actually has more bad to say about it then good. So, I set it aside (damn, wasted that money) and started looking for other options. Besides quickbooks seems to not want to fix some long term problems according to alot of reviews (amazon).
I installed gnucash and have been working with that. However, I dont get a very warm feeling from it as it has a bit of a learning curve to it and difficult for me to understand it. Took quite a while to set it up and then I find out that you cannot customize invoices and such. Along with gnucash I needed an invoice program. Therefore, I installed 'simple invoices' and it actually seems to handle invoices pretty good. I still cannot customize invoices and I do not trust the accounting in it. Its got alot of rough edges - but it was free.
So, I started looking around again. I found 'Openerp' as an all-in-one solution and I was sold on the nifty graphics and such. Therefore, I downloaded a copy and set it up on my webserver to see how it would do. Well, I have to say that I cannot even figure out how to start a bank beginning balance in it. I also would get these annoying sales calls on my cell phone. Im sure they are just trying to be helpful but they couldnt answer any of my questions. They would instead email me a link to what they thought might answer my questions and drop it. Of course the links are pretty general and not helpful. So I went and looked at their 'forum' setup for customers and noticed that it is now defunct. They have some "ask a question" knowledge base instead. So, I try and 'ask a question' and I have to sign up for an account with them. So, There it sits on the server and Im almost ready to nuke it.
What I see in the accounting market is either free with little or no documentation or extremely expensive, Cloud accounting. Is it just me or does anyone else have an issue with their private information floating around on a "cloud" which is essentially is a pack of ready to hack servers on the internet?
This problem has been festering in me ever since I started the business. I cannot seem to find a decent accounting software package for single small business people that are not quite adept at accounting principals and practices. Seems to have to be an expert to understand what to do. Aside from that the monthly charges, Cloud storage, or all out cost of the software is beyond what I can actually afford at this time.
All I want to do is keep my financial info private and not on a cloud. I dont trust it. I would also like decent documentation and somewhere to research problems like a forum.
I run windows thru a VM on linux which doesnt seem to be much of a problem but if I have to I will setup a windows 7 computer just for my accounting needs. Just have to find something to run on it.
Sorry for the ranting but this is very frustrating. At this point Im sure Iam not alone - Or am I?
coffee
When I first started out I purchased a copy of quickbooks pro and wanted to work with that. However, I ran into some difficulties in creating even simple things like a custom invoice. I started reading around at reviews and asking some select clients about it when I saw them using it. No one seems even remotely happy and everyone actually has more bad to say about it then good. So, I set it aside (damn, wasted that money) and started looking for other options. Besides quickbooks seems to not want to fix some long term problems according to alot of reviews (amazon).
I installed gnucash and have been working with that. However, I dont get a very warm feeling from it as it has a bit of a learning curve to it and difficult for me to understand it. Took quite a while to set it up and then I find out that you cannot customize invoices and such. Along with gnucash I needed an invoice program. Therefore, I installed 'simple invoices' and it actually seems to handle invoices pretty good. I still cannot customize invoices and I do not trust the accounting in it. Its got alot of rough edges - but it was free.
So, I started looking around again. I found 'Openerp' as an all-in-one solution and I was sold on the nifty graphics and such. Therefore, I downloaded a copy and set it up on my webserver to see how it would do. Well, I have to say that I cannot even figure out how to start a bank beginning balance in it. I also would get these annoying sales calls on my cell phone. Im sure they are just trying to be helpful but they couldnt answer any of my questions. They would instead email me a link to what they thought might answer my questions and drop it. Of course the links are pretty general and not helpful. So I went and looked at their 'forum' setup for customers and noticed that it is now defunct. They have some "ask a question" knowledge base instead. So, I try and 'ask a question' and I have to sign up for an account with them. So, There it sits on the server and Im almost ready to nuke it.
What I see in the accounting market is either free with little or no documentation or extremely expensive, Cloud accounting. Is it just me or does anyone else have an issue with their private information floating around on a "cloud" which is essentially is a pack of ready to hack servers on the internet?
This problem has been festering in me ever since I started the business. I cannot seem to find a decent accounting software package for single small business people that are not quite adept at accounting principals and practices. Seems to have to be an expert to understand what to do. Aside from that the monthly charges, Cloud storage, or all out cost of the software is beyond what I can actually afford at this time.
All I want to do is keep my financial info private and not on a cloud. I dont trust it. I would also like decent documentation and somewhere to research problems like a forum.
I run windows thru a VM on linux which doesnt seem to be much of a problem but if I have to I will setup a windows 7 computer just for my accounting needs. Just have to find something to run on it.
Sorry for the ranting but this is very frustrating. At this point Im sure Iam not alone - Or am I?
coffee
). In 17 years of being in business, I have never run a GL report. With the click of a button, I regularly create Transaction reports, Jobs by Date, Cash Transaction reports, Profit & Loss reports, Y-T-D P&L Comparisons, Open Invoices reports, Customer Statements, and Deposit Detail reports. 
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