What do you smaller guys use for accounting software?

[CLC]

I'm looking for a free or inexpensive accounting software for my business. I have no employees, just me. I don't sell many products either its mostly just service. Yes I have tried alot on the web already but I wanted input from you guys. I just need to track expenses, customers, income basically that's all.

 

[ReliefAshama]

Which OS environment? Are you opposed to using web based apps? ON your own LAN, of course.

 

[rjframe]

For Linux: Quasar. Single computer version is free. It's very Quickbook-ish, and what they do, they do well. Their help documentation is amazing, but it's a lot of work to set up.

Windows: Avanquest Bookkeeper. It's cheap, but you get what you pay for. I had to use a couple of spreadsheets in addition to this to keep track of various things (it doesn't make sales and use tax payments easy for my state), and you do a lot of experimenting; just back up the database first so you can revert any mistakes.

If it's really simple stuff, you may be able to use GnuCash (Linux, BSD, Mac, Windows). It's made for personal and small-business accounting and is free.

 

[Majestic]

I would suggest you don't make my past mistake and go for something either custom, cheap or free. Think long term.

I would recommend you get Quickbooks or an equivalent accounting software and hire an accountant for an hour to set it up for you.

This will save you many headaches in the future and certainly tax wise.

Majestic

 

[JustInspired]

I use Kashflow
Fantastic, web based package with WHMCS integration.

 

[SilverLeaf]

I've been using Wave Accounting, mostly because its free. It's a web-based package that covers most of the basics. Plus, it allows me to customize invoices with my logo, etc. Aside from some idiosyncrasies (matching deposits from Square to existing invoices is cumbersome), It seems fine so far.

Eventually, I'll move on to something more conventional when I finally decide to dive into a shop management app (probably Quickbooks ), but for now it serves my needs.

 

[jbartlett323]

We started with Quickbooks, and absolutely hated it. Moved to GNUCash, have never been happier. I say don't waste your money, get it free and take a few minutes to learn it and configure it the way you want it, not the way Intuit wants it....
After getting it set for the shop, started using it at home too. Configured completely different, yet works just as well. And again, you cant beat the price...

 

[ReliefAshama]

GnuCash is not a simple program. It's a beast and is complete overkill for this guy. I think Quasar is, too.

Tracking expenses, customers and income can be done with invoicing apps or time management apps. Theere are kazillions of them out there. It can also be done easily with office software.

 

[carrcomp]

I would suggest you don't make my past mistake and go for something either custom, cheap or free. Think long term.

I would recommend you get Quickbooks or an equivalent accounting software and hire an accountant for an hour to set it up for you.

This will save you many headaches in the future and certainly tax wise.

Majestic

+1.

Quickbooks or Simply accounting.

I switched to quickbooks for various reasons

 

[cutchant01]

I use simply accounting first steps its free as long as you don't want to have payroll

 

[Rosco]

i use excel but its getting complicated with all the work. this thread come right at the right time.

i want something easy but with some basic features. i hope i am not hijacking this thread from the op.

 

[CLC]

I've never used Quickbooks so I'm wondering if it would be dumb for me to maybe pick of a cheap copy of Quickbooks Pro 2006 then upgrade later?

 

[Larry Sabo]

Your accountant may not be able to open your "Accountant's Copy" to do his/her magic, if you get a version too old. Check with him/her.

 

[seedubya]

Another vote here for Wave Accounting BUT I only use it for invoicing, tracking debtors and rough management of my outgoings. The fine work is handled by my accountant.

 

[4ycr]

I also use kashflow and with it linking to other web stuff like gocardless I can get paid by direct debit automatically.

 

[HCHTech]

+1 for Quickbooks - the reasons are simple. a) 95% of accountants can use your output directly, and 2) It's a mature program with over 20 years of development. It just works.

From Wikipedia: In September 2005 QuickBooks had 74% of the market. A June 19, 2008 Intuit Press Release said that as of March 2008, QuickBooks' share of retail units in the business accounting category reached 94.2 percent, according to NPD Group. It also says that more than 50,000 accountants, CPAs and independent business consultants are members of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor program.

Yes, you have to upgrade every 3 years to keep your accountant happy, but that means the annual cost is somewhere between $70 and $100. Just get it.

 

[cprompt]

I would agree - if you are not doing your own accounting, be sure to communicate with your accountant and probably Quickbooks is the best option.

However, perhaps the OP is doing his own accounting. I know that I have never hired an accountant - I do everything from payroll to taxes and filing sales and payroll taxes myself. If that is the case for the OP, then it opens up a lot of other options.

For example - I was glad to finally get away from Quickbooks. I had as many as 3 licenses due to technicians needing to access the same QB file simultaneously. In that case, the forced upgrade every 3 years became much more expensive. This past May I switched to Xero - an online accounting program, and couldn't be happier with it. Granted, $29.00 per month adds up over time, but the added benefit I have of being able to work on my books no matter where I am, and no matter whether I'm on my PC or my Mac, is a huge plus for me. Additionally, I can have accounts for my two remote technicians without having to run a VNC server here in the shop.

Clearly this is not for everyone, and I'm NOT recommending that anyone should or should not use an accountant. Everyone brings different skill sets to this business, and my skills sets and background allow me to do my own accounting.

So - if QB is not necessary for other reasons, I would suggest looking at Xero if you are comfortable with a cloud-based accounting.

Brian.

 

[CLC]

I am planning on doing my own accounting, I took book keeping I, II, and III along with a tax course, but it was quite a few years ago. I'm sure I can handle it if I dive in though. That's why I was possibly thinking of grabbing and older version of Quickbooks.

 

[DCGPX]

Still use MS Accounting Pro, step up from my Excel sheets.

looked at QB and the like but to be honest they were overpriced and had way too much I'll not use for awhile! My accounting extremely simple so I'm happy.
If simplicity works for you - keep it that way especially if you can do most of yourown accounts!

 

[acscva]

I have a brand new sealed retail box of Quickbooks 2012 that I am selling for $150 including shipping. I was going to move from Quickbooks online and go with Autotask but changed my mind. Let me know if anyone is interested and I can accept paypal to make it quick and easy.