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Evaluating Accounting Software

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Evaluating Accounting Software

Accounting software is a big part of any business. Accounting software should work for you, be easy to learn and help make your business run more efficiently. Small business owners who do their own accounting face the most difficulty and usually the steepest learning curve when evaluating accounting software. There are many things to keep in mind when hunting for the best accounting software for you.

Instructions

    • 1

      Create a budget. Accounting software can be free all the way up to thousands of dollars for huge corporate systems. Decide in advance what you can afford to spend.

    • 2

      Decide how quickly you need to have the software implemented. This will help you determine how much time you have to learn the ins and outs of new software. It will also determine the length of time you may spend researching and testing new software.

    • 3

      Make a list of what you need. If you currently use accounting software, list exactly which features you like, which features you most use, the ones you don't need and the ones you don't like. Keep this list handy when comparing software packages. It will help you select the best software for your purposes.

    • 4

      Immediately discount any option that does not include all the features you need. Even if it looks like better software, it will be useless if it's missing important features.

    • 5

      Try it out. Make sure anything you decide to purchase has a trial period. Many major accounting software providers offer trial downloads so you can evaluate the software for a bit. Make use of these trials, even though it may seem like a lot of work.

    • 6

      Get free software. Free accounting software downloads are available from many websites. Especially if you've never used accounting software before, trying something free will help you become familiar with using different accounting software features for a longer period than trial and usually with more functionality than trial software. For small business owners, some free software solutions may turn out to be everything you need (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

  • MS Office Accounting Express, one of the most recommended small business owner tools, offers a free download with a trial period (see Resources below).

  • When downloading any free software, even from a trusted source, be sure to virus scan the item before opening and installing.

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