Why Accounting Software?

Opening a small business in today's fast-paced economic climate can be an exciting, complicated and expensive endeavor. On the surface, it seems simple—just make sure you're selling your goods for more than it costs to produce them, right? Wrong. Without proper bookkeeping, your blooming company can take an abrupt dive towards bankruptcy.

This is why accounting is a key component in any small business's success. It should play a role in every financial decision you make—from purchasing vehicles, equipment and supplies to increasing production, stocking inventory and determining salaries.

But if you, like most people, lack an extensive background in accounting, where do you begin? Today's accounting software has the solution—giving you the tools and the information you need to keep your financial records in check, while aiding you in making the most of your company's cash flow.

Unfortunately, there are about as many software packages for accounting as there are types of small businesses and determining which one best meets the needs of your company can be a tricky transaction—but that's where we can help.

Within this site, you'll find articles on accounting and comprehensive reviews to help you make an informed decision on which accounting software is right for your business. At TopTenREVIEWS, we do the research so you don't have to!™

What to Look for in Accounting Software

With all the accounting software available, it's hard to know which program is the best fit for your business finances. Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate small business accounting software.

With the right accounting software, you will be able to manage your company books quickly and easily.

 
 
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Accounting Software Review


Money Management Made Easy

Accounting is one of the most important and often most complicated parts of running a small business. Fortunately, with today's small business accounting software, anyone can manage money like a pro.

Rank #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
Peachtree Complete MYOB Business Essentials QuickBooks Pro NetSuite Small Business Cougar Mountain Small Business Manager Simply Accounting CYMA IV Accounting for Windows DacEasy Microsoft Money
Peachtree Complete MYOB Business Essentials QuickBooks Pro NetSuite Small Business Cougar Mountain Small Business Manager Simply Accounting CYMA IV Accounting for Windows DacEasy Microsoft Money
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Lowest Price Buy Peachtree Complete 2009
$259.87
Buy MYOB Business Essentials Pro
$278.90
Buy QuickBooks Pro
$159.00
Buy NetSuite Small Business 9.5
$1,188*
Buy Cougar Mountain 9
$1,499
Buy Small Business Manager 7.5
$999.00
Buy Simply Accounting
$249.99
Buy CYMA IV Accounting for Windows 7
$595.00**
Buy DacEasy 16
$499.99
Buy Microsoft Money
$76.99
 
Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Good
Ratings
Ease of Use Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
Help/Documentation Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Accounts Receivable Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
Accounts Payable Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
Payroll Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good
Inventory Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Poor Very Good Very Good
Banking Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair Excellent Excellent Excellent
Time Billing Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent Poor Poor Very Good Poor Good Fair
Job Costing Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Excellent Poor Excellent Excellent Poor Poor
General Ledger Excellent Very Good Excellent Very Good Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Excellent Poor
Fixed Assets Very Good Poor Fair Poor Poor Very Good Fair Poor Poor Fair
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View Screenshots View Peachtree Complete screenshots View MYOB Business Essentials screenshots View QuickBooks Pro screenshots






Reports Available
Accounts Receivable 20 48 22 35 32 6 5 60 6 5
Accounts Payable 14 28 19 12 30 35 6 44 8 2
Payroll 11 17 12 17 16 26 6 54 8 13
Inventory 18 16 6 10 15 25 5 0 11 1
Banking 7 13 5 5 3 6 4 17 5 6
Time Billing 10 14 8 10 0 0 7 0 1 1
Job Costing 13 11 11 0 7 0 3 18 0 0
General Ledger 7 3 11 14 11 21 9 38 7 0
Fixed Assets 0 0 1 0 0 27 1 0 0 1
Financial Statements 16 31 19 13 19 71 15 15 0 9
Graphical Summaries 4 9 11 48 0 6 18 14 0 6
Accounts Receivable Module
Standard Invoices Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Customizable Invoices Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Email Invoicing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Print Invoice Shipping lables Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Estimate Shipping Costs Check Mark

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Track Shipments Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Specify Shipping Methods Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Accept Credit Cards Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Recurring Transactions Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Calculate Finance Charges Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Accounts Payable Module
Purchase Orders/Quotes Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Customize Purchase Orders Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark


Vendor Credit Memos Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark
Standard Checks Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Customize Vendor Checks
Check Mark

Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark

Print Checks Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Print 1099 and 1096 Forms Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Payroll/Employees Module
Set Wages Salary/Hourly Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Pay Frequency Weekly/Semi-Weekly/etc. Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark
Set Employee Status Active/Inactive Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark

Direct Deposit Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
401K Deduction Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Automatically Calculates Payroll Taxes Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Software Maintained Tax Tables Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark
Print W-2 & W-3 Forms Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Print 941 & 940 Forms Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Inventory Module
Track Item by Number UPC/SKU/Item Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark
Include Item Image
Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
NA

Set Item Active/Inactive Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA

Specify Stocking Locations Check Mark Check Mark

Check Mark

NA

Track Inventory Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark
Set Inventory Levels Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark
FIFO/LIFO Cost Methods Check Mark


Check Mark Check Mark
NA

Average Cost Method Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark
NA Check Mark Check Mark
Specific Cost Method Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark NA Check Mark
Create Drop Shipments Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
NA

Inventory Assemblies Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark
Inventory Adjustments Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark
Banking/Reconciliation Module
Reconcile Accounts Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Prepare Bank Deposits Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Void Existing Checks Check Mark Check Mark

Check Mark
NA
Check Mark
Electronic Deposits
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark
Check Mark
Time Billing Module
Integrated Tracking Timer Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA NA Check Mark NA
NA
Time Tickets Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA NA Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark
Expense Tickets Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark NA NA
NA
NA
Weekly Time Tracking Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA NA
NA
NA
Daily Time Tracking Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA NA Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark
Job Costing/Management Module
Job Tracking Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA
Check Mark NA NA
Set Job Status Active/Inactive Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark NA NA
Create Estimates Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark NA Check Mark Check Mark NA NA
Additional Services Offered With Software (May Cost Extra)
Credit Card Processing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Customer Support Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Payroll Service Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
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Check Mark Check Mark
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Remote Access Check Mark


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Checks and Forms Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Check Mark Check Mark
Print Postage from Software Check Mark








Direct Deposit Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Reporting Services Check Mark


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Online/Remote Data Backup Check Mark
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Fixed Asset Solutions Check Mark


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Time Tracking Check Mark Check Mark
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Tax Service
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Electronic Payment Service Check Mark Check Mark

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Miscellaneous Features
Import/Export Info to Software Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark