Ease of Use:  

Installation was simple; we had no trouble.

The Cougar Mountain Accounting opening screen wasn't as easy to use as those featured in other accounting software packages. All the sections are condensed; once inside, finding your way to a simple task—such as making an invoice—is a challenge.

The only navigation tool Cougar Mountain Software uses are icons along the top navigation and a pull down menu. Once you click on a section, the only way that you can perform a task is to click on that option in the drop down bar. Cougar Mountain Accounting has no left or right-hand side navigation, and nothing but blank space under the icons on the tool bar. The entire design of the program could be simplified.

We were disappointed that Cougar Mountain Accounting didn't come with all the common accounting sections. You must install these (at extra cost) if you need Job Costing, Payroll, and Purchase Orders (free). Without these, the software is more difficult to use.

Help/Documentation:  

The help documentation for the program is excellent. Cougar Mountain Accounting offers a search tool; all the sections are divided by topic so you can find answers fast. They also offer a help button on each section window for quick, easy access.

Accounts Receivable:  

This section is short on some important features. You can't email invoices or estimate shipping costs in Cougar Mountain Accounting. Some better things are the abilities to track shipments and customize invoices. You can also print shipping labels, and there are thirty-two Accounts Receivable reports available.

Accounts Payable:  

Cougar Mountain has many features in their Accounts Payable Section. You can pay or print bills and manage vendor information. You can print 1099 and 1096 tax forms to report your capital gains to the IRS. Thirty different reports are available in Accounts Payable.

Payroll:  

You can manage your employee's records, set employee status, pay, and pay period. You can also print off paychecks as well as transfer them electronically, print off W-2s and 941 tax forms. There are 16 payroll reports available in this category.

Inventory:  

The Inventory Section is excellent because you can attach an image to each item and specify exactly where the item is found (which storeroom or warehouse). You can also create drop shipments and specify the costing method: FIFO (first in, first out inventory) or LIFO (last in, first out inventory). There are fifteen different inventory reports available.

Banking:  

Reconciling your accounts and statements with this tool is straightforward. You can also make bank deposits and print reports, checks, and deposit slips. The only tool this section is missing is the ability to deposit payments electronically. This section offers only three different reports.

Time Billing:  

Cougar Mountain doesn't offer this section with their software.

Job Costing:  

This section is only available as an extra download. Cougar Mountain's Job Master tools let you enter pricing information, phase of the project, needed materials, project steps, subcontractor data, and miscellaneous information. This section has seven reports available.

General Ledger:  

The General Ledger section is excellent. You may manage accounts, make entries in the journal, or choose from eleven different General Ledger reports.

Fixed Assets:  

Cougar Mountain Accounting doesn't offer this section in the software. It is a third-party add-on application that can be bought elsewhere.

Cougar Mountain Accounting is an average small business accounting program, but there are much better buys for your money. Improved navigation would make this program simpler to grasp quickly. And requiring customers to purchase extra sections to cover the basics—such as Payroll—is inconvenient and too expensive for most small business budgets.