Small Business Accounting Software: 6 Things to Consider Before Buying

Really, accounting software isn’t a boring subject. As long as we discuss it very briefly. So, here’s the least you need to know about picking accounting software for your business which will be a help, not a hindrance.

1. Scalability

You of course want the software to grow with your business. Find out what kind of database it uses, what file formats it uses, how many systems it runs on. A program that performs fine on the desktop may choke when it has to run in synchronization across 25 servers after your business has grown to be a million-dollar industry. A good tip: find out what companies many times larger than you use.

2. Support

You can’t skimp on support with accounting software. While your programmer or web designer might be able to bail you out with the graphics package, an accounting program that goes down while handling your money will strike fear into the bravest hearts. Don’t settle for outsourced telephone agents on the other side of the world; get a local expert, and when you get big enough, hire a software guru full time. When your server hangs with a half-completed $100,000 transaction partially fed through the network, you’ll be glad you did.

3. Usability

This is the software industry buzzword for “New people can figure it out, and experienced users will still use it.” It has to be easy to learn - or no one will use it. It has to be powerful enough, reliable enough, consistent enough, that veterans won’t get disgusted with it for being a useless toy. Both of these sides of usability are equally important - it is wrong to get either a stealth bomber or a tricycle.

4. Best Value for Money

That doesn’t necessarily mean “cheap”. It does mean iron-clad. Reliable, secure, dependable, and efficient. Don’t get caught explaining, “We finished the $10,000 order on our $50,000 assembly line and shipped it first-class, but we can’t bill the client for it because our $10 accounting system lost the invoice.” Also think about software sourcing tips.

5. Security

Computer security is a difficult concept to grasp for the inexperienced. But basically, your accounting software will be the prime target for anybody who cracks past your firewall - there’s the company books, customer credit card numbers, and bank information all in one convenient place. try to keep tabs on the news in the software industry - pay attention to which programs get exploited or cracked often, then avoid them.

6. Internationalization

Hey, have you noticed, nobody does business just in their own country any more except “mom and pop stores”? Today’s global market needs accounting software that can handle a yen, mark, pound, or drachma as easily as a dollar. While you’re at it, it needs to ’speak’ more than one language, for the time when your business spreads to other countries.

The one we think meets all this criteria is Quicken. It’s definitely worth a quick inspection.