Accounting or Bookkeeping software

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mbroberg

mbroberg

IAP Activities Manager, Emeritus
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Columbus, OH
Can anyone recommend a cheap, or free, easy to use computer program that will keep track of the basics of business. I just need something that lets me keep inventory, debit, credit, profit/loss statement, Income statement, etc. I've checked out all the Open Source stuff and it's all so complicated that it makes my hair hurt. I really want something simple, and cheap, or free. I would much rather spend time in the shop instead of constantly keeping track of sales tax, inventory, etc.

Thanks
 
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Mike I use Quick Books Pro 2008, wasn't to expensive if I remember and I think that they have a non pro version. Not the easiest thing in the world but not to bad. To do what you want I just don't think you'll find a free, simple software.
 
Too many unanswered questions.

mbroberg said:
Can anyone recommend a cheap, or free, easy to use computer program that will keep track of the basics of business. I just need something that lets me keep inventory, debit, credit, profit/loss statement, Income statement, etc. I've checked out all the Open Source stuff and it's all so complicated that it makes my hair hurt. I really want something simple, and cheap, or free. I would much rather spend time in the shop instead of constantly keeping track of sales tax, inventory, etc.

Thanks
Click to expand...

What inventory - completed items you want to sell or kits/blanks/refills/etc.?
Are all of you sales within one state?
Do you have a high dollar volume of sales?
Do you reorder based on inventory?
How do you get paid for what you sell?

For instance. I do not really keep track of inventory.
I pay for all of my inventory on paypal and they keep track of what I spend for the year. I keep track of the few items I make personal use of...not much.
I take inventory at the end of the year and use my cost to determine the value of what I have left. That's all you need to know about inventory for tax purposes.
 
Quickbooks will not support 2008 anymore. We had to upgrade to 2011 and it is a much less problem prone thing. Here is my thought on accounting programs:
You can cheap or free
or you can have less complicated. Of course our business is not a small pen making business and we had employees with all the paper work that goes along with it.
 
Smitty,

I want a way to keep a running total on what I spend and what I receive. All my sales are not within one state so I need to keep the ones that are made in Ohio separate from others. I want to be able to easily hand my accountant what she needs at the end of the year. I would also like a database of customers included that would automatically populate invoices and track what products they individually buy. I could probably pay some High School student to design something in Excel or Access, but was hoping that there was something already prepared that someone might already know about.
 
Might work.

OKLAHOMAN said:
Mike I use Quick Books Pro 2008, wasn't to expensive if I remember and I think that they have a non pro version. Not the easiest thing in the world but not to bad. To do what you want I just don't think you'll find a free, simple software.
Click to expand...
I have used quickbooks for home and business for years and it will work ok if you get it set up right - which can be time consuming at the beginning.

I would not necessarily try to go cheap or free myself. I have a different kind of business (now that you are doing some volume stuff Roy you might find some differences) but I let my store, paypal and endicia keep track of my big expenses for me - the small stuff I don't sweat, when you do $100,000 business and have $200 worth of advertising and $100 for a business license it doesn't have much impact on the bottom line. I also enjoy the luxury of living in a no sales tax state....helps a lot.
 
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Ask your accountant as to which is the best one for you, basically at the end of the year you download the info onto a disc and hand it to her, you will need a program that is compatible with hers. Otherwise you will be spending money for her to download all the paperwork onto her program.
DAMHIKT:biggrin: BTDT (Been There Done That)
Kryn
 
Another vote for Quickbooks Pro. It integrates with tax programs, credit card readers, most bank accounts, AND you can use it on most any mobile device making it a point of purchase program as well.
 
I think ylour accounting abilities come into play here. Quick Books is a good product but unless you have at least a working knowledge of accounting principles you will need someone to assist you with the setup (maybe your accountant). Quicken is a simple, easy to use basic accounting product that can probably do most of what you want.
 
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