Which accounting software do you use & why?

[sydneyruby]

I am looking for an accounting software to use for my business that would allow me to email invoices, and receipts, track exspenses, include a client/ vendor database, and allow for cc processing. I use a Mac.
I was considering both Netsuite (too exspensive at almost $250/ mo), and Quickbooks Online. I wasn't sure if that was avail for Mac though.
I like the ease of using an online application. What are you using for cc processing & if it's separate, what are you using for your accounting?
-Thanks

[dooks88]

I am also looking for accounting software for a mac. Looking forward to the responses.

[John Mireles]

Quickbooks is the standard for small businesses. Although I don't use it for the Mac, it has been upgraded so that's more or less on par with the Windows version. You can see the differences here: Quickbooks Comparison Page. I'd use Quickbooks since pretty much all CPA's and bookkeepers use it. Even if you don't work with one now, it's best to start with the right program now because trying to change later is an incredible hassle.

John

[TimSewell]

Have a look at www.sourceforge.net. There are lots of Open Source solutions for this running on many different operating systems.

[sydneyruby]

So here's what I found out today:
Netsuite is the best option but it's more than I want to spend. It costs about $1200 a year to run, and an additional $50 per perspn/ mo to maintain. But it does everything you could possibly need it to; It is completely customizable, and process cc's, email invoices/ statements, create intricate sales & exsense reports w/ filters, enable multiple users from any computer at home, work etc. I have used it for work before and can attest to it's superiority.
Quickbooks online will work if your mac is new enough that it has an intel chip which can be configured to run a pseudo- windows type of screen. This IMO would negate the whole purpose of buying a Mac & is not an option!
Quickbooks is available to purchase for a Mac platform though (that much I knew) & is relatively inexpensive.
For cc processing, Paypal is an option, and Google has an option that ties into your paypal that is 0% cost until te year end, and only 2% thereafter.
It looks like this will be the best I have found.
Anyone else find anything else useful?

[AussiePup]

Originally Posted by sydneyruby

So here's what I found out today:
Netsuite is the best option but it's more than I want to spend. It costs about $1200 a year to run, and an additional $50 per perspn/ mo to maintain. But it does everything you could possibly need it to; It is completely customizable, and process cc's, email invoices/ statements, create intricate sales & exsense reports w/ filters, enable multiple users from any computer at home, work etc. I have used it for work before and can attest to it's superiority.
Quickbooks online will work if your mac is new enough that it has an intel chip which can be configured to run a pseudo- windows type of screen. This IMO would negate the whole purpose of buying a Mac & is not an option!
Quickbooks is available to purchase for a Mac platform though (that much I knew) & is relatively inexpensive.
For cc processing, Paypal is an option, and Google has an option that ties into your paypal that is 0% cost until te year end, and only 2% thereafter.
It looks like this will be the best I have found.
Anyone else find anything else useful?

With a Mac you might have a hard time. Not to start a Mac vs. PC war, but the PC is mostly used in business so they have a better selection of business related software, such as accounting. As an accountant I thought of every software title my clients use and none of them are available on the MAC other than Quickbooks.

Intuit (the makers of quickbooks) has set up a quickbooks advisor program, these are typically accountants who have some sort of advanced training on using quickbooks, find one in your area and perhaps they can help you get QB intergrated with credit card processing.

Here is the link to the Quckbooks ProAdvisor Search http://intuitmarket.intuit.com/QBA/R...mberSearch.ASP

Good luck....

[vwpilot]

Check out FotoBiz, (http://www.cradoc.com/). Its a solution I have been using for awhile. It is a little clunky at first as the guy that designed it is a photographer first, but after a short time with it you can get around pretty easily.

It will do more than most will ever need, it keeps track of clients, allows you to create quotes, create and track invoices and receivables, has the industry standard pricing software (Fotoquote) built into it, allows you to turn quotes into invoices once you get the job, you can customize the products and pricing database to fit your needs, and will even keep track of your equipment and stock photos. It has tips for negotiating, will remind you when usage time periods are expiring so you can warn the clients and sell to them again and is pretty much all you could ever want and need.

It works really well, check it out and see if it will work for you. There is a trial I believe so you can see how it works. Like I said, your first impression is a little clunky and negative, but the functionality is really, really good and once you get used to it, its not a problem to negotiate.

[sunny_sld]

I use to be a bookkeeper and Quickbooks is my favorite.

Stacy

[Sabarika]

Has anyone used TigerPaw Business Suite for Windows? Our work computer has it, but I know nothing of it except it's .. like.. a $6k program, apparently.

[vwpilot]

QB and some of these others are great for simple bookkeeping, but the FotoBiz is made for photography and has a lot of features that cater to the pro photographer. Such as the pricing guide, the ability to track photo submissions, it has a rights writer which allows you to fill in the blanks and it will write out all the rights in legal wording, and the ability to differentiate between stock invoices and assignment invoices.

Its definitely worth a look and worth putting up with some of the clunkiness in order to get the other features.