If you have a business, you probably know you need to track your income and expenses. But what is the best way to do that? Many small businesses begin the easy way - spreadsheets. But if you’re busy, you will very quickly find that spreadsheets are a tedious way to record everything. Even if you’re an expert at building formulas and creating macros, you’re still doing a lot of manual work. Do you have time for that? No, you don’t. Can you afford to pay someone to do that? Maybe, but your money is better spent on Small Business Accounting Software.
Chances are, you don’t need to use the same accounting system as a Fortune 500 company. What do you need, and how do you find it?
First, do you want desktop or online access to your accounting file? It’s 2019, folks. You want online. You’ve heard the stories of people who ran their payroll while wiggling their toes in the sand at Maui? That’s a real thing. You’re not necessarily going to be on Maui every payroll day, but wouldn’t it be great if you could? Don’t be tied to a desktop when the cloud is there for you.
There is one exception to that - some small businesses have very complicated special needs. There might be intricate inventory, for example. In that case, Quickbooks Enterprise might be the better choice. But most of the time, the online product is the most efficient. And certainly the most flexible.
Next, what features do you need in your Small Business Accounting Software? One very important consideration is how well the program integrates with banks and credit cards. Nobody wants to be typing data into a software program. That age has passed. We now live in the data management age. Be sure you choose programs that play nicely together.
For example, if you are using InvoiceSherpa to manage your Accounts Receivable, make sure your accounting software has a seamless integration with it. One of the best features of InvoiceSherpa is the way it easily accesses all of your invoices for communication with your clients. Don’t inadvertently choose accounting software that ignores your favorite App.
Another great consideration is the support provided by your small business accounting software. You don’t want to feel you’re all alone in a vast desert of bookkeeping uncertainty. You want that oasis up ahead to be welcoming, to take you by the hand and lead you to the water. Online chat options can be great for a quick question. Sometimes, however, you need a real person to listen to you, maybe even remote into your computer and see what you’re seeing. The best software will offer a variety of ways to connect. Does it have a searchable knowledgebase? That can be the easiest way to learn the basics. What about a self-guided training module? Another great tool. People learn in different ways. Choose software that addresses your particular style.
Read the reviews. People will be very vocal when they love their small business accounting software, but even more vocal when they hate it. Read these with the understanding that there are people who hate everything. Weed those out and pay attention to the ones who cite specific details that were problematic. It could be that those details are very important to you. Or it could be that they don’t apply to your needs.
Ask! Many of the best software products have active online communities. Those are great places to get advice. Users will be honest in telling you whether a software will work for you. This can also be a great place to get tips after you’ve chosen the product for you.
Once you’ve chosen, give InvoiceSherpa a try. It’s the fastest, easiest way to get paid. You don’t want to wait for your money, do you? You want it in the bank fast! So you can go to Maui!
If you have a business, you probably know you need to track your income and expenses. But what is the best way to do that? Many small businesses begin the easy way - spreadsheets. But if you’re busy, you will very quickly find that spreadsheets are a tedious way to record everything. Even if you’re an expert at building formulas and creating macros, you’re still doing a lot of manual work. Do you have time for that? No, you don’t. Can you afford to pay someone to do that? Maybe, but your money is better spent on Small Business Accounting Software.Chances are, you don’t need to use the same accounting system as a Fortune 500 company. What do you need, and how do you find it? First, do you want desktop or online access to your accounting file? It’s 2019, folks. You want online. You’ve heard the stories of people who ran their payroll while wiggling their toes in the sand at Maui? That’s a real thing. You’re not necessarily going to be on Maui every payroll day, but wouldn’t it be great if you could? Don’t be tied to a desktop when the cloud is there for you.There is one exception to that - some small businesses have very complicated special needs. There might be intricate inventory, for example. In that case, Quickbooks Enterprise might be the better choice. But most of the time, the online product is the most efficient. And certainly the most flexible.Next, what features do you need in your Small Business Accounting Software? One very important consideration is how well the program integrates with banks and credit cards. Nobody wants to be typing data into a software program. That age has passed. We now live in the data management age. Be sure you choose programs that play nicely together.For example, if you are using InvoiceSherpa to manage your Accounts Receivable, make sure your accounting software has a seamless integration with it. One of the best features of InvoiceSherpa is the way it easily accesses all of your invoices for communication with your clients. Don’t inadvertently choose accounting software that ignores your favorite App.Another great consideration is the support provided by your small business accounting software. You don’t want to feel you’re all alone in a vast desert of bookkeeping uncertainty. You want that oasis up ahead to be welcoming, to take you by the hand and lead you to the water. Online chat options can be great for a quick question. Sometimes, however, you need a real person to listen to you, maybe even remote into your computer and see what you’re seeing. The best software will offer a variety of ways to connect. Does it have a searchable knowledgebase? That can be the easiest way to learn the basics. What about a self-guided training module? Another great tool. People learn in different ways. Choose software that addresses your particular style.Read the reviews. People will be very vocal when they love their small business accounting software, but even more vocal when they hate it. Read these with the understanding that there are people who hate everything. Weed those out and pay attention to the ones who cite specific details that were problematic. It could be that those details are very important to you. Or it could be that they don’t apply to your needs. Ask! Many of the best software products have active online communities. Those are great places to get advice. Users will be honest in telling you whether a software will work for you. This can also be a great place to get tips after you’ve chosen the product for you.
Posted on November 5, 2019
