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National Journal Community Of e-Experts · Entertainment · Finance ... All businesses should have a piece of accounting software,however with so many to choose from which is the best one? This article provides advice and ...
Accounting software is essential and by using the management reports available it helps in the day to day running of the business. All businesses should have a piece of accounting software,however with so many to choose from which is the best one? This article provides advice and tips in order to ensure youget the right software for your business.
Without a doubt the best accounting package will be bespoke, i.e. specifically designed, tailored and made for the business. Bespoke packages require specialist assistance in the creation of the software, the testing of the software and the ongoing support of the software, making them very, very expensive and financially out of reach of most small businesses.
Fortunately, there are many off the shelf accounting software packages available for small businesses, which are tried and tested and are much cheaper. In addition, the after sales support is not only very good but also cheap, making it ideal for the small business owner. Some packages are designed for specific industries, such as the motor trade for example, although in reality these packages can be used in any industry, however it is likely the industry specific features will be of no use if the package is used in other industries. Some of the off the shelf software packages are exceptionally good, others very poor and others in between the two. So with such a variation between the different types how does a small business owner decide on which software package to use?
i) The accounting software should be tried and tested There are times when there is some kudos associated with using the most current and up to date technology, however using an accountancy program is not one of those times. Despite being rigorously tested before release it is highly likely that new software programs will have some bugs and errors that will need correcting via an update. Having a program that is not operating correctly is likely to lead to processing downtime, problems and additional costs that are totally unnecessary.
Rather than risking a new software program it is far better to go for a program that has been in production for a long time, where all the bugs and issues will have been sorted out. ii) The accounting software should be intuitive, easy to use and user friendly All software programs should be user friendly and easy to learn and this applies to accounting software. A program that is easy to use will motivate staff to use it, which is likely to benefit the business. A program that is difficult to use is likely to have the opposite effect.
iii) There should be a good after sales support package available There are times when the user of software programs will experience problems and require assistance regardless of how user friendly and tried and tested the software is, therefore it is important there is a good after sales support and service package available. The level of service will vary from product to product, however it should at least consist of a user manual and a dedicated helpline where it is possible to call and speak to a dedicated team of professionals.
Small firms of accountants regularly use different types of accounting software when carrying out book keeping services for their clients or when making the final adjustments in order to prepare the period end accounts, therefore the accountants will have extensive knowledge of how the program works, which can work to the advantage of the small business. By having a chat with a local accountant the business can identify which accounting programs they have experience with and select one of those, safe in the knowledge it will be a good, user friendly program and there is another source of assistance if things go wrong.
iv) There should be regular updates available It is important that all software is kept up to date and this also applies to accounting software. Therefore, it is important that any accounting software packages will be regularly updated and that these updates are sent to the users as and when they are available.
v) The software program should be value for money The most expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best. Similarly, the cheapest alternative doesn’t necessarily mean it is the worst. Because of this it is advisable to compare the features of all the different types of accounting program and their respective costs to ensure you get value for money.
There are many accounting software programs that satisfy the above and will be of benefit to small businesses. Before a choice is made it is important to do some research and actually obtain a trial copy that you can run some dummy data through in order to assess how the program works and ensure it satisfies the needs of the business.
In addition, it is important to ensure the person inputting the data and using the software on a day to day basis is happy with the way it works, the user interface etc. etc. since this is often the deciding factor when making the final purchase. Some users like the look and feel of specific programs, even though there are many others that do exactly the same job.
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