Many times when we start working with startups, they have a
lot of questions on choosing the best bookkeeping software. There are obviously
a lot on the market and there are pros and cons on all of them. It really boils
down to your business. While we use a variety of industry specific software,
QuickBooks is still our go to for most situations. But even QuickBooks has
several options to choose from. There are the desktop versions which include
Pro, Premiere and Enterprise. Most small business can get by with Pro which
covers all of your basic bookkeeping needs. Premiere can be customized for your
specific industry which can also be helpful. A good example of this is
construction companies that deal with a lot of purchase orders and change
orders. If you’re dealing with a lot of inventory to track, Enterprise might be
a good option. But be aware that the more sophisticated versions come with a
higher price tag. An option we really like is QuickBooks Online. It’s a great
option when you want your books at your fingertips at home, the office or while
traveling. It’s also great for a remote bookkeeper or a bookkeeper that only
comes in a limited amount of time. This allows your bookkeeper to get you any
information you need without a trip to the office or having to wait until your
next appointment. This also helps several members of your team to be able to
work together on your books without dealing with servers or logging in remotely
which can be cumbersome. We’re also big fans of the automatic download from
your bank and credit cards. But be aware we’re still seeing some kinks from
time to time with this function. But the time savings makes it worth it. Check for
discounts on the monthly fees that come with many warehouse memberships such as
Costco and Sam’s. Another great bonus with QuickBooks is that many versions
import from one to another so they can accommodate your business changes.
Of course your bookkeeper can be a great help in helping you
choose the best option.
