Book-keeping software - which one?

[equipbiz]

One of the VA's who works with us wants to train up on computerised book-keeping and then offer it as an additional skill through our company. It's something our clients ask us a lot about ... do you do it? Who can do it for me? Just wondering what is the most popular or most commonly used book-keeping software? We plan to get our VA to do our books so that she gets plenty of hands-on experience before she goes live with the service. So - we get the service from her and her experience ... and she gets the added business from our clients once she's trained up. It's a win, win. Any advice or help would be most welcomed before we start off. Thanks guys.

[Tess]

I'm pretty certain QuickBooks is the considered the best and most useful bookkeeping software, hands down.

Anyone else know of any viable competition to QB?

We've got quite a few brilliant bookkeepers here on the boards, surely they'll chime in

[Tess]

Here's another thread (from today also) that might give you some more insight into what people are using.

[Ness Lindsay]

I don't offer book keeping as a service personally. I contract my work out to another company that I work with. However, she and I both use QuickBooks! I think this by far is the best program available.
There is also a free training class located on their website.

[Office Goddess]

I provide 90% bookkeeping services and use QuickBooks. I just upgraded to QB 2008 Pro and love it! There is a training section in QB's help menu.

I would suggest that your VA get some basic accounting classes under her belt (assuming she doesn't have them already) before offering bookkeeping as a service. Knowing the software is great, but there are some things QB doesn't help with and having basic accounting knowledge is invaluable.

[Rebecka Melson]

QuickBooks!! I am a bookkeeper and have used most other programs including, Peachtree, MYOB, Mas200, Microsoft Money, RealWorld, etc. I also like Quicken for personal use, but hate everything else for small businesses. I would only use the others for large businesses that have outgrown QB.

If I work with someone who uses anything but QuickBooks I charge them extra. Don't waste your time with the QB Simple Start, it's worthless, you'd be better off getting the Quicken Home and Business edition.

[vainparadise]

I use Quickbooks as well. Actually just got 2008 and need to install it!

Any major differences Lily?

[Office Goddess]

The biggest difference is the layout. The "home" screen has all of your most used buttons in one place so you aren't jumping back and forth between customer, vendor, banking screens, etc. Also, you can now modify the look of your invoice by adding or removing items you want on the layout such as address, phone number, etc. Very cool!

The one annoying thing from my perspective is that the general journal entry is now under a menu item rather than "out in the open." I do A LOT of gj entries!

I've only been working on it for 2 weeks but I think as I get used to it I will definitely prefer the '08 version.

BTW - my cpa told me they are "sunsetting" payroll support in QB 2005 so you will need to switch to '08 if you do QB payroll with their updates.

[vainparadise]

I have been using the contractors addition I think 2004 don't recall the year for sometime now so I am sure there will be some learning curve there for me. I set up another invoicing system for my one client so I will not need all the additional features with the contractors addition anymore. My husband bought me 2 QB books incase I need them!

[CYMMTJ]

Okay - I went and looked at what they offer in quickbooks...

What is the difference between Premier and Accountant Edition?

Which one do I go with??

Also they have this membership where you become proadvisor where you can get help at anytime in using the software and will always have the updates yearly...

Which is better? Membership or just simply buying the software and which one??

Sorry for all that questions - for the price, I would want to know which is best to get for long term use (unless you can't because we would need to update constantly?)

Oh! Also do I get the one with payroll? I'm assuming so if I will have clients who needs me to handle their payroll, right?

Would I need more than one license user, assuming my clients would want to see it or use it themselves?

There is another whom I was told is the best for Canada: Simply Accounting

Can anyone from Canada vouch for this software?

Oops - more questions, hehe, I hope someone can help me here....