Small Business Software - Quickbooks or What?

Small Business Software - Quickbooks or What?

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A business associate of mind was informed that Peachtree would do a better job than Quickbooks. Is that true? What other packages should a small business with a computer network of 5 to 10 users consider?
Thanks.
Lawrence Bullard

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By Accounting WEB
03rd Jan 2002 04:36

Oracle Small Business (OSB)

All small businesses need to look at http://www.oraclesmallbusiness.com and if they wish, take a 14 day free trial of this incredible software.

We have set up a number of clients on OSB and it will literally "knock the socks off" most small to mid sized accounting software packages.

For more info, please email me at [email protected]

All the best, Barry

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By stuart.wild
01st Dec 2001 10:49

Access Accounts is good
Access is a good prodcuct for this sort of business and there is an upgrade path from 1 user to 200 users without too much difficulty as you grow.

Look at www.hoge100.co.uk - accredited dealer in Midlands.

Stuart.wild

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By Accounting WEB
15th Nov 2001 23:43

Unbiased view
Unlike some of those below, I don't sell the stuff I recommend. Have a look at Pegasus and Access. Their main (second level from the bottom) products are probably about right for the sort of system you're describing - with all the usual caveats about confirming the functionality match - and while they're not as "cheap" initially as some of the other suggestions made below, they're unlikely to give you as much continuing grief, as well as being comparatively scalable should your business grow further.

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By Accounting WEB
16th Nov 2001 15:01

Over to you
Lawrence,

A lot has been written, including my initial message...............
1 where are you based ?
you mentioned 'Peachtree', which I thought was a US product owned by Sage. If so, then there are a number of quite good US 'what software to use' url's that a simple seach of google would point to. If you are based in the UK, then there are probably 4-5 packages that would do the job

2 what are your key processes
what pieces of 'inventory' functionality do you need......multi location, multi bin, batch, serial, mutliple suplier prices, multiple customer prices, unlimited history, Intrastat, SOP, POP, etc, etc

3 number of transactions
you mention 5-10 users. A lot of small end packages offer 'multi user' as the next step up from 'single user'. However, it is often backed up with single user databases, so you'll get data corruptions once you put pressure on the package. Pastel (for example, available in the US and UK) has an SQL version, so understands 'multi user' means an identified number of concurrent users

4 price range
1K, 5K, 10K, 50K.........horses for courses, but in the end businesses watch the bottom line

Lawrence, over to you

Regards

Daniel Clark
Ryba Macaulay Ltd
[email protected]


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By Accounting WEB
14th Nov 2001 17:20

Not Just a Bookkeeping System
Dear Lawrence

As a chartered accountancy practice we do not recommend either Quickbooks or TAS. Although some clients like these systems, we find that they encourage bookkeeping errors which are time consuming for us to sort out. In fact, my staff groan when a client tells us that they have "invested" in one of these systems.

Peachtree is fine if you are in the USA, but there are better products for the UK market.

Sage's "Instant" is a serious bookkeeping system for the simpler business. But if you believe (as I do) that a bookkeeping system should help a business to grow and increase profits, you should go straight for Sage Line 50. I know that some untrained bookkeepers find it daunting, but it comes with a raft of business-centred features. The forecasting is a major product in its own right, and Sage's integral e-commerce is excellent. For the non-accountant, including most people in key roles, the management reporting function "Informer" provides access to meaningful graphs and information via a standard web browser, potentially from anywhere in the World.

Sage has also integrated its newly acquired CRM ("Customer Relationship Management") software ACT with the bookkeeping program, enhancing the marketing, sales and credit control functions.

I do not know what industry you are talking about, but there are a lot of "vertical market" add-ons available, including EPOS (retail), manufacturing, car dealerships and residential homes.

If you want to talk about this in more detail, call me on 0117 9573537.

Best wishes,
Andrew Baker FCA

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By chas01
14th Nov 2001 12:58

TRY TAS
Why not try TAS books and payroll software?

TAS Books 1 starts at £99.00 for a small company and TAS Books 2 £199 - £399, whilst TAS Books 3 with SOP, multi user cots up to £1199.

The TAS Payroll is priced from £99 depending on the number of employees.

It is as easy to use as Sage, but the reporting is far better.

Look at their website too on www.tassoftware.com

Charles Stringer FCA

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By AnonymousUser
13th Nov 2001 20:58

What sort of inventory is it?

Lawrence,

You say you are finding Inventory Management difficult. What sort of inventory are we talking about? What is the business?

The type of business will determine the future direction of your software problem resolution.

Jay Tanna

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By User deleted
14th Nov 2001 08:20

Take a look at AccountView
As a re-seller of AccountView Business Software, I suggest you take a look at http://www.accountview.co.uk/ or http://www.rcl-systems.co.uk/
From the brief details you gave, AccountView appears to be a suitable choice.
Multi-user from 2-250 concurrent users. Mutli-company. Multi-currency. Nominal, Sales and Purchase Ledgers. Financial reports.
Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing, Stock Control, multiple warehouses and bin locations.
Please use the Contact page on the RCL web site to request a demo of the product, should you so desire.

Regards Bob

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By dclark
12th Nov 2001 22:26

More info
Lawrence,

Some extra info

1 where are you based ?
you mentioned 'Peachtree', which I thought was a US product owned by Sage. If so, then there are a number of quite good US 'what software to use' url's that a simple seach of google would point to. If you are based in the UK, then there are probably 4-5 packages that would do the job

2 what are your key processes
what pieces of 'inventory' functionality do you need......multi location, multi bin, batch, serial, mutliple suplier prices, multiple customer prices, unlimited history, Intrastat, SOP, POP, etc, etc

3 number of transactions
you mention 5-10 users. A lot of small end packages offer 'multi user' as the next step up from 'single user'. However, it is often backed up with single user databases, so you'll get data corruptions once you put pressure on the package. Pastel (for example, available in the US and UK) has an SQL version, so understands 'multi user' means an identified number of concurrent users

4 price range
1K, 5K, 10K, 50K.........horses for courses, but in the end businesses watch the bottom line

Regards

Daniel Clark
Ryba Macaulay Ltd
[email protected]


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By jonnyd
13th Nov 2001 09:54

Accounting system
Lawerence your first call must be Sage Multi-user financial controller Line50 (ver 8.) + single user payroll (up to 100 employees-£350)

Total cost c £2,000.

(We can provide info if you like)

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