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QuickBook offers £80 SimpleStart option

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25th Dec 2005
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US accounting software giant Intuit is about to launch a £80 "instant" companion to QuickBooks in the UK.

"Our research indicated that although small businesses managers appreciate that accounting software would provide them with better financial control, they also believed that it would take too much time to set up and learn, and wouldn't actually save them any time in the long run," said Intuit UK managing director Stephen Lee.

"We have spent two years developing SimpleStart from scratch with the intention of overturning these views. We are so confident that it will save these businesses time from the word go that we are offering a 30-day free trial and a money-back guarantee."

QuickBooks SimpleStart is based around a graphical representation of the accounts, showing money in and money out. This visual approach is designed to make the accounts digestible at first glance and to provide a quick and easy way for users to manage sales, track expenses and customers, and organise information for their tax year-end, the developer said.

The program tracks payments and receipts, and handles VAT calculations and reports. Also included are readymade templates for reports on profit and loss, sales, expenses and available cash.

By coming out with such a low-cost application, Intuit is taking on Sage Instant at the bottom of its product ladder. The two PC accounting software market leaders appear to be engaged in a form of strategic marketing press. After Sage signalled its intention to "go vertical" at the beginning of 2003, Intuit responded with a set of industry-specific versions based on QuickBooks Pro.

Sage's vertical strategy is targeted more at its mid-range (Line 100 and 200) users, while QuickBooks currently has offerings for small and medium-size organisations in construction, property management, retail consultancy & not-for-profit sectors. Intuit indicated that new versions of the vertical applications will emerge soon, based around the QuickBooks 2004 Premier edition.

Meanwhile, microbusinesses and their advisors will be able to get hold of QuickBooks SimpleStart from UK retailers on 21 June 2004, or via Intuit's website and professional adviser network.

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