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 - An Accountant's ReviewAs a small business accountant, I have used a variety of accounting software programs including QuickBooks, Peachtree, etc. Of all the programs I have used QuickBooks is the easiest for non-accountants to use. It's also the easiest for non-accountants to screw up. Therein lies the problem. QuickBooks does not teach you accounting. It provides you with a framework to keep track of your records. When it's set up and maintained correctly, it provides a business owner with tons of valuable data on the health of your business. I recommend QuickBooks very highly but I suggest that business owner's get help from a pro when they're setting up their company. I have spent numerous billable hours cleaning up poorly set up companies. Although that's great for MY business, it's not good for yours. It's much cheaper for you to start out with the right framework and training. Understanding the numbers side of your business is crucial to your success but don't expect a software program to be the magic bullet that teaches you everything you need to know. QuickBooks is a great tool and all my regular clients use it most successfully with a little help from their friendly accountant. Rating:  - Waste of Time and MoneyAs a previous owner I can say without reservation that this package was a collosal waste of my money but more importantly it wasted a lot of my time. No multi-currency support so forget it if you do any business internationally. Report generating capabilities are terrible compared with other products (e.g.MYOB). Also, to get the rebate you need to be a prior user of the product so you're out of luck if you are buying your first package. Rating: - Assistant Professor, CISThis is the first time I have used the software. I have not read the documentation or any books associated with quickbooks. I do know a little bit about accounting and the double entry concept. I was able to set up a trial company with vendors, customers and employees with all associated income, expense and equity accounts. I took a Friday evening and a Saturday morning to explore most of the menu items. I even tried the online version and will sign up and use it once it has most of the features I need for the startup company I am forming. In a nutshell, I found it extremely easy to use. I like the merchant account, payroll service and credit card options that go along with the software and will sign up for them. I do not find the fees excessive and certainly reasonable for the time they save. I plan to come back and add another review in 3 months after it has been battle tested. The software has passed my initial testing with flying colors. Rating: - Very difficult (impossible??) programWhat? No option for no stars or negative stars?? I have used QuickBooks for several years at the request of the accountants I work with. The updated 2002 version (I used QB99) is, if possible, even more difficult to navigate. "Support" for the product is at additional cost. Online banking is three times what I pay for online banking with the major banks I use for that service and download into Quick Books is not supported by those same banks. This necessitates a great deal of additional input!!! Also, I cannot email statements or files without the Online Banking at the additional cost. Rating: - It's Fine for What It isGive a really fine lawyer a piano, and he very likely will not be able to make music. Give a dynamic entrepreneur a green eye shade, and you probably haven't made him into an accountant. QB Basic tries to help all of us organize our bookeeping so that we can save some of the billable hours for which our accountants are so infamous. In general, Intuit has done a pretty fine job of it, given that the Basic edition is based on the assumption that its users will want a system, not a tool for teaching them accounting. When you have finished the month, quarter, or year, you can turn the results over to the professional so that he can stamp it for approval before you send it to your creditors. You probably will have saved lots of billable hours...
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