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What accounting programs are you familiar with? I am researching changing programs. Currenting using Passport (was formerly called Real World), however, my accting people seem to get screwed up easily (Yes, dumba$ses are plentiful...) so I was looking for something a little easier to navigate, understand, etc...

Currently, I have ~10 people that interface with it. It would need to be able to do "divisional" accounting and would need to be able to make reports accordingly as well as consolidated... (IOW, I have different divisions, such as electrical, refrigeration, construction, etc., and would need to be able to run a report for any/each division as well as all divisions combined...)

Stepping down would be say, QuickBooks Enterprise, same type level would be Peachtree, stepping up, Great Plains... (Just given as examples or guidelines)

Any input would be appreciated. Your opinions of the good, the bad, etc., would be appreciated...

(I will move to software forum after I get some of you guys input...)
TIA

No one has any experience with accting programs?

Apparently Not there Genius

[quote="Spammy"]Apparently Not there Genius ]
Want me to show you what a genius is...

We use Maxwell, seems to do what we need it to do. I guess you could break it down into divisions by using different phase or G/L codes, that's how we do it.

Is your current package industry designed for what you guys do? Or is it something that's rather "generic" such as Quickbooks that simply works?

Great Plains can be customized to do divisional.

You also looking for a "Job Cost" based package?

Wife says take a peek at Accpac advantage series 5.3? (modules purchased separately)

Also I've setup networks for a package called "JobBoss"...by Kewill. It's a job cost based package, one client of mine does custom metal fabrication on the large scale, custom jobs for the Navy, platforms for those huge HVAC systems that sit on top of commercial building roofs, etc etc.

I see ACCPAC recommended - I used to sell it, no way. CA is so screwed up.

one thing you want to look at is the ability to audit. Aprogram that posts directly to accounts is a bitch. Batch posting is much better. You can see what you (or klutzmeister) did.

Who or what is "CA"? I could have sworn Accpac was a batch accounting system.

Computer Associates. They owned ACCPAC, I thought they still did.

I'm surprised you haven't considered peachtree. i dont know if it'll suit your needs though because I am unfamilar with your business.

I've taken 6 accounting classes for my BBA, including an entire class dedicated to peachtree. After i finish my BBA, i'm going to go for an accounting degree too.

The nice thing about peachtree is that it's basic interface is very data-entry friendly. however, it still contains everything related to GAAP accounting underneath the hood. So, while you can have a nitwit do your data entry, you can also closely examine all of your income/GL/etc statements seperately. Another nice feature is they've finally unlocked previous years. While you can't make changes, now you can at least look over your records. (they used to be locked out on you.)

I've just purchased quicken 2k5 deluxe. I dont know how well it works on a business level, but within a week we'll be controlling our home's fiancials through it.

Ken wrote:What accounting programs are you familiar with? I am researching changing programs. Currenting using Passport (was formerly called Real World), however, my accting people seem to get screwed up easily (Yes, dumba$ses are plentiful...) so I was looking for something a little easier to navigate, understand, etc...

Currently, I have ~10 people that interface with it. It would need to be able to do "divisional" accounting and would need to be able to make reports accordingly as well as consolidated... (IOW, I have different divisions, such as electrical, refrigeration, construction, etc., and would need to be able to run a report for any/each division as well as all divisions combined...)

Stepping down would be say, QuickBooks Enterprise, same type level would be Peachtree, stepping up, Great Plains... (Just given as examples or guidelines)

Any input would be appreciated. Your opinions of the good, the bad, etc., would be appreciated...

(I will move to software forum after I get some of you guys input...)
TIA

Hi Ken

An accounting system I have used off and on for about 15 years is MYOB. The first time I used it, it was a shareware package that I ran on my old Atari. MYOB used to be called Mind Your Own Business.

I have used others including Peachtree, Quickbooks, Simply Accounting to name a few. I have used MYOB for the past 5 years now. What I like about it is the ability to modify reports, invoices, etc. to what I want.

Another feature I like is the ability to send any report to Excel, or Word, or print them to a text file. This is handy when you are looking for something. You can use the search feature in Excel or a text editor to find it quickly.

You can set the program up to allow direct changes to an entry or set it up so an adjusting entry has to be make.

Unfortunately this program is no longer available in Canada. This is not a problem for me because I don't use it to calculate payroll so I do not need the tax updates.

I have set a few small businesses up with it and it has proven to be a very reliable program that does what it says it does.

Have a look here

Hope this is of some help.

Terry

My cousin swears ny Great Plains. In fact, that's his business. The site isn't much, but he can answer any questions you have about it. And they have offices in PA & FLA.
http://www.afsoftware.com/

And Ken, if you want to yack some more and ask about accouting packages, talk to me wifey. She's worked with a TON...and I mean a TON...of accounting packages. From high end stuff, to basic accounting systems, and all in between. Did a lot in the oil industry up in Canada, and down here in the states.

I asked her opinion when I made my first reply...but she came back with a ton of questions that I couldn't answer, about how your business runs.

Good info guys, thanks! Still lots of research ahead!