Entry-Level Accounting: Low Price, Big Features

Entry-level accounting software is for users who need a good basic system, but aren't ready for the multi-module and higher-priced midrange applications that supply more power and features than many want to pay for.

The products in this segment have been greatly improved in recent years and now share more similarities than differences. All of the packages we looked at have excellent invoicing and check-writing capabilities, and even the least expensive has capabilities that would have been jaw-dropping in mainframe software applications 20 years ago.

The packages differ most in how they implement some features and subsidiary ledgers. Inventory is one area where there's a wide range of differing capabilities, mostly in the ways to cost inventory. Pay particular attention to this area when recommending a package.

Another sensitive area is payroll--an application that's come a long way over the last decade. It's gotten a lot easier to maintain a complex payroll on a PC, as vendors make online payroll services available to their packages.

Vendor information:

Accpac Advantage Discovery
Series; Accpac Simply Accounting
Pricing: Discovery starts at $495 per module; prices are set by reseller.
Simply Accounting Pro--$89.

DacEasy Accounting for Windows 10 Best Software, DacEasy Division
Price: Single user--$299; network--$599.

QuickBooks Premier 2003 Intuit Inc.
Price: Single user--$499; five users--$1,499.

MYOB FirstEdge for the Mac; MYOB Plus for Windows v. 12 MYOB US Inc.
Pricing: $99.

Peachtree Complete Accounting 2003; Peachtree One-Write Plus Release 8
Pricing: Peachtree Complete, single user--$299; multi-user--$699 (five-user limit recommended. One-Write Plus--$69.

Copyright 2003 Gale Group, Inc. ASAP Copyright 2003 Thomson Financial Inc. Accounting Today June 2, 2003, Byline:
Ted Needleman is a consultant and freelance writer in Stony Point, N. Y. He is the former editor of Accounting Technology.