Perhaps one of the most popular names in accounting software is QuickBooks. If you don’t have this software, chances are you have heard of it. What follows is an unbiased review of QuickBooks accounting software.

Is There a Free Version?

Well, I have some good news and some bad news on this front. First, the good news: it turns out that QuickBooks does offer some free software. It is called the QuickBooks Simple Start Free Edition. They even have it for 2009. This is not a bad chunk of software if you are currently running on spreadsheets; and hey, it’s free.

And now, the bad news: Simple Start will only allow you to track up to 20 customers. At that point, you are prompted to purchase QuickBooks Pro. I find the 20 customer limit a little low. I mean who aspires to having 20 customers? I guess if you are selling Yachts, then 20 may not be a bad number, but for the rest of us 20 is a little low. I’m sure that Intuit claims the idea is to let you have a taste of their product before having to purchase it. This way you can decide whether or not you want the software without emptying your wallet.

QuickBooks Pro 2009 Review

One of the best features about QuickBooks is its usability. People with and without accounting knowledge have been able to use this software efficiently and effectively. The User Interface is professional and intuitive. Most accounting software is becoming more intuitive (thank heaven), but QuickBooks has to be the leader of the industry in user friendliness.

Another huge advantage (don’t worry I’ll get to some disadvantages in a second) of using QuickBooks’ accounting software is the sheer amount of people that already know how to use it. If you have a question about how to use the software, chances are you already know someone who uses it. Asking a friend sure beats reading the operator’s manual. Even if you don’t have a friend that knows how to use it, the online community will be able to help you (or you could probably just call Intuit – the makers of QuickBooks).

Disadvantages of QuickBooks

Because QuickBooks was designed to be so user friendly, it has stepped on the toes of a few hard-core accountants known as auditors. Auditors love to see the flow of information well documented. This flow of information is known as the audit trail. While QuickBooks can create an audit trail, in some situations it will allow the user to make changes without leaving any sort of trace. For an auditor, this is sometimes viewed as unacceptable. Even the QuickBooks Accounting for Churches and nonprofits has this problem.

Another interesting tidbit about QuickBooks that is unfavorable is that it doesn’t have a specific fixed-asset section. Depending on what you plan to use the software for, this may or may not be a big deal. However as an accountant, it just seems weird that they would leave that out. Intuit has provided a report that will list your companies’ assets.

Pricing/Conclusion

QuickBooks Pro pricing varies depending on where and when you purchase it. Currently it is running for about $200 when you buy it from the Intuit website. Note: Intuit charges more if more than one user is planning on using it. They charge around $400 for two users and around $550 for three users. This seems odd to me, but I’m sure they have a reason for it.

In conclusion, if you have a small company, then you probably can’t go wrong with this piece of software. I like to call this type of purchase a “safe” purchase. You probably won’t be blown away by what you get, but you won’t be disappointed either. The software will do what it is supposed to do and you will receive good customer support.