Do You Need Accounting Software For Your Small Business

Writen by Jakki Francis

If you're anything like me then you dislike with a vengeance doing your accounts and taxes.

So how can you make this process easier, less painful and cut your accountancy fees?

Well buying an accounting software package is one way.

First of all you need to decide whether you are going to keep your accounting records manually, that is using pen and paper, or whether you are going to computerize the process.

If you decide that computerizing the process is the way to go then you need to decide whether to buy an accounting software package, for example Sage or Quicken, or whether a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel will suit your needs better.

As a general rule if you are a cash business that just needs to record income and expenditure then you are better off using a spreadsheet.

So, should you choose an accounting software package? Yes if:

1. You have customers to whom you extend credit and you buy goods in the same way

2. You process in excess of 50 transactions per month

3. Your business is an Incorporated Company (Limited Company in the UK)

and:

4. You are computer literate or are willing to learn!

Before choosing the accounting software, speak to your accountants – they will be familiar with the various accounting software packages on the market and will be able to advise you. Most accountants use software in their office to process the bookkeeping for their clients and will have a working knowledge of the accounting software package they use. It may be cheaper for you to use the same one they do, because they can advise you how to get it up and running and will be on hand to answer questions, plus at your financial year end when your accounts need preparing it will be less expensive, believe me to have a compatible program.

I also recommend doing some research yourself, you may be able to obtain a demonstration disk or download of the most popular accounting software packages and this will give you an idea of how they work and if they are user-friendly.

The cost may also be an issue, so you need to decide on your budget. But consider how your business is likely to expand - you may outgrow that budget accounting software quickly and end up buying the more expensive one anyway.

Accounting software providers may also try and up-sell you a maintenance contract. Save your money! In my experience the established software providers will not have bugs in their systems. They will also try and upgrade you to the next version on a regular basis, but if the software is doing everything you need then there is no need to upgrade.

Of course, you could also pay someone to do your accounts for you, either your accountant or a bookkeeper – the payoff being you don't have to do it yourself and it frees you up to actually run your business!

Copyright © Jakki Francis, 2005

This article is copyrighted. Please feel free to use it in it's entirety including copyright information and information about the publisher.

Jakki Francis operates the website http://www.accountingsoftware-reviews.com For news, information and resources on all types of accounting software.

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Get The Best Credit Card Merchant Account

Writen by Shane Penrod

Looking for the best credit card merchant account? Admittedly, there are a plethora of lenders to choose from when you browse the Internet for merchant account services. But what are you really looking for? Do you want an enhanced business image? Increased public exposure? A larger client base? Additional sales and revenues? Then you're on the right track! A merchant account can do all this and more when you work with the right company.

Finding a quality lender to work with for the best credit card merchant account is not as difficult as you might think. You can start by asking your local banker for information about its merchant accounts. If you don't feel the terms are quite right for your company, ask for a referral or check out other local banks yourself. You also might want to try credit unions or reputable lenders to see if you can partner with a financial underwriter in your community. That way you will get to know the company representative and perhaps meet occasionally face to face, which is always a desirable goal in business when feasible. But if not, there are plenty of good lenders to work with.

The best credit card merchant account providers tend to compete with each other to get business owners' business. In fact, some will offer to meet or beat a competing underwriter's price. So if you like the terms but not the price at a particular bank, find a lower rate somewhere else and tell the first bank about it. Perhaps you can get your preferred terms and lower costs at the bank of your choice. But if it doesn't work out for some reason, keep looking for other lenders and shop for the deal that will best suit your company's growth plan. It's just a matter of matching your needs with the lender's capabilities to make a match that satisfies both of you.

What would the best credit card merchant account do for your business? You can start accepting credit card payments immediately when you get approved for a merchant account. Start by installing a simple credit card processor, the kind that swipes a credit card, at your place of business. Then you may want to consider digital telephone credit processing services. Or you might opt to go wireless if you travel to remote destinations to collect payments. You can even put up a company Website as your crowning achievement and accept credit card payments there as well. In a very short time your client base could multiply, along with your profits, all because of your merchant account status. Are your competitors already using technology like this to accept credit card payments? Then you have no time to lose!

Start shopping now for a lender that will approve your application, offer low-fee services, and provide reliable support while you upgrade your company's business image. Don't stop with the first company to offer you a merchant account. You deserve the best so don't settle for less when you apply for your bank merchant account.

Shane Penrod is an expert author and owner of http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com A merchant services resource site where you can shop and compare quotes from national leading merchant account providers. Get the Best Credit Card Merchant Account.

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