Best Accounting Software for Small Business in 2011

Jan 12, 2011
Chen Nanyang

Accounting Software for Small Business - Picture by BotMultichillT

Compare, download and review top accounting solutions for small business managers and personal users in 2011.

How do you find a top accounting program for a small business in 2011? Are free and open source accounting software applications really the best choices for small or home business owners? This article will provide simple answers for these two questions. It is also an easy guide for finding and downloading accounting software for small business management.

An accountant usually requires a simple, easy to use, low-cost and reliable accounting software solution for small business management. This kind of software can help a small company easily improve financial management and reduce operating costs.

Cost Effectiveness of Small Business Accounting Software Solutions

The costs of small business accounting systems include the prices of software packages and the costs of configuration, integration, training and customer supports. As a result, sometimes a free and open source program may not be a cheapest choice – though it provides software packages for free downloading, the costs of its other services could be expensive, especially when it is a part of a company’s integrated CRM (customer relationship management) or ERP (enterprise resources planning) system.

On the other hand, some of the proprietary software companies provide accounting software solutions at low prices. If such a software application provides reliable solutions and its price includes configuration and comprehensive customer support, it could be a good choice for a small business accountant.

Other important characteristics of a good small business accounting tool include high efficiency and excellent operating results. A priced accounting program could be very cost-effective if it can largely improve business intelligence and reduce operating costs.

Top Accounting Software Solutions for Small Business in 2011: Suggestions and Downloads

There are a few suggestions for small business accountants who are looking for good accounting solutions in 2011:

If an accountant needs an independent desktop software application, he or she should compare the functions and services between open source programs and low-cost priced packages before choosing a right one. GnuCash, Grisbi and HomeBank could be good choices. Please check the article Best Free Open Source Accounting Software Download Reviews for details.

If an accountant wants to monitor financial situation in different places, a Web-based online accounting system could be a best choice. Online accounting systems usually can be accessed by both personal computers and mobile phones. QuickBooks Online, NolaPro, Xero and ClearBooks could be good choices. Please see the article Best Online Accounting Software Programs 2011 Reviews for details.

If a small business needs an integrated CRM or ERP management system that includes an accounting module, an open source software program could be a non-expensive choice. Adempiere, BlueErp, Compiere, Dolibarr, JFire, Apache OFBiz, Openbravo and OpenERP could be good choices. Please read more in Best Free ERP Software Download Review, Best Open Source ERP Software Systems 2011 Reviews, and Free and Open Source CRM Software for details.