I just need something real basic. Don't need lots of different ledgers/entries. Probably work on cash basis. Would like something that will do invoices.

I use Quick Books, I have tried most software out there, and for the money and the ease of using, this is what I went with.

It make it easy to see where your money is going and where your money is comming from, also allows you to do billing, so on and so forth, or if you just do cash sales, it will work for that allso.

If you guys need more info, http://www.quickbooks.com/support/

I agree with Vinyl works about Quickbooks. It is much better for business then Quicken.

I Wanted to reply to the hiring teenagers post but it was late & I got lazy, but same thought here. I bought Island Sign 5 years ago. I had absolutely NO Business experience.

As a screen printing biz at that time I didn't even get a computer, but got pretty clear records & a basic system of bills to pay on a clipboard, jobs to do on another, outstanding invoices on a third. Basic but it worked.

I wanted a vinyl system, so once I got my computer I got Quickbooks Pro. It allowed very professional looking estimates that could convert to editable invoices with 1 click. I could also print checks. I got 2-part invoice forms & my custom checks at NEBS. Cheap! (Estimates print on regular letterhead) Shane you might use it in this same way.

The first year I just used the program to create these nice looking documents, but I did actual check register & tracking of paid & unpaid invoices on paper by hand.

Here's where the employing professional help part comes in. For the reasonable rate of about $35/hr. I got a quickbooks expert to come in and show me how to set up accounts, maintain & reconcile the check register, log in paid invoices, & track my expenses.

My first year had been done so incompletely we just set up a fresh start, and after 2 hours paid help I was tracking every expense into the same catagories later used on my tax return. I began designating every job, or specific item within a job into silk-screen, cut vinyl, digital printing, art/design, or installation.

I would call that consultant once or twice the first year, then later every January she would unravel the few oddities I had created & train me how not to do that, & now I just print out a report or two every quarter for me or my accountant and everything is already completely organized.

I am sure there are many bells & whistles I'm not using (as in all software that I own) but for the basic functions you might need, it is very well integrated, and will impress you how much convenience you get for how little training you would need.

I am still amazed how within a few minutes I can check recievables owed (who, how much, since when, invoice numbers...) Gross sales (last year, quarter, week, how much of sales was vinyl or digital or design...)I can check everything a client ever bought, when, how much I charged (you can see how handy that can be..)And at the end of the year all my expenses are already broken into rent, equip lease, sign supplies, auto fuel,advertising, utilities, sub-contractor whatever. (you set these accounts up yourself exactly how best fits your business)

I asked this same question earlier this year and the overwhelming response was Quickbooks Pro. So I went to CompUSA and got a great deal on it (I believe it was $70).

Would never look back. Everything is very easy to use. I use a few credit cards to order supplies on line, and when I get my statement every month, it is a 30 second process to reconcile and make sure everything is accounted for.

After trying several different accounting programs, I decided QB Pro was the easiest by far. I have been using it for 6 years now, and I love it.

The only problems I have found are... Inventory tracking is a little tricky for manufacturing. It is set up more for a retail business. The other problem is their upgrades are actually full programs, and the "special" upgrade price is the same as you can buy full program at Best Buy or others.

The inventory I can handle. It just requires a few extra ledger entries. As far as upgrades, I haven't bought one since 6.0. I understand the later versions are better for payroll, but since I have no employees, I can't see buying them.

I was mightily struck by how hypersensitive they are to protecting users' financial data, and what an amiable group of people their developers seem to be overall.

Even though they are absolutely huge, they haven't forgotten how to be people, and since we have the same philosophy here I was really impressed.

Thanks everybody, I'm off to buy QB pro.

If your bank offers online account management, chances are they'll also offer your account statements, transactions, etc in QuickBooks format which you can then import into Quickbooks. QuickBooks can even log into your account for you and get the information but I prefer to download the raw file from my bank then import it myself.

It also offers some neat planning, financial and debt management advice. It even suggests which debts you should pay off first based on the principles, interest rates and length of the loan.

[ October 04, 2001: Message edited by: old paint ]

I have been using qick books since day one, You don't need to use all those options now but maybe as you grow you will. You may havethe new version of Quickbooks Pro. And I agree, the interface is way too busy and confusing. I like the interface of quickbooks 99 which I use. It is so easy to use it's like shooting fish in a barrel.

I have been using QB Pro for about 7 years, and have consistently upgraded.

I personally would not care to run a business on Quicken H & B. There are enough major differences between H & B and QB that once you get used to QB you wouldn't want to go back.

Forget inventory. Set up your chart of accounts using one of their default charts, like a service business. You can always change these later.

Most businesses choose Accrual method instead of cash. Your accountant can help you with that.

Quickbooks has a forum (a BB like this one) for getting help.

www.quickbooks.com/support/boards

We used PeachTree for 6 or 8 years in the Wholesale Balloon business (large intense inventory) and it SUCKED!!! Our relative had QuickBooks for her Concrete Pumping Business and swore by it... so we took the plunge and BAM! we got a balance sheet that actually balanced!

We picked up the Network version of the latest release for a little under $400. The Network version is great if you have more than one person making invoices or punching out quotes.