Professional Readings of Interest
Posted: April 7th, 2008 @ 3:08pm
Source: Ted Needleman, "The Next Step in Your Growth Cycle: Mid-Range Accounting Software." Accounting Today, Jan. 7. 2008.
Mid-Range accounting software. When your company outgrows off-the-shelf accounting software, the next step is mid-range programs. These offer simultaneous use of accounting applications by different employees, complex warehousing and distribution tracking, multiple inventory costing methods, handy foreign currency transaction functions. Mid-range software also has more powerful analytical tools and reporting capabilities. Of course, you get what you pay for. While entry level software costs no more than $900, mid-range can go as high as $10,000. Mid-range packages include:
· Denali. Numerous resellers and value-added resellers (VARS) offer training and support. Tiptoe in with individual modules or bundled. The complete bundle: general ledger, A/P, A/R, order entry, purchase-order, payroll, point of sale, bank rec. Uses Microsoft’s SQL database, that results in easy scaling to many users (i.e., can efficiently handle for many users both growing amounts of work and enlargement) and allows division of the workload among several servers. $1,195 per module. Added user licenses, $395 each. Visit www.cougarmtn.com.
· Quickbooks Enterprise 8.0. This QB upgrade handles more transactions than regular QB without slowing down as the database is filled. Interface is similar to regular QB and data are easily migrated from regular QB to this package. 5 users, $3,000. 20 users, $9000. Visit www.quickbooks.com.
· Traverse Version 10.5. 36 or so applications available, starting at $500 per module for a single user.
· TurningPoint 5.0. Good for general and not-for-profit accounting, despite its “agricultural” reputation. The core Financial Suite (G/L, A/R, and A/P), $2,495 for a single-user license. Other modules, around $895 each. Payroll $795. Visit www.redwingsoftware.com.
· Sage Accpac 200 ERP 5.4. Modules include G/L, A/R, A/P, inventory, order entry, purchase order, U.S. and Canadian payroll, national accounts management, and project and job costing. Starts at $5,000. Visit www.sagesoftware.com. Also available, Sage MAS 90 4.2, starting at $3,800. Visit www.sagemas.com.
· Peachtree Quantum 2008. Similar to Peachtree Premium Accounting but supports more users. Users must be named, making it less flexible. Up to 10 users, $3,750. Visit www.peachtree.com.
