Small Business software, anyone?

I was just wondering what others who are self-employed or run small business have in terms of software. I don't have an all-inclusive program, but have been pondering the purchase of one for quite some time. The only reason I haven't pulled the trigger is because I haven't found anything that I was sure had all the features I needed.

Here's the things I need it to include:
-mileage
-bidding/estimating to invoicing
-time card
-PDA compatibility (Palm OS)
-income/expenses tied to invoicing
-weekly/monthly/yearly I/E summaries automatic off of invoices

There could be a few more that I can't think of because it's early, but that's the gist of it.

Jason,

Quickbooks Pro has virtually everything you are asking for. I'm just not sure about compatibility with your PDA. Quickbooks has the estimating and bidding, time spent, material costs...blah-blah-blah.....and you can track each project by project name or some other identifier of your choice. Even does payroll, taxes and etc as well and the cost is fairly cheap compared to other packages out there.

Quickbooks has been around for a long time now so its a fairly mature product. You may find something better, but for the cost...it's hard to beat.

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Originally Posted by Dennis Peacock

Quickbooks has been around for a long time now so its a fairly mature product. You may find something better, but for the cost...it's hard to beat.

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I agree with the recommendation for QuickBooks. One thing though...you need to be sure and purchase the annual updates religiously or the payroll (and withholding) will not be accurate. That could potentially cost you more money than the cost of the upgrades! This is the single most common topic that you will generally find out there relative to this (and similar) programs...understanding that it's not a one-time purchase if you use it for payroll.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jim Becker

I agree with the recommendation for QuickBooks. One thing though...you need to be sure and purchase the annual updates religiously or the payroll (and withholding) will not be accurate. That could potentially cost you more money than the cost of the upgrades! This is the single most common topic that you will generally find out there relative to this (and similar) programs...understanding that it's not a one-time purchase if you use it for payroll.

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Uhhh....I'm self-employed. No payroll or withholding here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jason Roehl

Uhhh....I'm self-employed. No payroll or withholding here.

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:D..................

I use Peachtree Complete accounting and I hate it. My advice is choose wisely, because once it is set up and you have entered all the data it is a royal pain to switch over.
Many offer free 30 day demo's so you can play with it and see if it will work for you. Here again they are hoping you will enter your data and not want to go to the trouble to change over.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dennis Peacock

I'm just not sure about compatibility with your PDA.

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There are several PDA applications that are compatible with QuickBooks...so this probably will not be an issue if you go this way. In fact, (don't shoot me if I am wrong), I believe that there is a specific application for the Palm OS that is made by the same maufacturer.

Noah

I don't have a suggestion but thought you might get a kick out of this.

Abbott & Costello in the 21st Century Abbott:
Computer Support Group. Can I help you?

Costello: Thanks. I'm setting up a home office in the den, and I'm thinking of buying a computer.

Abbott: Mac?

Costello: No, the name is Lou.

Abbott: Your computer?

Costello: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

Abbott: Mac?

Costello: I told you, my name is Lou.

Abbott: What about Windows?

Costello: Why? Does it get stuffy?

Abbott: Do you want a computer with Windows?

Costello: I don't know. What do I see when I look out the windows?

Abbott: Wallpaper.

Costello: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

Abbott: Software that runs on Windows?

Costello: No, on the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses. You know, run a business. What have you got?

Abbott: Office.

Costello: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

Abbott: I just did.

Costello: You just did what?

Abbott: Recommended something.

Costello: You recommended something?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: For my office?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: Okay, what did you recommend for my office?

Abbott: Office.

Costello: Yes, for my office.

Abbott: Office for Windows.

Costello: I already have an office and it already has windows!

Let's say I'm sitting at my computer, and I want to type a proposal.

What do I need?

Abbott: Word.

Costello: If I'm writing a proposal, I'm going to need lots of words.

But what program do I load?

Abbott: Word.

Costello: What word?

Abbott: The Word in Office.

Costello: The only word in office is office.

Abbott: The Word in Office for Windows.

Costello: Which word in "office for windows?"

Abbott: The Word you get when you click the blue W.

Costello: I'm going to click your big W if you don't give me a straight answer. Let's forget about words for a minute. What do I need if I want to watch a movie over the Internet?

Abbott: RealOne.

Costello: Maybe a real movie, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business. But what do I need to watch it?

Abbott: RealOne.

Costello: If it's a long movie I'll also want to watch reels two, three and four. Can I watch reel four?

Abbott: Of course.

Costello: Great! With what?

Abbott: RealOne.

Costello: Okay, so I'm sitting at my computer and I want to watch a movie. What do I do?

Abbott: You click the blue 1.

Costello: I click the blue one what?

Abbott: The blue 1.

Costello: Is that different from the blue W?

Abbott: Of course it is. The blue 1 is RealOne. The blue W is Word.

Costello: What word?

Abbott: The Word in Office for Windows.

Costello: But there are three words in "office for windows!"

Abbott: No, just one. But it's the most popular Word in the world.

Costello: It is?

Abbott: Yes, although to be fair there aren't many other Words left. It pretty much wiped out all the other Words.

Costello: And that word is the real one?

Abbott: No. RealOne has nothing to do with Word. RealOne isn't even part of Office.

Costello: Never mind; I don't want to get started with that again. But I also need something for bank accounts, loans, and so on. What do you have to help me track my money?

Abbott: Money.

Costello: That's right. What do you have?

Abbott: Money.

Costello: I need money to track my money?

Abbott: No, not really. It comes bundled with your computer.

Costello: What comes bundled with my computer?

Abbott: Money.

Costello: Money comes bundled with my computer?

Abbott: Exactly. No extra charge.

Costello: I get a bundle of money with my computer at no extra charge?

How much money do I get?

Abbott: Just one copy.

Costello: I get a copy of money. Isn't that illegal?

Abbott: No. We have a license from Microsoft to make copies of Money.

Costello: Microsoft can license you to make money?

Abbott: Why not? They own it.

Costello: Well, it's great that I'm going to get free money, but I'll still need to track it. Do you have anything for managing your money?

Abbott: Managing Your Money? That program disappeared years ago.

Costello: Well, what do you sell in its place?

Abbott: Money.

Costello: You sell money?

Abbott: Of course. But if you buy a computer from us, you get it for free.

Costello: That's all very wonderful, but I'll be running a business.

Do you have any software for, you know, accounting?

Abbott: Simply Accounting.

Costello: Probably, but it might get a little complicated.

Abbott: If you don't want Simply Accounting, you might try M.Y.O.B.

Costello: M.Y.O.B.? What does that stand for?

Abbott: Mind Your Own Business.

Costello: I beg your pardon?

Abbott: No, that would be I.B.Y.P. I said M.Y.O.B.

Costello: Look, I just need to do some accounting for my home business. You know--accounting? You do it with money.

Abbott: Of course you can do accounting with Money. But you may need more.

Costello: More money?

Abbott: More than Money. Money can't do everything.

Costello: I don't need a sermon! Okay, let's forget about money for the moment. I'm worried that my computer might...what's the word?

Crash. And if my computer crashes, what can I use to restore my data?

Abbott: GoBack.

Costello: Okay. I'm worried about my computer smashing and I need something to restore my data. What do you recommend?

Abbott: GoBack.

Costello: How many times do I have to repeat myself?

Abbott: I've never asked you to repeat yourself. All I said was GoBack.

Costello: How can I go back if I haven't even been anywhere?

Okay, I'll go back. What do I need to write a proposal?

Abbott: Word.

Costello: But I'll need lots of words to write a proposal.

Abbott: No, you only need one Word -- the Word in Office for Windows.

Costello: But there are three words in...Oh, never mind.

Abbott: Hello? Hello? Customers! Why do they always hang up on me?

Oh, well.

Very funny, and oh Bart

Happy Birthday!!!