Insurance accounting programs are similar to other types of professional accounting programs, but they offer specialized management features to provide the insurance industry with better options for creating databases and organizing insurance information.

Insurance accounting systems are simple to use, but many software providers also offer some type of training and support systems. Accounting software for insurance helps companies manage accounts and organize financial information for the business and its clients. To find insurance accounting software education and training, look for software providers that offer:

1. Tutorials and user guides for easy training.

2. Online courses that teach employees how to use insurance agency accounting software.

3. On-site training for a more customized approach to learning.

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Learn to use accounting insurance software with tutorials and other resources

All software providers offer some type of training and support for their customers, even when the program is ready to use out of the box. Tutorials, user guides and installation instructions are often useful tools for training employees to use software, whether on their own or as part of an in-house training session.

I recommend: Agency Software provides many online resources tools, including manuals, installation instructions and live chat support. Tutorialized offers accounting software tutorials for a large number of software titles, including Microsoft Dynamics.

Find online courses that teach you to use accounting software for the insurance industry

To learn how to use an accounting program for insurance, you and your employees can also participate in online courses offered by software companies. These training courses can be taken at any time and offer the same information as an on-site training program. Many courses also offer a certification of completion so you can keep track of who has completed training progress.

I recommend: Insurance Technologies offers a list of training videos that teach the skills necessary to use its insurance accounting software. Cougar Mountain Software provides online training through live instruction and tutorials.

Get on-site training that teaches you to use accounting software for insurance companies

On-site software training is the most comprehensive type of program a company can offer its employees. If you opt for an on-site session, an expert will come to your business to teach the basic and advanced features of the program to employees. They will use the technology they are familiar with as they explore how to use an accounting program for the insurance industry.

I recommend: IDIT Technologies provides customers with a comprehensive training package that includes many training materials, plus on-site training with an expert. Peachtree by Sage offers local on-site training for its accounting software solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many smaller insurance agencies can use regular accounting programs instead of insurance agency accounting systems. This is a cost-saving choice, but there are still plenty of customized training solutions available to get employees up to speed.

As in any business, insurance providers need to have a clear picture of their overall financial situation. accounting software for insurance can help you manage your financials more efficiently, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, invoices, payroll, and general ledger.

Insurance accounting software reduces the time and resources needed to manage your company's finances, thus allowing you to concentrate on the tasks that require a human touch, namely, developing relationships with potential and current customers.

Questions to ask when comparing insurance accounting programs:

1. What insurance accounting programs allow multiple users?

2. Does the vendor offer training and customer support?

3. Which insurance accounting programs offer multiple versions--basic and professional, for example--and can I change between them as the size of my business changes?

4. Does my computer meet the software's system requirements?

5. Which insurance accounting systems are designed with my industry in mind?

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Choose software designed specifically for insurance accounting

Numerous accounting programs handle general accounting tasks, but if you really want to streamline your business, choose a system designed with insurance providers in mind. Software designed for insurance accounting can help you automate and integrate all aspects of your business.

I recommend: AgencyPro for Windows is accounting software for insurance that includes free technical support for the first year, features a word processor with over 100 pre-written sales letters, and is available in an on-site version you install on your own computers, or an online version you can access from anywhere, as long as you have an Internet connection.

Choose insurance accounting solutions designed for service providers

The more specific your accounting software is to your business, the more relevant its features will be, and the more use you'll get out of it. Service providers, such as insurance agencies, face challenges and tasks unique to their industry, and will receive the most benefit from accounting software designed around their needs.

I recommend: Quickbooks offers a version for service providers, which comes in four versions: SimpleStart, Pro, Premier Professional Services, and Enterprise Solutions.

Make your insurance agency accounting software more accessible by choosing a bilingual program

An increasing number of workplaces are Hispanic or bilingual, and have primarily Hispanic or bilingual clientele. By also making your insurance accounting software bilingual, you make it easier for all employees to use, and helps Hispanic-owned businesses become more competitive.

I recommend: Insurance accounting software from Simply Accounting comes in a Spanish-English version, with both languages in the same package. Users of this accounting software for the insurance industry can alternate between the two languages, and the package includes an accounting manual, workbook, bilingual user manual, new business guide, multimedia learning guide, and Spanish-language customer support.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you research insurance accounting systems, check with other insurance providers or with your local or national professional association. They may have insurance accounting software solutions they recommend.

Learning to work with insurance accounting operations becomes simple when you take the time to learn and understand insurance accounting software key terms, which give you insight behind the accounting practices. Knowing the terminology also gives you a professional edge as you consult with clients and work with accounts. Learning insurance accounting software key terms makes it easier to work the programs so you get the results you need. Once you know these terms, you can also help ensure that your clients understand them as well.

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Technical accounting

Insurance accounting software uses technical accounting to input data then manipulates it for optimal performance.

I recommend: PRLog offers information and an article about accounting software that you could use for the insurance business. It stresses the importance of technical accounting.

Account payable

Account payable, also called AP, is a transaction that someone must pay in full when he or she receives a receipt. Usually a pay-by date is included with an AP. You can have an AP due to another company, or you may bill clients using an AP system. An account payable does not allow for partial payments, and insurance computer software keeps track of the account payable accounts.

I recommend: IDIT I.D.I. Technologies offers Insurance Software Solutions, a site highlighting software for insurance accounting. It covers options such as account payable functionality.

Account receivables

When a client uses a service or product and doesn't pay for it immediately, the company adds the information to an asset or balance sheet and sends out an invoice for the service or product. Insurance software programs keep track of these transactions and mark them as account receivables until the client pays the bill.

I recommend: Cash Flow Manual not only defines account receivables in great detail, it also offers an article explaining how it all works.

Premium

A premium is the amount a person or company pays for his or her insurance policy.

I recommend: FinWeb.com provides information on insurance premiums and includes how some companies calculate your premium.

Multiple payers

Sometimes insurance companies need to take multiple payers into consideration when doing their accounting. Instead of on organization taking responsibility for payment, multiple payers have more than one organization splitting the bill.

I recommend: Elsevier B.V. offers information detailing the difference between single payers and multiple payers. It highlights different countries that have begun using the multiple-payer system.

Multiple currencies

Often insurance and accounting data includes input from different countries, and the exchange rate constantly evolves. Software that works with multiple currencies takes the different exchange rates from different regions and converts them to the user's main currency.

I recommend: Dalhousie University Mathematics and Statistics offers a tutorial for those interested in learning more about multiple currency in accounting. It gives examples of how software works with multiple currencies.