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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Financial Software

Are you looking for the right financial software for your home or your business? Software for handling finances can be a great help to any home, and for business it is an essential part of everyday operation. Whether it's simply keeping track of costs and expenses and which bills are due, or if you need something more advanced to cover complex issues like payroll and customer payments, finding the right software can make things much easier and more efficient.

There are quite a few options when choosing this sort of software. Some things you want to keep in mind include usability, compatibility, functionality, and naturally how much it costs. Usability is important, especially for more advanced financial programs usually used in businesses. You need to be sure everyone who needs to is able to quickly and easily understand how it works. If you currently have software you will need to run with your financial programs, you want to be sure it is compatible, also that it is compatible with you operating system. Not every piece of software covers the same aspect of your finances, so be sure it can be used everywhere you need it. Price is also a concern and this can vary depending on how expansive a solution you are after.

It is always a good idea to consider all of your options before making a decision. Business.com provides links to a number of quality sources.

View the links to the left and find financial software that meets your needs.

Managing Your Business Finances Online

Everything from bookkeeping to customer management, billing, inventory and invoicing can be accomplished in a few clicks with online accounting programs. Moving your financial management to the Web can free you from worry about storing paper files, upgrading software or maintaining extra computers.

Before deciding to manage your business finances online, ask the following questions:

Does the provider offer a full array of financial management services or just a few?
Will my data be backed up regularly?
How secure is the platform?
Does support come with the service or is it extra?
Can I get my data back if I stop using the service?

Investigate Web-based accounting systems

Online accounting platforms can handle key accounting tasks through "dashboards" that keep all your company's information right at your fingertips and can be accessed anytime and from any Internet connection.
Try: NetSuite offers a subscription-based small business product that, for a monthly fee of $99 for each user, allows companies to manage their accounting system, including sales orders, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, time, billing and other functions by simply using a browser.

Upgrading from software to online management shouldn't be difficult

If you manage your business finances via software, check to see whether the provider has an online edition — and whether you can transfer your information to the online edition without too much fuss. Also check to see whether the online edition has all the features offered via software.
Try: QuickBooks Online edition allows users to transfer information from PC-based QuickBooks to the online edition, but doesn't have as many features.

Find an offering that is tailored to your needs

Some online products are for small businesses, others for larger organizations, and some primarily for consumers, although they have business components.
Try: Jaya123 is designed for small to mid-sized businesses.

Some financial management products can be accessed by cell phone or PDA

For true portability, consider products that work on your Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or cell phone.
Try: BudgetTracker is a financial budget tracking site that allows users to access data from a cell phone with an Internet connection.

Banks of all sizes offer online financial management tools for business

Software companies aren't the only purveyors of online financial management tools. Many banks, large and small, now offer products.
Try: Online financial management for business is offered from large banks such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America to small banks such as Community Resource Bank and Rockport National in Minnesota.

Some banks offer online business services teamed with an online software program

In a bid to grow their online banking business, some banks offer a program that interfaces with an online business software program, such as QuickBooks.
Try: Compass Bank, with locations in six western and southern states, offers customers the ability to take control of their business banking online with QuickBooks and Compass PC for Business Banking.

Consider an online bank for business banking

If you're managing your business finances online, why not go all the way and use an online bank for your business banking? Online banks have no physical branches or ATMs, but often offer compelling fee structures.
Try: Giant Bank is an online bank that offers business banking and financial services.

Advantages of online financial management for businesses: You don't have to buy servers or new computers to use it…You don't have to download software…You don't have to spend time configuring it…You don't have to build a dedicated IT network to service it