Accounting software

Bookkeeping software

I use several software systems in my business because my client base has different needs, and I tailor the bookkeeping and the software I use with each to the specifics of their company. If you are going to start a business, investigate what your potential client base uses. Most non-financial type businesses will use Quickbooks, and that will make it easy for you to take a backup of their books and adjust them at your office.

I have used some of the other ones you mention, but they are not as easy to use as QB, and almost certainly not familiar to many potential clients. But one you didn't mention is Peachtree, which I find to be as easy as QB to use.

Pros & cons of QB: easy to modify reports, but also too easy to backdate a transaction to a period you thought was closed - and not know how to find it. Also, to have QB calculate payroll for you, you must purchase the tax update separately each year.Pros & cons of PT: easier to do payroll, and you don't have to pay each year for the tax update service (like you must in QB) if you take just a little bit of time to set it up correctly, but reports can't be date-sensitive only month-sensitive. However, Peachtree also has a companion Crystal Reports, that will allow you the most powerful report designing tool available for an entry-level bookkeeping software.If I have clients that don't have a lot of unusual reporting issues, but do have payroll, I'll recommend Peachtree every time. If the client insists on doing the books in-house, but needs a lot of hand-holding to get everything reconciled, Quickbooks will do the trick.Good luck on your business!