Software for Business and Accounting

[Scott Knowles]

I'm curious what business and accounting software folks here use for their photography business. I've seen some package applications for photographers and some for small businesss. I only got the business license this last summer, mostly for legal issues to work with clients and haven't generated any income yet, but it's just a matter of time I have to do the work, file the quarterly reports (filed one to date, "No business activity") and pay the taxes, and file annual reports and tax forms.

I'm looking for one application if possible, but suggestions or recommendations appreciated.

[Scott Walker]

Simply accounting is probably the most widely used software in Canada for small business. Do not know where they stand in the US though.

[Richard Mahoney]

Scott,

I'm curious what business and accounting software folks here use for their photography business. ...

I'm looking for one application if possible, but suggestions or recommendations appreciated.

It might be helpful to look into a system that sees your accounting as just one part of your wider business model. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems tend to take this approach. For a few years I've found OpenERP especially helpful -- although I'm hardly using it to its full potential:

OpenERP :: Open Source Business Applications
http://www.openerp.com/

I've used it on UNIX systems -- Solaris 10 and FreeBSD 8 -- but it should also run well under MS Windows and Mac OS X. Alternatively you could save yourself the trouble of installing and maintaining your own version and just use their hosted version -- also a good way to see if it suits:

http://www.openerp.com/catalog


Kind regards,

Richard

[Kirk Gittings]

Quickbooks.

[James Hilton]

Sage Instant Accounts or Quickbooks are good choices if you are starting up. Both are cheap, easy to learn/use and if you end up growing and getting someone else in to help you with finances it is easy to find people who have experience of them.

[D. Bryant]

Quickenbooks is very flexible (customizable) and easy to use.

[Michael Gordon]

I love Quickbooks, but absolutely abhor it's maker, Intuit, and there are many others who feel the same. You can learn about Intuit's practices by checking out my 2009 blog post and all the comments it has generated from other Intuit haters:
http://michaelegordon.wordpress.com/...tomer-service/

[Kirk Gittings]

I love Quickbooks, but absolutely abhor it's maker, Intuit, and there are many others who feel the same. You can learn about Intuit's practices by checking out my 2009 blog post and all the comments it has generated from other Intuit haters:
http://michaelegordon.wordpress.com/...tomer-service/

Agreed.

[Scott Knowles]

Thanks for the responses. I'm looking at Quickbooks for Mac's first, but I saw some photographer specific software packages which surprised me at the prices, $500-1,500 for single user with only one in the $200 range, really overkill and overpriced for me. All I need is basic accounting and business management tools for customers and the state and federal reports and taxes. I finally got the state reseller's permit for some tax exemptions on supplies and materials I'll pay taxes when I sell work.

[Black Lightning]

Quickbooks Pro. That is the simplest and cheapest package out there and has all you need in an accounting package for a small business.