What Is Best Accounting Software For One Man Shop

[Cancer65]

Hello, I'm an avid reader of these posts but don't post much. I've learned much and still continue to learn through this valuable resource. Here is were I am; I just recently started to complete appraisals on my own under my own banner after working fee split since I started working in 1999. It took a while to finally take the plunge, however I still complete fee split work for the original company as I still don't have enough work on my own otherwise. My question is regarding which accounting software works best for a low volume one man shop appraiser? I use Alamode total to write my reports and I don't have an accounting program at all. I've looked at Youtube videos about a few different accounting software programs but they seem to be overkill for my needs, is there a simple program without all the bells and whistles that I don't need? What do others use in their businesses. I don't intend to grow my business to the point were I would need to bring in another person, I enjoy being solitary and only taking on as much as I can handle on my own.
Thanks.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I just keep it all on a spreadsheet but you can try Dome for $60. I used the paper books for years and it works but it was not well updated at the time (ran a DOS program inside a Windows Shell)

http://www.domeproductsonline.com/software/

Everyone else uses QuickBooks...but it's $200 and overkill.

 

[Elliott]

I use Quicken (I mildly hate them because of their upgrade policies) connected to my checking account. End of year I print out deposits (on line and bank) and expenses by category for the year. Set up category right and everything is pretty easy. "Accounting" is beyond the simple office and so much easier to expense your purchases.

 

[JTip]

One man shop?
I use my mind to track invoices. It's not like I have a dozen clients....

 

[CindyR]

Set up a couple spread sheets in a free OpenOffice program

 

[sandpiperapp]

Quick books offered a free copy of the software that was limited to 10 or 25 clients. I got a copy years ago. If you search the Internet for Quick books Simple Start 2010, you still might find a free copy online.

 

[Rick Stillman]

Hello, I'm an avid reader of these posts but don't post much. I've learned much and still continue to learn through this valuable resource. Here is were I am; I just recently started to complete appraisals on my own under my own banner after working fee split since I started working in 1999. It took a while to finally take the plunge, however I still complete fee split work for the original company as I still don't have enough work on my own otherwise. My question is regarding which accounting software works best for a low volume one man shop appraiser? I use Alamode total to write my reports and I don't have an accounting program at all. I've looked at Youtube videos about a few different accounting software programs but they seem to be overkill for my needs, is there a simple program without all the bells and whistles that I don't need? What do others use in their businesses. I don't intend to grow my business to the point were I would need to bring in another person, I enjoy being solitary and only taking on as much as I can handle on my own.
Thanks.

All good advice here. My only question is 1999 to present is a while? That's going on 20 years. Time to retire, right?

 

[Cancer65]

All good advice here. My only question is 1999 to present is a while? That's going on 20 years. Time to retire, right?

You're right, it's a long time to be working under someone else on a split fee basis, I should have done this a long time ago. I'm risk averse by nature and was too comfortable letting someone else make decisions for me, I finally made my mind up to start moving on, in hindsight, it's not that hard, the money sure is better and this is a good time to go on one's own as there are countless sources of work clamoring for available appraisers, remains to be seen how I'll do in the lean times to come. I think I'll try my office suite spreadsheets for now, as far as running my very small business.

 

[Sid Holderly]

There are many free on-line programs for what we need (cloud based). My wife uses Quick Books 2009 and has not updated it. We will switch to a cloud system, kmymoney, or gnucash sometime to get away from Windows costs. Many of the on-line and free systems have no check writing capability which is a nice feature to have.

Alamodes Wintotal built in record keeping could be a substitute if you only need it for appraisals.

 

[Vermonter]

Set up a couple spread sheets in a free OpenOffice program

Agree. The lowest cost option is best for a one man shop.

Tried open source Gnucash after getting rid of Quickbooks, but quickly realized neither were really necessary.