Did You Know Your Accounting Software Can... ?

You know your accounting software can print invoices. You expect it to reconcile bank statements, and tell you how much money you paid out for a particular service last year. Profit and loss statement are a given ... but nowadays, accounting software such as Peachtree Quantum and Sage Accounting Software is often much more than just a number cruncher. You can perform all sorts of business functions with it; in areas as diverse as operations and administration. Here are some of the top features of accounting software programs that aren’t strictly accounting related!

Manage customer contacts

Many small businesses use programs like Outlook or ACT to manage customer contact information. However, a good accounting software package will give you this functionality from within the program ... as well as linking a customer's contact details to all sorts of pertinent sales data. As soon as you pull up a name and phone number, you'll be able to see how much they have ordered, their payment history, and whether they have any invoices outstanding.

Allow you to accept credit card payments

Many businesses pay a separate company for the privilege of being able to process credit card payments for their customers. In fact, when you use a high level accounting software program like Peachtree Quantum, you can usually get merchant account support for accepting credit card payments.

Payroll

Both accounting software and payroll software is very involved and can take some time to learn. It is far easier for everybody concerned with either activity to have both functions contained within the same software program. The tasks will obviously be performed differently, but having a familiar user interface, the same passwords, a Help file that you know your way around as well as other people in the office that are familiar with how to work the program is invaluable.

Inventory management

Check out your inventory at a glance, by tying sales records to previously existing inventory records. This makes ordering a snap, and reconciliation even easier.

Business tax reporting

It's a painful time of year for anyone that isn’t an accountant ... but having your business tax reporting function within your ordinary accounting software program can help you breeze through July.