Migration Paths to Great Plains Question...

[akalinowski]

I know this most likley isnt the right forum, but it's my best guess since i couldnt find anything more suitable.

i've started a small consulting business on the side and now its starting to grow to the point where managing my financials in an excel sheet isnt going to cut it and in a few months time i may be able to quit my 9-5 and my side business will become my business (fingers crossed) anyways all my accounting/erp software experience has been with ERP packages like great plains or business one and i dont have the money to go out and pick up great plains like i would like to right now and i dont need it today either so it wouldnt be smart in any sense. what i am looking at is quickboks and microsoft office accounting. my question is does ms office accounting pro have an easy migration path to great plains or microsoft small business financials (which i know has a path to GP) or will it be pretty much the same no matter how i go about it.

thanks

akalinowski

MCSE 2000, A+, N+, LCP, CNE

 

[technome]

Just my opinion, keep it simple....

As a Consultant I use Quickbook, just to invoice and pull financial reports for the accountant at the end of the year. I have a rather simple needs.. I do not collect sales tax, or sell "materials, strictly service so I can get away without spending a couple of hours a week maintaining the books.

An outside service does my payroll as with the little time I have it would be impossible to get through the year without getting fined by the state or Feds for not getting the numerous filing in on time or minor mistakes. The payroll service is liable for any mistakes they make; not exactly cheap but with NYS, fines for form delays/minor mistakes can be very costly, one fine could be more then the yearly payroll cost; lessens the chance of non-sense audits.

Also important get a good accountant. I used to do my own Chapter S taxes but it is not worth it. My account got me out of two non-sense audits with just phone calls. Was audited once (before getting an accountant) because a client mis-marked a check box on a 1099. It took me a week of prep, 6 trips to Manhattan, 5 of which were to find out what the issue was, which the IRS did could not figure out until the 5th trip; two weeks lost time for a mis-marked check box.


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[dgillz]

For a consulting service, getting Great Plains is overkill. Great Plains is a full featured ERP system. You just need AR AP and GL. Quickbooks or Peachtree is my recommendation.

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[akalinowski]

thanks guys, i picked up microsoft office accounting... since its MS's quickbooks competitor and its free for one user so i think this will do nicely.



akalinowski

MCSE 2000, A+, N+, LCP, CNE