I'm in the UK and Xero works perfectly for me and makes everything really manageable. Reconciliation of bank accounts is built in (can even autosync with HSBC), reporting is built in, invoicing and payments received it built-in, everything including asset depreciation.
Yet it's:
* Web-based
* Has accountancy firms behind it (makes audits very easy)
* Very simple to use with great support and help (stuff like this article's content was a no-brainer)
* Shareable... give your chartered accountant access!
I have no connection with Xero at all, but since they've made pleasurable one of the aspects of starting a business that I feared I would and am heartily recommending them to UK startups (I don't know if they're set up for US, do your own homework).
Accounting is one of those things that I drag my feet to learn and practice (along with taxes) when I would rather be coding.
Xero is the best app that I've found for keeping the day to day record keeping simple but you still need an accountant to have as a resource to ask questions and to check the books, especially around tax time.
Thanks for the promotion (yes QB is weird and difficult).
However the article isn't about software, it's about why it's useful to use different accounting perspectives depending on what information you're wanted to get from your books.
So e.g. for daily operations you need a different perspective from budgeting.
I started a company very recently (my first), and after doing a little research I opened an account with Xero.
http://www.xero.com/
I'm in the UK and Xero works perfectly for me and makes everything really manageable. Reconciliation of bank accounts is built in (can even autosync with HSBC), reporting is built in, invoicing and payments received it built-in, everything including asset depreciation.
Yet it's:
* Web-based
* Has accountancy firms behind it (makes audits very easy)
* Very simple to use with great support and help (stuff like this article's content was a no-brainer)
* Shareable... give your chartered accountant access!
I have no connection with Xero at all, but since they've made pleasurable one of the aspects of starting a business that I feared I would and am heartily recommending them to UK startups (I don't know if they're set up for US, do your own homework).