Ten Steps for Choosing the Right Accounting Software Package

1. Become Knowledgeable – To get started, it is always helpful to educate yourself about the accounting software packages that are out there.
2. Make a List of Potential Solutions - Make a list of all of the products that might meet your needs. Include products that you are aware of, products you read about, products you hear about, products listed on the Internet, etc. The objective here is to focus just on the most important issues and not be blinded by small insignificant shortcomings.
3. Eliminate the Obvious Poor Choices - Start to eliminate potential products due to missing modules, missing key features, or because they are simply too expensive. Selecting the right package is mostly a process of eliminating the wrong packages. Generally, you can eliminate many products at this stage. Continue to eliminate products throughout the entire evaluation process.
4. Evaluate Product Features - Next, make a complete listing of the unique features that your company requires, and compare this list to the features provided by each product. Based on your review of the features, you can easily eliminate obvious poor solutions from further consideration.
5. Visit Internet Sites – Next, visit the Internet sites for each accounting software product remaining on your list. If your list is still lengthy, pick your best four or five options and concentrate on them for now. Print out the information, organize it in a binder, and study it in detail.
6. Request Brochures and Evaluation Code – Next, call each accounting software publisher and request their latest brochure information and an evaluation copy of the software.
7. Identify Top Resellers - By far, the number one complaint in the accounting software industry is "poor resellers". Because this is the single-most important element in the successful implementation of an accounting system, you need to take extra care to make sure that you identify the best resellers and consultants.
8. Product Demonstration – By this point, hopefully you have identified the best resellers in your area for the products you are considering. Next, you should arrange for these resellers to demonstrate their products to you. They should be able to do this in about 2 to 4 hours. You may even ask them to install an evaluation copy of the product on your computer so you can further evaluate the product on your own time.
9. Hands On Testing – If you received code from the accounting software vendors, this would be a good time to evaluate it. Keep in mind that you will be testing software that you do not know how to use. If you are unable to make something work the way you want it to work, don’t assume that it won’t do it.
10. Call References – At this time, call the references supplied by the vendors and ask a few simple questions as follows:

1. Do you use XXXXX Software?
2. When did you install it?
3. Who performed the installation (company and name of reseller)?
4. Did they do a good job and install the system in a timely manner?
5. Are you satisfied with the product?
6. What problems have you had with the product?