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Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

  • 1.  Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-07-2011 09:39 AM
    I am considering purchasing Quickbooks Pro accounting software to use in my new small practice. I would welcome feedback on Quickbooks Pro, or other software that AIA small practitioners might recommend. Thank you.

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    Ronald Weston AIA
    Weston Architecture
    West Orange NJ
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  • 2.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-07-2011 11:57 AM
    Ronald,

    QuickBooks Pro is an excellent accounting software program, scalable from small businesses (1-2 employees), right up to Fortune 500 companies. One thing to keep in mind is that it is not designed around the needs of a professional service firm like yours and therefore, using it to create invoices and help manage your project budgets and finances is no easy task. Please consider bundling QuickBooks with ArchiOffice (http://www.archioffice.com), or even BillQuick (http://www.billquick.com), which will provide you with great tools to help you manage your projects while using the power of QuickBooks to manage your accounts payable as well as all your necessary financial reporting.

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    Steven Burns FAIA
    Director of Product Strategy and Innovations
    BQE Software Inc.
    Torrance CA
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  • 3.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 09:41 AM
    I started out using Quicken in 1990 and upgraded over the years to QuickBooks, and then to QuickBooks Pro for my small design-build business. After years of mistakenly not billing for some materials and hours, doing back flips, and pulling my hair out to contort QuickBooks Pro and Excel to manage my accounting I realized that, as Stephen Burns so eloquently put it, "One thing to keep in mind is that it is not designed around the needs of the professional service firm like yours..."

    Due to the complex accounting nature of the build portion of my business I began using Master Builder accounting software which not only tracks billable materials and hours, but also accounts for the dozens of intertwined subcontracts and change orders found in the typical construction project. It is superb. However, as an 800 pound gorilla, it probably has 500 pounds more than you need to run an architectural firm.

    I have not tried archioffice, but have heard great things about it.

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    Craig Cernek AIA
    The Archi/Build Group
    Chicago IL
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  • 4.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 12:14 AM

    I agree...QB might be very powerful and good, but it is not user friendly or intuitive....I have been very frustrated with it.
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    Marcela Rhoads AIA
    Abadi Accessibility
    Dallas TX
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  • 5.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-09-2011 02:32 AM
    I have been using Quickbooks for my office for few years now and I am happy with it. It has a lot of features but for my small architectural practive I only use it to invoice clients, record payments, and keep track of business expenses and projects expenses, etc. I found a helpful instruction CD in Frys electronics that showed me how to make the best use of the program. I also ask my accountant for help on the phone on how to input and log things the right way. You can also save some money if you purchase QB from Costco or Sams Club. They have it at discounted price.

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    Awad Eskander AIA
    Paradigm Consulting
    Colleyville TX
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  • 6.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-10-2011 08:25 AM

    I used to use Quicken for Home and Business for many years.
    My wife uses QuickBooks Pro, so I thought I would get a copy for my business.

    It was and still is not as intuitive at Quicken.
    But it is more powerful and if you enter the data correctly and in the correct sequence, it can really be a nice program.
    The best book I found is by Quicken Press called "Quickbooks, the Official Guide" by Kathy Ivens. It is written in easy to understand English but is technical and detailed enough to get through and sort out some of the weird things that happen if you do not get the data entered correctly and how to handle "out of left field" anomalies of running a business.

    Good luck

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    Paul Richards AIA
    Registered Architect, LEED Accredited Professional
    pr+a limited liability company
    Seattle WA
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  • 7.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-10-2011 12:22 PM
    We have been using Quickbooks Pro for about 8 years now and find it very easy for us non accounting types to use. Most accountants are familiar with it and it makes their reviews less costly. We looked into other programs that were specifically for Architects, but like AutoCAD you pay a hefty fee for them. Quickbooks Pro states it is designed for the Design Profession firm, but we found it is generic in that regards, but it produces a nice Invoice which we can customize or leave it plain and the data entry is simple to learn.

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    John Van Oort AIA
    Studio Seven Architects
    Albany NY
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  • 8.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 12:29 AM
    When I went from sole proprietor to incorporated design build, I had to move to a more sophisticated accounting model, specifically double entry bookkeeping.  I went first to QB.  That was 2004.

    I found it not user friendly and definitely not Mac friendly.  Macs have always been the downstairs household.

    So in 2006 we switched to AccountEdge, now by Acclivity Software. (http://www.acclivitysoftware.com/).

    For us it works better.  Easier to set up and understand (my better half was befuddled by QB but got AccountEdge almost right away).  Imports pretty well QB files.  Has payroll internally, a huge plus.  Gets annual updates (before the first of the year).  A real Mac program (its origins) and a real Windows program too.  Free copies available to accountants.  We do all our own time tracking, payroll, invoices, taxes etc.

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    Donald Wardlaw AIA
    Donald Wardlaw, AIA
    Oakland CA
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  • 9.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 08:33 AM
    I've used Quickbooks Pro for my small firm for many years, and found it fairly easy to use and powerful.  There is a Professional Services add-on option that's supposed to customize it for architects and similar firms, but I don't think it's worth the money.  A couple caveats:

    * We've always done invoices on Excel and then re-entered them in Quickbooks.  Originally this gave us more control of formatting, and let us keep track of different billing rates for different clients.  I think Quickbooks has added more capabilities in these areas over the years, but we've never switched back.
    * Although Quickbooks would do most or all the federal tax forms, I do have an accountant do that stuff, just so somebody with actual expertise is looking in on us once in awhile.
    * The most recent edition of Quickbooks that I purchased (2010; we don't upgrade every year because not that much changes) added a really annoying and time-consuming phone verification process when you first set it up, mostly so they can market other services to you.  I hope they've stopped that, or my next purchase may be my last.

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    David Esau AIA
    Cornerstone Design Inc.
    Ann Arbor MI
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  • 10.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 08:53 AM

    I have used QB Pro and its predecessors for almost 20 years.  My employees and I also use the timer program that comes with it.  It has worked well without add ons, although it does take some tweaking.  We use it for payroll, tax reporting, billing, and project profitability reports.  I have never needed a bookkeeper. 

    Intuit follows the usual practice of dropping support for older versions every so often to create a market for new versions.  There is a supplementary service costing about $300 per year for payroll support, which I have found to be worth the cost.  You could probably ignore the upgrades if you have no payroll.

    I recommend it.

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    Christopher Carley AIA
    C. N. Carley Associates
    Concord NH
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  • 11.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 09:21 AM
    We started out with peachtree and went to QB Pro. Most accountants are very comfortable with QBP.While it takes some creative thinking to set up project phases it can be done ie; Owner/job/sub-job (phase). While add-ons like BQE are more architect friendly, i found we spent more time worrying about the interface between the two softwares than it was worth. If you have a true network (not peer to peer) or IT is your thing, then this is less or no worry. Its been five years since I tried BillQuick, so maybe its less of a problem.

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    Charles Brown
    Principal
    Brown Architecture
    Raleigh NC
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  • 12.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 09:29 AM
    Ronald,
    I currently use Quickbooks Premier Professional Services Edition, and have been using that particular software for the past nine years. I have found it easy to customize and is geared for professial service firms. You can set up project budgets and Invoice them per phase based on the percentage complete. Also, there is a separate time tracking tool you can use that integrates with quickbooks. If you can find a copy - I found the book 'Architect's Guide to Quickbooks Pro' usefull - see attached amazon link - http://www.amazon.com/Architects-Guide-QuickBooks-Karen-Mitchell/dp/0967092108

    Good-luck
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    Robert Walker AIA
    Rob Walker Architects, LLC
    Birmingham AL
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  • 13.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 10:04 AM

    Hi Ronald,  I have loved using Quickbooks Pro for 12 years now.  I will say that getting started correctly is vital.  The program will lead you into thinking you are all set up and then in my case I had to go back and redo some things.  I found a company in Idaho called Online Accounting who can do reasonable rate over the phone consult to get you started and check in on your books at the end of the year.  The owner Karen Mitchell has specialized in training people to use the software for architecture and construction. She has a book also called Architect's Guide to Quickbooks Pro.    Note that the software has a great time keeping feature that makes it so you do not need to use a time sheet ever again.  It is called time/single activity,  functions like a stop watch for the various jobs you may be working on in any day.  It tracks the time all the way thru your system.  You don't ever write down times.  I find time tracking important to my job cost analysis.  If you want more info feel free to contact me directly.
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    Saxon Sigerson AIA
    Sigerson Architects
    Fair Oaks CA
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  • 14.  RE:Quickbooks Pro vs. other accounting software

    Posted 02-08-2011 10:42 AM


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    Joel Carter AIA
    Principal
    Carter Architecture, Inc.
    Myrtle Beach SC
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    We have been using Quickbooks Pro for several years and it does all we need just fine. There are lots of other project management software programs out there that coordinate project management with accounting better but they cost several times more.