If you need a software to take care of your business accounting work, try using a free accounting software. Accounting software is one of the most important pieces of accounting packages . To get top accounting software, select a software package that meets your needs and the specific accounting needs of your company . Just make sure what kind of accounting software packages you need to use.
With different versions and types of accounting software packages in the market today, how do small and large business owners choose? Commercial accounting software packages offer a range of applications, from the very basic to the very detailed. But not all accounting software is created equal.
PENTA
Specializing in accounting, project management and service management, Penta can be delivered via cloud hosting, as well as on premise. Its most impressive feature is its advanced analytical reporting, which provides users with key performance indicators which are all relevant to each role. Other accounting features include job costing, progress billing and quote generation.
ComputerEase Cloud
ComputerEase Cloud is the web-based version of ComputerEase Construction Software. Companies can access ComputerEase from any computer with an internet connection, including mobile devices such as phones and iPads. The cloud software aims to lower IT costs, lower up-front costs, and provide greater mobility for companies with multiple offices and job sites.
The cloud version of ComputerEase offers all the same functionality as it’s on-premise version, including job cost accounting, project management, subcontracts, dispatching, and cost control.
JobPower
JobPower offers both employee location tracking and tool management, which are both extremely useful features for contractors. The tool management feature allows you to set up hourly rates to charge to jobs when owned equipment is used, as well as track repairs and maintenance by tool. JobPower also has powerful construction accounting with job budgeting, change orders, processing of lien waivers, and excellent job cost reporting. Unfortunately, without an add-on, you’ll need to import your estimates from Excel.
JobPower Pricing
You’ll need to request a free demo on its website to receive exact pricing information, but users report pricing starting at $3,000 for the on-premise version and $200 per month for the cloud version.
Spectrum
software gives you the tools you need to communicate, collaborate, and help everyone work better together Document Imaging Pane – Spectrum Construction Management SoftwareSpectrum is the first construction software to deliver fully-integrated web-based document management. Wherever work takes you, documents or images associated with your work are available through an image pane on the Spectrum desktop. View purchase orders, contracts, submittals, work orders, RFIs, job site photos—virtually any type of file associated with your task at hand. Adding a new document or image is as easy as dragging and dropping the file onto the image pane. The Spectrum Dashboard is an information portal for everyone in your company—not just licensed Spectrum users. Each person’s Dashboard can be customized with apps to fit the job they do. There is a growing selection of apps available and tools to help you build your own. Spectrum applications and mobile apps are completely integrated, giving you a complete view of your projects. Metrics such as Work In Progress, Cost to Complete, Over/Under Billing and Earned Revenue are available on a single screen. Spectrum also helps ensure that everyone you work with—owners, architects, subcontractors, vendors—all have access to the latest information. Spectrum’s Project Management Plan Room gives you a cloud-based platform to share documents, send, receive and track communications, and maintain an audit trail of all project activity and correspondence.
FOUNDATION
This job costing, project management and scheduling software is also available on the cloud, but can also be installed as a traditional software. Automatic job costing reports and report creation are its main features. Foundation is capable of tracking multiple jobs, unions, rates, states and localities, making it a popular choice for commercial, government and industrial contractors.
ZipBooks
ZipBooks is a forever free accounting software that can be used in any industry. For the construction industry, the solution stands out over other free accounting solutions (such as Wave) due to the ability to handle project accounting. The ease-of-use includes drag-and-drop expenses into cost categories, invoicing, transaction views, balance sheets, and reports.
ZipBooks can be accessed anywhere you have a web-browser. If you’re on the job site, you can pull up the needed details from your phone or mobile device. The free version of ZipBooks includes unlimited customized invoicing, advanced financial reporting, and can accept digital payments via Sqaure or PayPal. The paid version of ZipBooks adds-on recurring invoicing, time tracking, multiple bank account connections, and up to 5 users.
QuickBooks Premier Contractor Edition
Before QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Premier was the dominant small business accounting software. It continues to be updated and supported and provides exceptional value for a business that doesn’t require mobile accounting software. The Contractor Edition of Premier offers exceptional job cost reporting. You can create estimates and convert them to job budgets, which can then be compared to real-time costs as they are entered. Payroll software is integrated―for a separate fee―and can charge jobs for direct labor as well as the associated payroll taxes.
QuickBooks Premier Contractor Edition Pricing
QuickBooks Desktop Contractor Edition is an industry-specific edition of QuickBooks Desktop Premier. After purchasing Premier, you can select the Contractor Edition for download. You can purchase Premier for either a one-time fee or an annual “Plus” subscription.
- $649.99 one-time fee for a program that is supported for three years
- Optional unlimited customer support costs an additional $299.99 per year
- $499.99 annual Plus subscription includes unlimited customer support, online backups, and an annual edition upgrade.
You can set up unlimited users and control their access rights, but only one user at a time can access the company file unless you purchase additional licenses. QuickBooks Premier comes with a 60-day guarantee. Be sure to select to download the Contractor Edition after your purchase of QuickBooks Premier.
Vista
Comprehensive construction accounting and operations solution providing maximum configurability, scalability and reliability, while synchronizing your data across your entire enterprise. Vista™ by Viewpoint is a comprehensive software solution that helps contractors manage all areas of their operations. Featuring solutions for Accounting, Human Resources, Project Management, and Service Management, Vista is designed to synchronize all aspects of a construction business — helping contractors to better meet project profitability, delivery, and quality expectations. Vista is part of Viewpoint’s construction software suite providing contractors with insight into project revenue and cost management that is tightly integrated with accounting and project management — ensuring every project is under budget and profitable. With this software suite, contractors benefit from accounting and project management, document control and an easy-to-use mobile application that captures field observations from the job site anywhere, anytime.
Conclusion:
There are many types of specialized software packages that businesses utilize for different business functions and to provide different types of services. The types of accounting software packages that we will be discussing below vary from bookkeeping and chart of accounts software all the way up to financial and payroll accounting systems and beyond.