You might have the best and the most detailed business plan but unless you have the right small business software, your business will lack profitability as well as productivity.

Take accounting for example. Try and maintain all your accounts and records by hand and you will know how tedious the job can be. I am not saying that it cannot be done. It’s just that it takes too much time and requires meticulous precision.

Contrary to what most people believe, accounting software is not at all difficult to use. It is inexpensive too. So why shouldn’t your small business have accounting software?

I have heard all kind of answers to this question. Some say that it is too confusing to choose small business software. Others say they do not want to invest in training the staff to use the software.

Choose the very basic

The kind of software that you choose also depends on the size of your business. Most small businesses do not have very significant book keeping needs. Hence very basic small business software is ideal for them.

If you are outsourcing a major chunk of your accounting work, then you might have to choose a slightly advanced book keeping software. Learning to use the software properly is extremely necessary.

But nowadays, most software vendors take this into account and create extremely user friendly software. Even an amateur computer user can start using the software with as less as a few clicks.

If you have had trouble maintaining balance sheets, then consider it to be over. For small business accounting software will create sheets that will balance and highlight the errors.

Uses Galore

You can use the small business accounting software for much more than tracking the expenses and creating annual receipts. Even the most basic accounting software can generate payrolls, manage your taxes, print out various important forms and keep a track of the bills.

By: Rama Krishna

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As a long-time entrepreneur, I naturally find myself spending time with other like minded businessmen and women. One of them, an owner of a successful auto body repair shop, has experienced quite a bit of success over the years. We had a conversation a few days ago about our experiences and the desire we share to invest in the young people in high school and college classrooms. What better way to give back than to share our passion and enjoyment for being business owners?

Almost four hundred years ago, a group of people landed on the shores of a new land; while there were many reasons folks chose to pursue such a dangerous undertaking, one thing most had in common was an entrepreneurial spirit. True, they didn’t all plan on starting businesses and few probably even had any business experience, but all were risking everything for a chance to control their futures and have a new life in a new land.

“…for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony…”
- excerpt from the Mayflower Compact, November 1620

Our country has always maintained that independent streak, typified by a rugged individualism and a willingness to take chances that might pay off in a big way. From the original settlers, to those who headed out West, to the Gold Rush participants, the entrepreneurial spirit was evident. Fast forward to today- it seems that individualism has gotten a black eye and the government continues to take away reasons for people to be self-sustaining.

My auto body friend has been speaking at several local colleges, sharing his business experience with Sophomores and Juniors. Remembering his younger years and his desire to be “the man,” he felt that his story would be compelling for the typical business student. Sadly, this is far from the truth; the last class he spoke to had only three out of the forty or so students who wanted to work for themselves. It seems that the lure to work from 9-5 for a company is more interesting than the prospect of creating one’s own future.

This trend is disturbing to me and it makes me wonder what our economy will look like in 20 or 30 years. Maybe, it is time for entrepreneurs to step up and toot our horns. Hopefully, as we share the opportunities that our businesses have created, we will catch the eye of those who have never thought about starting a small business or have been too fearful to take that first step.

By: Thomas Allyn Rogers

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