Who says that electronic bookkeeping has to be expensive? You can easily try out free accounting software if you know what to look for and, more importantly, where to look. Below are some ideas.
Free Accounting Software 2.0 One very popular free downloadable accounting product is Free Accounting Software 2.0 from Systems Online. Even though this Windows based program is free, it is still a complete multiuser, multicompany, and multibranch accounting, inventory, and customer management solution for business. Free Accounting includes: physical and non-physical inventory, invoicing, customers, contacts, vendors, inventory, sales, sales returns and credit memos, quotes, purchasing, and purchase returns. Furthermore it can handle complete AR and AP with all accounting functions and journals including general journal, inventory control journal, checkbooks, and bank reconciliation and deposits. This new version is a major upgrade with many valuable features including FIFO/LIFO and Average cost accounting! (To keep this product free you will be required to link to them on your web site. Otherwise you will be required to pay a small fee.)
Some of the sites that offer free accounting software downloads will ask you to fill out a registration form, so be careful that it is not a scam (they might just be out to get your personal information or send you spam mail). Never give out your credit card number - a legitimate, free site won’t need such data from you.
How can you tell if a site is legitimate? Registration is usually optional, and you can choose whether or not you want to receive marketing and notification emails from them. Legal sites, likewise, have a privacy clause that states their pledge never to give out your email address and other particulars to other websites or companies.
Take trial versions out for a drive. If you want to try a specific accounting software you are eyeing, don’t be afraid to download a free demonstration first. Use it for a week or so and see if it meets your accounting needs. The best thing about trial freebies is that there’s absolutely no commitment on your part. If you find that the software is lacking in essential functionalities or that it isn’t user-friendly enough for you, simply download another demo version until you find the right kind.
Look for the best functionalities. Who says you can’t have the best features of accounting software if you don’t pay for it? Free software developers are competing for your attention, too, and they add in extra functionalities to make you download their programs instead of the others. Browse around for special features such as instant report generators, easy hookup with common accounting programs, and even multiple language platforms. You just might get these and more without paying a cent.