Recommendation on software, please

[dolfan]

At our store, I've been manually doing payroll since December, 2006, every Thursday night. Can you say 'pain in the hand'? Seriously, I cannot write. My hand cramps up so quickly. Anyway, we've now installed a new computer and cable internet access in the building (hellooooo 21st centuryyyy!!). And, I'm pushing for a payroll software program. Now, in the long distant eons-ago past of 1998, I used a Mac version of Quickbooks when I managed a medical practice when I did payroll. Today, I don't know what's good, what's not, what's reasonable, and what would work. I need something where I can input hours and deduction status (y'know, W-4 info) and have it spit out FICA, Unemployment, Medicaid, Federal and State income taxes and print a check and stubs. I need it simple, simple, simple.

Any recommendations, O gurus?

[fezzik]

I'm no guru, but Peachtree works pretty well and is fairly popular from what I hear:

http://www.peachtree.com/

[KBevangelist]

I'm no guru, but Peachtree works pretty well and is fairly popular from what I hear:

http://www.peachtree.com/

I was going to recommend this as well. There maybe something better. However, when I was doing this for a county goverment this is what I used and enjoyed it

KB

[Billy n NC]

I have always suggested to my clients looking for an accounting package. Start Cheap. Buy a software package that appears to do what you want it to do from there marketing hoopla.

Especially if this is your first attempt to computer accounting.

Sometimes people do not know what they need in an accounting package, so why purchase something pricey and then find out it will not do the job you want it to. But if you start out with something on the low side then if it does not do the job. You have gotten a very good education as to what you really need.

My first computer job was helping a Temp agency bring there payroll inhouse using DacEasy Payroll back in 86..


I have not even priced any accounting software in quite sometime but Peachtree has been around for awhile and so has Quickbooks.

But even most Banks now have an interface with quickbooks from there online checking etc.

[Merrie]

Quickbooks is more flexible to use and is easier for non-accountants.

Peachtree is good, but based more on the traditional accounting system of journals, etc. It also will only keep open two years of data history at a time and you have to change the accounting period each month.

I recommend Quickbooks. Will you also use this for other accounting records? What is being used for that? It all needs to be integrated. If you have an accounting firm that you work with you would want to be able to give them a backup of your data at year-end, so see what they use and recommend. You will also want to be able to get local support and there are many QB advisors around, not so many for Peachtree that I have found.

Will you be doing the payroll tax returns and W-2s, or do you send that out? A payroll service might be something to consider.