AccountMate™

How to Get the "Right-Sized" Accounting Solution for Your Business

The accounting software market is a mature one.  Just about any product line in business offers a stable product with a variety of features.  With so many choices, how do you choose the one that's right for you?

We'll be the first to say that AccountMate may not fit your business.  The example we often use is buying a vehicle for moving things.  If you're moving something the size of a shoebox, then a small gas-miserly vehicle is likely your best option.  If you're moving ten bales of hay, then get a mid-size pick-up truck.  However, if you're moving an entire house cross-country, then an 18-wheeler semi-truck is probably what you need.

So, how much "stuff" are you moving?

AccountMate is not the best option for a small operation, and you can't run a huge operation (like General Motors) on it either. 

The difference isn't necessarily annual revenue - it's the number of concurrent users.  A small operation may only need one person in the accounting system at a time, but a mammoth operation will employ battalions of accountants!  A mid-tier package, like AccountMate, is tailor-made for businesses who need between 5 and 150 + concurrent users.

Where to begin?

If you've outgrown your current accounting system or are tired of putting up with processes that don't work as you'd like them to, give us a call.  We'll talk to you about the specifics of your operation and work to understand what you need your accounting solution to do for you.  In the meantime, here some good things to look for when shopping around.

Independent Evaluation
The independent site Accounting Software Advisor has reviewed and rated 62 products across more than 350 functional areas. The results are available at http://www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/topics/rating.htm. 

We were pleased to see that AccountMate rated extremely highly in the Mid-Range category, coming in second out of twenty products. A complete write-up of the process is available at http://www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/topics/asapowerratings.htm.

Adaptability
You can consider countless accounting solutions and ultimately identify one that fits your business perfectly - but if that system is inflexible, it is not your best investment.  Your business will evolve.  Whether you change your internal procedures, add a warehouse, integrate online ordering, change your commission structure, or add EDI, we promise your accounting processes will be different in two, five, ten, or even more years from now.

Evolving business requirements demand a system that will evolve as well.  By implementing software that is flexible and scaleable, you're paving the way for your business to change and grow.  When the time comes, adapting your existing software certainly beats replacing your software in its entirety.

AccountMate is unique in its ability  to grow and adapt to your business.  With source code available, a skilled partner can bend the accounting system to meet your business processes - not the other way around!  Learn more about the benefits of an open-source accounting solution in an Accounting Today article by Lisa Spinelli.

Prior work
As we've mentioned, the vast majority of the accounting software packages available are mature, stable products.  The same does not hold true for the technology partner working with you to implement the solution.  We firmly believe that you should request a list of references from every partner you consider - and call them!