Whether you're starting a new business or expand an existing one, your software can make things a lot easier - or much more complicated. There are about a zillion different programs with different functions and capabilities, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to a few hundred thousand dollars - but that does not mean you have to go for the most expensive you can afford.
Cost is always a factor in business administration (although it can not be the main factor), so the goal is to find software that does all that have to do without paying for bells and whistles or functions that do not apply for your business.
Before you even begin to look at the individual programs, carefully evaluate your needs - then simply find the program that fits them (without making any changes in your needs depending on the software).
If all you need is the general ledger, the type of activity does not really matter when it comes to software. Heck, you can take care of this yourself with a well-designed spreadsheet on existing software. More specialized programs, however, have been designed with you in mind certain businesses.
Restaurants might be a program that also deals with prescription cost and allows front-of-house to back-of-house communication. Doctors need something that integrates encoding insurance. Producers may use the tracking of materials and supply chain information, while the service-based businesses may prefer a task-timing option.
There is software out there that will all but run your business for you - but can cost much more than the total value of the business itself. You do not need an MBA to recognize that as a bad investment. Chances are, that mega-software has entire areas of function that just would not use.
The right software investment is one that does not need a huge loan, and it features perfect for your individual business. This means that there should ideally be no special software that you are using, but you should not miss everything you need. Many programs of small or mid-range offer add-ons for an additional charge, which allows the solution to grow with the company. This is the perfect setting, as you can use the standard version for all the time you need, then pay for individual updates as they become necessary.
As any software developer, companies that produce business management software often load it with a bunch of small little features that inflate the price without adding any real value. If these are optional add-on, avoid them. If you are bundled in the package and you can not give up, look for a program more fundamental.
Some of these features may seem like a good idea, but they are only worth paying for if you actually use them. For example - the synchronization smartphone - Sure, it's a good idea and technologically very elegant. But you really see yourself doing payroll from your phone? Alerts and reminders furniture is another - if you open the program every day anyway (this is your business, after all), these same reports will appear on your home screen. Do you really need them sent to your iPad?
No matter how good software, it is always best done with good customer support. The new fancy software is useless if you can not figure out how to configure it in the first place. If you try to set things on their own, on a wing and a prayer, pray that you do not type anything in the tax info - or the IRS may come calling. The errors have a way of screwing it down the road.
A company should stand firmly behind its product, and that means providing you with a representative who will train you and your staff to use the software to your maximum advantage, and set the necessary networks, new stations, etc. largest software company should have local representatives who actually come to you when there is a problem, instead of forcing you to spend hours on the phone with technical support. This is part of what you pay for. Of course, this kind of features do not come with programs cheaper - then again, the simplest programs usually does not warrant that kind of hand-holding.
Now that you have an idea of what you need, start looking around. Do your research before you even talk to the representative of the first point of sale, as the step is difficult and will throw you off track. Take advantage of trial periods before you buy, and get feedback from the staff in place before taking the final plunge.