10 Questions you need to ask before purchasing your new accounting software

By acclux team August 08 , 2014

Choosing the right accounting software for your business is getting harder and trickier with a lot of vendors and options available in the market. Although most of current accounting software is subscriptions based, you may think it’s ok to keep jumping from one software to another, but, it’s not because the most your system is stable and all data are gathered in a central place, you will be more focused on your business and eventually achieve your goals.

So before you get started using your new accounting software, make sure to ask these 10 questions.

Q1: Can your data accessed from everywhere?
With today’s technology, mobility and cloud computing, you should be able to access your data from everywhere using your laptop or your mobile. Having the feature of being in the cloud will save you a huge amount of time doing your daily business tasks.

Q2: The security of your data?
You need to know how secure your data is, how many times the software vendor is taking backup of your data and whatever the backup service is free. This kind of hidden fees, you need to consider whatever you accept it or not.

Q3: Devices and platforms the software supports?
You also need to know the platforms the software support, does it work on PC, Mac, tablet and smart phones.

Q4: The scalability of the software?
The scalability of the software is really important, especially for startups, cause you will be really paying for what you are using, when you business grows and you want more features you just upgrade to a higher package. Also, you need to ask if the upgrading from package to package costs any money.

Q5: The amount of updates and new features applied to the software?
Knowing that there’s a continuous updates and enhancements of the software is really important and give a huge amount of relief to know you are working with well taken care of product.

Q6: What will happen if you decide to stop using the software?
Ask if there’s any fees or obligation if you want to stop using the software.

Q7: The amount of training and support you will get at the start of using the software?
Ask about the training you will get to help you get started and whatever, there’s one to one training, help in data migration or any kind of these service

Q8: The ongoing support you will have after purchasing the software?
You need to know the kind of ongoing support you will have, the amount of training materials will be available for you.

Q9: How your accountant will be able to view your financial records?
One of a cool feature you may consider to have is whatever your accountant can have access to your data using the same software, with this feature, you will always be connected with your accountant.

Q10: Does the software covers more than accounting?
If you are looking to manage more than the accounting of your business like project management, jobs management or time tracking, it’s better to have them all in one software, this will save money on multiple purchases and save money from multiple entry .

After answering these question, you will be able to tell what’s the accounting software to go ahead with.