Intuit is giving away QuickBooks Simple Start, accounting software that can be used by just about any new business owner. This version is far easier to set up and learn. Intuit claims that you can set up your company in Simple Start after answering 3 easy questions.

If you have no book-keeping experience and want to use something more sophisticated than pencil and paper or simple spreadsheets, you might want to consider this freebie. It is available in an online and a desktop version. The Simple Start ONLINE edition permits up to 2 users plus 1 “accountant” user per business, I’m not sure how many the desktop version allows.

QuickBooks Simple Start Pros and Cons

Pros

Tracks sales as well as expenses automatically
Tracks accounts receivables and accounts payables
Supports payroll functions
WYSIWYG interface and tutorials to help you get started
Creates estimates, invoices, sales receipts
Allows you to pay bills and print checks
Creates Profit & Loss reports, sales reports
Allows merchant account set up in the online version
You can accept all major credit and debit cards in Simple Start – with QuickBooks Merchant Service
no need for additional hardware or software is required but Merchant Service is fee based.
Files are compatible with QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition, which will make life easy
for you at tax time to get all your information to an accountant if you use one.

A lot of features for the price!

Cons

Simple Start does not automatically import bank account transactions, so you must enter them yourself
It does not have Quicken, PeachTree, or Excel integration and cannot import data from prior versions of QuickBooks: Basic, Pro, or Premier Editions.
Provides one invoice option which is not customizable beyond the ability to add your logo
Not a good choice for a business that maintains inventory. While you can keep a list of all items you sell, the software does not have inventory tracking capability.
Is NOT available for us Macintosh users. (Intuit does offer the more robust QuickBooks Pro for Mac, which of course is not free).

System Requirements for Simple Start

Processor: IBM Compatible 1.8 GHz Intel® Pentium III (or equivalent)
Memory: 512 MB of RAM

Minimum system requirements

* Processor: IBM Compatible 500 MHz Intel® Pentium II (or equivalent)
* Memory: 256 MB of RAM
* Operating System: Microsoft® Windows XP/Vista
* Hard Disk: 1 GB of disk space for QuickBooks installation. Additional space for data files.
* CD-ROM Drive: 2X CD-ROM
* Monitor: optimized for 1024×768, supports 800×600 with small fonts
* Modem: All online services/features require Internet access with at least a 56Kbps modem
* Printer: Works with any printer supported by Windows XP/Vista
* For Vista users, 1.2 GHz Intel Pentium III (or equivalent) and 1 GB RAM

Download a free copy of QuickBooks Simple Start here or order the software on CD for a minimal shipping charge.

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Related Post:
Free Accounting Software for New Small Businesses (from Microsoft)
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