There comes a point in every business where a pen and pencil just doesn't do it anymore for tracking your finances. Some businesses may not need anything fancy for some time and others might need good accounting software immediately. There are two big brands in the world of small business accounting programs. There is QuickBooks and Peachtree.

QuickBooks is probably the most popular program out there. It has a very user friendly interface and is easy to learn. Intuit, the company behind the software, included dozens of training lessons with the software. So even if you cant tell the difference between a debit and a credit, you can learn to use QuickBooks software.

The second most popular program is Peachtree. Peachtree is not quite as user friendly as QuickBooks but a novice can learn this program just as easy by doing the tutorials included in the software. Peachtree's interface is a little more down to business than intuits version which might appeal to many users.

So which one is right for you. Well that will really depend on you and your companies needs. Both software companies offer several versions of their software. The programs range from basic accounting to multi-user programs designed to be used by a whole office. Before you take a leap of faith and shell out several hundred dollars for the software you should download a trial version of both programs. Both companies offer free 30 day trials so you can test them out. So download them both and see which one works best for you. Good luck and happy accounting.