Conducting online auctions requires solid record keeping. Here are some powerful, yet user-friendly, accounting programs that can help you keep track of your expenses and earnings. The web sites associated with these products often include links to related sites where you can perform financial operations online, such as basic record keeping or payroll.
Microsoft Money 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/money
One of the distinguishing features of Microsoft Money is its level of integration with the Internet. You can get suggestions regarding online resources, such as to check whether your bank is online and then set up online banking. You can learn how to control your auction finances through the Money Academy and Money Wise web sites. You can also try a demo version of Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe or Small Business. (A new version, Microsoft Money for the Pocket PC, is now available for mobile users.) Current users of Microsoft Money will find a set of Frequently Asked Questions, an offer for a free year of online data backups, and links to financial institutions that support Microsoft Money bill payments.
MYOB Web Site
http://www.myob.com/us/products
You can purchase the MYOB accounting software from this site. You can also order a trial version of MYOB AccountEdge, FirstEdge, or Premier Accounting. MYOB accounting software comes in versions for Macintosh and Windows. Links to the MYOB eBusiness Gateway enable you to establish yourself as an American Express credit card merchant or automatically bill your customers.
Peachtree Office Accounting
http://www.peachtree.com
Peachtree Accounting and Peachtree Complete Accounting allow you to work seamlessly with Microsoft Office products such as Excel and Word. Peachtree Premium Accounting is available for auction sellers with advanced accounting needs. A new product, Peachtree First Accounting, is designed for businesspeople who are converting a personal financial system to a business system. The Peachtree Software site is distinguished from its competitors’ sites by providing easy-to-find business services built around its software. Services include payroll and tax filing, bill payment, banking, and web site building. Peachtree Office Accounting and Peachtree Complete Accounting are available for Windows users only.
Quicken 2006
http://www.quicken.com
Quicken 2006 for Windows isn’t a single product but rather a family of accounting software packages, each with a different purpose. For example, you can order Quicken Premier Home and Business 2006, which enables you to manage both your personal finances and auction accounting. With this software, you can create business forms that will impress your buyers with a logo based on your domain or web site name, reports and graphs that track your monthly expenses and earnings, and business plans. Quicken Deluxe 2006 for Macintosh is available for Mac users with OS 9 or later.
QuickBooks
http://quickbooks.intuit.com
The QuickBooks products, like the Quicken products, are produced by Intuit, Inc. Whereas Quicken emphasizes personal finance and includes features that you can use to manage your personal as well as auction accounts QuickBooks is more of a straight business product. The software comes in four versions: Basic, Pro, Premier, and QuickBooks Online Edition. Another difference between Quicken and QuickBooks is that you can order a trial CD of QuickBooks Basic from the Intuit web site or try out QuickBooks for the Web, which lets you or your auction assistants access your books from any location that’s connected to the Web. Current users of QuickBooks can find plenty of support on this site, including user discussion forums and ways to contact QuickBooks Professional Advisors.
Microsoft Money 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/money
One of the distinguishing features of Microsoft Money is its level of integration with the Internet. You can get suggestions regarding online resources, such as to check whether your bank is online and then set up online banking. You can learn how to control your auction finances through the Money Academy and Money Wise web sites. You can also try a demo version of Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe or Small Business. (A new version, Microsoft Money for the Pocket PC, is now available for mobile users.) Current users of Microsoft Money will find a set of Frequently Asked Questions, an offer for a free year of online data backups, and links to financial institutions that support Microsoft Money bill payments.
MYOB Web Site
http://www.myob.com/us/products
You can purchase the MYOB accounting software from this site. You can also order a trial version of MYOB AccountEdge, FirstEdge, or Premier Accounting. MYOB accounting software comes in versions for Macintosh and Windows. Links to the MYOB eBusiness Gateway enable you to establish yourself as an American Express credit card merchant or automatically bill your customers.
Peachtree Office Accounting
http://www.peachtree.com
Peachtree Accounting and Peachtree Complete Accounting allow you to work seamlessly with Microsoft Office products such as Excel and Word. Peachtree Premium Accounting is available for auction sellers with advanced accounting needs. A new product, Peachtree First Accounting, is designed for businesspeople who are converting a personal financial system to a business system. The Peachtree Software site is distinguished from its competitors’ sites by providing easy-to-find business services built around its software. Services include payroll and tax filing, bill payment, banking, and web site building. Peachtree Office Accounting and Peachtree Complete Accounting are available for Windows users only.
Quicken 2006
http://www.quicken.com
Quicken 2006 for Windows isn’t a single product but rather a family of accounting software packages, each with a different purpose. For example, you can order Quicken Premier Home and Business 2006, which enables you to manage both your personal finances and auction accounting. With this software, you can create business forms that will impress your buyers with a logo based on your domain or web site name, reports and graphs that track your monthly expenses and earnings, and business plans. Quicken Deluxe 2006 for Macintosh is available for Mac users with OS 9 or later.
QuickBooks
http://quickbooks.intuit.com
The QuickBooks products, like the Quicken products, are produced by Intuit, Inc. Whereas Quicken emphasizes personal finance and includes features that you can use to manage your personal as well as auction accounts QuickBooks is more of a straight business product. The software comes in four versions: Basic, Pro, Premier, and QuickBooks Online Edition. Another difference between Quicken and QuickBooks is that you can order a trial CD of QuickBooks Basic from the Intuit web site or try out QuickBooks for the Web, which lets you or your auction assistants access your books from any location that’s connected to the Web. Current users of QuickBooks can find plenty of support on this site, including user discussion forums and ways to contact QuickBooks Professional Advisors.
