Winning Numbers

 

Cost: $399.50 per user; network, $1,499.50 for 250 users

Technical support: One-hour free in first 60 days; call 800-727-0656.

Features: Payroll Yes
Inventory Yes
Inventory/Parts Assembly Yes
Quotes Yes
Job Costing with module
Network Capability Yes
* * *

DacEasy Accounting & Payroll 95
DacEasy Inc., Dallas, TX (800-DAC-EASY, http://www.daceasy.com)

Cost: $149.95

Technical support: Free and unlimited in first 30 days; call 214-248-0205. Support programs available.

Features: Payroll Yes
Inventory Yes
Inventory/Parts Assembly Yes
Quotes Yes
Job Costing No
Network Capability Yes
* * *

Great Plains Profit 2.0
Great Plains Software Inc., Fargo, ND (800-926-8962, http://www.gps.com)

Cost: $79; payroll module, $99

Technical support: Free and unlimited in first 30 days; call 800-723-3333. Support programs available.

Features: Payroll Yes
Inventory Yes
Inventory/Parts Assembly No
Quotes Yes
Job Costing Yes
Network Capability Yes
* * *

M.Y.O.B. Accounting 6.0
Best!Ware Inc., Rockaway, NJ (800-322-MYOB, http://www.bestware.com)

Cost: $79.95; with payroll module, $124.95

Technical support: 15 minutes free in first 30 days; call 800-617-2328. Support programs available.

Features: Payroll with module
Inventory Yes
Inventory/Parts Assembly Yes
Quotes Yes
Job Costing Yes
Network Capability No
* * *

One-Write Plus 5.0
ADP, Norcross, GA (800-228-0068)

Cost: $69

Technical support: Free and unlimited in first 30 days. Support programs available.

Features: Payroll Yes
Inventory No
Inventory/Parts Assembly No
Quotes No
Job Costing No
Network Capability No
* * *

Peachtree Complete Accounting for Windows 4.0
Peachtree Software Inc., Norcross, GA (800-228-0068, http://www.peach.com)

Cost: $199

Technical support: Free and unlimited in first 30 days. Support programs available.

Features: Payroll Yes
Inventory Yes
Inventory/Parts Assembly Yes
Quotes Yes
Job Costing Yes
Network Capability Yes
* * *

QuickBooks Pro 4.0
Intuit Inc., Menlo Park, CA (800-781-6999, http://www.intuit.com)

Cost: $189

Technical support: Free and unlimited.

Features: Payroll Yes
Inventory Yes
Inventory/Parts Assembly Yes
Quotes Yes
Job Costing Yes
Network Capability No

DOS-BASED PROGRAMS

Don't despair if your business isn't ready to make the leap to a Windows-based accounting program. Several DOS-based programs are still on the shelves.

Cougar Mountain Software's ACTPlus Accounting (from $399 per user to $1,499 per network of 250 users) is one of the last of the great DOS programs. The options are listed in a simple menu format, but the terminology -- phrases like transaction processing and journal entry maintenance -- is unnecessarily confusing. In addition, all of the data-entry screens are plain; none look anything like a real-life form.

Still, if you can get past the no-frills interface, ACTPlus Accounting is a powerhouse. The inventory features rival Peachtree's Complete Accounting for Windows, and there are two security passwords for each module regardless of whether you're running the program on a network. Its payroll-module features include an unlimited number of custom payroll deductions, benefits, and tips.

Both Peachtree and DacEasy continue to support their own DOS programs: Peachtree Complete Accounting for DOS ($249 per user, $299 for multiusers) and DacEasy Accounting for DOS ($249). The two companies have been competitors for years, and their programs are alike in many ways. One difference: Peachtree Complete handles payroll and calculates depreciation on trucks, buildings, equipment, and other fixed assets as standard functions; to carry out those functions with DacEasy Accounting, you're going to need two modules.

One-Write Plus is also available in a DOS version for $69 a user. Unlike its Windows counterpart, this incarnation comes with both job-costing and inventory capabilities.

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