Intuit QuickBooks 2004 review

Other enhancements include better integration with Microsoft Outlook and Office applications, so you can synchronise contacts and import accounts information from Excel. You can now generate purchase orders while fulfilling an estimate or sales order, which saves an awful lot of time re-entering data and makes perfect sense if you're running short of stock. There's also improved time-tracking alerts to make sure you don't invoice a customer and leave unbilled reimbursable time outstanding.

If you compare what's on offer here from QuickBooks Premier, it competes very favourably with the likes of Sage Line 50 (see issue 110, p103); if you're looking at accounting software with this level of features you'll find it hard to beat. As an entry-level offering, the regular version outguns Sage Instant Accounting and compares more favourably with MYOB Accounting, although with more complexity as a result of the features on offer.

Whatever type of small business you run, QuickBooks' extensive array of features ought to be able to adapt to fit your requirements. Making software this flexible is no mean feat, and so it comes thoroughly recommended.

Author: Tim Woodward