Intuit QuickBooks SimpleStart 2008

SimpleStart is limited in other areas, too. Although it supports VAT and includes a VAT 100 report for filing your return, this is on a cash, rather than accruals, basis. Most small businesses will prefer the cash option, but we'd still like to have seen the choice.

While SimpleStart's features lag behind those of Accounting, it isn't without its own advantages. Its vibrant user community is a click away from the homepage, and the company file you create in SimpleStart is compatible with the 2008 Accountant Edition of QuickBooks, so your accountant should be able to read your files directly. But if you're not tied to other users, Accounting remains the more flexible and fully featured option.

Author: Tom Gorham