Oct 31 2002
MYOB AccountEdge 3
You may be a real demon in Excel or have your own billing templates, but what you don’t have is the library of features, analytical tools and reports that MYOB includes. This program is a must for small businesses and freelancers. It provides the stamp of legitimacy to new company or “side job”.
Not to sound too cheesy, but AccountEdge sets a great standard for any application on the platform. It is easy to learn, fast to use and compatible with other applications and systems. These are things that have made the Mac what it is.
For those of us that squeaked by, or never even took accounting, AccountEdge uses a logical flow layout, a tabbed interface and real-life terminology. AccountEdge also has more Assistants than a Hollywood Diva. From the minute you begin installation to the moment you quit, AccountEdge is there to guide you through anything.
As far as the nitty-gritty on features goes, AccountEdge delivers. vCard support and Office Link provide a critical connection to the data already on your computer. You can drag and drop contacts from Palm Desktop, Entourage or Mail right into your contacts file. Just as easily you can export invoices or reports to Microsoft Word and Excel.
While AccountEdge comes in at a respectable $249, its little brother, FirstEdge is only $99. With the downgrade you lose some features like Microsoft Office integration, payroll and inventory. While a little sparse for the small business, this scaled-down version might be a great start for a freelancer. Of course, you’ll want to upgrade once you make it big.
Speaking of, the only fault I can find with this software is the big zero in my account balance. I have a feeling that is my fault. With QuickBooks returning to the Mac next year they will have their work cut out for them. However for now AccountEdge is king on the Mac.
