Quickbooks 2006 is a powerful accounting software for small and mid-size businesses. For 2006, Intuit updated the interface to offer quick access to routine data entry forms.
Overall:
Quickbooks 2006 is highly recommended for small business users who need accounting software at an reasonable price. Businesses with basic accounting needs will be well served by Quickbooks Simple Start, an easy-to-use bookkeeping program. Users of Quickbooks Basic will need to upgrade to either the Pro or Premier version, as the Basic version has been discontinued.New Features in Quickbooks 2006:
Quickbooks 2006
by Intuit
- Dramatically re-designed user interface.
- Streamlined Easy Step Interview for setting up a new company file.
- No more "navigators," instead there's one super navigator called "Home."
- Allows printing Bill of Materials, and other enhancements to the inventory functions.
- Report Center offers a wide collection of reports and statements.
- Portable Company File is a compressed file format for sending files by email or removable media. This makes it easier to send and receive large Quickbooks files.
- However, the Portable Company File cannot be used as a subsitute for the Accountant Review Company, or as a full-featured backup copy.
- Quickbooks Basic is discontinued. Basic users should upgrade to Quickbooks Pro or Premier.
Personal Observations when using Quickbooks 2006:
- I really like the new interface of Quickbooks. I find the colors and layout to be intuitive. With the 2005 version, I was always hunting around trying to find where to enter something. The separate navigators for company, customer, and vendor transactions are gone. Now there's just one super navigator, which Quickbooks calls "Home."
- Right on the "Home" page are the account balances for checking, savings, and credit card accounts. Just click to open the check register. No more hunting around to find a bank account. (This will be a real time saver.)
- Clicking on Customer Center shows you a list of clients, any outstanding balance they owe, along with contact information. From the Customer Center you can quickly review customer data or start entering new transcations. Also new are the Vendor Center, Employee Center, and Report Center.
- You can enter manufacturer part numbers, track back orders, add labor costs to the inventory items. Quickbooks warns you if an item is being sold for below cost. Quickbooks has expanded other features relating to inventory, shipping, and billing.
- The audit trail function is always turned on. This will make troubleshooting Quickbooks problems easier for accountants.
Product Versions:
- Quickbooks Simple Start
- Quickbooks Online
- Quickbooks Pro
- Quickbooks Premier (including special editions for specific industries)
- Quickbooks Enterprise Solutions
