QuickBooks Pro 2001

Rating:
Summary: Worse and worse - Look somewhere else
Review: Four years ago, I sang the praises of Quickbooks, even getting several people using it as their accounting software. No more. The program gets worse and worse. Reports are harder than ever before if you want anything non-standard. They recently doubled the subscription price for their tax tables (yes, you pay annually to get new tax tables, currently ...) and, worse yet, disable the tax tables you bought and paid for after they "expire." There is no free support. Their tax table had an error that would not allow the correct percentage to be entered for my state and to report the bug and ask for a fix I was told I had to pay for the privilege.

This latest version (I've been using it since around version 5) even goes so far as downloading third-party advertising under the guise of "updates" that it displays while you work on your books, and keeps a background task running all the time for gathering the updates.

As I said, worse and worse, look elsewhere. I am an unhappy customer.

Ricky

Rating:
Summary: Accounting Software Made Easy by a Quickbooks Guru
Review: I have a Bookkeeping and Accounting Service business and frankly, initially I was a "hard sell" converting to Quickbooks. That was 6 years ago..now I am a Certified QBooks Pro Advisor.

Each updated version makes it more comprehensive and user-friendly. Intuit /Quickbooks has 85% of the small business market, so if you fit this parameter, it would be prudent to look into this software. I would suggest, however, perhaps to have a bookkeeper or accountant look over or set up your initial start up ----that way you'll be saving alot of $$$ when tax time comes around.

Quicken is good(also by Intuit) BUT it is really for personal finances, not business.

[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: SLOWBooks 2001
Review: I have been a user since 5.0, so for about 5 years soon. I have used all the versions through Pro99. I skipped over 2000 Pro but caved for 2001 and went with it. I hate it. It is a totally different look and feel and is integrated with Internet Explorer now. This thing is painfully slow. As far as features I am pretty happy. I think it is good even. Does everything I need it to and too much more.

Although I don't know what they have against cut and paste...

Rating:
Summary: Quickbooks help line
Review: I purchased the Quickbooks 1 year help contract via telephone. I thought it was a good deal until I found out that all calls to the help line are long distance. Also when calling in you are usally put on hold. This becomes quit expensive as I have already spent (...) for the service to begin with. One would think that the help line would be a toll free call. (or is this a way to limit calls and employee hiring) The yearly contract is no bargain when you add up the cost of long distance calls added to the origional price of the package.

Rating:
Summary: Great Product for the Small Business
Review: I used Quickbooks 2000 for my family's home remodeling business for a while. I am now using the new 2001 version for my new business idea.

We were able to save a ton of time just by printing out checks and automating the payroll process. I also learned a ton about basic accounting and financial management after using the program for a while.

Just make sure that you accountant has Quickbooks Pro 2001 before upgrading, otherwise, they will not be able to analyze your files on their own computer!

Rating:
Summary: Beware of unexpected costs!
Review: In general I approve of Quickbooks. We have Pro 2001 in the office. There are many nice features in the software, and for the price I think they can't be beat.

Beware, though, of hidden costs! I have to say I was very disappointed by unexpected costs to us. For one thing, the only reason we upgraded from QB Pro 6.0 was so that we could print the "Statement of Cash Flow" report. (...) After upgrading, I discovered that there is a mandatory payroll service update--basically tax information to allow you to correctly figure payroll. (...). They do not really allow you the option of updating when you want--you are required to use their service, and you have to do it over the internet. You put in a credit card that will automatically be charged every year (no option for a one-time charge).

After upgrading, there was a report that no longer worked that we use to do estimated tax payments. I was very surprised and disappointed that Intuit changed their support options. (...)The report itself is still unavailable to us, but the support guy helped us to create a memorized transaction to accomplish basically the same thing. I fear that if I had stayed longer with him, we would have paid several hundred dollars, and who knows if it would have been resolved? (I should point out that I back up the database fanatically, because we have had several problems with corruption in the past. I am a computer programmer, and I sense that there are some problems with the way their database is programmed).

I am frustrated that Intuit would charge a reasonable price for the software to our small business to lure us in, then charge support costs that only larger companies can afford. There was no initial free support for purchasing the software. They do state that if the problem is because of a bug in the software that you do not have to pay. In reality, though, they made us give them credit card information before they would discuss the problem. It is ultimately to their discretion to decide not to charge you at the end. I suspect, though, that this is rarely if ever the case, as my problem appeared to be a bug (the report was running fine before the upgrade). I read another review here and someone else apparently had the same problem.

The saddest thing, though, is that for our size, the software itself seems to be the best thing out there. Our hands are tied.

Rating:
Summary: QuickBooks Pro 2001: the good, the bad, and the ugly
Review: In the quest to find a decent accounting solution for my sole-proprietorship (start-up), I tried and evaluated several trial versions of accounting software packages (QuickBooks Pro 2001, gnucash, gACC, MYOB, and Peachtree Accounting).

The good: Hands down, QuickBooks Pro is the easiest and most intuitive accounting package aimed at small businesses, on the market. I was able to setup the books, generate purchase orders, sales receipts, deposits, checks, with a minimum of effort. The only difficulty is figuring out the QuickBooks way of doing things, but once you do, things fly. I was surprised to find that it will even print out deposit slips (nice feature, especially if you take in a lot of checks).

The bad: Unfortunately it is also the most expensive software package in this class. Peachtree Accounting is about half the cost (but much more difficult to use [double-entry accounting]).

The ugly: Also, beware that the features included in this software package are a little misleading: Setting up payroll requires you to use their payroll update service ($). Setting up a "professional website" requires you to use their service ($). From the trial, I got the feeling that accepting credit cards also requires you to use an Intuit-affiliated merchant account ($?). I never went any further to investigate. Several "marketplace features" were discontinued.

Simply stated, QuickBooks is an intuitive, easy to use accounting solution for small businesses. However, I was disappointed in the QuickBooks Pro version, which charged a premium for features that either contained ongoing hidden charges, or are not likely to be used by most people. My advise: get QuickBooks 2001, not QuickBooks Pro.

Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding product to get anyone "Intuit."
Review: The new QuickBooks Pro 2001 software offers some great new enhancements and features that you will not find in any other Business Software. The Design of the program itself is not only the most user friendly accounting software out in the market but it is also the easiest to customize and makes sure that it meets any business need. This program will save you not only time, but most important it will save you a lot of money. There are two new features that really stood out to me when I started using this program. One is the ability to use Microsoft Outlook where you can e-mail a direct and professional invoice from the program! First you go to create and customize an invoice to send to a customer, then there is a tab on the screen that reads "send to." An e-mail will pop up where you type the reciepient's e-mail address in. Below that, you will find your invoice. The customer will even have the option to click on a link to pay their bill( online billing service). The best thing about this feature is that the invoice is NOT sent as an attachment!! The online bill payment feature is an optional connected service that is handled from an Outsources named Pay Pal. Pay Pal guarantees that you will get payed faster and also keep you up to date with your account information. The internet is the wave of the future and QuickBooks Pro 2001 makes sure that it prepares your business to make that big jump to online services which are more convenient for any business owner. To make this review short this program is a definite FIVE STAR program and I recommend anyone who runs a business to invest in this great software you will get your money's worth. Dick Stephens, CPA and also a QuickBooks Certified Professional Advisor.

Rating:
Summary: Is to bookkeeping what AOL is to the internet.
Review: The pinacle of intuits Quickbooks versions was definately QB99.
Ever since then it has been downhill all the way. The latest version especially is just so full of fluff that it is annoying to use. Every window has a link at the bottom to buy some service or other from Intuit and other third party vendors.

Rating:
Summary: Beware of unexpected costs!
Review: This program seemed to be an excellent accounting system for my small business. I bought it, had an employee install it and just as we had all our business info transferred:our office computer crashed and burned. I attempted to reload on another computer and continue business as usual. QuickBooks pro 2001 reloaded on the new computer but since it had already been registered it stops after 15 uses. The company informs me that each unit is for 1 user and 1 computer. I have no idea how well the system works but if your computer dies Pro 2001 dies with it!!