The Most Popular Upgrade Alternatives to QuickBooks

Transcription

1 The Most Popular Upgrade Alternatives to QuickBooks

2 Table of Contents Introduction Moving Beyond QuickBooks The 10 Most Popular Upgrades Dynamics GP Intacct Sage 300 ERP SAP Business One Sage 100 ERP NetSuite Dynamics NAV Sage 100 Contractor Denali Business + Accounting Acumatica Upgrade Options by Industry Professional Services Construction and Contracting Distribution Manufacturing Non-Profit Organizations Government Organizations Property Management Methodology About Find Accounting Software

3 Introduction With data from over 4,000 QuickBooks replacement reviews at our fingertips, we wanted to provide access to something software buyers have never had before: A breakdown of the most popular QuickBooks replacement alternatives based on actual reviews. Interested? Alright, then. Let s start with a spoiler. The three most popular programs buyers considered when they were ready to move beyond QuickBooks were Dynamics GP, Intacct, and Sage 300 ERP. Given their overall popularity, each program makes a strong case as the place to start your consideration of QuickBooks alternatives. Then again, your company isn t just any company. That s why we ve provided additional data on the most popular QuickBooks replacement products by industry, brief product profiles, and insight into the typical total project costs for buyers who have reviewed these software options. 1

4 Moving Beyond QuickBooks So why do companies decide to replace QuickBooks? QuickBooks after all is used by millions of companies, offers a wide range of functionality, and many versions cost less than a year of cable television to run. When it comes to switching software, everyone has their reasons. But these are the common reasons buyers tell us they re looking to upgrade from QuickBooks. We need more (or more customizable) reporting We want stronger security for access control, authorization, and approvals We ve exceeded the file size limitations We run into performance issues when multiple users are accessing the software We want something scalable that can grow with our company We need something that is designed for our particular industry We re looking for more comprehensive functionality (ie, CRM, project management, estimating, etc.) We need more knowledgeable, consultative support than what is provided We need more flexibility to handle our specific workflows To sum it up, when companies want to replace QuickBooks, it s usually because they ve simply outgrown it in some critical way. None of this means QuickBooks is a bad product. In fact, other than the operating systems and office productivity tools offered by Microsoft and Apple, perhaps no other business software has offered as much 2

5 value to so many small businesses at so low a price as QuickBooks has. Intuit, the developer responsible for QuickBooks, has simply decided to focus on developing a product for the smaller side of the small business market. With nearly 23 million non-employer firms and another 3 million businesses with fewer than 5 employees in the U.S., it s not a bad strategy. Moreover, the nearly uninterrupted rise in Intuit s stock price since its initial public offering in 1993, suggests they re doing a pretty successful job of meeting the needs of this market base. There are a handful of other fantastic low-cost programs on the market that can be licensed at costs in the QuickBooks range (under $1000 a year). But for growing companies looking to upgrade beyond QuickBooks, programs like Xero, Sage 50, Wave, Freshbooks, and other entry-level accounting usually aren t the most relevant choices. Overall, they provide a similar level of functionality as QuickBooks. But there are hundreds of programs that do provide a functional upgrade from QuickBooks for companies looking to support business expansion, seeking improved efficiency, or simply looking for broader feature support. Let s take a closer look at the most popular among them. 3

6 The Ten Most Popular Upgrades Analyzing the products considered by 4,000+ buyers over the last five years revealed the following top 10 most commonly reviewed QuickBooks replacement products: While the products vary in terms of pricepoint, deployment (cloud/onpremise), and feature support, each owns a well-established history as a popular accounting software choice for the SMB market. 4

7 Dynamics GP Dynamics GP is an accounting/erp product developed by Microsoft. The product was originally released in The current version of Dynamics GP includes functionality supporting: Financial management and accounting Inventory management and operations Sales and services Business intelligence and reporting Human resources and payroll stry ve 5

8 Dynamics GP is traditionally offered as an on-premise solution with upfront licensing fees and annual support/update fees. It can also be provisioned as a hosted solution on the Microsoft Azure platform. Subscription pricing is available. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Dynamics GP said they d be willing to consider, rather than final purchase cost. 6

9 Intacct Intacct was founded in 1999 and was one of the first web-based, cloud accounting products available for the SMB market. Intacct includes support for core accounting, financial reporting, billing, purchasing, sales and use tax, inventory management, and project accounting. The Intacct solution is particularly popular with professional services companies based on extensive support of time-based billing, ease of use for remote professionals, and strong project accounting features. 7

10 As a developer-hosted cloud option, licensing for Intacct is offered on a subscription basis. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Intacct said they d be willing to consider over the course of 3 years of usage, rather than final purchase cost. 8

11 Sage 300 ERP Sage 300 ERP is an accounting and business management solution. It was initially developed in 1976 and has had a number of name changes over the years. Many people still refer to it by the name Accpac, which Sage officially dropped from the product title in Along with core accounting, billing, human resources/payroll, inventory control, and purchasing, Sage 300 ERP also offers support for document management, customer relationship management (CRM), and project management. Because of the breadth of its functionality, Sage 300 ERP is popular across a wide variety of business types. 9

12 Sage 300 ERP is available for both client/server and web-based, cloud deployments. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Sage 300 ERP said they d be willing to consider, rather than final purchase cost. 10

13 SAP Business One SAP is a name that many business management software buyers associate with the enterprise market. However, since 1996 SAP has offered SAP Business One as an ERP solution targeted specifically for the SMB market. SAP Business One offers functionality for accounting and financial management, customer relationship management (CRM), operations and distribution, and human resources management. Because of a focus on operations processes such as supply chain management, warehouse management, and production planning, SAP Business One is popular with distributors and manufacturers. 11

14 SAP is traditionally licensed for client/server deployments. However, via the SAP Business One Cloud option it is available as an authorized vendor-hosted option on a subscription (SaaS) basis. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing SAP Business One said they d be willing to consider, rather than final purchase cost. 12

15 Sage 100 ERP Like the similarly named Sage 300 ERP program, Sage 100 ERP is another accounting and business management solution with a long history spanning a series of name changes. Sage 100 ERP provides accounting, inventory, order entry & billing, job cost, and manufacturing (work orders, bill of materials, and material requirements planning) functionality. 13

16 Sage 100 ERP is typically purchased as an on-premise solution. However, in recent years Sage has made an online version accessible. The online version is not natively web-based (as Sage 300 ERP is), but hosted in a Sage data-center and made available via the use of Citrix remote access software. The online version is available via subscription (SaaS) pricing. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Sage 100 ERP said they d be willing to consider, rather than final purchase cost. 14

17 NetSuite NetSuite is perhaps the most well-known cloud-based ERP option. NetSuite includes a broad range of ERP functionality including: Financial management Supply chain Inventory control Procurement Billing management Warehouse & fulfillment Human capital management NetSuite also offers a development platform for 3 rd party software developers enabling a robust market of add-on products. 15

18 As a web-based, cloud software product, NetSuite is licensed on a subscription (SaaS) basis. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Intacct said they d be willing to consider, rather than final purchase cost. 16

19 Dynamics NAV Another ERP option from Microsoft s Dynamics line of ERP solutions, Dynamics NAV was originally published by a Danish developer in 1987 as Navision. Dynamics NAV provides core financial management, purchasing, order management, inventory control, customer relationship management, and human resources management. Built on a different code base from Dynamics GP, many buyers nevertheless will find themselves reviewing both solutions. Dynamics NAV is particularly well suited for companies doing international business or manufacturers who need more in depth functional support for operational processes such as bill of materials management, requirements planning, and production management. 17

20 Dynamics NAV is most commonly provisioned as an on-premise, server-based solution. However, like Dynamics GP, it is also available as a hosted solution deployed on the Microsoft Azure Platform. Subscription (SaaS) licensing is available. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Dynamics NAV said they d have interest in considering, rather than final purchase cost. 18

21 Sage 100 Contractor The Sage 100 Contractor formerly known as Master Builder includes support for core financial management, billing, purchasing, inventory control, and budgeting. Additionally, Sage 100 Contractor provides features for typical construction and contracting processes like estimating, job costing, progress billing, and subcontract management. Sage 100 Contractor is extremely popular with small-to-mid-sized construction firms. It is infrequently review by companies in other industries. 19

22 Sage 100 Contractor is available for purchase as an on-premise offering. Contractors interested in having Sage 100 Contractor remotely hosted have the option to do so via the Sage Construction Anywhere Connector. Subscription (SaaS) pricing is available. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Sage 100 Contractor said they d have interest in considering, rather than final purchase cost. 20

23 Denali Business + Accounting Cougar Mountain Software has been producing accounting software solutions since the 1980 s and the Denali Business & Accounting program is their flagship offering. Denali Business & Accounting includes core accounting, inventory management, job costing, order entry, payroll, purchasing, and point of sale functionality. The Denali Business + Accounting product is available as both an onpremise and hosted, SaaS offering. Pricing for Denali Business + Accounting is the lowest of the top 10 most popular QuickBooks replacement options. 21

24 Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Denali Business + Accounting said they d have interest in considering, rather than final purchase cost. 22

25 Acumatica ERP Acumatica is another cloud-based ERP solution for the SMB market but with a twist. Acumatica ERP is not only available as a developer hosted SaaS option, but also as an on-premise solution hosted from an internal web-server. Acumatica ERP includes functionality for core financial management, inventory control, customer relationship management (CRM), manufacturing, order management, purchasing, service management, and non-profit accounting. 23

26 Acumatica ERP is available as a purchased option or on a subscription basis. Pricing depends on a variety of factors, including which modules are licensed, user count, implementation requirements, training needs, and the extent of contracted supported services. Figures quoted are for the expected maximum price buyers reviewing Acumatica ERP said they d have interest in considering, rather than final purchase cost. 24

27 Upgrade Options by Industry Because of differences in accounting processes, individual accounting software products may be more or less appropriate for companies in different industries. The table provides ranks for the overall most popular QuickBooks replacement options by industry. 25

28 Professional Service The orientation toward project work among professional service firms leads to unique accounting and business management processes. Generating revenue via the delivery of services requires special attention to time and project management. Products focused on these tasks are particularly appropriate for professional service firms. 26

29 Common needs for professional service firms replacing QuickBooks include: Project accounting or job costing Project management Expense reporting Document management Time and billing 27

30 Construction and Contracting Similar to professional services firms, construction and contracting businesses generate revenue via project work. However, builders and contractors also require software with features for managing equipment, supplies, bids, and subcontractors. 28

31 Common needs for contractors replacing QuickBooks include: Job costing Project management Equipment management Bid management Field service management 29

32 Distribution For distribution companies, requirements related to product and vendor management take on elevated importance. As margins are often low in the distribution vertical, strong automation features are especially important in order to optimize efficiency and cut costs. 30

33 Beyond core accounting needs, common requirements for distributors replacing QuickBooks include: Advanced inventory control Warehouse management Supply chain management Order entry Pricing management -Warehouse management -Supply chain management -Order entry -Pricing management 31

34 Manufacturing Manufacturers not only face distribution related challenges, but also require software to support production mananagement, engineering, requirements planning, and equipment maintenance tasks. Integrating the back-office with the production floor can create major efficiencies for manufacturers seeking an edge on competitors. 32

35 Common requirements for manufacturers replacing QuickBooks include: Bill of materials support Material requirements planning Production management Quality control 33

36 Non-Profit Organizations One of the financial management challenges faced by non-profits is the need to track expenditures back to specific fund sources. Even small non-profit organizations can reduce the time it takes to manage key accounting tasks by targeting software designed to support fund accounting and other non-profit specific financial tasks. 34

37 Common needs for non-profit organization replacing QuickBooks include: Fund accounting Membership management Fundraising and donation management Grant management 35

38 Government Organizations One of the most common requirements for government organizations is the ability to track expenditures back to specific fund sources and budget allocations. Additionally, because of the tendency towards hierarchical organizationalk structures in government entities, processes related to requisitions and approvals take on increased importance. 36

39 Beyond core accounting, typical needs for government organizations replacing QuickBooks often include: Advanced budgeting and planning Fund accounting Purchase requisitions Departmentalized reporting Utility billing 37

40 Property Management Monthly recurring billing, property/tenant based reporting, and maintenance tracking are just some of the unique management tasks faced by property management businesses. Software adapted for property management can help address administrative challenges in a more cost effective manner. 38

41 Common requirements for property managers replacing QuickBooks include: Tenant management Property/unit specific reporting Investment reporting for split ownership scenarios Work order management 39

42 Methodology The data presented in this report comes from 4,143 organizations who actively reviewed QuickBooks replacements in the last five years. In order to identify the most popular replacement programs for companies using QuickBooks, we tallied the individual programs that these companies considered purchasing. Each product included in the count was either: a) one that was referred to the buyer via our free matching service, or b) one that the contact reported independently reviewing. Only reviews including requirements for general ledger and least two other main modules were examined, in order to eliminate instances where buyers were looking to augment QuickBooks, rather than replace it. In collecting the data sample, no distinction was made between current users of the various QuickBooks product versions (Pro, Premier, Enterprise). Statistics, of course, are only ever as meaningful as the sample from which they are derived. To our knowledge, no larger or more relevant data set has ever been considered in pursuit of the answer to the question of which programs are the most popular among companies looking to move on from QuickBooks. 40

43 About Find Accounting Software Find Accounting Software provides a free matching software matching service to buyers regardless of company size or organization type. At present, software sellers representing 3,000+ unique business management software products actively partner with Find Accounting Software on a paid membership basis. factors for manufacturers seeking a technical and business management edge on competitors. 41