Friendly user interface and
navigation. payroll accounting
applications—for the most part—look great. They're not as graphically rich
as some types of online services, but they don't need to be. Graphics are used
where it makes sense, like for displaying charts and graphs, and for invoice
forms. Navigation and data entry take their cues from desktop software, using
static and drop-down lists, icons and buttons, fill-in-the-blank fields, and
toolbars.
The subscription model
Desktop software was and is expensive, a few
hundred dollars for a product you're probably not sure upfront that you'll end
up using, and that you'll be asked to upgrade in 12 months. The online model is
very much pay as you go, and pay for just the seats you need. Generally, you
can sign up for a free trial and pay anywhere from roughly $5 to $70 per month
for an accounting website, and you're not usually locked into a contract.
Furthermore, all the upgrades built in, and your data is all backed up in the
cloud. Of course, if the service (or your Internet connection) goes down,
you're out of luck, however.
Multiple versions
Some of the best Web-based accounting
solutions make more than one level of service available—at different prices—so
you can buy the version that most closely matches your needs. When you need
more power, you can keep it in the family.
Simple, familiar language
The principles of double-entry
accounting are several centuries old. You can't get away from some of the terms
and phrases that wouldn't normally come up in casual conversation, like debits
and credits, general ledger, and chart of accounts. But the developers who have
produced today's best-of-breed accounting sites only subject you to arcane
language when it's absolutely necessary. You can't get around the fact that
double-entry accounting is a complex process that must follow the rules, Payroll software but these
wizard-based services hide as much of the complexity as they can.
Integration with complementary
add-ons
The future of accounting lies in two areas:
the cloud, and integration. SMBs that experience tremendous growth or increased
complexity may need to move up to the next level of cloud-based financial
management applications
Mobile version
Because payroll accounting applications support anytime,
anywhere access to financial data, their developers have made at least a subset
of the main site's features available on smart phones and tablets.
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