Quickbooks SimpleStart

I recently installed QuickBooks SimpleStart Free to have a look at what our more established accounting software competiton offer. The benefit of Clear Books as an accounting package with an online platform was apparent from the start.

Cloud versus Desktop Software

First I had to download a small file from the QuickBooks Intuit website that when executed started downloading a much larger file (300MB large). Several cups of tea later the file was downloaded and I could install the software. During the installation I was asked to make a further download and install critical updates. Eventually I was able to begin using QuickBooks SimpleStart.

The advantage of software “in the cloud” is that it is ready to use instantly. A user can be up and running on Clear Books before a QuickBooks’ user has downloaded the application.

Another advantage of our web based software is that the user never has to worry about downloading the latest critical updates. The application is constantly updated and upgraded with improvements.

Free Accounting Software

QuickBooks has taken a similar approach to Clear Books to help small business get started with an accounts package. Several accounting systems offer free trials, but this was the first time I had seen a competitor making a similar offer to ours. Whereas Clear Books will put a cap on the number of system invoices created (at the time of posting Clear Books is in beta and free to all), QuickBooks limits the number of customers to 20.

QuickBooks does not offer a full service to its SimpleStart Free users. Clear Books, on the other hand, does offer the full range of features. For example, QuickBooks SimpleStart Free does not allow data to be imported. The Clear Books’ Import Tool is one of our most powerful features and is available in our free package. Using our Import Tool, accounts can be maintained easily and efficiently as most of the data entry is managed by the import. The task at hand becomes a case of explaining what each transaction is. More than that, our Import Tool remembers previous transactions so that it learns what vat rate, account code, and customer or supplier to associate with a transaction. This makes the process even more efficient.

Website: Quickbooks

About the Author - Tim Fouracre

I've always been interested in computers and finance. I started out as a PHP developer and later qualified as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG.

Programming and accounting came together when I co-founded Clear Books online accounting software back in July 2008.

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Showing 3 Comments

  1. Pete White

    Is it possible to import from Quickbooks Simplestart to Clear Books – I’m looking to change accounts packages to something online.

    3 years ago

  2. Tim

    At the moment we do not have a QuickBooks import feature.

    However, when you reach the end of a quarter (if registered for VAT) you can set up in ClearBooks with your opening balances i.e. you closing balances on QuickBooks.

    3 years ago

  3. Jeff Thompson

    Been trying Quickbooks online for use with Mac and the remote access –

    However, No Cis and no import to Santander. It’s nearly 2012 & why aren’t these features the norm??

    At 1st glance Clear Books seems too good to be true – am quite exited about the future becoming much easier for us.

    Well Done Clear Books !!

    5 months ago