2011 Review of Pro-Ware, LLC — Asset Keeper

Pro-Ware, LLC - Asset Keeper
402-861-8800
www.ProWare-CPA.com 

From the December 2011 Review of Asset Management Programs

Best Fit
Asset Keeper is best geared toward public practices managing medium to large dynamic asset bases for multiple clients with multi-tiered organizational structures, and who have need for mass asset edit/acquisition/disposal capabilities.

Strengths

• Designed specifically for public accountants
• Excellent reporting & output options
• Strong asset life features, mass acquisitions & disposals
• Consolidation & unconsolidation of entities
• Up to 99 years of asset projections

Potential Limitations

• RFID or barcode scanning not available for inventory
• Vendor doesn’t make trial balance/tax program, so little direct integration

The Asset Keeper system from Pro-Ware, LLC offers management, tracking and depreciation capabilities designed specifically for accounting professionals with multiple clients who have medium to large asset bases that may be dispersed geographically or across multi-tiered organizational structures. The program can support any number of assets and clients, and can be used as a stand-alone program or across networks by multiple users. Other accounting-focused products from Pro-Ware include Amortization Plus, Ratios Plus, Client Communique, Quick Trial Balance, Safekeeping Credit Card Recordkeeping and PFS Plus.

Basic System Functions - 4.5 Stars
Users are guided by wizards and checklists during the initial installation and client setup functions in Asset Keeper, helping users choose the correct depreciation strategies and providing selection screens for selecting asset types, life spans, methods and other information. Primary navigation elements are found in the system menu across the top of the screen, with options for accessing asset lists, calculation functions, reports and miscellaneous. System customization options are found in the “Housekeeping” menu, which offers tools for setting system and client-specific defaults, such as the Configuration Wizard, setting methods, and asset merges and unmerges. Additional customization options include creation of user-defined fields and client-level security.

The master client selection list displays entities on a sortable and filterable spreadsheet screen that includes basic information such as entity type, tax ID, number of assets and file location. Users also have access to global and client-focused search/query functions, and existing clients can be duplicated when creating subsidiaries or new entities. Accessible from a client’s files, asset selection screens offer a similar list view, with summary data for acquisition date, type, location and cost basis. Additional summary information is displayed at the bottom of the screen while an asset listing is highlighted, but prior to entering the detail asset view.

Within these detailed asset management screens, tabs are available for accessing each book, while additional menu icons appear, including searching, reporting, editing, acquisition and disposal tasks, and side-by-side viewing of all books. Calculations are automatically performed as data or methods are edited, with the program checking to ensure convention qualification. Edits can be made on a per-asset basis, across groups of assets or globally. The program can be used to manage any number of clients with unlimited numbers of assets, and can be used concurrently by any number of users in the firm at no additional cost.

Core Asset Management Features - 4.75 Stars
Asset Keeper enables management of up to eight books per asset, and has pre-configured schedules for federal, AMT, ACE and book. It also offers four user-defined custom books, which can be used for state depreciation requirements or as needed. For AMT, ACE and Sec. 179 purposes, the system includes an auto-assign function wizard that uses expense deductions to appropriately adjust an asset’s current depreciation.