2013 Readers Choice Awards: The Votes are In

by Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor
Created:

Insight: As professionals know quite well, their business clients often seek their advice for more than just bookkeeping, write-up, payroll and tax services. These entrepreneurs ask for recommendations on other aspects of their business, from managing growth, helping trim waste, planning for expansion and many other areas. And when it comes to what technologies they should use to run their business, especially their bookkeeping, they most frequently ask their professional accountant.

In this year’s voting on technologies for small businesses, the tax and accounting professionals who read our publication once again overwhelmingly chose various QuickBooks versions for different types of client verticals. This isn’t because the professionals are benefitting directly, but the choice of program that clients use does affect the firm, mostly through simplified data transfer. If most clients are on the same system, it also makes it simpler to support them during write-up and other services.

Small Business Accounting - Installed Programs

  1. Intuit QuickBooks Simple Start, Pro or Premier 62%
  2. Sage 50, 100 or 300 – 11.5%
  3. AccountantsWorld 7%
  4. A-Systems 5.5%
  5. Cougar Mountain 5%
  6. CheckMark 4%
  7. MYOB 3.5%
  8. Others 1.5%

Small Business Accounting – Web-Based

  1. QuickBooks Online 62%
  2. Thomson Reuters Client CS 10.5%
  3. Sage One 6.5%
  4. NetSuite 6%
  5. Xero 5%
  6. Freshbooks 3.5%
  7. Intacct 3%
  8. Others 3.5%

Construction/Contractor Accounting

  1. Intuit QuickBooks Premier Construction Edition 63%
  2. Sage Construction & Real Estate 50/100/300 ---- 15%
  3. Microsoft Dynamics 8%
  4. Cougar Mountain 4.5%
  5. ISS Construction Manager 3%
  6. Others Combined 6.5%

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QuickBooks/Small Business Paperless Add-Ons

  1. Bill.com 51%
  2. SmartVault 25%
  3. Papersave.com 6%
  4. Personable Inc. 5.5%
  5. Cabinet NG 4.5%
  6. Others 8%

 

 

 

                        

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

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GENERAL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES

ASP/Hosted Solution Providers

Insight: Virtually every software program that a business or accounting firm uses can be turned into a web-based system simply by having it hosted by an Application Service Provider (ASP). This lets users continue to work in the program they are used to, while also relieving them of the headaches of IT functions and program updates.

  1. Right Networks
  2. Cloud9RealTime
  3. CPAASP/InsynQ
  4. Awensa
  5. Real Time Data Services
  6. MyRealData
  7. Others

 

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Insight: Just as many firms partner with a local legal practice or other professionals for certain areas of client work, many are starting to use the services of other companies that specialize in handling certain areas of practice functions. These providers range from ASPs to virtual servers, digital fax systems, email management and even tax form preparation.

 

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Laptop and Desktop Computers

Insight: What brand of computer do our readers prefer? Dell holds the lead again, with HP following and Apple moving into third.

  1. Dell 35%
  2. HP 21%
  3. Apple 10.5%
  4. Toshiba 10%
  5. Lenovo 6%
  6. Compaq 5%
  7. Gateway 4.5%
  8. Sony 3%
  9. IBM 2.5%
  10. Others 2.5%

 

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Insight: The rise and fall of the BlackBerry has definitely been shown over the years of our Readers Choice Awards. From being in a strong first place only a few years ago, the brand has now fallen to a distant third, behind the king iPhone and Android devices.

 

 

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