Is Free Small Business Accounting Software Right For You?

You might be asking yourself if free small business accounting software is actually helpful. After all, if you can down load it for free, then it must not be worth paying for in the first place, right? For this reason alone, most people would rather pay even a small fee, rather than just download free small business accounting software, even if the two are almost exactly the same. There is a multitude of open source accounting software that you can download for free, and it will give you more features than a licensed copy of Windows Office.

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Misconceptions About Free Small Business Accounting Software

One of the primary reasons that people tend to be wary of free small business accounting software solutions is that you’re never quite sure how secure the software is. For all you know, you could be downloading malware, it could contain a Trojan virus, or it might steal your information. You might also argue that running a business is a significant responsibility, and so it must be better to buy a licensed copy of accounting software so you can be sure you’re getting the best system. All software, no matter who created it, will have some parts or pieces to it that won’t work well for you; and just because you paid for it, that doesn’t mean it will meet all your needs.

Free Small Business Accounting Software Has Its Advantages

Free small business accounting software is created by developers who may be independent, but they are either passionate about it or are hired by the people who are. The work they do comes with a high level of commitment, and developing software is long and scrupulous work that takes a great deal of dedication. So rest assured that free small business accounting software that will give you what you need does exist. Of course, you still need to do your due diligence and research the software, its developers, and see if you can contact past users who are satisfied with the software. As with anything you download to your dedicated equipment, you have to make sure you protect yourself from possible harm.

Weigh the Pros and Cons of Free Small Business Accounting Software

You can generally find free small business accounting software that’s safe to deploy, and one of the main advantages is that you can try it and discard it if you don’t feel like it meets your needs. Additionally, independent developers have more freedom to be innovative and employ “out-of-the-box” ideas within their work, and you as the user benefit from that innovation. At the same time, a licensed solution might scale better with the growth of your company, and tends to have more dedicated support than an open source solution.

Still, it depends upon your personal preferences whether you go with free small business accounting software or not. No matter which way you decide to go, whether free or licensed, you still need to do considerable research to ensure that you’re getting an accounting solution that will serve your business’s financial needs.