Intuit, Inc. — QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 7.0

From the Sept. 2007 Review of Mid-Range Accounting Systems

QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 7.0 is the top-tier accounting product from Intuit, Inc. Designed for mid-sized companies looking to upgrade from more basic software, QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions maintains the same easy QuickBooks interface, while providing the capability to add hundreds of thousands of inventory items, customers or vendors and the ability to scale up to 20 simultaneous users. The Accountant Edition of QuickBooks is a single-user license that allows practitioners to handle client work more efficiently.

Ease of Use/Transaction Entry — 5 Stars
The Accountant Edition of QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions contains the same software features as the standard edition of Enterprise Solutions. Plus, you can toggle between various industry-specific editions of Enterprise Solutions in order to view the same interface that your clients view. Other industry-specific solutions include Contractor, Manufacturing and Wholesale, Professional Services, Retail and Nonprofit. You can also use the General Business database for clients who do not fall into any one particular category.

The user interface has seen a lot of changes through the years, and I like the 7.0 edition a lot. A drop-down menu at the top of the screen provides module access. Centers take you to a centralized area for customers, vendors, employees and reporting related tasks. The majority of the main screen is divided into sections, where modified flowcharts list out the logical sequence of tasks for that area.

Data-entry screens are easily navigated, with lookup fields throughout. All transactions can be accessed by arrowing through the transaction history. Icons at the top right of the screen take users directly to frequently used functions where they can enter important information and relevant due dates. Accounts, customers and vendors can all be added or edited on the fly.

Modules & Notable Features — 5 Stars
QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions is a complete financial system, with customer (AR), vendor (AP), Banking, Employees (Payroll), Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, and Inventory. The QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll for Accountants service is also available at an additional charge.

The Financial Statement Designer allows users to easily design statements for clients. The working trial balance tool allows for adjustments to account balances and lets users record workpaper reference information for their own records. The fixed asset manager maintains accurate depreciation schedules for clients based on the information and criteria entered. The audit trail and closing data password function helps to protect the integrity of data by tracking transaction entry and limiting system access. And the ability to easily access client files remotely via WebEx means less time in traffic and better client service.

Integration/Import/Export — 4.5 Stars
QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions is an all-in-one product so all modules work together. A variety of third-party products (over 400) are also available through the QuickBooks Solutions Marketplace that will easily interface with QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions. Accountant users also receive a free 12-month subscription to WebEx to easily access client data, make changes, enter transactions, run reports and even perform monthly closings. QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions also allows easy integration with Microsoft Excel.

Reporting — 4.5 Stars
QuickBooks contains over 120 standard reports that can be slightly modified if desired. Modification of reports is easy but somewhat restricted since the program offers column selections by function. QuickBooks is flexible enough to allow users to “try out” some reports to see if they provide the needed data. Available reports include the Audit Trail report, Closing Date Exception report and the Voided/Deleted Transaction report, all designed to help users get and keep a handle on client systems.

All reports can be exported to Excel, saved as PDF files or e-mailed to recipients. The Financial Statement Designer provides over 20 different statement layouts for custom-designed client reports.

Support/Training/Help System — 4.5 Stars
Support options are numerous
with QuickBooks. Intuit offers special support options for ProAdvisors and accountants. Monthly, yearly and unlimited support plans are also available that offer access to customer support. Training options include instructor-led seminars, one-on-one training and interactive CDs. A good Help function also assists with basic questions and provides a good basis for new users. Intuit also offers additional training for accounting professionals to help grow their practices and deliver more value-added services to growing businesses through the Solution Provider Program.

Relative Value — 5 Stars
QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions: Accountant Edition 7.0 is currently available for $849. This is a single-user license that allows for communication with clients currently using QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions. Because of the enormous number of small businesses currently using QuickBooks, the Accountant Edition is a smart investment, allowing users to provide better client service with a minimal financial investment.

2007 Overall Rating: 5 Stars