No company can afford to operate without the right accounting software. When considering whether to purchase a new product or upgrade their current solutions, however, business owners often fall prey to a few common mistakes. Here are five issues to avoid:

1. Relying on a generic solution: Some companies rush into buying an accounting system without stopping to consider all their options. Perhaps most important, they may be missing out on specific versions for their industries. For instance, construction companies can choose from many applications with built-in features specific to how their businesses work. Non-profit organizations also have industry-specific accounting software. If you have not already done so, research whether a product addresses your company’s niche focus.
2. Spending too much or too little: When buying or upgrading something as important as an accounting system, it is easy to overspend – those bells and whistles can be enticing. Then again, frugal-minded business owners may underspend, picking up a low-end product and letting staff deal with the headaches. The ideal approach generally lies somewhere in the middle. Perform a thorough review of your accounting needs, transaction volume and required reports, as well as your employees’ proficiency and the availability of tech support. Then calculate a reasonable budgeted amount to spend.
3. Getting stuck in a rut: Assuming you already have an accounting system, one of the keys to managing it is knowing precisely when to upgrade. You do not want to spend money unnecessarily, but you also should not risk errors or outdated functionality by waiting too long. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your financial statements are a potentially helpful source of information. A general rule of thumb says that, when revenues hit certain benchmarks (perhaps $5 million, $10 million or $15 million), a business may want to start thinking about an upgrade. The right tipping point, however, depends on various factors.
4. Neglecting the importance of integration and mobile access: Once upon a time, a company’s accounting software was a standalone application, and data from across the company had to be manually entered into the system. But integration is key these days. You should be able to integrate your accounting system with all (or most) of your other software so that data can be shared seamlessly and securely. Also consider the availability and functionality of mobile access to your accounting system. Many solutions now include apps that users can use on their smartphones or tablets.
5. Going it alone: Which accounting package you choose may seem an entirely internal decision. After all, you and your staff will be the ones using it, right? However, you may be forgetting one rather obvious person who could help: your accountant. KPM can help you assess and determine your accounting needs, set a feasible budget, choose the right solution (or upgrade), and implement it properly. Going forward, we can even periodically test your system to see whether it is providing accurate data and generating the proper reports.