Accounting programs for startups – What characterizes good accounting software?

New founders who have recently started a company (or are about to) and want to do the accounting themselves, should also consider which accounting software to use. But what exactly makes good accounting software? And what specific characteristics should be considered?

1. Modular Structure

Good accounting software for new founders is characterized especially by a modular structure. The accounting program should therefore have a solid core module for financial accounting and be expandable around this module. It should have a module for financial accounting (FiBu), a module for "invoicing" (for creating quotes and invoices), and a module for "payroll".

• Financial Accounting Module: This should be easy to use. Booking entries should be able to be entered quickly and easily. Ideally, predefined booking texts are also available. The financial accounting must be VAT capable; i.e., VAT must be separated out in each booking, and the quarterly VAT settlement should ideally be creatable at the touch of a button. Very good accounting programs are designed so that the settlement can be directly printed onto the original form.
• Payroll Module: One of the first modules that is essential for new founders is the "Payroll" module. It allows salaries to be calculated easily and comfortably. You only enter the gross salary, and the accounting program calculates the net salary. Deductions are automatically considered. At the end of the year, the software then prepares the annual salary statements and settlement lists for the social insurance institutions. The payroll module is basically recommended from the first employee: the settlements get more complicated – and the checks from the AHV become stricter, so in this area, everything should be done correctly right from the start.
• Invoicing Module: For more than 10 invoices to be created per month, an invoicing module is advisable. With this module, quotes, delivery slips, and invoices can be created. There is also the option to create the invoice with orange payment slips (VESR). These payment transactions are then made available online by PostFinance or the house bank via file, and can be easily read and recorded.

Simple payment control is also possible with this module; open posts and reminders can be created at the touch of a button.

2. Introductory Course

The best accounting software is useless if it cannot be applied; therefore, it is essential to ensure that there are introductory courses available for the accounting program, which can be taken as needed.

3. Telephone Support

For new founders, everything needs to move faster – a question should also get a quick and reliable answer. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the provider of the accounting program has a hotline that is manned during business hours.