Bookkeeping Software Selection Checklist
4.7/5 with 89 votes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Choosing the right bookkeeping software is crucial for your organization's financial health. Our Bookkeeping Software Selection Checklist guides you through evaluating your organization's needs, assessing user requirements, and exploring potential software solutions. This comprehensive template helps you make informed decisions by considering vital factors such as costs, training, integration, and reporting capabilities. Start by clicking Save to customize this checklist, ensuring your bookkeeping software aligns perfectly with your business goals. Collaborate seamlessly with team members and keep everything organized across devices.
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Toggle Evaluate Your Organization status
Evaluate Your Organization
Toggle Size. status
Size.
How many employees does your organization have?
Toggle Structure. status
Structure.
Who needs access to financial reports?
Toggle Revenue. status
Revenue.
How much money does your company make in a year?
Toggle Growth outlook. status
Growth outlook.
Do you expect revenue to increase in coming years?
Toggle Vendor accounts. status
Vendor accounts.
How many vendor accounts to do you support?
Toggle Payroll. status
Payroll.
Is it outsourced or handled in-house?
Toggle Purchase orders. status
Purchase orders.
Do you need PO support?
Toggle Accounts payable. status
Accounts payable.
What is your AP workflow?
Toggle Accounts receivable. status
Accounts receivable.
What is your AR workflow?
Toggle Evaluate Your Bookkeeping Software Users status
Evaluate Your Bookkeeping Software Users
Toggle User base. status
User base.
How many people will be using the bookkeeping software?
Toggle Tech savvy. status
Tech savvy.
Will your staff require extensive training?
Toggle Accounting background. status
Accounting background.
Will the software users be accountants or lay people?
Toggle Transparency. status
Transparency.
Will upper management be using the software?
Toggle Evaluate Your Bookkeeping Needs status
Evaluate Your Bookkeeping Needs
Toggle Current software. status
Current software.
What bookkeeping software do you currently use?
Toggle Strengths. status
Strengths.
What does your current software do well?
Toggle Deficiencies. status
Deficiencies.
What critical needs does your current software not meet?
Toggle Future. status
Future.
What special features will you need in coming years?
Toggle Evaluate Potential Bookkeeping Software Solutions status
Evaluate Potential Bookkeeping Software Solutions
Toggle Initial cost. status
Initial cost.
How much will the software and licenses cost?
Toggle Training. status
Training.
How much does it cost and how is it delivered?
Toggle Expandability. status
Expandability.
Can you add users without incurring additional costs?
Toggle Technology. status
Technology.
Is the software hosted, or does your company need servers and IT staff?
Toggle Update path. status
Update path.
Does the license include all available updates?
Toggle Reporting. status
Reporting.
Does the software provide the reporting you need?
Toggle Integration. status
Integration.
Can the bookkeeping software work with other applications?
Toggle Workflow. status
Workflow.
Will you need to change the way you do business to fit the software?
Download or Print this Bookkeeping Software Selection Checklist
Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.
Presented by:
Adam Hughes
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Details
Bookkeeping Software Selection Tips
- Pick a software package that best fits your situation today and can also adapt to your needs in the future. Don’t become locked into a package with limited features just to save a little money, but you also need to guard against overspending on software with fancy features that your company will never use.
- Try before you buy. When possible, spend some time evaluating each potential software package in your own setting, making sure that your key users exercise all of the most important features. Most vendors offer a trial version of their systems for free, though you may have to ask for a trial license key.
- Talk to peers at other companies or institutions who have recently purchased bookkeeping software to get their insights into which systems they considered and why they made the decision they ultimately did.
Who it's for
This Bookkeeping Software Selection Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.
- Standardize quality - run the same Bookkeeping Software Selection steps every time, regardless of who executes
- Save time - reuse a proven Bookkeeping Software Selection workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
- Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
- Onboard faster - use the Bookkeeping Software Selection checklist as the SOP and training guide
- Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth
How to use it
How to use this Bookkeeping Software Selection Checklist:
- Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
- Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
- Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
- Reuse without rebuilding - when Bookkeeping Software Selection comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.
Rate this Checklist
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Scores 4.70 with 89 votes