How to select accounting software

Choosing the right accounting software is becoming more difficult as the software market becomes increasingly fragmented. In many cases, more product information makes decision-making more difficult rather than less. The risks of leaping into an expensive purchase decision are hard to assess. Consumers bewildered by the differences between real time and batch, off-the-shelf and custom, LAN and web, should remember that they are not alone, and their confusion is justified. By using "assess needs first, select product last" framework, paying attention to basic product descriptions, and digesting pro and con evaluations, anyone can become an informed and intelligent consumer.