discontinued tables?

Right now, Intuit has control of the market for this type of accounting software. While it does, it is using every technique possible to keep the maximum cash flow coming in. Part of this process is to introduce and charge for a new Tax-Table/Payroll service each year. They also "sunset" the software that the Tax-Table/Payroll service will work on about every 3 years so users have to renew the service every year AND update the underlying software at least every 3 years.

The only hope I see of this changing is for a viable competitor to step in and offer an alternative software package. The only company that I think would have the resources to do that would be MicroSoft. Ultimately, I think MicroSoft will end up taking this over in the same way the MicroSoft Office overtook Word Perfect.

There are a number of other small business accounting packages. One that comes to mine is Peachtree. Another might be Medlin Accounting.

While MS Money is taking business from Quicken, I don't see anything from MS that challenges QB.

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

From what I have read here in the past, Peachtree now has charges that are similar to QuickBooks, so it might not be a worthwhile alternative. I don't know the story on Medlin -- what it costs, how easy it is to use, etc.

I agree that MS hasn't mounted any real challenge to QuickBooks (so far). I am curious why that is because they have the resources to take on QuickBooks and win, and could develop an accounting package that fully interfaces with all of their other MS Office software. Maybe they're too busy trying to plug up all of the security holes in their Windows and Internet Explorer software.

Microsoft have indeed developed an accounting package that interfaces with Office. Have a look at Office 2003 Small Business Financials:

They also provide "Great Plains", "Solomon" and "Navision" although these are targetted at bigger companies it seems (for example, Great Plains pricing is around $1,500 per user on their current promotion)

Regards

Brad

"Brad Thomas @ PhoenixSoftware" wrote in message news:8SMUd.179087$ snipped-for-privacy@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

I was thinking more of a software package that would compete with QuickBooks.

Microsoft is beta testing a planned QuickBooks killer for possible August release. Its payroll may come from ADP, who I found to be expensive and often irresponsible.

Your far better QuickBooks compatible solution is at

payroll people give 20,000+ customers an easy web interface to acomplete outsourced QuickBooks compatible payroll service. It includesdirect deposit and ALL TAX RETURNS. The accountant wholesale rate, whicheven non-clients get from me, is $10 a month, with a 2 month free trial. Youcan even submit information via email, fax or phone for $10 more a month. At this price we will not even do payroll tax returns for once a year payroll clients. I will even help those who do not want Paycycle to have their bank information. I can do this with stockholder loan deductions that produce $1 checks on my bank account, if you promptly pay taxes.

Mike Block - QuickBooks Tax Cut C.P.A. Intuit paid me to make QuickBooks better!

Thanks. That's interesting, and it sounds more like what I would have expected to happen sooner or later. And, because Microsoft has such a huge market share in all of their other Office software products, I think many people will want to switch to Microsoft's accounting software that will probably interface easily with all of the other Microsoft Office products.

Even though I have never been a big fan of Microsoft, I will look forward to seeing something that really does compete with QuickBooks.

Personally I think people will be willing to switch just because of how Intuit has treated their customer base over the last 4 years. TurboTax, Quicken, and QuickBooks have all seen their share of customer mismanagement. The sunsetting policies alone have caused some of my clients to shift to other products. I dumped Quicken when they stopped allowing me to check the internet for updates.

With QuickBooks 99, they had one of the most loyal user bases on the market, and now they have allowed that to slowly erode, so when a viable alternative appears, there may be more of an exodus then they realize.

G

in

mismanagement.

I agree.

We had QB99 also and it worked fine. But, of course, we were forced into upgrades that run slower, are filled with ads and hype, increasing required annual payroll subscriptions, etc.

I remember all of the heart-warming stories about the Intuit CEO going out to visit customers with his yellow pad to get feedback because they were such a warm and fuzzy, customer-oriented, organization.

So, yes, I would like to see them have some meaningful competition.

TurboTax,

I've been looking for an alternative to Quickbooks payroll since the first "sunset" that they pulled on me. Hopefully this is it. Quickbooks, if you're looking, GOODBYE!!!!!!!