[Old Professer]

We bought the computer for my daughter and then replaced it with a more powerful model.

This one only has 32 MB memory and a 1.45 Gig H.D. so it isn't a powerhouse.

It is still more modern than this old Packard Bell C115 I'm typing this on and no matter what many say, this old thing keeps me on FR every day.

[Texas_Jarhead]

MS Money will work fine for a small, cash based business.

[rs79bm]

Microsoft Money is a great program, I use it frequently. However, contrary to what you believe or have been told, MS Money requires quite a bit of Hard disk space, sometimes 100MB and up. It should run on your computer, with the hardware you have mentioned. It does come along with a lot a graphical video tutorials, and the like, most of which you would be better of opting not to install. Good luck.

[sourcery]

I haven't ever used Microsoft Money, but I have been using Quicken for many years--highly recommended.

[tjg]

I've been using Quicken also, for more years than I can remember. While there is a learning curve, it is a very stable program. I pay all my bills through my banks internet setup. It's virtually self balancing.

I highly recommend it.

[HitmanLV]

How are you? I have a used copy of Quicken Home & Business, 2000 or 2001 I think somewhere. If you are interested I'll look for it and send it to you free, no problem. I don't have the manual anymore, but go to your local library and there will be a few books on it. Its perfect for a small biz. I use the 2002 version now! :-)

I have to find it though - please let me know if you are interested and I'll look.

[Fractal Trader]

Quickbooks Pro is an awesome program for businesses. Does anything you could want for a business sized one to one thousand employees.

I have found my version easy to use and quite reliable. And most accountants are familiar with how to work with it. Don't know if you could say the same for MS Money.

[DallasMike]

I use MS Money for my personal finances and love it. There are other apps like Intuit QuickBooks Basic 2002 that may be more suitable for a small business though.

I would advise him to buy more memory -- perhaps even a new motherboard with a faster processor and around 256 MB of memory. You can buy motherboard bundles at places like MWave. You might be surprised at how cheap it is to get a good hardware combo that will allow you to cannibalize parts that you already have (like case, CD drive, and monitor).

[rivercat]

I have used Quicken since its very first version, that is, until this year. This year I took a hard look at both products, and Microsoft Money was a clear winner. So, I switched. Money also works better with online banking than Quicken.

[BuddhaBoy]

The latest version of Money has been rated by reviewers to be better and easier to use than Quicken. Both programs are very powerful, and you should read a few reviews before deciding.

Both are huge, and will eat up a lot of drive space, but I chose Money and I love it.

[Abcdefg]

If you upgrade the memory, and I think you should, make sure you get the right kind. If it is a major brand PC, get the model number and go to their web site for info. Otherwise, open the case and try to determine the motherboard make and model number and go to their web site for the info. If none of that works, get any info you can from the memory already there.
Good luck.

[angkor]

I'd been using Quicken for a very long time (certainly back to 1992), but started getting more and more frustrated as it became severely bloated with buttons, videos, graphics, and so much nonessential fluff that I couldn't use it anymore. The old text-mode version was a joy, and its what made the company a raging business success.

But in trying to dumb it down for the "average" home user (who they must think is a monkey) Quicken made its program a real pain to use. At some point I spent more than a few hours trying to navigate around a new "upgraded" version, and that was that.

I'd always ignored MS Money, but a few years ago it finally became pretty capable, and now I use it almost daily. (If Quicken stripped-away all of the cartoons and went back to basics, I might be tempted to use it again)

By the way, a 32 MB computer with 1.5 GB hard disk is not going to run either program. Invest in disk and memory upgrades or buy a new machine for $500 - $700. I can and do run a Web browser on my cellphone these days, but that doesn't mean its a good general purpose computer.

[Cicero]

Quicken used to be the best program. MS Money has been catching up recently, so it may be as good. MS Works is a good program for mailing out invoices and such. MS Excel is a good program for spreadsheets. Before you buy you want to consider what needs to be done, because even in a small business it will save a lot of work to use an integrated system that will keep the books, invoices, tax records, bank balances, envelope addressing, and the rest in a way that lets you move data easily from one thing to another.

So I'll leave the recommendations to other Freepers who have used them in their businesses.

But I agree that an old computer with 32 meg memory and a 1.45 gig hard drive is an antique. Most modern programs simply won't fit on it at all, not even a recent operating system. The first thing you need is a more up-to-date computer.

[Cicero]

P.S. I wouldn't mess with upgrading an old computer if you can possibly help it. Better to buy a lower-end new computer from a respectable maker.

[wireplay]

I used Quicken for years and years and finally switched to MS Money after Walter Mossberg at the Wall Street Journal said the time had come. While each has positives/negatives, I prefer Money at this point. Definitely sign up for online banking to simplify keeping track of transactions.

[DeRATted]

I'd go with Quicken Deluxe. I don't have the fastest machine on the planet either (Pentium166 w/40MB RAM), but it works fine. I also purchaed Pocket Quicken for my Palm Pilot, which syncs up nicely with Quicken and now substitutes for my checkbook. I use both religiously, and they've both helped my manage my cash significantly better.

[The Other Harry]

I use an older version of MS Money (95) for my household books, and I'm quite happy with it.

A friend of mine recently upgraded from that version to the current version and he is not pleased. He experienced a lot of trouble.

All things considered, I think Quicken or Quick Books Pro are superior programs. If memory serves correctly, there is also a program out there called something like One Write Plus that my CPA quite likes. He ain't dumb by any means, so that might be worth a look.

If you want to go to a double-entry program -- which is what I think you should do -- I can recommend Peachtree. I have experience with that in a business setting, and I can't say enough good things about it.

There is definitely a learning curve, but you can start off simple. They give you several sample templates which can be used right away.

It is highly configurable, and it is not a program that you will ever outgrow. You could run a small business with it, and if that business grows, you could run a large business with it. It will do anything you want it to do. You could run General Motors with it. Alternatively, you could run a one-person janitorial service with it.

The single-entry programs are not, imo, appropriate for a business. They can be and often are used for that. But they cannot, for exampke, do a good job of handling a depreciation schedule.

Now, that may not seem like a big deal to you at this point in time. But it could become a big deal at some point in the future. A very big deal.

The thing is...

There are very few things in life that are more miserable than changing accounting software. I know. I've done it. It is pure, unadulterated hell. Water torture could not be worse.

So, you want to start out with a good program to begin with. It may cost a few more bucks and be a bit harder to learn how to use, but in the end it is a much better way to go. Infinitely better.

Peachtree.

If the kid needs a better computer, then get him one. Computers and software are cheap these days.

Time is not.

Don't be going and installing the cheapest accounting software you can find. You will regret it.

[holyscroller]

I use Quicken for my personal accounts, and Quick Books with Inventory for my business. Love 'em both! Easy and powerful.

[krb]

It's time for a new computer.