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Mid-range accounting software offers high functionality to customers with small budgets.
It's always tough to describe mid-range accounting software. The category is often defined by what it is not. It is not low-cost software sold through retail stores. Nor is it high-powered accounting software for the middle market that has seen prices escalate over the last few years.
Some call this "Gap" software-it fits in the gap between retail products such as QuickBooks and high-end products such as Great Plains Dynamics. Mid-range accounting software offers increased functionality to users that outgrow QuickBooks, but not the high-falutin' Enterprise Resource Planning functionality for users who just need accounting software.
Call it second-banana software. Midrange software is sold through resellers and it's often a nice second product for resellers trying to attract end users whose pocketbooks can't absorb the high-priced networking accounting packages.
Mid-range software is also ideal CPA software. Many firms have the financial and system knowledge to provide needed services but lack the computer technology knowledge. It simply takes a smaller staff to get into the consulting business. From a technical standpoint, these packages are easier for firms to learn. Most mid-range products support Btrieve, and not more complex databases such as Microsoft SQL Server.
In general, mid-range applications offer less of everything from modules to reporting features than are available in middle-market accounting software. And that can be just fine with companies who don't need every feature in the world to run their businesses. This article looks at six packages which share many common features through their Windows heritage-particularly they can all import data from and export to a wide range of formats and can link to other Windows applications-and are priced for average tastes.
Accpac Small Business Series The Accpac for Windows Small Business Series is designed specifically for small to medium businesses. Although limited to five concurrent users, it's very similar to its sibling, the Accpac for Windows Corporate Series.
But this line offers a lower price point, while providing an easy upgrade path to the Corporate Series. The two lines have similar functionality and their modules are interoperable. What you get here is less of everything.
SBS supports the Btrieve database while the Corporate Series also supports Microsoft SQL Server....