Product:	Quickbooks EasyStart
	Developed by:	Intuit Canada
	Suggested Retail Price:	$149.95 ($50 mail in rebate on the first edition)

If you are a new business, you have probably thought of purchasing accounting software to manage your money. However, most programs are designed for the growing business, not the start-up. To fill this gap in the marketplace, Intuit has released a new version of its Quickbooks line of accounting products, Quickbooks EasyStart.

What EasyStart offers:
Easy start is a simplified version of QuickBooks Basic that lets you spend money, receive money and view your bank accounts. You can invoice customers, accept payments, and write cheques. Designed for service businesses without inventory, it easy to get started; just enter your current bank balance and start adding information from today's date onwards.

EasyStart also has a number of reports that will help you assess your company. You can see:

• Sales Reports, such as Total Sales by Customer or Invoices that Haven't Been Paid
• Expense Reports, such as Total Expenses by Payee
• Accountant Reports, and
• Sales and Income Tax Reports

What EasyStart won't do:
The advantage to this simplified version of QuickBooks is that it is straightforward and easy to learn. However, many of the more powerful features available in other version of QuickBooks are not included in this product. For example, in the more advanced products you can set-up and track equipment leases and loans, and you have more options for tracking credit card payment.

You are also unable to make journal entries in EasyStart, a limitation that may frustrate your bookkeeper.

How much?
On the price side of things, with the mail in rebate the suggested retail price ends up at $99.95. There is a monthy purchase option priced at $9.95 a month, but with the mandatory 1-year contract you should seriously consider buying the product outright; otherwise you may end up paying more for the product than you would for one of the more advanced products.

The final assessment
If you are looking for a decent accounting product as you start your business, QuickBooks EasyStart looks like a good choice. It is inexpensive, easy to use, and can easily be upgraded to a more advanced version of QuickBooks at a later day. You can purchase Quickbooks EasyStart at major computer and business stores, or buy it online directly from Intuit Canada.