Conservative Choice for Linux Accounting Software?

mikosullivan asks: "I'm a programmer for the Roanoke Rescue Mission in Roanoke, VA. The mission provides meals, shelter, and other help to the homeless. We're looking at upgrading the mission's information systems to a Linux-based network, from server to desktop. One of the major wrinkles in our plans is finding a good accounting system for Linux. My manager strongly feels (and I sympathize) that they should stick to accounting software that is already used by established accounting firms. There are certainly a plethora of Linux and open source accounting packages out there, but she wants to stay away from the bleeding edge, at least for accounting. She wants a tried-and-true, established, conservative choice for accounting software. What accounting software for Linux is most accepted and established in the marble and wood-paneled world of conservative bean counters? It doesn't have to be open source, but cost is a major issue, and open source is, of course, preferred."

Comments

I want

[finkployd]

I want the ability to link up to my bank, credit card companies, morgage companies, retirement fund, etc. and download the latest data like I can with Quicken. This is the only reason I keep windows (and quicken) around, and it is hard to live without once you get used to it. Gnucash is quite nice, but until it can do that, it is ultimatly not much more than a spreadsheet all set up for financial data.

Unfortunatly, there isn't a simple programming solution for this, it requires partnerships with all of these financial institutions. That is something I imagine would be difficult for an open source project.

Finkployd

Re:Not applicable to /.

[bwatt]

Er, I might point out that it is when you don't have buckets of cash, that you should be most concerned with tracking how much you have and what you spend it on...

[Gak! That sounds highly responsible, no?]

Why I don't like Quicken

[vegetablespork]

Even if Intuit released a version of Quicken for Linux today, I wouldn't use it.

Strike 1: Intuit charges me for the software--then has the audacity to attempt to force me to give up personal information to use it (astalavista.box.sk to the rescue again).

Strike 2: Intuit spams me with sales pitches based on information entered into the program. I already paid once, thank you.

Strike 3: Using the online services requires me to go through Intuit as an intermediary, rather than keeping the relationship only between me and my financial institution. Given their proven propensity to bother me with ads, I don't exactly trust them with my financial details.

Yer out!

Pro's & Con's of Grumbling

[bihoy]

On the one hand I too feel that sometimes folks do not always do their homework. On the other hand I actually learned something from some of the replies to this post.

This is an area that I am interested in, but not so much that I would have spent my own time researching them. I too would like a open source offering that is like quicken and that runs on Linux.

It would be nice if there was a topic here on slashdot for folks to share information on specific topics that they have researched. Not with the intent or pretext of asking a question but with the intent of generating further discussion on the topic. Or perhaps all that is needed is a new name or subtitle for "Ask Slashdot".

Hopefully this would allow everyone involved to expand their horizons in a collaborative fashion.

Quicken and clones thereof are for home use.

[Old.UNIX.Nut]

Small business and organizations with a need for accounting will not get by with the "designed for home use" accounting packages. If this were not the case then the Quicken people would not have also created Quickbooks for business people.
Based on my experience with small business people this individual needs a package for Linux that approximates the functionality of PeachTree Accounting (or a competing product with similar functionality).
Since all of my customers with accounting needs are married to Windows I cannot recommend a package for Linux, but a Quicken replacement will NOT do the trick.
The only package for Linux I've seen that looks like it might have the right stuff is SQL-Ledger http://www.sql-ledger.com/features.html, but I cannot recommend something I've never tried.
More details from the person asking about this might help get a recommendation based on required functionality.

Re:Quicken and clones thereof are for home use.

[GigsVT]

You are absolutely correct. The people suggesting Quicken level programs obviously aren't aware that there is more to accounting than that. No business with more than 30 or 40 employees is going to use Quicken/Quickbooks level software for accounting.

Now, At work, we are going through an accounting software upgrade, I was involved in the meetings to some limited extent. We decided to stick with the product from "Ultimate" software for Windows. We had been using the DOS Ultipro for several years (based on foxpro). It wasn't cheap to upgrade, and the support isn't cheap either. Lets just say the cost is more than I make in a year.

I don't think there is any effort currently to bring anything close to this to Linux. Considering the critical nature of the app, and also the amount you would be paying for support (not just tech support, but things like tax table updates, etc), Wine is not an option.

My suggestion to the asker of the question, suck it up and get one single Windows/whatever box for the accounting if you are looking for any serious accounting apps. Maybe in a few years there will be something for Linux, but I doubt it, considering the constant need to revise for tax/employment laws and the potential liability if you screw up a tax table.

I know I'm going to get flamed for this....

[HotNeedleOfInquiry]

But what you're asking for is a nearly perfect application for Win98se/Win2000 and Peachtree. Peachtree is robust, Win98 works and nobody other than the slashdot and Apple crowds would find fault with your decision. We've used Peachtree for years and it works just fine. *ANY* accountant or auditor would have no problem reading it's reports or dealing with it's methods. It's nicely extensible, moving from a single-user setup to a peer-to-peer network with zero complications. If you need to use open source for political reasons, I can't help you. If you want the best return on investment for your group, I would seriously consider the above system.

Close, But No Cigar

[waldoj]

GNUCash is arguably as good as Quicken.

This is more or less accurate. However, Quicken (like GNUCash) is worthless to most businesses, as it's a personal finance tool, not a corporate one.

-Waldo Jaquith

A Linux network doesn't mean "No Windows"

[iankerickson]

Just because you switch your network to Linux doesn't mean you can't run Windows software. Even assuming all client PCs run Linux, you still have options:

Run ONE NT/2000 server just to serve up the accounting and connect to it via:
- ICA/RDP clients (buy appropriate CALs!)
- A browser (for web-enabled accounting apps)
- VNC (just kidding)

Or run a Win32 or DOS program right on Linux for i386:
- WINE or DOSemu
- VMWare or Bochs

Or buy a UNIX accounting turnkey system and connect to it from linux using X, telnet, ssh, browser, or whatever. Take a look at the offerings for Solaris, AIX, Tru64 and HPUX. Accounting vendors for these commercial UNIXes may already have a Linux version for sale. Then your manager's fears will be appeased since it's a "real" accounting app you're recommending.