Online accounting software is particularly attractive to small to medium-sized business owners looking to reduce their IT costs and gain greater flexibility. Just like desktop accounting software, online accounting software programs, sometimes referred to as cloud accounting software, range in functionality from basic to very sophisticated.  
In the online space there are more considerations to make than what the application itself can do. When choosing an online, or cloud accounting program, there are a number of questions you should ask when choosing a provider that can help ensure peace of mind and prevent problems down the track.

1. Where will my data be held?

When using an online accounting program your data is stored remotely, not on your premises or within your IT environment. As such, you need to be sure your confidential company financial data is held at a professional, commercial data centre designed for this purpose.

2. What security measures are in place?

Consider how your confidential information is accessed. Stored material should only be accessible by a registered user who decides who has access to vital company information, and ensures users only see the information needed to complete their job.

Also, what back-up security measures are in place? A benefit to online accounting is having data stored offsite, which can form an important part of a business disaster recovery plan. To safeguard your data, commercial data centres store information at two separate locations.

3. Do you need to pay more to get added functionality?

If you need to manage payroll and inventory, ensure that these features are included and understand any limitations before signing up. As an example with the Reckon Accounts Hosted service for the one subscription price,  payroll, inventory, and  unlimited company data files are included – most providers have a different payment model so be sure to check this out.

4. Can you access the software on all the devices you use?

It is very useful to have your full accounting program accessible online, but will it work on all operating systems. If you are using an Android tablet or an iPad, make sure your online accounting application works on these devices as well as desktop computers such as a Mac and PC.

5. Is the application easy to learn or similar to your existing tools?

If you are moving from a desktop accounting program to an online program, the easiest transition can be moving to the same or a similar program online. Well-established software programs are also great because they have a lot more resources available, such as classroom training and established networks of specialists. If you’re new to the program video demonstrations, webinars and in-person demonstrations are a great way of seeing what a program looks like and how easy it will be to use and how the program works.

6. Can you use the program online and offline?

You need to have a reliable internet connection to operate an online accounting system. However, sometimes connections do drop-out. Consider how the program will operate when the internet goes down. Can you continue working offline and then synchronise the data when internet access becomes available?

7. Can you be confident in the longevity of the provider?

The last thing you would want is for the supplier that you place all your business data with to go out of business. Try and find out about the supplier’s financial position to ensure they are profitable and have a strong financial track record – this will be easier to do if they are a public company.

8. Does the provider have a long-term roadmap?

See if the provider has a track record of continual development and what their plans for the future look like. An important benefit of paying for software on a subscription basis is receiving regular upgrades and updates that ensure you’re always using the latest program.

9. Can you access a back-up of your data?

Check if back-ups of your company data are easily accessible; or accessible at all.

10. Is there support available?

There’s support, and then there’s support. Check to see what costs are involved in support and where support is provided. If support is provided from outside Australia you should know their hours of operation and mindful of time zones.

Online and cloud accounting solutions can be a very effective, time-saving addition to any business. By choosing carefully you will be investing in a program to help your business improve productivity for many years to come.

Read more about Reckon’s new cloud accounting solution, Reckon One >