OT: a good accounting program for OSX?

[pk_hat]

I'm certainly not gonna join a Microsoft forum to look this up, so I'll ask here, as it's main purpose would be involving music operations. I'm basically looking for a simple and intuitive program to help with balance sheets, organize contacts, invoices, basic monthly accounting (rent, gear purchases, etc.), you know, just a good all around app for the small commercial studio or freelancer.

I do know of only Excel and FileMaker Pro, though I think the latter is more of a database/rolodex type of thing. So, does Excel handle all this stuff I'm looking for? Any of you guys use such a program to keep finances organized? Sorry, I'm a total newb when it comes to this stuff, cheers for any advice.

[Slim Shady]

Quickbooks for finances, especially if business related (for personal stuff: Quicken). For contacts and such, the Now Up To Date is great, but was buggy for OSX last I saw it - but that was 2 years ago. There's also the whole MYOB suite, which I haven't used, but is geared for that sort of thing. You should go over to the apple store online ( store.apple.com ), click on 'software' down the left side, then click 'productivity' on the next page, you'll get a list of all these apps I've mentioned and more. read the descriptions, see what sounds good to you, then start hunting for product reviews - I've found Amazon is good place for honest user reviews.

[Randirainbow]

Most Mac users use MYOB a double entry system. I have used it in my Graphics business for a number of years and it works well for me
Stay away from all things Intuit. Buggy problematic software.

[Eddie K. wannabe]

http://www.altermedia.com/


they make a program called StudioSuite. It's a frontend app for Filemaker, so you should have no trouble picking it up, very low learning curve. Taliored just for people like you. I've used it for work, and it's great. (You'd be surprised how many people have made software programs that are just front ends to Filemaker pro). I second Quickbooks if you want to do more generalized accounting.

and there's always TurboTax when you need to do your Tax Return.

[Bender]

Stay away from all things Intuit. Buggy problematic software.

I disagree I have used Quickbooks & Quicken for years with no problems.
I have helped set up several different types businesses and it worked for all of them.
Very easy and intutive

Good Luck

[Severe]

You may have heard of it and it may not have everything your looking for, but... SessionTools.


Hope this helps.

[pk_hat]

You may have heard of it and it may not have everything your looking for, but... SessionTools.

That looks like great software, with the exception that:

--------------------------------
SessionTools by Bob Clearmountain
Version 2 Mac/Windows now available!
(Mac OS X, Windows 2000 and XP are NOT supported).
--------------------------------


Maybe they're working on an OSX version, who knows, but in any case, I appreciate all the feedback, I'll take a closer look at MYOB, looks like the more interesting one of the bunch. Thanks again!

[ggunn]

My wife has her own Graphics Design business, and she recommends (and uses) MYOB. She used QuickBooks for a while, but it's not OSX supportive and Intuit has no plan to make it so.