Open Source Accounting Software

Open source accounting software takes advantage of the open source concept (see below) to deliver no or low cost accounting software to you.

This is great if you are a small or start up business and have a need to get your bookkeeping in order, because it is likely you can obtain some accounting software with next to no capital outlay - assuming you already have a personal computer.

What is Open Source?

Open source is a software distribution concept normally delivered under a license known as General Public Licence (GPL) that allows the user of the software access to the source code (if they want it) to modify it as they see fit. This is normally achieved by developing what is known as plug-ins. The result is that the user base collectively develop the software (and fund development) in a number of different user directions, and then each user determines the plug-in functions they want or need. The advantage of this is that the software develops to meet the needs of the user group in a low cost way.

If you're an experienced book keeper this is great as the software is usually downloadable for free, and you can be running your accounting software for next to nothing in next to no time.

Set Up and Training Considerations

If you're not computer literate, and know little about using and setting up accounting systems then you need to spend additional time learning what to do, and may need expert help installing and configuring the accounting software to your requirements.

You may not have the skills to actually use the accounting software the way it is intended without further training. If this describes you, then you will have to figure in these expenditures into your start up costs, and you may want to consider hiring a bookkeeper. These add-on services are how the open source movement makes itself commercially viable. To quote Turbocash, "..we make money from the sale of consumables, support contracts, complementary software and consulting services..".

Even after taking these expenses into consideration, open source accounting software offers great potential to the small business owner.

Popular Open Source Accounting Software

There are a number of Open Source Accounting packages around, the most well known of which I've listed below:

• TurboCash - I have personal experience of using this software. It is installed on your computer, is very simple to use and has a wide user base. Don't be fooled by the link to the British website, it originated in South Africa, and is used world wide.
• GnuCash



• JGnash



• KMyMoney



• Quasar Accounting



• SQL Ledger

Top of Open Source Accounting Software

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