Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) today announced a new software solution for small businesses looking for a simpler way to manage the most common business tasks, so they confidently know where their business stands.
QuickBooks®: Simple Start, priced at less than $100, delivers breakthrough ease- of-use, and focuses exclusively on three business tasks: tracking money coming in, money going out, and maintaining crucial records such as tax receipts, customer data, and vendor information.
Intuit designed Simple Start for the approximately 9 million small business owners who still rely on pencil and paper, Excel spreadsheets or shoeboxes to track expenses and keep their business records. The product includes essential tools small businesses need to create invoices, pay bills, print checks, generate reports and perform other tasks needed to know where their business stands with confidence.
"This is exactly what I've been looking for. It makes my business life simple," said Diane Ferrero Paluzzi of Patientspeak Consulting, a beta tester. "I needed something simple, with zero setup time that still gives me the confidence to know what I am doing is right, and that nothing important slips through the cracks."
Financial challenges are among the leading reasons that small businesses fail.
"Nearly half of all new small to medium businesses fail each year, many because of poor financial management practices. Moreover, the prospect of switching from manual accounting to a complicated PC or Web-based solution is intimidating and can prove to be a challenge small business owners are not willing to face," said Helen Chan, senior analyst, small and medium business strategies, at Yankee Group.
"Intuit has hit the mark in creating an essential business management product with this segment's needs in mind - ease-of-use, affordability, quick setup and expanded support," added Chan.
Fast, Simple Business Organization
Customers can enjoy the productivity benefits of Simple Start right away due to its easily accessible and familiar Web-like interface. Most businesses are fully up and running in 30 minutes - less time than it takes to have a pizza delivered.
There are no manuals to read and small businesses owners don't have to know accounting or accounting jargon because the software helps them perform essential business tasks using common, familiar terms like "money in" versus "receivables," and "invoices that haven't been paid" versus "aging report."
Simple Start helps to compile business records in one place. Business owners can create reports on profit and loss, sales, expenses and more with a single click.
"Intuit is making business management easier and more accessible than ever by presenting tasks the way small businesses think about them - tracking money in and money out," said Steve Bennett, Intuit's president and chief executive officer. "Intuit's Simple Start for desktop and online helps address the needs of both new and existing businesses with the tools to perform the financial tasks that they need to do. It's one of the simplest solutions available to help small business owners have confidence that nothing is slipping through the cracks, so they can focus on what's important - getting and serving customers."
Pricing and Availability
QuickBooks: Simple Start is available in desktop and online versions for $99.95. It can also be purchased by calling (877) 683-3259, or at www.quickbooks.com and at major software retailers nationwide on or before October 4, 2004. Stores include, but are not limited to Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry's Electronics, Office Depot, OfficeMax, SAM'S CLUB, Staples and Target Stores. Simple Start, which is part of the QuickBooks family of products, allows users to easily move to more robust versions of QuickBooks as their businesses grow. In addition, businesses can use Simple Start Edition with the desktop version of TurboTax® software, QuickBooks Customer Manager, and integrated credit card acceptance services from Intuit's Merchant Account Service. Optional services may require additional subscription or service fees and are subject to change. Internet access is required for Online Billing and other optional services. Application approval required for certain optional services. Terms, conditions, features, service options and pricing are subject to change.
