Small business owners don't have much choice in the marketplace when it comes to accounting software. Here in Canada, our choices are basically Quicken QuickBooks and Simply Accounting. If only there were a free, cross-platform alternative accounting program that actually worked... well keep reading, because there is!
 
I've never liked Intuit very much - to me their Canadian products always feel as though the Canadian features were tacked-on at the last minute as an afterthought. Also, is it just me or does it seem a tad exploitive to offer umpteen different versions of your product? Simply Accounting is nicer, but doesn't allow me to track projects the way I'd like to. Another downside (for me anyhow) is that both of these products require that I run Windows. Now it's not that I hate Windows, but I alternate between Windows, Linux and Macs so often that it would be nice to have a solution that worked on all three.
 
Enter SQL Ledger. It's a free, open-source double-entry accounting package that runs Windows, Mac and Linux. In addition to very nice-looking invoices, it can do all kinds of stuff:

• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• General Ledger
• Inventory Control
• Billing / Invoicing
• Time Cards
• Point of Sale
• Check Printing
• Multi-User
• International Support

and much more. One of my favourite features is that the software is web-based (you run it on your own computer though). Which means that multiple users can access the program with their web browsers. No additional licenses required!
 
The downside? The installation isn't a simple double-click and you're good to go, although installation instructions for all the supported platforms are available. Additionally, you can obtain professional support from the author and several other consultants.
 
It's free, and definitely worth a look if you're in the market for a new accounting system.