The information accompanying our review copy of Intuit QuickBooks is refreshingly honest in stating that the program's main aim is to ease the tedium of bookkeeping.

It succeeds admirably, thanks to a clear screen layout, numerous automated features and plenty of help available right from the start.

When setting up computerised accounts for a new company or home business, an interview process called EasyStep helps create a shell accounting structure for the company, complete with all the appropriate nominal accounts through which money enters, leaves and circulates around the business.

Probably the most tedious aspect of setting up computerised accounts for existing businesses is entering the historical data that currently exists on paper. Intuit QuickBooks, however, lets you start using the program straight away, even if the historical data is incomplete.

Once working with QuickBooks, a feature called Follow-Me Help is displayed in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, providing constantly-changing guidance based on the task you're currently involved with on the main part of the screen.

QuickBooks handles invoicing, VAT and stock control, as well as keeping track of customers, suppliers and bank accounts.

Quickbook's pre-designed bank of 100 charts and reports covers every standard business requirement without any input from the user other than start and end dates. In addition the standard text reports can be modified if desired.

Results may be exported to Excel or any other spreadsheet for further analysis.

To keep down the cost of QuickBooks, payroll processing is not included as standard, but for an annual payment of £100, it can be activated. The positive way of looking at this is that those who don't need it, don't have to pay for it.

Two other useful bolt-on services are BACS payment processing at £10 a month (including 100 free transactions) and QuickBooks Card Solutions for those who wish to accept credit and debit card payments.

For start-up businesses with no staff there's a SimpleStart version of QuickBooks for £50 (or only £34 when downloaded from the web), and for growing businesses there are Pro and Accountant versions offering a seamless upgrade path.

Also consider
MYOB Business Basics
Just as capable, but with a lot less hand-holding.
Rating: 3/5
Price: £80