OSX Business Software?

[Playfrsbee]

Hi All, sorry if this post if a bit off topic, I couldn't figure out a better forum to post this in, and I value your opinion on this. (Admins, feel free to move it to another forum if need be)

Ok, here goes. I'm a recent college graduate, and for the past month I've been in New York doing freelance Film/Video work. I'm actually not doing as bad as I thought, and as a result, I'm having to keep track of my expenses and debts. I'm a somewhat disorganized person when it comes to money to boot, and I'm looking for a piece of software that would work for my needs. (I'm also doing my own taxes for the first time in my life, boo!).

So, what I need is a piece of OSX business software to manage my finances. Specifically, the things I'm looking to do are budgeting, accounts, invoices, and something to keep track of who owes me money. Cheap sticker price and slick integration with OSX mail and calendar are big plusses. Any recommendations? Are there other alternatives to Quicken and QuickBooks (I've not used either, so are those the right choice for me?)

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Ethan

 

[D0ct0rteeth]

Quickbooks is the only one worth trying... they are all honestly trash but this is the best one there is.

There is a bit of a learning curve like any application and in some ways I really dont understand why they decided to set up this app like they did but it manages to do an acceptable job.

If any one is an experienced software developer I have already storyboarded out a new app called iBank that

- true online banking. integrates with my checking and savings account for 1 click paying of my phone bill, cable bill... transfer money between accounts.. etc..

- tracks investments (how much my Janus/401k accounts have in them)

- sends custom invoices to clients

- Automatically categorize expenses for Schedule C

- prepares and files quarterly tax reports

- company payroll

- simple iApp interface

-Doc

 

[robotrenegade]

MYOB IS THE BEST FOR OSX. I’ve been running a business with myob for 3 years now. The technical support is really good. Works great for printing checks.

---->MYOB<----

 

[e-coli]

Quicken is really surprisingly nice. I have Quickbooks as well, but it's fairly expensive, and quite arcane. And they have a tendency to hijack your accounts, so it requires a bit of double checking your records.

I like Quicken better, personally.

 

[MacVault]

Qucken seems pretty good for personal finances, EXCEPT that for some stupid reason a lot of financial institutions (an important one for me is Ameritrade) don't support the Mac version, and it's beyond me why this is the case. If it's the same program as on Windows, then why can't it interface with the same online financial systems???

 

[pEZ]

I have to build upon what D0ct0rteeth started - iBank is an excellent application, and it's constantly being updated, unlike Quicken where it's updated once a year and the patches sometimes make things worse.

A nice companion to iBank is iWork - made by the same company, and is meant to be an alternative to QuickBooks. Time-Billing, invoices, etc. Both programs together are really nice, plus they have a very simple, "Maccish" interface.