Picking an accounting tool for your non-profit organization should take more than searching on Google and subscribing to the first one on the list. With this in mind, here are a few simple steps on how you can choose the best accounting tool for your company.
Visit the Website
After making a short list of possible accounting software for your non-profit, the first step would be to get to know them in-depth. Visit each website and get a feel for what each tool does and how it could help you and your members, accounting-wise. The best features are usually at the top of the landing page, giving you an idea of what the tool can do. Watch the demo video too if there’s one.
Springly’s nonprofit accounting software is tailored specifically for non-profit organizations, with several tools that can save both time and money. Automation is available too to reduce clerical errors.
See What Features You Can Use
The best accounting tool is one that has all the features you’d want. More importantly, the right accounting software will support your daily operations and streamline processes in a single platform.
Any nonprofit organization will need a financial management tool with reporting and analytics aspects, as well as budget forecasting. You should have a way to track revenues, grants, and donations and reconcile your bank transactions while being able to export the data as needed.
Does It Meet Your Accounting Needs?
Scalability is often overlooked when choosing the best accounting software. The tool might be a good option right now due to lower costs, but then there’s a chance it might be inadequate when your company grows. As you get more signups, members, donors, and accounts, the number of transactions and records will increase, and soon the software’s weakness will show.
It’s worth noting that every non-profit organization will have different accounting needs. Regardless, the tool should support the minimum day-to-day processes and have a streamlined and intuitive dashboard. The less time you or your members spend in training and setup, the better.
Reach Out and Ask Questions
Sometimes a website will not cover all the questions you might have in your search for the perfect software. If this is the case, then a quick visit to the website’s ‘contact us’ page should do the trick. Or, there might be a live chat available on the page so you can get answers in real-time.
Calling or sending them a message can also give you an idea of how knowledgeable or professional they are. If it’s not covered by their FAQs or demo video, then it might be better to speak with a representative.
Browse Online Reviews
Sometimes the most popular accounting tools may seem to be what you need, but when you check the reviews for them you’ll find a lot of complaints. For informed decisions, consumers often turn to reviews from previous customers to see if they liked using the software or tool.
Find reputable review platforms and search the accounting software or tool, and hopefully, you’ll see a robust list of reviews. Recent reviews, as well as comprehensive ones, will indicate whether you should try a software or move on to the next one.
Making a Decision
After careful consideration, you’ll have around two or three of the best accounting tools remaining. At this point, you can factor in other things, such as budget, user-friendliness, and scalability. The nonprofit account software should be scalable in a way that supports your organization’s growth.
Accounting software for nonprofit firms might offer a free demo or a free trial you can take advantage of. It doesn’t take much time to set up the platform and send a test campaign to see how it would perform. An accounting software for nonprofit companies that comes with training resources and robust customer support will be a bonus so you can transition quickly and get work done.