Small business accounting software vendor Peachtree Tuesday (Jan 2) unveiled Peachtree Web Accounting, an Internet-based subscription service that combines the convenience and flexibility of the Internet with the robust features and functionality of Peachtree desktop accounting.
Peachtree Web Accounting is a subscription service that allows business owners to keep their accounting data on the desktop, but share key items such as inventory, General Ledger and customer information with remote users over the Internet in a controlled and secure manner. While remote users are accessing the service, desktop users can continue to perform daily accounting tasks.
“With Peachtree Web Accounting, we are basically giving our customers the best of both worlds,” said Connie Certusi, vice president of Product Management, “The convenient anytime, anywhere access of the Internet, along with the added security of maintaining their primary data on their PC with our desktop accounting software.”
Remote salespeople can view information such as customer contacts, outstanding balances, inventory pricing and quantity on hand. While onsite with a client, the salesperson can complete the sales call by entering quotes and printing invoices through Peachtree Web Accounting. The accountant can view key financials, GL activity and make any needed adjusting entries without leaving his office. And the traveling small business owner can closely monitor his business by accessing analysis information showing current profitability, status of outstanding receivables, and accounts that are over budget.
“To prevent access to unwanted outsiders, information stored online is protected by industry-leading SSL encryption and firewall technologies. The servers are housed at Exodus, an ultra-secure offsite data center,” said Certusi. “Additionally, the service allows the small business owner to specify security access for remote users by individual module/area.”
Peachtree Web Accounting will be available in February by subscription for a cost of $9.99 per month for a single user or $19.99 per month for multiple users. Peachtree customers currently using version 8.0 can download a free update, which will give them the ability to subscribe to and access the new service. In addition, each small business can include one accountant for free through their subscription. Subscribers are pre-billed on a quarterly basis for the upcoming 3 months of service.
With this release, Peachtree joins desktop competitor Intuit, which released Quickbooks for the Web in early December 2000. It also joins the growing list of ASPs in the space, including Netledger and Intacct.
