If you run your own business, you know how important accurate and expandable accounting is. Chances are if your business is on the small side, you're already running one of the professional accounting software packages on the market. If you're still shopping around—or if you're outgrowing the one you've already picked—you have a number of choices.

Our Editors' Choice for beginning businesses is QuickBooks Accounting Pro Edition, which has a trouble-free guided setup procedure, a strong help system (including video tutorials), and a powerful payroll system. If you have heavier inventory requirements, Peachtree by Sage Complete Accounting is a good way to go—if its interface is a bit outdated, it's got some outstanding reporting functions. Microsoft Accounting Professional is a bit light on payroll options and inventory tracking, but is as easy to use and navigate as another perennial business tool, Outlook. Although MYOB Premier Accounting doesn't offer much in the way of online services, it's packed with user-friendly payroll and database features.

On the other hand, if it's time for you to graduate to more users and more features, one of this trio of high-end options may offer the functionality you need. If you need advanced transaction and inventory tracking, Peachtree Quantum 2010 could be ideal—it supports up to 40 simultaneous users, but the depth of its functionality may make it difficult to learn if you don't already have a Peachtree background. Even more powerful is Sage BusinessWorks 50 Accounting 2009: It scores with sales, job costing, inventory control, networking, reporting, and sales, but is hampered by a clunky, outdated interface. Our Editors' Choice is the intuitive QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 9.0, which can handle up to 100,000 customers and is highly extensible with a suite of QuickBooks Enterprise Suite add-ons that give you fine-grain control over every aspect of your business.

One thing you can count on: One of these systems will be right for you and your growing business. And be sure to check out our software product guide for other solutions for keeping you and your employees on the job and your profitability on the rise.

Home or Small-Business Accounting

Microsoft Accounting Professional

$199.95 list
Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2008 is a good choice for small businesses that need integrated online sales capabilities, want a familiar, Microsoft Office look and feel, and have simple inventory-tracking needs.

MYOB Premier Accounting

$299 list
MYOB will serve you well if you don't need extensive online services. It handles accounting tasks thoroughly and well, and does so using an exceptionally navigable interface.

Peachtree by Sage Complete Accounting

$269.99 direct
Peachtree Complete 2009 deals with accounting issues capably, excelling especially at inventory. An interface overhaul and enhanced usability are what's needed to catapult Peachtree into the lead.

QuickBooks Accounting Pro Edition

$199.95 direct
Of all the small business accounting programs available today, QuickBooks Pro 2009 offers the best combination of usability and accounting features.

Small-to-Medium Business Accounting

QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 9.0

Starts at $3,000 for five users
QuickBooks Enterprise blends high-capacity accounting and powerful networking with extreme ease of use and considerable customizability. Its QuickBooks Enterprise Suite applications add additional usability and enough accounting acumen to put it above its competitors.

Peachtree Quantum 2010

Starts at $4,450 for 10 users
If you're using a junior Peachtree product and need multiple simultaneous users, greater capacity, and expanded workflow tracking and inventory capabilities, Quantum is your logical next step.

Sage BusinessWorks 50 Accounting 2009

Starts at $1,694
Sage BusinessWorks goes where its closest competitors don't: almost to midrange territory. But this fully loaded solution is seriously handicapped by its poor interface and navigation.