To date Intuit has failed to create desktop GNU/Linux versions of Quicken and QuickBooks. Some “experts” tout this as a “show stopper” keeping people from switching from Microsoft systems to GNU/Linux. While this may stop some people there is no reason it should stop everyone. After all, one can probably get these running under WINE using Crossover by CodeWeavers Inc. Granted, they will likely not run perfectly this way as of now but they will install and run with certain versions being supported by CodeWeavers. One can most definitely run these in a Virtual Machine (VM) running a legal copy of a Microsoft operating system. I know this, because I have installed just such a VM system on GNU/Linux for some of my own clients that needed to run QuickBooks.
However, if one is willing to break away from Intuit and look at other solutions I have found some that might be of interest. Accounting software on GNU/Linux that includes payroll is BasicBooks by LinuxLedgers Business Accounting Systems and Passport Business Solutions? (PBS) by Passport Software Inc. While these are not Free Open Source Software (FOSS) they are accounting solutions that run on GNU/Linux and include payroll.
The BasicBooks software is in a price range that anyone not in abject poverty should be able to afford. BasicBooks includes General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Payroll. The BasicBooks site has many screen shots and access to the user reference manuals on-line or via download. One can get a feel for the software prior to purchase by reviewing the screen shots and looking over the manuals. BasicBooks runs on X and uses PostgreSQL as a back-end database server for the data. According to the site there is a Microsoft version of BasicBooks in the works but there is not yet a projected release date.
The PBS software is based on the venerable (and now dead) RealWorld Accounting software that ran on SCO OpenServer and is a traditional Unix style, modular accounting system. As such it is not priced for the typical small business that would be purchasing QuickBooks. I would only recommend PBS for the medium sized and larger business market. However, PBS does have a version available for GNU/Linux and does include a payroll module. The PBS software is sold through a network of resellers who provide sales, installation and support for the software. There is a demo that can be downloaded to try and get a feel for the PBS software.
If one has a SOHO or small business that does not need Payroll there are accounting solutions that can fill that need too. My own SOHO business uses GnuCash. GnuCash is a simple, light accounting package that can handle personal finances and small business accounting for a small business that does not need payroll. One can generate invoices and track accounts receivable and accounts payable with an easy to use graphical interface that runs on X.
There is also LedgerSMB for those needing a bit more “oomph” in a small business accounting package. LedgerSMB is a combination of PHP, Apache and PostgreSQL mixed together to form a multi-user accounting system accessible with a browser. The recommended browser is Firefox. While LedgerSMB does not currently have payroll capability there are plans to add payroll in a future release. Also, being an open source project, one could actually get involved as a LedgerSMB developer and help get payroll working.
One other, closed source, accounting package I should mention is Quasar by Linux Canada Inc. Quasar is another accounting system that does not include payroll. But it does run on GNU/Linux and would suffice for a small business that does not need payroll. Further, Quasar has a Point of Sale add-on that can be used in a retail store at the checkout counters.
There are other accounting solutions that run on GNU/Linux that I have not mentioned here. If anyone wants to point them out please feel free to do so in the comments.
This article has had this many unique visits:
Notice: All comments here are approved by a moderator before they will show up. Depending on the time of day this can take several hours. Please be patient and only post comments once. Thank you.
Edit Sat May 23 17:29:21 CDT 2009: Fix a poorly worded sentence.
Edit Sun May 24 13:13:22 CDT 2009: Place quotes around the phrase “show stopper”. Also change ‘The “experts”‘ to ‘Some “experts”‘.
Edit Mon May 25 00:12:02 CDT 2009: Fix the misspelling of Firefox.
Wake me when more then a handful (out of Millions) of Accountants and/or CPA’s support them.
Until then, I’ll stick with Quickbooks.
VonSkippy (comment #1), thanks for reading and for the comment. Where shall I route your wakeup call?
Using KMyMoney here private. It is working like a charm and improving tons as time goes on
Penguin (comment #3), thanks for reading and for the comment. Ah, yes, KMyMoney is one I had intended to mention but forgot to write on my list. Thanks for bringing it up.
Edit: Forgot to include the URL – KMyMoney site. If any of you using GNU/Linux want to check out KMyMoney check your distribution media and repositories. It is probably in there.
Don’t forget about NolaPro. Although it is not strictly for Linux, it is web based and runs on Apache. It looks like an extremely well done package, and does have payroll, if I am not mistaken.
I went to check out BasicBooks at the linuxledgers.com website. They misspelled the word “Accounting” in their own product logo, reproduced on every page of the site, and their screenshots don’t even include an example of what an invoice looks like. I appreciate their effort but I’m not trusting my business books to any outfit that doesn’t sweat the details.
Hmmm. Isn’t Moneydance http://www.moneydance.com/ still around? Proprietary, but they do support linux. Of course that would be more a replacement for quicken personal type finance as opposed to quickbooks. I remember looking into it because it supported check printing, but that was 2 years ago.
Tom (comment #5), thank you for reading and for the comment. I could not forget about NolaPro, because I did not know about it.
Thank you for pointing it out.
Edit: I forgot to add the URL for NolaPro: http://www.nolapro.com/
Quickbooks is the de facto app here. My company used to use Quasar, but it was too clunky and no CPA understood it. We now use quickbooks online, which is firefox for windows compatible— we just use user agent switcher and we have a cpa-usable accounting solution in linux!
dwasifar (comment #6), thank you. Not all people are perfect spellers like you and me.
Plus a typo in a graphic logo, like the one you caught, is easy to miss. I’ll send them a note about the typo and see what happens.