Child Care Bookkeeping Software
Your Bookkeeping Requirements
Make a list of the bookkeeping tasks your child care business requires. The basic tasks handled by most child care bookkeeping software programs include:
- Time tracking
- Budgeting
- Estimates
- Payroll
- Business tax reporting
However, your daycare may benefit from other functions such as:
- Time tracking
- Budgeting
- Estimates
- Payroll
- Business tax reporting
Other Business Software Considerations
Could you benefit from all-in-one child care software? Consider the benefits of automating other administrative tasks such as scheduling, food program management, and maintaining up-to-date child and family information records.
Will the bookkeeping software grow with your daycare business? Software such as EZ-Care2 uses a modular design which allows you to add new functions later as your business grows and changes. For example, a small daycare may not need a timeclock for children and employees. However, as the business grows to become a larger center with over 100 children and dozens of employees, the ability to integrate a timeclock will become essential.
If the software doesn't allow modules to be added later, does the software offer upgrades? At the very least, the software should be able to export all store data into a format such as CSV or XML. This data could then be imported into a more advanced software program later.
Will you need online or desktop bookkeeping software? Desktop software runs locally on your computer. If more than one person will need access to the data, make sure the software can operate on a network. You may need to acquire multiple licenses (one for each user). Online bookkeeping software is web-based software hosted by the software developer. Make sure the company uses SSL on a secure server. Online bookkeeping software is especially convenient for centers with multiple locations.
Does the software allow you to limit access according to user profiles? While the administrator will need full access to all functions, you'll probably want to restrict access to certain areas or limit the actions available to other users.
Does the software offer a free trial, a demo or a money-back guarantee? The only way to really know if the software does what you want it to do is to see it in action.
Does the company offer support? Is the support free of charge or are there additional fees?
Recommended Child Care Bookkeeping Software
- EZ-Care2 is an all-in-one management software designed specifically for child care centers. It includes robust accounting and billing modules.
- QuickBooks is perhaps the top accounting software program available. Although not designed specifically for child care businesses, most child care software programs (including EZ-Care2 can interface with Quickbooks.