Before purchasing a church accounting software, several things have to be checked or done first.
Research and compare. As with any kind of purchase, doing the proper research on the product before committing to buy is a prudent practice. For the sake of convenience, one can compare accounting software packages online. Most providers of church software have an online presence. Vendors typically have an FAQ page in their websites. Some even go as far as offering free consultation via telephone, email, or chat.
What are the required computer specifications for software installation? This should be kept in mind when choosing accounting software for church use. Many accounting software products are non-refundable, so it is best to check if the computers used by a church match the required hardware and software for installation. On their websites, accounting software providers specify the minimum installation requirements. If such information cannot be found on the Internet, ask the software companies via email or telephone.
Another factor that must be considered is the budget of the church for the accounting software. Prices of accounting software products vary depending on the number of applications that a software program contains or the number of members or entries that can be recorded in the accounting system. The amount to be allocated for purchasing accounting software also depends on the installation requirements. For instance, if the computers of your church cannot meet the installation requirements of particular software, then the church may need to buy new computers. And that must be included in the churchs budget.
In addition, a church accounting software must be compatible to the fund management needs of the church. It is a good thing that many accounting software providers offer demo versions of their software programs. These demo versions can be downloaded easily from the sites of software companies and used for a certain period. You can try the software demo version for your actual church accounting needs to check if they are fully met. Try every feature of the accounting software as well. Create reports and show them to other parishioners to get their comments. A feature that one should look for is the audit trail, which can ensure transparency in handling church funds.
You may also want to check if a software package can cover all your churches needs, including non-financial aspects. Some accounting software products, apart from aiding in church fund management, can also store church members counseling records, monitor church attendance, and handle church activities or projects. Such features are incorporated in various packages within the software and are sold individually.
Finally, extra features offered by software companies should be considered. When choosing a church accounting software, look for useful features such as multiple user support and software upgrades. Some software upgrades are free, while others have to be paid. So make sure that your church needs this feature before you buy it. Your decision depends on the growth rate of your church. The higher the growth rate is, the more records need to be entered in an accounting system. In that case, software upgrades are necessary. Determine also if the software will be used in just one church or in various churches that are connected to a single computer network. Multiple user support is a great feature for churches where several users access records from an accounting software all at the same time.