If a license is not purchased after 60 days, the trial turns to a “Read Only” system.   This means you will no longer be able to add any new transactions.   However, you are still able to enter the system and print all reports with the information that has been entered into the system during the trial.   This is also what occurs when a license expires and is not renewed.   The 60-day free trial is also made available to businesses who have outgrown PCA and need a higher end accounting system, but still want and need access to the historical information in the system.   Small businesses who have retired or sold their business still want and need access to this information for IRS/Tax Reporting purposes.  This is also available to PCA Online users who outgrow PCA or sell their business.  A backup of PCA Online is always available and can be restored into the Desktop version.

PCA Basic is tailored for the cash basis business who only need to track the checking accounts and create journal entries for generating a Balance Sheet.  This system is often used on a day-to-day basis as a bookkeeping system to just balance to cash.  Many small businesses do not need to maintain a full general ledger with a Balance Sheet or only need to generate the Balance Sheet once a year if they grow and become a Sub-S or C corporation.   

PCA Premier adds the ability to maintain an Accounts Payable and/or Accounts Receivable system and typically is on an accrual basis for reporting to the IRS.   PCA Premier adds Quotes, Sales Orders, Invoicing, and the ability to generate Statements to send to customers.  PCA Premier also adds Purchase Orders and Supplier/Vendor Invoices for maintaining an Accounts Payable system as well as adding Inventory/Service codes for speeding up the creation of customer Invoices.   The Inventory feature also provides the option for maintaining a perpetual Inventory tracking quantity on hand of products sold by the business.

People’s Choice Accounting is a general accounting system (https://safechoice.com/business-accounting/ ) and SafeChoice Fund Accounting is a fund accounting system https://safechoice.com/municipal-non-profit-accounting/ .

Fund accounting and general accounting are two different methods of accounting that are used for different purposes. General accounting is used by businesses to track their financial transactions, while fund accounting is used by non-profit organizations to track the financial transactions of individual funds.

In general accounting, all financial transactions are recorded in a single ledger, and the financial statements are prepared based on the overall financial performance of the business. On the other hand, fund accounting is used to track the financial transactions of individual funds, and each fund has its own ledger. This allows non-profit organizations to track the financial performance of each fund separately.

Another key difference between fund accounting and general accounting is that fund accounting is used to track the financial transactions of non-profit organizations that do not operate to earn a profit. In contrast, general accounting is used by businesses that operate to earn a profit.

PCA Desktop is a single user system that requires the software to be installed on a Microsoft Windows computer.  Any Windows 7/10/11 computer can operate PCA Desktop.   PCA Online, however, does not need any software installed on the local computer and can be accessed with Windows or iOS operating systems.   The user interface is the same for both the Desktop and the Online version.   Most users start with PCA Desktop and move to PCA Online when access to the books from multiple locations is needed or if multiple users are needed.

There are videos available to assist the do-it-yourself (DIY) users. However, there are setup and training packages available to assist in getting you set up and using the system.   This is frequently requested for those who need to setup a Payroll system for their business.   We also welcome input from your accountant or tax advisor who may have some specific requests for how the system is set up.   An accountant’s copy of PCA Desktop can be made available to your accountant at no extra charge.   This perk is frequently used by Payroll users who have their accountant do their quarterly payroll filing to the Federal and State authorities.

Yes. PCA Premier is often described as a “QuickBooks Alternative” and has many of the same features as QuickBooks Desktop.   The fact the user interface is the same for the Desktop and Online versions makes for a much smoother experience with starting out on the Desktop and then moving the Online version.   In a single user environment, it is possible to move from PCA Desktop to PCA Online and later move back to PCA Desktop.   The option to make individual backups whether on the Desktop or Online is convenient for users who may have the Online version and their accountant has the Desktop version.   The Online backup and easily be restored onto the accountant’s Desktop version.