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How to choose accounting software for your company
Choosing accounting software is a decision you live with for years; changing it later means migrating data, retraining, and a period of unreliable numbers. Here are ten practical criteria, ordered by how much they matter to a company operating in Saudi Arabia.
1. E-invoicing compliance first
Any system that does not support phase two of e-invoicing (Fatoora integration, cryptographic stamp, XML, QR code) is out of the comparison from the start. Ask specifically: is onboarding done from inside the system? Are standard and simplified invoices and credit notes supported? Is there a submission log showing each invoice’s status?
2. The modules you need today and in two years
Write down what you need now (invoices, expenses, VAT) and what you will need as you grow (inventory, payroll, branches, projects). Choose a system that offers both in tiered plans, so you do not switch systems when you open a branch or hire your first ten employees.
3. Real accounting, not just an invoicing front
Ask to see the trial balance, the chart of accounts and the journal entries in the demo. A system that hides them or lacks them will leave you without correct financial statements at the first request from the bank or the auditor.
4. Arabic by design, not by translation
Open a report and read an error message. If the Arabic is awkward or missing on internal screens, your team will struggle daily. Best is a system offering both Arabic and English in full, because your team is usually mixed.
5. Permissions and the audit trail
Can a salesperson issue invoices without seeing profits? Can a branch manager be restricted to their branch? Does the system record who changed what? These are not luxuries; they are what protects your company from error and fraud.
6. Ease of use for non-accountants
Most people who will use the system are not accountants: the salesperson, the storekeeper, the branch manager. Issue an invoice and record an expense yourself during the trial; if you need lengthy training for that, the system will not be used as it should.
7. The reports you will actually read
The income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, VAT report and receivables ageing, filterable by branch and period, and exportable. And a dashboard that gives you the picture in seconds without opening a report.
8. Import and export
How do you move your customers, items and chart of accounts into the system? Best is an import wizard that reads an Excel file in your own layout. And how do you get your data out if you leave? Ask for a full export during the trial.
9. The true cost
The subscription is not the whole cost: add setup, training, extra modules, extra users and support. Compare the full annual cost, not the headline price of the basic plan.
10. Support and development
Who answers when an invoice fails the day before the return? And is the system updated with every regulatory change from the authority? Ask about the support channel, response time and the date of the latest updates.