If you're a small business owner, chances are you've given consideration to keeping your finances in order. The struggle between doing them yourself and dealing with spreadsheets and calculations, or spending the money and hiring a professional just seems to be a Catch 22. However, there is a solution out there for you that means you can retain your independence without having to spend a fortune on outside help. Investing in small business accounting software has a number of benefits which can help you and your business grow and turn a profit. One of the benefits of using accounting software is the immediacy. Regardless of how often you're working with the software, your input occurs immediately. This has the added bonus of keeping you closely involved with the financial health of your business. You have a much better chance of spotting inaccuracies or variances if you're actively involved with the process, rather than just putting all your receipts into a desk draw and forgetting about them. Furthermore, the accuracy that accounting software for small business provides means that the risk of something slipping through the cracks becomes significantly lower - especially if there is more than one of you running the business and involved with the finances. Keeping all your information in one centralised location makes recalling specific details a simpler task than having to trudge through address books, cheque butts and financial statements. An added bonus of this is an improvement in your customer relationship management. If a client has an issue, it's possible to quickly and effectively recall whatever information is needed and help them through their problem without delay or cause of anger. Finally, small business software means that, at the click of a button, you can compile and create reports with ease. These reports can then be put to good use locating problem areas within your business, allowing you to quickly identify and rectify any potential problems before they escalate.