When it comes to the write-up software wars, accountants and software vendors have to confront the challenge of Intuit's QuickBooks. "A lot of clients ask about QuickBooks-at least 80 percent," says Sean Manning of Manning & Co., based in Littleton, Colo. "Our approach is to ask them to print out a financial statement and tell us if they think it's accurate. The majority say 'No,'" adds Manning.

He continues that, "We then have them look at Write-Up CS and what it can do. We convert about 90 percent of the clients that ask about QuickBooks. It's usually the integration capabilities that convince them."

On the other side of this coin, Fresno, Calif.-based Moore & Grider is switching all of its 75 write-up clients using Write-Up CS to QuickBooks Accountants Edition.

"People are more familiar with QuickBooks and the reporting is easier," says partner Kendall Wheeler. "The financial statements designer is great." In addition to basic write-up work, the firm prepares financial statements for its clients. "With QuickBooks we have complete control. It's a more stable program for us to use, and if our clients want to take the services in-house they can," adds Wheeler.

It's no secret that write-up is one of those building blocks that most practitioners hate, but that they are forced to endure. So the key for write-up vendors today is to provide practitioners with products that have flexibility, efficiency, and integration.

The more flexible the charts of accounts and financial statements set-up, the easier it is for the practitioner to produce quality work.

Products also need quick, simple data entry to provide efficient processing and analysis. Finally, integration with other vendors' products and with those in the same software family helps eliminate redundant data entry. This combined functionality gives practitioners what they want-productivity gains and extra avenues for additional revenue.

Manning has seen his write-up practice grow over the last three months. In fact, the eight-person firm, which generates half of its fees through monthly write-up services, has averaged seven new clients per month during that period.

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