... cheap accounting ...

Results of my quick testing in search of the cheapest possible accounting software for small businesses:

Ten solutions (order has no meaning, read notes and find out yourself what you
like)

1) turbo cash:
main page http://www.turbocashuk.com/
specifics http://www.turbocashuk.com/accounting-software-features.html
forum http://www.turbocash.net/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=239
wine compatibility http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=383552
environment windows, source, wine emulator
download http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=86088
tested on fedora core 6 with wine windows emulator
notes:
xml import-export
multiple companies supported
open software, free, low cost of original media and support
multiple branches (location) available in beta test

2) gnu cash:
main page http://www.gnucash.org/
specifics http://www.gnucash.org/features.phtml
environment windows, linux, source
download http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=192
tested on red hat 9
notes:
QIF interface
no multiple companies, but can be set up for multiple providers and payees
no multiple locations

3) nola (web based, commercial with open software):
main page http://www.noguska.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
specifics http://www.nolapro.com/business.htm
howto http://linux.sys-con.com/read/32742.htm
press http://www.ofb.biz/article.pl?sid=13
download http://sourceforge.net/projects/nola/
tested on untested
notes:
web based php application

4) quasar (commercial with open software):
main page http://www.linuxcanada.com/
features http://www.linuxcanada.com/quasar.shtml
environment windows, linux, source
press http://www.linux.com/articles/42442?tid=74&tid=132
download http://www.linuxcanada.com/
tested on untested, linux versions binaries too old for my systems (newest fedora available is 4)
windows version would not run on wine
notes:
xml import-export
multiple companies supported
low cost or free open software version available
multiple branches (location) available

5) myob (commercial, low cost)
main page http://www.myob-us.com/
features http://www.myob-us.com/products/compare_all_products.htm
comparison http://www.myob-us.com/products/dare_compare_ae.htm
environment mac osx 10.39 up, windows 98 up
download (trial) http://www.myob-us.com/downloads/
tested on tried before older version, mac os8.5
notes:
no multiple companies, but can be set up as multiple payables and receivables
no multiple locations
easy, well documented

6) accountpro (shareware)
main page http://www.accsoft.ch/index.htm
features http://www.accsoft.ch/apw407.htm
faq http://www.accsoft.ch/faqeng.htm
download (trial) http://www.accsoft.ch/downacc.htm
environment windows, wine emulator
other environments dos (free)
dos download http://www.accsoft.ch/free.htm
tested on fedora core 6 with wine windows emulator
export to plain ascii files
no multiple companies, but can be set up for multiple payables and receivables
no multiple locations

7) medin accounting (shareware)
main page http://www.medlin.com
download (trial) http://www.medlin.com/download.htm
faq http://www.medlin.com/faq.htm
documentation http://www.medlin.com/medlin.pdf
environment windows, wine emulator
tested on fedora core 6 with wine windows emulator
notes:
multiple companies and sets of books
multiple locations can be setup trough multiple companies and sets of books

8) money smith (shareware)
main page http://www.moneysmith.net/
download http://www.moneysmith.net/products.htm
environment windows, wine emulator
tested on fedora core 6 with wine windows emulator
notes:
copy/paste to excel or other spreadsheets
no multiple companies, but can be set up for multiple providers and payees
no multiple locations

9) dynacomm (basic, free)
main page http://www.dynacom.com/accountingsoftware/homeandsmall/Start.aspx
download http://www.dynacom.com/downloads/FreeVersion.aspx
environment windows
tested on untested, won't run on wine, runs only on windows

10) owl basic bookkeeping (shareware)
home page http://www.owlsoftware.com/bbk.htm
download http://www.supershareware.com/download/basic-bookkeeping.html
info page http://www.supershareware.com/preview/basic-bookkeeping.html
environment windows, wine emulator
tested on fedora core 6 with wine windows emulator
notes:
multiple folders can be used as multiple accounts
no multiple locations