ABSS vs SQL Account — Which Accounting Software Fits Your SME?

Agnes Lee
May 15
3 min read

Why This Showdown Matters

Picking the wrong accounting system is like forcing a square peg into a round hole costly, messy, and time‑consuming. ABSS and SQL Account are both popular with Singapore SMEs, but they shine in different ways. By the end of this article, you’ll know which one fits your business like a glove.

At‑a‑Glance	ABSS (formerly MYOB)	SQL Account
Ideal for	Small teams that want a plug‑and‑play setup	Growing SMEs that need deeper controls
Learning curve	Gentle – spreadsheet lovers feel right at home	Moderate – more features, more power
Inventory & Serial Tracking	Basic	Advanced (multi‑warehouse, batch & lot)
Multi‑Currency	Don't have table rate only list rate	Have table rate
Custom Reports & Templates	Limited in‑app editing	Extensive designer + formula fields
Remote Access	Requires third‑party remote desktop tools	Hybrid remote desktop/cloud hosting options
Local Support via Apscom	✔️ Implementation & training	✔️ Implementation, training & custom work

1. User Experience & Ease of Setup

ABSS

Clean and intuitive—most users feel at home within a single day.
Step‑by‑step YouTube tutorials and a clear user manual walk you through company file creation, GST configuration, and chart‑of‑accounts setup.

SQL Account

Ribbon‑style interface feels familiar to Microsoft Office fans.
More menus, but also more control: think multi‑branch consolidation, project codes, and document approvals.

Quick tip: If your team includes staff who are not tech‑savvy, ABSS’s simplicity might win hearts on Day 1.

2. Depth of Features

Inventory & Order Management

ABSS: Handles basic stock counts and item‑by‑item pricing.
SQL Account: Multi‑warehouse, expiry dates, serial‑number tracking, UOM conversion, and even manufacturing (BOM) when you expand.

Reporting & Analysis

ABSS: Core financials (P&L, balance sheet) plus simple job tracking.
SQL Account: Reports are highly customizable—you can add DIY fields and tap into a significantly broader library of built‑in reports than ABSS offers.

3. Cost Considerations

Both products offer perpetual licences plus optional annual support. As a rule of thumb:

ABSS: Lower entry ticket; perfect for tight budgets.
SQL Account: Slightly higher upfront, but you avoid bolt‑on costs later because advanced features are already inside.

Remember, the cheapest software becomes expensive if it can’t grow with you. Factor in the total cost of ownership over three to five years—licences, training, support, and potential downtime.

4. Which One Matches Your Scenario?

Your Situation	Best Bet	Why
Early‑stage startup (1‑3 users) with basic sales & expense tracking, no inventory, and minimal reporting needs	ABSS	Get up and running fast without feature overload
Trading or distribution business and complex inventory	SQL Account	Built for serial‑number & multi‑warehouse tracking and other advanced functions
Service‑based firm needing project profitability reports	ABSS (Job Tracking) or SQL Account (Project Ledger)	Choose based on future growth—SQL offers deeper drill‑downs
You expect transaction volume to double in 2 years	SQL Account	Powered by a modern Firebird SQL engine (vs ABSS’s legacy FoxPro), so it comfortably processes high transaction volumes and large data sets

5. Decision Checklist

Map Your Processes – List must‑have workflows (inventory, multi‑currency, approvals).
Forecast Growth – Will your transaction volume or headcount triple soon?
Evaluate Support – Local partners like Apscom Solutions provide training, custom templates, and ongoing help.
Run a Live Demo – Get hands‑on with real‑life scenarios, not just a generic tour.
Plan for Change Management – Allocate time for staff training and data migration.