Qucickbooks is usually the most cost effective and most user friendly software. However, with user friendly comes some things that drive me crazy - you can change or delete transactions easily. It is also easy to get a transaction messed up if you do not process it right. Reporting is minimally customizable.

Sage 50 (used to be Peachtree) usually costs a little more, but it is a true accounting package. It has a good audit trail and is a more robust package, but if you did not have a background in accounting, it is not as user friendly. You have to change periods to post transactions, you cannot delete transactions - you would have to post journal entries (JE) to correct the transactions. Ideally, you would have to know debits and credits.

There are other programs, but these are the 2 main ones.

Let me know if you have other questions on the programs.