RE Bookkeeping Software Suggestions

[April L. Williams]

I have many years experience in accounting, bookkeeping, and doing tax returns for personal/small business. However, I do not have any experience when it comes to real estate accounting, which I know can be an entire different ball of was. I was looking at using QuickBooks Online, which I've used in the past. Does anyone on here have any suggestions as to any bookkeeping software they use and/or if you've used QuickBooks Online for your real estate investments? Since I already use Excel spreadsheets, I was hoping to continue to use my spreadsheets (for the time being) on a cash method system. I only need to track wholesales (which is probably what I'm going to be doing), so it won't be like I'm needing to keep up with rehab projects or anything complex at the moment. And, one more question, if anyone can answer this by chance. I have a significant amount in start-up costs I need to write off, which I know you can only write-off up to $5,000, for which the rest has to be amortized over (I think) 3 years, but I'm just wondering, in the eyes of the IRS, when is an investment business considered to be "up and running" so to speak in which start-up costs are then considered to be expenses on the Schedule C for a single-member LLC? Would the "start up date" of your business be considered the actual start date on your Articles of Organization? And if so, then would "start up costs" be considered anything prior to that start-up date on your A&O?? I tried looking this up with the IRS, but really could not find an answer that was affirmative. Thanks~April