CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture Review

We evaluate every farm accounting software we review using a specialized rubric that covers criteria essential for agricultural accounting. This approach allows us to create accurate and well-researched reviews and provide customized recommendations based on the unique accounting needs of farmers. By using this methodology, we are able to commit to the Fit Small Business Editorial Policy—which is to provide the best answers to people’s questions.

CenterPoint Accounting has a comprehensive set of farm-specific accounting features, earning a perfect score in the farm features category. Its general accounting features are also commendable, though it has a few weaknesses, such as the inability to create recurring invoices and connect to bank accounts.

It doesn’t do well in terms of pricing as the cost details aren’t provided on the website, implying that it might be expensive. Wave can be a great free alternative if you only need basic income and expense tracking. Further, if you need something that is easier to use, then you should consider QuickBooks Online or Wave.

You can find all your transactions from the Processes menu on the CenterPoint homepage. Each transaction form has its own fields, but you’ll notice some similar features. For instance, in every transaction, you’ll need to select a company, pick a bank account, and choose a vendor or customer. CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture uses a lookup control for entering transactions. Click on the magnifying glass option, and the following screen will appear:

Lookup control when entering transactions (Source: Red Wing Software)

From the screen above, you can either choose an existing item or click the new button to enter a new company.

A standard A/R system is included in your standard subscription, and it’s designed for farmers with basic invoicing and receivable needs. You can use it to enter receipt transactions, enter an unpaid sales invoice, email customer invoices, add and email customer billing statements, and email or print invoices. Customer invoices can be quickly recorded on a single-tab consolidated entry form, as shown below:

Customer invoice form in CenterPoint (Source: Red Wing Software)

If you need complex invoicing functions, such as the ability to create detailed billing statements, calculate sales tax and commissions, and create in-depth reports, CenterPoint offers an advanced A/R module add-on. The advanced A/R module allows you to use the other add-ons, such as the inventory module, sales order (SO) module, and purchase order (PO) module.

Customer invoices in CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as those in QuickBooks Online, but they’re decent enough for farm invoicing. Also, there’s no option for creating recurring invoices, which is a time-saving feature for those who have customers paying for regular services.

The A/P module allows you to manage your expenses and purchases efficiently. You can enter a payment without an invoice―record handwritten checks or quick checks―set up recurring transactions, use credit cards for payments, record community wages, and void a check or payment transaction.

You can also enter an unpaid vendor invoice, set up payment reminders, and print checks when you’re ready to pay. Entering a vendor invoice in CenterPoint Accounting is similar to entering a cash payment, but an A/P account is credited instead of cash:

Sample vendor invoice in CenterPoint (Source: Red Wing Software)

If you have routine recurring transactions, like utility bills, rent payments, and a monthly software subscription, you can benefit from CenterPoint’s recurring features. When you set up recurring transactions, you don’t have to reenter the same details every time you make a transaction.

There are two ways to set up recurring transactions in CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture. You can either process an individual recurring transaction or process bulk transactions at once.

From a normal transaction, click on the Recurring Transaction button on the transaction form, mark a checkbox next to the transaction, and then click Select:

Select a recurring transaction (Source: Red Wing Software)

CenterPoint Accounting’s PO module allows you to create POs for your vendors and track seller information, items being purchased, and delivery dates. If you already have the inventory module, you can add both inventory and noninventory items to the same PO. The vendor’s balance won’t adjust until you receive the item.

To create a new PO, click on the Purchases menu under Processes, choose Purchase Orders, and then tap the New button. You’ll be asked to provide details, such as the vendor, your company address, and your shipping method:

Purchase Order form in CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture (Source: Red Wing Software)

This enables you to convert quotes into customer orders as well as print quotes, orders, and packing slips. It helps you track quotes and orders placed by your customers. Once the goods or services have been delivered to the customer, the fill and invoice process deducts the items from inventory automatically, and an invoice is prepared to bill the customer. You can customize quotes and orders using the forms designer within the software.

To record a sales order, click on the Purchases menu under Processes, choose Sales Orders, and click New. From the Sales Orders screen, you need to provide information, including the customer and the destination of the item:

Sales order form in CenterPoint (Source: Red Wing Software)

Transactions recorded in CenterPoint Accounting can be reconciled to your bank statement. From the reconciliation screen, click on the checkmark next to the transaction that has cleared the bank. Make sure that the cleared checks in CenterPoint match the total checks cleared on your bank statement:

Bank reconciliation screen in CenterPoint (Source: Red Wing Software)

CenterPoint Accounting allows you to write and print a check. The program enables you to print your checks at the time you record your transaction. If necessary, you can also print multiple checks as well as email and resend multiple checks. When printing checks, you’ll be assigned a default check number sequence. Choose the first check number and CenterPoint will continue with the next number accordingly.

CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture has powerful budgeting and forecasting tools that allow you to create “what if” scenarios out of detailed financial information. This means that you can project future sales, income statements, cash flow, and assets and liabilities. You can also compare “what if” budgets and actual and projected figures in the future. This feature is extremely helpful if you’re planning to expand your farm business.

CenterPoint Accounting integrates with CenterPoint Payroll to help you streamline your payroll transactions. The system supports an unlimited number of employees and companies, and it includes e-filing options for payroll taxes. CenterPoint Payroll is an optional module that’s purchased separately.

If you have one or two employees and have no regular deductions like child support or health insurance, you can use the Payments form to pay your employees. With this basic payroll processing, you can process paychecks for your employees, record the amounts needed for your 941 or 943 deposit, and generate W-2s.

CenterPoint Accounting has a Payroll Summary Journal that reports the information generated after checks for employees are printed. This report can be a useful tool to help you complete 941 or 943 forms and pay your taxes:

Payroll summary journal in CenterPoint (Source: Red Wing Software)

You can scan and attach receipts or other documents to your transaction, if necessary. You can download your files from your computer or attach the documents with one-click scanning. Files can be attached to POs, sales orders, payments, vendor invoices, customer invoices, and journal entries.

CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture includes a good selection of reports, including financial statements, balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. You can also generate reports in different categories, such as production reports, audit reports, fixed asset reports, transaction reports, and payroll reports. CenterPoint runs reports on a cash basis, such as cash income statements and cash balance sheets.

The standard CenterPoint Accounting inventory system allows you to track the cost and value of your farm inventory and maintain up to two quantities in different units of measurement for each commodity. If you need advanced inventory for an unlimited number of prices for each item, you need to purchase the inventory module. This module allows you to track inventory in multiple locations while making sure that your inventory reports and general ledger (GL) reports match.

When you have the inventory module, you can adjust inventory costs without adjusting quantities. For last-in, first-out (LIFO) and first-in, first-out (FIFO) valuations, including Serial and Lotted Inventory, you can choose the cost layers that you want to adjust. For Average Cost valuations, you can adjust the cost even without entering any quantities.

To make an adjustment to an inventory cost, click on Processes, choose Inventory, and then select Adjust Inventory Cost. The Adjust Inventory Cost form will require you to fill in some information, such as the company that the adjustment is for, the inventory account, and the adjustment date:

Adjusting inventory cost in CenterPoint (Source: Red Wing Software)

The production analysis tool provides a way to perform profitability comparisons on the individual areas of your farm operation. For instance, you can use it to track which fields and crops are the most profitable or analyze activity by lease agreements to understand the profitability of rented ground.

For a more visual comparison of your production detail, the system uses geospatial maps that are stored in your production centers. These are maps of your farm that are defined when setting up your production center detail or production center.

The maps include legends and color variations to represent production details. This means that when you view your fields by crops, you’ll see different colors representing each crop, which gives you a more accurate picture of your production. You can import maps from a third-party program, such as Shape Files or John Deere, or draw within CenterPoint using your mouse.

The ratios module helps you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your farm. The program includes a wide variety of standard ratios, including current ratio, gross profit ratio, A/R turnover ratio, and debt-to-equity ratio. All ratios are supported by a powerful drill-down capability so that you can see the numbers behind the indicators, giving you a more comprehensive analysis of your farm business.

You can view the graphs in different formats, such as tables, charts, and 3D graphics. CenterPoint has a huge variety of industry-standard ratios to calculate the final analysis patterns of your farm business.

To prepare a ratio, click on the Ratios tab under Reporting Tools. Select the company and date range, and pick the frequency you want to show on the X-axis of the ratio or index:

Preparing a ratio in CenterPoint (Source: Red Wing Software)

The management accounting module lets you track income and expenses on an actual cost basis rather than an accrual basis. Farm managers can use this module to analyze their farm business costs from each crop produced, activity, equipment, and other elements related to their farm. It allows you to evaluate expenses and revenues based on certain metrics, including acres, pounds, bushels, animals, or other units.

Larger farmers can set up profit centers and cost centers according to specific elements of their farm, helping them dive into their crop or livestock production segments and compare year to year.

Yes, a business owner could use the program to keep their books, but we believe an in-house bookkeeper will be better at harnessing the full potential of CenterPoint.

Yes, the provider charges an additional fee for the hosted version. Prices vary depending on the number of users you have.

No, it isn’t. You need to contact the provider to request a customized quote since the CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Yes, it is. You’ll access the same features, whether it’s locally installed or run in the cloud.