[SLL] Accounting/POS Software

[Phil Hughes]

This post is inspired by looking at all too much free software, most of
which does more than what I want but not quite the way I need it. I have
actually found some pretty amazing stuff out there such as webERP. But, with
900 more packages to look at/try (and an urge to just write it myself), I
figured it was worth a post here.

As some of you know, I am creating an Eco-Tourism facility (which I like to
call the Geek Ranch) in Nicaragua. (http://www.ctpni.com will give you some
of the basics. That's mostly BS right now but it is evolving.) The facility
we have the following pieces:
 * Restaurant and bar
 * Conference room
 * Business center (computers, fax, copier, ...)
 * Hotel rooms
 * Long-term (geek) rental rooms
 * Small retail sales (coffee, t-shirts, tooth brush, ...)
What I am looking for is a POS and accounting system for the facility. They
don't necessarily have to be the same system--I am perfectly happy if a
daily restaurant/bar summary has to be manually entered into the accounting
system, for example. But, here are some other "catches":
 * Dealing with multiple currencies is a plus. It is pretty common for
people to pay in US$ and/or Nicaraguan Cordobas.
 * Being in Spanish is mandatory. This could mean a language choice
(English/Spanish) or either just Spanish or an easy way to convert what
exists into Spanish.
 * Credit card interface is desirable.
 * Need I mention, must run on Linux? :-)
 * A web-based system seems desirable because people will be more
comfortable with a web browser than anything else.

What it doesn't need to do is generate typical US-ish tax reports. What we
need to report is different and very simple. So, while balance sheets and
such are desirable, a lot of funny tax stuff is not needed.

I am pretty open to what you might call a core system. Something that
"knows" accounting that you can connect to with stuff you write.

-- 
Phil Hughes
nicafyl at gmail.com -- phil at ctpni.com