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Which software?

  • Member PM.Dip
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  • # 53983

Hi - I'm newly qualified though have been working in accounting for a while. I've just set up my own bookkeeping practice but am a bit overwhelmed by all the software available. I trained on Sage but am a bit constrained budget-wise so don't know whether to dive in and buy that straight away (which package?) or go for something cheaper like Quickbooks (again which package?). I've spoken to local accountants who seem to use both of these, plus many others and then they started talking about all the on-line options like Cashflow, Clearbooks, Xero, Sageone etc. I'm so confused I've spent the weekend pathetically dithering and not getting anywhere! I only have one client at the moment and his books can be done easily on spreadsheets. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

  • 180 posts
  • # 53985

I have never used Sage - put off by cost constraints, which may also be of relevance to having not used online software.

My preference has been Quickbooks which I have been using for at least twelve years. I am still using QB 2006 pro which generally serves me well although they have stopped supporting this now. The only problems I have found is using it (QB2006pro) with Windows 7 - it does work but with a couple of minor operational isssues which I have overcome.

I may upgrade to QB2010 pro sooner rather than later.

QB is low cost and you own the product. It can be  paid for in monthly instalments of around £21 per  month - I think that excludes VAT and is for the download version. The box package is more.

I bought my current version on eBay. If you go that route look out for (and obviously avoid) counterfeit copies. Also note that quite a few of the eBay sales are for the USA versions. Sellers say it can be used in UK - but you dont get the UK support.

Hope this helps, I suppose the bottom line is "horses for courses".

  • Fellow PM.Dip
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  • 10 posts
  • # 53986

Hi Kirsten

I find Solar Accounts really great to use. Slight bit of getting used to after Sage but brilliant and flexible to use. Great help forum which is worth a look with replies by what seems to be the owner with an accountancy background. Handles Flat Rate Scheme for VAT really well. Costs £124 + VAT and you can set up unlimited companies - great for the small bookkeeper with a few clients to process. And you get a 60 day free trial so if you don't like it throw it away! I wouldn't be without it.

Good luck

  • 698 posts
  • # 53988

Hi Kristren

Like Geoff I opted to go down the route of Quickbooks when I first started out as it was more cost effective than sage with regards to multi company licences.

Things may have moved on a bit as I beleieve sage now operate a bookkeepers club which offers good discounts to bookkeepers.

I also have used clients to fund software i.e. when a client wanted me to use sage i said ok but you are going to have to supply a licence to me and over the years I have done pretty well getting clients to fund the cost of theior own bookkeeping software.

The most important thing is how quickly you pick up new software Kristen as remember time is money so it's no use saving in the short term if it going to cost you in processing time int he medium.

I hope this of some help.

  • Member PM.Dip
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  • # 53994

Thanks everyone for the advice. Have also heard good things about Solar so will look at that and Quickbooks again. Nice to know the forum works as it's my first post!

  • Companion Fellow PM.Dip
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  • # 53997

Hi

I have taken the route of Sage.  I know maybe not a popular choice but all my clients use sage and it is the first thing they ask for, so I have the client manager and payroll bureau  which easily pays for itself.

 Whilst Sage maybe over cubersome to some , it depends on the amount of modules your client needs and uses.  All of mine use sage as a database, Invoicing .Sales Order, Purchase Orders , Quotes,  Stock system , Project Costing. CIS .  I feel the more modules you use the better sage is.  Excel is very rarely used only as an exporting tool to improve some reports.  Sage are working very hard with user groups to improve their P&L and Balance Sheet Reports and having been at a user group, the changes look good.

Saying that I think you should use whatever software your client whats after all they are the  customer.  I recently have come across a few clients who seemed convinced they can you use Kashflow even though they have not got the skills.  I am not sure how it is sold , but the reports have driven me mad.   I appreciate that view about Kashflow is a personal one but the experience has scared me for life.   I do think if a client asks you to deal with a software that you are not use to, you should always be open to new porducts.

 I changed over to Apple a few years back as have about 50% of clients, again this has brought me more add on Business.

Edited at 24 Jan 2011 11:28 AM GMT

  • 273 posts
  • # 54004

Hi Kirsten

Just started using VT+ on trial and loving it so far- after years of sage (and more recently TAS Books which I have found frustrating)

I've found VT+ to be so in favour of bookkeepers and its cheap and unlimited clients :-)
They have a 60 day trial so you can play about if you like first.

Someone mentioned using what your clients have got - might be as well trying online teamviewer.com if you come across that when you can access their computer remotely.




  • Member PM.Dip
  • 113 posts
  • # 54006

Stuart Wildman said:


Things may have moved on a bit as I beleieve sage now operate a bookkeepers club which offers good discounts to bookkeepers.




Hi Stuart, 

Sage have recently dropped the Bookkeepers Club and moved members to the Accounts Club once the renewal is due. They're currently asking £750 for a 25 client copy.

I also use VT+ for some of my  clients and will look to use it more, given the recent changes made by Sage.

  • Companion Fellow PM.Dip
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  • # 54009

Hi Tony 

I am getting my Payroll bureau as well as my up todate software.  The accountants club also includes SageOne the accounts version  as part of that package.  I think it pays for itself based on my above comment if you are using all the modules.   

  • Member PM.Dip
  • 113 posts
  • # 54053

Hi Sarah
 
What do you think of Sage One pricing? I appreciate  A.C members get the multi client access for free. But Sage still bills the member for use of the software on the "client side", as I'm sure you know £60 or £120 a year per client.

By all means tell me to mind my own business, I'm not easily offended Wink, but what's your opinion on passing the costs onto clients or absorbing it yourself. 

  • Companion Fellow PM.Dip
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  • # 54069

Hi Tony 

This is an interesting question because I am in two camps on this one.  There is the view that if your client wants you to use sage then they should pay for it, and then there is the view that it would be a bit like a builder charging for his tools. 

With regards to Sage One I plan to tell my clients that I now have this available.  I have a few clients in aberfoyle which is quite a bit away. And I know they would love this , I would give them them the option .  I am happy enough to take the cost on the normal sage for clients but I think I will demo this too my clients and let them know how much it would be .  If sage one became the norm then I might change my view . 

I know sage is an expensive software , and I always like to have the latest software.   I decided long ago that the money was in sage and in recent years Apple products,  loads of people give out about both.  but I am heavily involved in  training and there are business that are very happy with what they use.  It a bit like trip advisor you tend to see the bad reviews. 

  I spend about £1,800 each year on software which includes cover for all the packages . Payroll Bureu , Sage line 50 25 companies , Payroll 50 companies , Financial Controller , SageOne .  CIS Module , SAP and CT Sage  and the most up to date Microsoft Office and Apple software .  On top of that , I would save about £640 a year for a new computers every two years . I would also spend about £300 on training learning something new each year . This all works out about £228 a month.

 I have built my practice reputation on been very up to date and that is how I built my own business up , hopefully I am not doing to much wrong as I got short listed as Best Bookkeeping Practice 2009 at the ICB Conference .  I got all the companies including Sage to D/D all my bills monthly.  Its like having my own IT person but without the cost of an IT person.   This has put me the position of having good large based clients which suit me as I am Mum and I want to drop my boy and pick him up from school.  
 
 I mix it up a bit, the larger clients who gives me regular work expect me to be very up to date with the software.  I will invoice them for the licence , half of them offer and the other half I asked and there has been no problem.  The smaller jobs that we get in like once a month , 3 months  , Once a year jobs their hourly rate is much higher so they are paying for it as I take account of it in my costings. 

I sure most people will think I am mad,  but I want to enjoy work.  Considering the Market and the amount of people losing their jobs.  I am very happy to have a profitable practice and and to have good set of employees. 








Edited at 28 Jan 2011 07:58 AM GMT

  • Member PM.Dip
  • 113 posts
  • # 54077

Thanks for a very candid post, Sarah. I doubt anyone who's built a successful practice can be considered mad. The fact you've chosen to stick with the Sage product range gives food for thought.

I'm disappointed that Sage One has been released without any import facility, I have a very real need for cloud computing and want to migrate 4 of my clients away from Line 50. Even if I could only import  Sales and Purchase Account details it would have been a "deal maker".

How do you find Sage on a Mac and Mac's in general? - I'm seriously considering switching from Windows for security reasons? 

  • Companion Fellow PM.Dip
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  • # 54081

Hi 

I sure it won,t be long before sage sort it out.  This will be like the first Iphone they are wanting to get into the cloud market .  You could consider at the moment using Go to my Pc which is really good for macs and Pcs .  I use this for a lot of my clients it really is very good.

I love using the mac .  Sage is a windows package so I use Vmare so windows is like a window of your mac but a different virtual machine, no rebooting and it also allows me the best of both worlds .  A lot of my clients use macs so I thought it was time to learn .  I never liked outlook or word.  I love apple for presentations , every thing just looks a bit more professional.  I think the market will open up even sage has an app for the iphone and other companies will eventually.  The cloud will help macs enormously.

 There is a whole new generation using apple now so I think more things will get developed good thing to come I think.  My point is above was not just about sage, I keep a close eye on what is happening.  Sage will either sort themselves out or they could find other firms taking them over, after all Apple is now bigger than Microsoft

  I personally do not think people put enough budget towards their IT .  You need to keep yourself fresh and up to date,  so many softwares have moved on .  I actually the sage 2011 there has been a lot of improvements, but then if your not willing to train or budget for your own training , then loads of softwares could be faulted.  I remember when excel came out and took over lotus , some people argue to this day that lotus was a better spreadsheet.




Edited at 28 Jan 2011 08:30 AM GMT

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