spice started this topic @ 16:56 on 27/10/2005
Hi all,
I'm looking for advice regarding accounting/customer management software for one's business. At the moment i run a web design company but i'll be branching into Tourism and Travel in the coming months... selling flights, tours etc.
Do you know of recommended software which could help me manage customers and accounts effectively. I need something that is scalable as i don't want to upgrade in another year or so. My accounting knowledge is pretty basic and so a simple app would suffice. Something that has good customer management for eg i do a search on a customer and it brings up there profile, history as well as amount of money spent with my company. So good reporting is essential. Need invoices created and emailed, faxed... and also incorporates other accounting documents. It would be handy to be able to set up re-occuring invoices as well.
So far i've looked at a few but recommendation is always great. I cam close to ordering the QuickBooks standard but when i tried looking through their forums and demos i couldn't as i had to purchase the product first. That's put me off a bit.
Anyways.. any recommendations would be appreciated!
Thanks!
RE: Accounting Software Advice
James Smith | 27/10/2005 05:43 PM
Spice,
QuickBooks standard is a pretty good package and will (I think!) do everything you have listed there, although you may need to use outlook for some of the customer information. Might be worth ringing the sales line, they are pretty good to confirm it will do everything. MYOB tends to be slightly higher speced, although I don’t use it myself.
Amazon are normally are the cheapest place to buy this from, about £20-30 cheaper than direct from Inuit.
Do however take some time getting it set up right - the more time you spend on this, the more you will be able to get out of it in terms of data for reporting. I do see those clients who let me give them a hand do a lot better than those who struggle through it on their own.
Regards,
------------------------
James Smith
Chartered Accountant
www.jamesesmith.co.uk
01235 536 773
---------------------------
Your indispensable guide to Small Business Bookkeeping, Self-Assessment & VAT
RE: Accounting Software Advice
Jon crossley | 27/10/2005 09:02 PM
Both sage and Quickbooks are a suitable package, both offering customer relationship management programmes, the main problem is the cost of the accounting software, i.e. the ACT programme is circa £100 whereas the accounting package Line 50 basic is £350. I am an accountant who is involved in the Barclays Clearly Business initiative. They currently have an offer to hire the accounting software at £1 per month! Plus you get additional products all in. This could sognificantly reduce the initial investment and they offer both Sage and Quickbooks.
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JonC
RE: Accounting Software Advice
spice | 27/10/2005 09:26 PM
Thanks guys!
Jon, that's interesting... do you know where i can find this info online? Or do i have to call them up?
Follow Up:
Actually i saw it on the site... says it's about £21+VAT though
RE: Accounting Software Advice
James Smith | 28/10/2005 09:09 AM
Thats interesting Jon that you find that worthwhile. I personally have found the Barclays package to be an absolute nightmare.
For one you pay an ongoing monthly fee (as opposed to a one off, which soon gets very expensive), and for two it isn’t fully compatible with the QuickBooks software it has been derived from, so unless you accountant is also using the thing they don’t speak to each other. One of the main advantages of the "regular" QuickBooks package is you can export files from the client and into the accountant version. The client can keep working on their version, and can import back any changes their accountant has made.
The version I am talking are about £150 rrp. The “fuller” packages that retail around £350 are not generally suitable for a start-up business until they have grown quite substantially.
Regards,
------------------------
James Smith
Chartered Accountant
www.jamesesmith.co.uk
01235 536 773
---------------------------
Your indispensable guide to Small Business Bookkeeping, Self-Assessment & VAT
