Why don't you use it?

[DuaneJackson]

I thought I'd better post this in offers as it will be seen as advertising, but it's actually market research.

You guys are all my market for KashFlow, the accounting package advertised to the right of he screen.

Those that haven't looked at it yet, can you tell me why you haven't? Is it becuase you're 100% happy with your current methods/package? That you don't want the hassle of changing to a new system? That you don't have time to address the mess your accounts are currently in? Or some other reason.

For those of you that have looked at the site, why did you not sign up for the trial?

For this that did sign up for the trial, I hope you like it : )

Please be as honest as you can in your replies. My skin is thick.

[crus]

Hi Duane,

I love the product, but have perciviered with Sage and for the moment it is satisfactory for what I do. I would recommend anyone else who preps all their stuuf to look at the system as Sage has been a real pain and taken a while to get right.

D

[bwglaw]

Ready...got your thick skin on?

1. We have a book-keeper
2. We think £149/year is pricey, when you can get Quickens for less and unlimited use.
3. Don't need to access accounts (other than bank) online
4. We are security conscious
5. We don't want all our systems to be dependant on the Internet in the event of breakdown etc
6. It appears to be aimed at those who do not employ a book-keeper or are a very small business.

Hope you find the above constructive and not a criticism of the product which I have not signed up to

[MarkPearson]

Hi Duane,

It is something I am interested in, but not now as I am too busy!

I have only looked at your main page of the site and planned on returning when I'm less busy (march maybe)

So my reason is time.

[Jayne]

I use a hard backed double entry book and pen (only £35), bit old fashioned I know, but it's easy and it doesn't matter if my computer blows up :D

Jayne

[clairemackaness]

Like Jayne, I use a cash book and excel

[cjd]

We use Money, some home grown software, an old fashioned clerk and a very good accountant.

Like our entire business, accounting is almost totally integrated in our computing platform so accounting requirements compared to the size of our business are relatively slight.

Our choice of any new software is likley to be on the recommendation of our accountant, rather than our own decision.

For that reason, if I was trying to market your product, I would be looking to reach the 'influencers' - primarily small business accountants, bursors and business support managers - as well as the end user.

[DuaneJackson]

Thanks guys, this is all useful stuff.

[autolycus]

Hi,

Similar reasons to everyone else really:

1. We have already spent the money to purchase Quickbooks
2. We have a book-keeper who understands and likes QB
3. We have an accountant who undersatnds and likes QB
4. It ain't broke so we ain't trying to fix it :wink:

If, however, I were having to do all the book-keeping myself then I would probably take a look at what you are offering, especially as I would then probably find it helpful to be able to access the accounts from various locations rather than just in our office.

HTH
Dave.

[gapgb]

I use an excel based system that my accountant gave me for free. It's simple but is good enough for my needs.

[confused]

Hi,

I have been using it and quite like it apart from the search which I have mentioned to Duane, the changes on the recent update were very useful in the whole.

Regarding Handsongroups responce, I like it for almost the opposite reasons!

1. I have no book kepper
2. OK, yes it is a bit steep
3. I DO like to access it online, in fact that is a major plus for me, that way if I get a call at weekend or the evening I can keep it all up to date (I work from a shop and home so online is ideal)
4. The security is enough for me, all I have is peoples names, addresses and work done etc, nothing more personal.
5. Fair point, if I lost net connection or the servers went doen it would cause a short term problem, but IMO the chances of this are pretty slim, and if my main connection went at either location, theres always good old dialup (havnt tested it on dial up to check the speed)
6. I am a small business, a concern is however, what happens in the future, might be something to think about -"Cashflow +" or something.

All in all I like it and would reccomend it, and will 99% probably keep using it after my trial, but as mentioned, the search facility really needs improving still and this will be the "make or break" for me I think as I do struggle with it at the moment, also where we now have an alphabet, a "show all" would be cool also at times.

CALV

[Alpha]

I don't think it is perceived as advertising Duane just market research hence I've moved it :D

[Coding Monkey]

I remember first looking at your website and thinking "what actually is it?". Way too much text, and all those buttons at the top that I had to look for. After looking (briefly) at your site the first time, I was going to ask whether it was Mac supported, until finally realising it was an online application. I see you've changed things around now.

As for my reasons in not using your product, I have a book keeper, which I'd rather pay than doing it myself.

[caroline]

Hi Duane
I have signed up for the free trial. I already have Sage but I can't get to grips with it at all. I like your system as its so simple and easy to use. Having said that I haven't actually had time to input anything as I've been so busy!! Thankfully I have a nice accountant who helps me out :wink:

[multilingual]

I have tried different accounting packages and always returned to a simple excel programme.

I don't have the time to learn anything new and my accountant is happy with what I am doing.

If it aint broke....etc

JB

[DuaneJackson]

"if it aint broke..."

This is one the has cropped up quite a bit, and I guess there's little I can do abotu that besides go and break your systems : )

Your comments are interesting Tom, I think I do need to make it obvious it's Mac compatible - but I don't want to overplay the 'online' aspect at first as it puts some people off - but once they try it they're not that concerned anymore. Do youthink the navigation links are still in the wrong place... that's something I only realised the other day. I think I may move them closer to the content.


Regarding the price - we get an even mix of response, some saying it's expensive, others that it's dirt cheap. Thisleads me to think it must be spot on.

We're introducing Sage compatibility at some point v. soon, we'll then be approaching accountants with it, as Colin suggests.

The other influencers, such as Business Advisors have been a hard one to reach, primarily becuae we were unheard of and lacked credibility becuase of that. I'vejust sold half the business to Lord Young, former chairmanof Cable & Wireless and former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, we'll be making a big PR song and dance about this that I hope will address credibility issues.

As part of my marketting plan we'll be spending a lot of time and money on educating the business advisors.

Jayne and Claire, do you think you could be convinced of the benefits of using this over a manual system? IE, indepth analysis of your figures, automatic calculation of VAT, etc?

I'm thinking of listing common objections on the site and rebutting them. The problem is I don't want to list possible objections to people that don't already object - it'd be like planting a seed of doubt in their mind. Not sure how best to do this yet.

Regarding the online aspect. It's a lot more likely that you will have a problem with your PC or internet connection or security at the office than we would have a problem with servers, conectivity or security of servers.

Anyway, thanks all for your feedback, it's been very useful. I'm bookmarking this thread so I can come back to your comments again later on to think better how to address them.

[Jayne]

Not yet Duane, would be a waste of money at the moment for me, don't need it for the bakery as we are selling and my other two new biz, there isn't much bookwork to do for them.

And most computer stuff is a pain in the bum, at least with a book I can use tipex and don't have to ask a techy how to do it :lol:

Jayne

[multilingual]

Jayne,

There is a little button on the top right hand corner of your keyboard with 'delete' written on it. It is quite easy to use once you get the hang of it. :P

JB

[DuaneJackson]

Yep, delete button works better on the screen than tipex!

[Ozzy]

Hi Duane,
I use Sage for the following reasons...
1. I have a book keeper.
2. It was recommended by my accountant.
3. My accountant can log into it from his office, which is important considering he is also my Finance Director.
4. It links in with the bank account and BACS facilities.
5. It has 3 years of accounting history in it.

I'm open minded to looking at alternatives that could perhaps be linked into my online systems aswell as dealing with the above.

My advice would be to look at getting your product in front of accountants, and this is something you and I have already discussed...plus I have also had a few other ideas also.

How good is your product at allowing accountants and their clients to share data and provide the tools the accountant would need at the year end? Maybe look at gearing an "accountant link" like Sage does?

Also, some of you who have concerns about this application being online may not be aware that you soon will not be able to buy Sage in the shops as they are about to launch their "online only" application which runs from a web site.

[Rob Holmes]

Duane - one thing that nearly stopped me is the lack of ability to backup and restore my account.

That said I still went for it and have found it absolutely transformational.

Wierd to say but our business has grown because of Kashflow.

Rob

[Pebble Communications]

I must admit I was tempted when I looked at the site but the thing that bothers me is perhaps it is a little bit TOO basic? You emphasise that so much that I end up wondering if it will actually do everything I need?

I am currently considering QuickBooks and again, the fact that it would be easy to coordinate with my accountant, who uses QuickBooks, is a plus point. Is your programme compatible with main accounting software?

Fiona Bailey
www.pebblecommunications.co.uk

[Coding Monkey]

Duane, I think it'd greatly help if you move them just above <form name="frmCustNav">

I would also move the login box slightly, so that the main thing on the page is telling the non-user about the benefits of what you can offer. I want to know what it is, how it works, and how it will benefit me.

I'd always use a computer system over paper, but, even though your system is far cheaper than my book keeper, I'd rather pay them to save myself the time on the off chance I screw something up. So, based on that, you might want to emphasis users who, like Rob, mention their increase in turnover and how much time it might have saved them. Also, just how simple it is. You do somewhat dabble in this, but you could greatly enhance it by using buzzwords instead of sentences, for example, saying it's easy/simplistic/SomeWordACopywriterSays to use instead of being "in direct response to the fact that most small businesses found existing accounting products to complicated to use."

Final point, if I knew I would not only save money, but make money from your product, what more can I possibly ask for? You don't need to state it as a guarantee - just show me the results of others, and make it prominant.