Accounting Programs

[benwebdeveloper]

I am currently working as a full time employee but will soon be self employed aswell. I will be selling digital content i.e. wordpress themes, websites etc. through the website themeforest.net. Are there any accounting software i could use to manage the passive/infrequent income i'll be looking at getting? I won't be having invoices or very many expenditures, it will solely be to manage the income generated and pay tax, VAT etc.

A few ive heard of our solar accounts, accounts portal, free agents central, quickbooks etc.

[MyAccountantOnline]

I am currently working as a full time employee but will soon be self employed aswell. I will be selling digital content i.e. wordpress themes, websites etc. through the website themeforest.net. Are there any accounting software i could use to manage the passive/infrequent income i'll be looking at getting? I won't be having invoices or very many expenditures, it will solely be to manage the income generated and pay tax, VAT etc.

A few ive heard of our solar accounts, accounts portal, free agents central, quickbooks etc.

Hi Ben - do you want an online package and do you have a budget/price limit for the software?

[benwebdeveloper]

I don't really know whats best... I suppose an online one would be great but it isnt essential, as for the budget there isn't really a limit. It'll just be used for me to manage the incomings and outgoings etc..!

[MyAccountantOnline]

I don't really know whats best... I suppose an online one would be great but it isnt essential, as for the budget there isn't really a limit. It'll just be used for me to manage the incomings and outgoings etc..!

The downside I suspect for you with an online package is that it will have so many features which you just wont use. My personal favourite is Accounts Portal http://www.accountsportal.com/ Its one of the cheaper packages but is packed with features and is very user friendly with great support.

An alternative which you may be happy with, bearing in mind your requirements, is something many of my clients use ie VT cashbook - it's free and enables you to simply record payments and receipts and run your VAT returns - http://www.vtsoftware.co.uk/cashbook/index.htm

Do bear in mind if you are going to buy a package ask your accountant if they can get a discount, they often can on various packages.

[David Richards]

Are there any accounting software i could use to manage the passive/infrequent income i'll be looking at getting? I won't be having invoices or very many expenditures, it will solely be to manage the income generated and pay tax, VAT etc.If it's just a simple bookkeeping program that you're after, with no need for invoicing - then you might find one of the free options will do everything you need. VT Cashbook is popular with many regulars here and (shameless plug) our Basics program has proved to be very popular.

[MyAccountantOnline]

If it's just a simple bookkeeping program that you're after, with no need for invoicing - then you might find one of the free options will do everything you need. VT Cashbook is popular with many regulars here and (shameless plug) our Basics program has proved to be very popular.


Nothing wrong with a shameless plug;) I must take another look at it myself when I get a few spare minutes.

[benwebdeveloper]

ok thanks for help.

[Williams lester]

Another vote here for Accounts Portal, an excellent package with plenty of features, and at a low price!

[MyAccountantOnline]

ok thanks for help.

Ben - do let us know how you get on and which one you choose. Good luck:)

[ElliottRoss]

Morning Ben

Have you looked at Brightpearl? It is an online Accounting/CRM solution which is priced very reasonably, from £12 per user, per month for either of those modules.

If you decided you required both, the cost is £20 per user, per month and as the application is integrated, there is no duplication of entry between the modules.

As your business grows, you can add on other parts such as Purchasing, Stock, Project Management, etc as and when the time suits.

If you want any further information, please feel free to PM me or contact me on: 07536 044 949.

Kind Regards
Elliott

[Andrew @ PLA]

Hi Ben ... if your bookkeeping is going to be very basic have you considered just using a spreadsheet package? The advantages are you can bespoke to your our requirements, you can change / add / delete the layout as required and its free.

[Arithmo]

Hi Ben

Please take a look at ww.arithmo.co.uk Our online system is designed for the small business, we offer a 14 day free trial and the premium package only costs £45 per year.

Thanks

[robindunne]

Hi Ben ... if your bookkeeping is going to be very basic have you considered just using a spreadsheet package? The advantages are you can bespoke to your our requirements, you can change / add / delete the layout as required and its free.

Knocking something together in Excel should do the job. If you don't have Excel, Open Office can be downloaded for free - just Google it.

In my past I have delivered training on Excel and will knock something together for you for free if you want, just PM me.

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi Ben ... if your bookkeeping is going to be very basic have you considered just using a spreadsheet package? The advantages are you can bespoke to your our requirements, you can change / add / delete the layout as required and its free.

It's exactly why I recommended VT cashbook - its free but avoids all of the problems associated with records kept on Excel. In my opinion and experience much better than Excel and easier to use.

In the past I used to see clients keeping records on Excel and you'll see columns not added up correctly, figures in different columns, no bank reconciliation etc

[MyAccountantOnline]

Knocking something together in Excel should do the job. If you don't have Excel, Open Office can be downloaded for free - just Google it.

In my past I have delivered training on Excel and will knock something together for you for free if you want, just PM me.

Robin - do have a look at VT cashbook if you havent ever used it yet. Honestly its SO much better than Excel sheets and its free! You'll clients will love it too:)

[robindunne]

I have used VT and do recommend it to my clients. I actually use VT for my account prep.

I just suggested Excel to the OP if they have passed experience of it.

[MyAccountantOnline]

I have used VT and do recommend it to my clients. I actually use VT for my account prep.

I just suggested Excel to the OP if they have passed experience of it.

I didnt think many of us accountants hadnt heard of/used VT!:)

I'd never now recommend Excel I find its just too messy for record keeping when you can use something like VT cashbook, and all of the clients I've recommended it too find it much quicker and easier to use than Excel.

[David Richards]

In the past I used to see clients keeping records on Excel and you'll see columns not added up correctly, figures in different columns, no bank reconciliation etcI agree. I'll re-post something that I've said previously in a similar thread.
There are a number of basic bookeeping applications out there that are free.

A spreadsheet is fine for listing money in and money out, but go beyond that and things can start to get a bit complicated.

Even a simple bookkeeping program helps you keep on top of your cashflow, makes reconciling your bank account easier and over time can give you a really good insight into your business. For example, just being able to easily classify your costs can soon reveal useful things you didn't know.

Investing in a more sophisticated program gives you even more tools to help you with the money side of your business - and can reveal bits of information that can help you grow your business. Of course, working for a software company, you'd expect me to say that. So don't take my word for it, give one of the freebies a go... you might be pleasantly surprised!Obviously, I'd hope that you choose my product, but please... choose anything rather than using Excel!

[David Griffiths]

Knocking something together in Excel should do the job. If you don't have Excel, Open Office can be downloaded for free - just Google it.

In my past I have delivered training on Excel and will knock something together for you for free if you want, just PM me.

"Knocking something together" in Excel is a recipe for disaster. I've seen too many "knocked together" spreadsheets with errors to ever recommend this. Unless the spreadsheet is very tightly controlled (i.e. the antithesis of "knocked together" there will be errors in ranges for additions because rows have been omitted or for other reasons. What's the statistics about the percentage of spreadsheets with errors? 80% plus?

Beyond that, a spreadsheet simply won't give decent financial reporting. Why would you try to knock up something when there are perfectly functional accounts programs available for £90 (Solar) or for £9 - £19 per month (Xero) or even less if you want less functionality?

I've said it before and will say it again - most accounts programs aren't written using Excel. If the experts know that it's not adequate, what makes you think that it is?