Accounts software - any recommendations?

[maxine]

I'm looking for accounts software as currently doing everything manually in spreadsheet format although I use software for billing and for CRM and for payroll.

Must be good on Mac and possibly have an app to for iphone or ipad though preferrably it would be web based.

I'm also looking for something that can handle more than one business.

Currently I'm looking at abacus accounts ... has anyone used this?

 

[faradaykeynes]

Paid ones - Xero is good
FREE ones Quickfile is great

 

[kevin.doran]

Clear Books is my system of choice but any of the market leaders will do what you're looking for.

The only thing I'd ever say is perhaps double check with your accountant first as they may have a preference as to what you go for.

 

[KM-Tiger]

On a recommendation from here, now using Accounts Portal.

I took the view that if it works for an accountant to run their own business, it should work for me, and it does. Also inexpensive.

 

[David Griffiths]

I'd add a vote for Xero as that's what I use. As Kevin says, any of the market leaders will work, so take a trial of a couple and see which feels right for you. Xero does have a huge range of independent products that work with it, so that could be a plus.

There are a couple of things that you might want to look at, one of which is user access. Is there an additional charge for more users? Most importantly, does the software have different user access levels so that you can allow somebody to raise sales invoices without having them looking at the profit and loss account, for example?

Don't assume anything. In particular don't assume that if product A has a feature then all of the others will have it. If it's important, check. As you are coming from a spreadsheet, you probably won't have any preconceptions of what to expect, so that makes it important to be clear in what you want

There might be some merit in asking your accountant, but don't put too much emphasis on it. Accountants should be able to work with any package if you give them access. If they can't (won't more likely) don't change the package, change the accountant!

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

On a recommendation from here, now using Accounts Portal.

I took the view that if it works for an accountant to run their own business, it should work for me, and it does. Also inexpensive.

I nearly always recommend Accounts Portal and am an accountant who uses it to run my business

It's a super package, works well, has excellent support, competitively priced and allows multi users.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Another vote for Xero

 

[maxine]

Accounts Portal looks interesting. Does it link to hmrc for payroll and filing accounts does anyone know?

 

[kevin.doran]

Accounts Portal looks interesting. Does it link to hmrc for payroll and filing accounts does anyone know?

Not that i'm aware of. I know it produces VAT reports but i'm not even sure you can file directly. Nor does it handle the likes of indicative CT calculations or amounts available for divi.

I don't disagree it's a good system and it's certainly user friendly, i'd just say it's perhaps a bit behind some of the others in terms of features. Pricing is good though.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Accounts Portal looks interesting. Does it link to hmrc for payroll and filing accounts does anyone know?

No it doesnt.

 

[PyronoxLtd]

There is also Free-Agent.... Although you would have to set up multiple accounts for more than one company and its not free.

I use it, but am not VAT registered (nor do I use it for Payroll), so perhaps someone else who may use it can comment on those features of it.

Does anyone else use it?

 

[Maslins]

FreeAgent does indeed help with payroll filing (and VAT). Think it's currently the only one of the cloud bookkeeping packages to have built in payroll but might be wrong on that. Many do VAT these days.

As for statutory accounts/CT returns, afraid not. Might be able to in the future though, the technology's always improving.

 

[Barba]

Has anyone given Wave a go?

 

[Scalloway]

I did give it a try. It is ok for basic stuff. The problem I found was that the chart of accounts was inflexible - it has a US bias and there isn't much you can do to customise it. I'm not sure if it can deal with VAT properly.

 

[James.C]

I've heard KashFlow is decent as is Liquid.

 

[neildigital]

I have used Kashflow for 5 years, and now have 2 companies running it.
Does all my VAT returns and connects with my PAYE system.

and just to throw the referral in, if you choose it, please use this code as I get £2 for the referral:
http://bit.ly/lGyqll
Code: AFF2102098

 

[sajiepaj]

Another vote for kashflow here - very intuitive and easy to use and has payroll included on the top plan which is still only £15/ month. Also has an app - pretty basic but you can create invoices with it.

 

[Mike Conroy]

I use a few packages depending on my clients needs as i try to automate the book-keeping as much as possible sometimes upto 95%. sometimes add-ons are required to achive this.
1. freeagent
2. xero
3. kashflow
4. clearbooks