Does anyone use Xero accounting

[GaynorM]

Hi
I am thinking to change from Sage to Xero accounting. Does anyone have experience in Xero and and anyone had experience in changing from Sage to Xero?
Sage is good but for my small business I seem to spend more time on paperwork than I should do.

What should I do?

 

[faradaykeynes]

which sage are you using?

Xero is OK, make sure it fulfills your requirement, try for free first

If you are spending too much time of paper work, perhaps hire a book keeper

 

[GaynorM]

which sage are you using?

Xero is OK, make sure it fulfills your requirement, try for free first

If you are spending too much time of paper work, perhaps hire a book keeper

thanks for your reply. My problem is that my company is vat reg etc in the UK where my distribution is done, but I live overseas and nobody here is familiar with the UK system. At present I am doing everything on excel as a X reference to my invoices etc AND inputting it into sage. I can do most of it but when it comes to credit notes etc calling my accountant I am made to feel Im bothering her and on top of this paying silly money for the privilege, end result it that I don't bother asking (except on here where people are great ) but am finding that my accounts are dragging me down, where I could be out there bringing in sales.
Oh and it took them (they are a large firm) just over 3 weeks to only check my accounts (against my bank statement and paypal account) to reconcile so I can do my vat returns. FED UP!

 

[faradaykeynes]

yes Xero and sage can handle vat return, credit notes etc all book keeping things for you.

Or Alternatively

Use NCH invoicing software to handle invoices, receipts and credit notes and Excel to list down your expenses and income

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

We have many clients using Xero - we include Xero in our fees:

http://www.cheapaccounting.co.uk/xero

I can put you in touch with our Karen who can help on some Xero questions if that helps?

 

[David Griffiths]

We've converted a number of clients from Sage to Xero - we can set up the chart of accounts in Xero with the same numbers as Sage, so you won't have to get used to new account codes

It won't take three weeks to reconcile Xero against your bank - the bank feeds mean that it's always up to date.

Xero is way more user friendly than is Sage. It's a modern design from the word go - the basic structure in Sage dates back to the 1980s and it doesn't bear comparison with modern systems

 

[Figurate]

thanks for your reply. My problem is that my company is vat reg etc in the UK where my distribution is done, but I live overseas and nobody here is familiar with the UK system. At present I am doing everything on excel as a X reference to my invoices etc AND inputting it into sage. I can do most of it but when it comes to credit notes etc calling my accountant I am made to feel Im bothering her and on top of this paying silly money for the privilege, end result it that I don't bother asking (except on here where people are great ) but am finding that my accounts are dragging me down, where I could be out there bringing in sales.
Oh and it took them (they are a large firm) just over 3 weeks to only check my accounts (against my bank statement and paypal account) to reconcile so I can do my vat returns. FED UP!

It sounds like you are doubling up on your data-input, which is never a good thing - it's time consuming and prone to errors. As David has said, it does not take three weeks to produce a VAT return on Xero. (but in fairness, it shouldn't take 3 weeks on any software, Sage included)

I also help people to convert from Sage to Xero (either with/without their existing Sage chart of accounts)

I find the bank reconciliation on Xero particularly satisfying (and you can set up "rules" for frequent/regular transactions, and it also helps you by suggesting matches)

 

[Krash]

Xero is a fantastic accounting system.

The two others worth looking at are freeagent and kashflow.

Sage is awful.

 

[Adrian Pearson]

I have been a user of Xero since 2008 and my old accountancy practice now has over 120 clients converted to Xero - many from Sage.

My advice is to just go for it. You'll never look back.

There is also now a cost-effective Sage to Xero conversion service out there, which takes the pain away from the transfer and can get the job done in 30 minutes or less

 

[WatsonPalmer]

I use Sage 50 Professional and I prefer it to Xero (which I also like), having given Xero a really good long trial. None of my bookkeeping clients were interested in seeing their accounts online, and if you use Xero the costs really start to mount up unless the client is happy to pay for his licence.

I also prefer the Sage 50 interface - and no, I do not work for Sage!