Kashflow - Is It For Me?

[ant_8u]

Hi Guys

I'm looking for an accounts package and would like to know what you'd recommend to me

I own a fish and chip shop

I therefore have numerous cash sales per day

I do not use credit card machines yet, but will do soon

I only have a handful of suppliers

And spend money on few other things (stationary and repairs etc....)

I've heard good things about Kashflow and would like to know it it's suitable for my needs, or is there something else I should be looking at?

Thanks
Ant

 

[gouldie0]

Hi Ant,

I would take a look for yourself, Kashflow offer a free no obligation 30 day trial and it's the best way for you to see how the system actually works. At roughly £15 per month it's not too expensive but there are other options for you to consider.

There's:

- Solar
- Accounts Portal


Do you have an accountant and what accounts package do they use?

Kind Regards

Neil

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi Guys

I'm looking for an accounts package and would like to know what you'd recommend to me

I own a fish and chip shop

I therefore have numerous cash sales per day

I do not use credit card machines yet, but will do soon

I only have a handful of suppliers

And spend money on few other things (stationary and repairs etc....)

I've heard good things about Kashflow and would like to know it it's suitable for my needs, or is there something else I should be looking at?

Thanks
Ant

Hi Ant

I dont actually use Kashflow myself but its certainly very popular and you'll loose nothing by trying it.

It really depends what you want from an accounting package and how much time you want to spend keeping your records.

If you use an accountant I would definately recommend speaking with them before making a decision - it's really helpful to work with a package they are familiar with, and use (it can reduce your fees) and some accountants can obtain discounts for you.

Maybe if you were to set out what you want a few Kashflow users could help you decide, and if appropriate others could offer packages which may be more suitable.

 

[gavcooper]

I tested Kashflow, Xero and FreeAgent all available on free trials, before I settled on FreeAgent. They all have very similar tools and features it depends which system suits your business needs and you find most user friendly. As I said for me it was FreeAgent, a UK based solution which offers a great referral plan to ease the cost of the monthly subscriptions (it can become totally free to use).

Make sure you look for any discount codes or links for the service you settle on using.

 

[Paul Norman]

Kashflow will certainly do the job you are asking of it. It is a respected, and competent package

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Have you considered the most basic answer use a accounts book, you just enter your daily takings in one side of the page and the outgoings in the other, Have a look at either Staples or WH Smiths for examples

At a basic cash retail shop I fail to see what advantages you would gain by using a computerised system

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Have you considered the most basic answer use a accounts book, you just enter your daily takings in one side of the page and the outgoings in the other, Have a look at either Staples or WH Smiths for examples

At a basic cash retail shop I fail to see what advantages you would gain by using a computerised system

I agree to some extent but not manual records.

I suspect Kashflow will be overkill and unnecessary expense, like many monthly paid online packages, but it does depend what the OP really wants from the package.

I'd maybe look at something like VT cashbook as it will enable the OP to record payments and receipts quickly and easily, make it possible to run a P&L account and balance sheet to monitor the business, and make the year end accounts much quicker and easier to do and hence minimise accountancy fees.

 

[Edward Moss]

I use Solar accounts and find it does everything I need it to do, simply and effectively.
I did look at Kashflow as well but went with Solar as it was a one off cost (didn't want to eventually spend more money on an accounts program than Photoshop!) and I didn't need to see my accounts when on holiday.

Have a look around this forum there are lots of people who get on with both.

 

[Arithmo]

You may also want to consider Arithmo. We offer a 14 day free trial and the annual subscription is only £45. We also offer a free online training session should you need it.

Thanks

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

You may also want to consider Arithmo. We offer a 14 day free trial and the annual subscription is only £45. We also offer a free online training session should you need it.

Thanks

Hi Mike

I 've very briefly looked at Arithmo - for the OP would your package offer anything that isnt given by Kashflow and vice versa. Its obviously much cheaper and it would be great for the OP to be able to compare the two easily.

 

[Arithmo]

Hi Mike

I 've very briefly looked at Arithmo - for the OP would your package offer anything that isnt given by Kashflow and vice versa. Its obviously much cheaper and it would be great for the OP to be able to compare the two easily.

Hi Nicola

I think the easiest thing is for the OP to look at the Kashflow features page http://www.kashflow.co.uk/features.asp of these features Arithmo does NOT:

Have multiple concurrent users.
Reminders by email when an invoice becomes overdue
Statistics on customer values, average time to pay, etc.
graphical reports
Track where each of your customers come from
Three pre-written reminder letters of increasing severity

In addition to this Arithmo does not file VAT direct to HMRC however it does do the VAT calculations.

There may be other areas that the 2 systems differ however I have tried to be as honest as possible for the benefit of the forum in relation to the OP. I am more than happy to answer any other questions.

Thanks

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi Nicola

I think the easiest thing is for the OP to look at the Kashflow features page http://www.kashflow.co.uk/features.asp of these features Arithmo does NOT:

Have multiple concurrent users.
Reminders by email when an invoice becomes overdue
Statistics on customer values, average time to pay, etc.
graphical reports
Track where each of your customers come from
Three pre-written reminder letters of increasing severity

In addition to this Arithmo does not file VAT direct to HMRC however it does do the VAT calculations.

There may be other areas that the 2 systems differ however I have tried to be as honest as possible for the benefit of the forum in relation to the OP. I am more than happy to answer any other questions.

Thanks

Thanks Mike - for a large cost saving it certainly isnt a huge loss in features, and I doubt that these would be of much relevance for a fish and chip business anyway.