low cost accouting software

[mit74]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a low cost accounting software. I want it to be simple. Basically just invoicing, contast lists and expenses. I've tested at least 5 over the last week but they're either too complex for what I need or too over priced.

Thanks

 

[3 MORE YEARS]

Solar Accounts is pretty simple and relatively cheap and very simple to use. I have used it before, but I no longer use it as my needs have changed.

 

[mit74]

hi I'm testing solar accounts at the moment. It's very easy to use but not cheap at £100.

 

[3 MORE YEARS]

hi I'm testing solar accounts at the moment. It's very easy to use but not cheap at £100.

It's relative.

I found Solar Accounts very simple and very good when you are starting out. If you want to go any cheaper, you might as well find yourself a free accounting software.

 

[DFL]

If you only want it for the three criteria in your original post, and you consider £100 not cheap for accoutning software, then consider Excel.

 

[3 MORE YEARS]

I have used Sage and QuickBooks in the past. Although, they do a hell of a lot more, by their prices Solar Accounts is cheap.

 

[Andrew @ PLA]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a low cost accounting software. I want it to be simple. Basically just invoicing, contast lists and expenses. I've tested at least 5 over the last week but they're either too complex for what I need or too over priced.

Thanks

You might want to have a look at this piece of software www DOT instantadmin DOT co DOT uk (I can't post links until I've made 15 posts), and at £59 MUST be in your price-range?

*I'm not a re-seller or associated with the company in anyway.

Good luck with your search ...

 

[mit74]

thanks will look into that after solar. I'm rather liking solar though if a little pricey.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a low cost accounting software. I want it to be simple. Basically just invoicing, contast lists and expenses. I've tested at least 5 over the last week but they're either too complex for what I need or too over priced.

Thanks

I think you'll struggle to get a package which will include invoicing for much less than £100.

If you dont want invoicing VT cashbook, which is free, is a great package. http://www.vtsoftware.co.uk/cashbook/index.htm

What have you tried so far?

 

[Williams lester]

Have a look at Accounts Portal, http://www.accountsportal.com/, excellent system and cheap too!

 

[mit74]

I've tried all the one's people have mentioned including express accounts which was good except for the expenses part which was very poor. WIll try those free ones thanks.

 

[Chris H]

Zoho Invoice will do what you want and a load more. Free or reasonably priced depending on how many invoices you do per month.

http://invoice.zoho.com

 

[mit74]

Zoho Invoice will do what you want and a load more. Free or reasonably priced depending on how many invoices you do per month.

http://invoice.zoho.com

I wouldn't use online software. Personally I wouldn't want my company details on someone elses server.

 

[dp0848]

Hi,

If you did want to use Solar we can offer a 20% discount on it. Drop me a PM if you're interested.

Regards.

David.

 

[sanjiv]

I think you'll struggle to get a package which will include invoicing for much less than £100.

If you dont want invoicing VT cashbook, which is free, is a great package. http://www.vtsoftware.co.uk/cashbook/index.htm

What have you tried so far?

VT is brilliant and will do what you need. VT Cashbook is only free because it has no use at all what so ever. You would need VT Transaction. Try out the free trial.

It may however be out of your budget.

 

[Arithmo]

Hi

Take a look at Arithmo it has the invoicing needed and only costs £45 per year after a 14 day free trial.

If you want showing around the system please send me a DM and I can arrange this for you.

Thanks

 

[mit74]

Hi

Take a look at Arithmo it has the invoicing needed and only costs £45 per year after a 14 day free trial.

If you want showing around the system please send me a DM and I can arrange this for you.

Thanks

Hi I think I may stick with Solar but thank you all anyway. It's very good and has exactly what I need. To be honest software that is online or ones that require an annual fee put me off. If I buy software I want to own it and I wouldn't want company accounts on someone elses server regardless of how secure people say they are. You could argue this price includes updates and support but simple well designed accounting software shouldn't need support and if it does the job perfectly then it shouldn't need updates.

 

[Rolo Tomasi]

Have you looked at the free accounting software available? Both Tas books and QuickBooks produce free cut down versions of their software.

 

[mit74]

I haven't looked at TAS but quickbooks free is a waste of time only allowing 20 customers on the DB. Will check TAS out too thanks.

 

[mung]

have you tried contraccounts? i use this, its excellent for e-invoicing, and for £50 a year it has excellent features, i have used this for its API (bolted onto my website) for automated bookkeeping, and think its pretty easy to use

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

VT Cashbook is only free because it has no use at all what so ever.

Thats a very sweeping statement and one which, as an accountant, I most strongly disagree with.

Of course as a free package it has its limitations but that most certainly doesnt make it useless!

I have had many very happy clients using the package and highly recommend it (and I hasten to add I have no connection with VT whatsoever and receive no commissions from them).

 

[sanjiv]

Thats a very sweeping statement and one which, as an accountant, I most strongly disagree with.

Of course as a free package it has its limitations but that most certainly doesnt make it useless!

I have had many very happy clients using the package and highly recommend it (and I hasten to add I have no connection with VT whatsoever and receive no commissions from them).

Sorry I think you misread my post. VT Cashbook is useless but the package is brilliant. When you buy VT Transaction+, Cashbook comes free with it. Cashbook is useless but Transaction+ is brilliant. I have never had to use Cashbook as everything is already in Transaction+ and Cashbook on its own doesn't really do much anyway.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Sorry I think you misread my post. VT Cashbook is useless but the package is brilliant. When you buy VT Transaction+, Cashbook comes free with it. Cashbook is useless but Transaction+ is brilliant. I have never had to use Cashbook as everything is already in Transaction+ and Cashbook on its own doesn't really do much anyway.

Sanjiv again you state VT cashbook is useless - it most certainly is not.

Have you actually ever used it to be passing such a judgement?

As free software it is extremly good being an ideal replacement for anyone who uses Excel for recording payments and receipts. Again as I stated it has its limitations but it is free and most certainly not useless.

 

[sanjiv]

Yes I have most certainly used it. If you have the VT package, cashbook has no use at all. I have only ever had to open it to see what it actually is.

Maybe it would be useful if you didn't have the package comapared with accounting on Excel however compared to paying a small amount for the whole package or another accounting package, I wouldn't say its really worth it.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

cashbook has no use at all. I have only ever had to open it to see what it actually is.

Maybe it would be useful if you didn't have the package comapared with accounting on Excel however compared to paying a small amount for the whole package or another accounting package, I wouldn't say its really worth it.

Sanj

The point I am making is that you stated 'VT cashbook is useless', which is most certainly not the case.

Personally I dont think opening the package counts as extensive use and testing of the software to give a valid, useful and fair opinion on a public forum.

Of course you dont need to use the free cashbook package if you buy VT Transaction, but as a free standalone basic, simple accounting package VT cashbook is extremely good.

 

[sanjiv]

Sanj

The point I am making is that you stated 'VT cashbook is useless', which is most certainly not the case.

Personally I dont think opening the package counts as extensive use and testing of the software to give a valid, useful and fair opinion on a public forum.

Of course you dont need to use the free cashbook package if you buy VT Transaction, but as a free standalone basic, simple accounting package VT cashbook is extremely good.

Alright but you can't say that opening it doesn't count as extensive use because everything it does is in Transaction+ so I have had extensive use of the software.

Please do not selectively edit quotes of my post.

People's opinions are different and my opinion is that Cashbook doesn't really have any use when there are most likely other cheap alternatives around or maybe even free ones. Perhaps for some businesses who do not need the added features, it may be useful but I would say that most businesses would have income and expenditure and also have credit terms and you cannot track transactions in Cashbook. You can only enter payments and not invoices which you then pay.

 

[Blackberry]

Stick with solar accounts, it will do everything you need and is extremely simple to use

at £100 it is cheap for accounting software and remember its a one off investment to help make your life easier.....surely money well spent.

many accountants on the forum including myself can offer a discount on the solar software with obligation or expectation that you'll want anything else from them so why not give one a shout and save a few quid?

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Alright but you can't say that opening it doesn't count as extensive use because everything it does is in Transaction+ so I have had extensive use of the software.

Please do not selectively edit quotes of my post.

People's opinions are different and my opinion is that Cashbook doesn't really have any use when there are most likely other cheap alternatives around or maybe even free ones. Perhaps for some businesses who do not need the added features, it may be useful but I would say that most businesses would have income and expenditure and also have credit terms and you cannot track transactions in Cashbook. You can only enter payments and not invoices which you then pay.

Of course we all have different opinions but it is important that opinions are informed opinions to be of use to others and in the case of making judgements on another companys products to be fair.

If with your extensive knowledge of VT cashbook you still genuinely feel it is useless perhaps you'd like to explain your reasons to be fair to anyone reading your comments.

The reasons why I consider it to be extremly good are as follows -

1. It doesnt require hours spent learning to use.
2. It is a super replacement for Excel - people familiar with Excel find it very easy to use. It overcomes the problems often associated with Excel ie columns not be added up correctly etc.
3. It makes entering payments and receipts very quick and easy due to its autocomplete function.
4. It supports multiple bank and cash accounts
5. It enables the user to perform a bank reconciliation ensuring all payments and receipts are entered.
6. Error correction is very easy - much more so than many other packages.
7. It automatically produces P&L accounts, balance sheets and nominal ledger reports.
8. It produces VAT returns for VAT registered businesses.
9. Its free!

 

[sanjiv]

To the OP, do you have an accountant? If so, what do they use?

 

[sanjiv]

Of course we all have different opinions but it is important that opinions are informed opinions to be of use to others and in the case of making judgements on another companys products to be fair.

If with your extensive knowledge of VT cashbook you still genuinely feel it is useless perhaps you'd like to explain your reasons to be absoluetly fair to anyone reading your comments.

1. It doesn't allow you to create customer / supplier accounts.
2. Therefore you cannot do invoicing from it neither can you receipt payments or input supplier invoices. You can only make a payment.
3. You cannot look at an account historically and see what has been going on it in.
4. You cannot easily pay wages through it as it does not allow Journal entries. You would need to use another package.

With regards to what you said:

1. Neither does excel really. Formula's are very simple once you know that you need to start off a formula with =.
2. Again excel is very simple to use and I understand with large company accounts excel may become difficult but a large company would surely have Transaction+?
3. Excel also has autocomplete.
4. That is a fair point however also do-able on excel with multiple sheets for different accounts, but I understand for the average user Cashbook may be better for this.
5. Reconciliation can also be done on Excel. In fact before using Transaction+ which we only switched to about 4 months ago, everything was done on excel.
6. Error correcting is even easier on excel because everything is in front of you.
7. That is a fair point.
8. Yes however a VAT registered business is more likely to be able to afford the full package unless of course they are voluntarily VAT registered.
9. Most people have Excel anyway.

I understand that Cashbook may be better for some businesses however I think for startups, Excel is easier than Cashbook because there won't be many transactions and everything is there in front of you and as the company gets bigger, they will need Transaction+.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

1. It doesn't allow you to create customer / supplier accounts.
2. Therefore you cannot do invoicing from it neither can you receipt payments or input supplier invoices. You can only make a payment.
3. You cannot look at an account historically and see what has been going on it in.
4. You cannot easily pay wages through it as it does not allow Journal entries. You would need to use another package.

VT cashbook is a free, basic, accounting software package which basically enables you to record payments and receipts and prepare VAT returns. It doesnt enable you to maintain a purchase and sales ledger, but bear in mind we are discussing free software here, and because it doesnt have this facility most certainly doesnt make it 'useless'.

Also just to correct you - you can view the historic transactions of any account, just select display and choose the account you wish to view - its very easy to do. You can also use the package to record wages paid.

 

[mit74]

To the OP, do you have an accountant? If so, what do they use?

I have an accountant but haven't used them yet as it's my first year so I wouldn't know.

 

[sanjiv]

I have an accountant but haven't used them yet as it's my first year so I wouldn't know.

I would have a word with your accountant. It is probably best to use the same software as them so that you can send them the data file if you have any problems and they can check things over once in a while.

VT cashbook is a free, basic, accounting software package which basically enables you to record payments and receipts and prepare VAT returns. It doesnt enable you to maintain a purchase and sales ledger, but bear in mind we are discussing free software here, and because it doesnt have this facility most certainly doesnt make it 'useless'.

Also just to correct you - you can view the historic transactions of any account, just select display and choose the account you wish to view - its very easy to do. You can also use the package to record wages paid.

The OP needs it to do invoicing and it doesn't. I shouldn't have made such a flippant comment as to calling it useless because obviously it isn't but in my experience and for the OP, it is indeed not useful.

 

[Edward Moss]

I've just started using Solar accounts, really nice and easy to understand interface and at around £100 fantastic value for money.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

The OP needs it to do invoicing and it doesn't. I shouldn't have made such a flippant comment as to calling it useless because obviously it isn't but in my experience and for the OP, it is indeed not useful.

Thank you Sanjiv - the point I was making is that VT cashbook isnt useless. I think were agreed on that now

A possible solution would be to use VT cashbook in conjuction with a free invoicing package if the OP feels spending £100 on a package is too much, and he/she does want to deal with their own bookkeeping.

 

[Adrian Pearson]

Hi, there. I would have a look at Xero. Others could be Kashflow or Free Agent.

 

[ElliottRoss]

Hi

The Brightpearl software does everything you are looking for and more. It is a SaaS application so can be accessed anytime, from any where.

For invoicing and a CRM, you will require the Office package which costs from £20 per concurrent user, per month.

If you'd like to find out more about the software, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Regards
Elliott
Recenseo

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi

The Brightpearl software does everything you are looking for and more. It is a SaaS application so can be accessed anytime, from any where.

For invoicing and a CRM, you will require the Office package which costs from £20 per concurrent user, per month.

If you'd like to find out more about the software, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Regards
Elliott
Recenseo

The OP did want a 'low cost' solution (less than £100) and at from £240 pa it doesnt quite fit the bill

 

[Andrew @ PLA]

yet ANOTHER first time poster pushing their own product that doesn't even match the requirements of the OP :|