Sole trader & software...

[Davek0974]

Hi all, I am running as a sole trader, using a spreadsheet prepared for me to keep track of my accounts. This is getting tedious and messy, can anyone recommend either a free or low cost accounting package that can do the following or more... Receipts (all sales are paid at order) Purchases Simple Stock Profit / loss Trial balance Cash book Debtors/creditors (me) etc As i say, the s/sheet works to a point but it wont produce receipts etc It needs to run on Apple Mac OSX platform. Thanks in advance. Dave

 

[DuaneJackson]

Hi Dave,

Take a look at www.kashflow.co.uk - it's not free, but is relatively low cost and will work on a Mac.

Duane

 

[Davek0974]

Thanks for that, i did try it out a short while ago. Apart from being a bit pricey, i really did not like the idea of my data being stored remotely, i want a local storage type database. I am trying out 'InstantAdmin V3" http://www.instantadmin.co.uk/index.html at present but this seems to be too basic, no stock control and very few reports, the price is right though! Any other suggestions? Dave

 

[DuaneJackson]

Data is MUCH more secure on our servers than on your PC - but some people are still uncomfortable with the concept. If you want a good locally installed product, take a look at www.accountz.com. I'm not sure if it does everything you need, but a quickl phonecall or email to them should let you know.

 

[Davek0974]

Ok, thanks for that.

 

[hammerbpcc]

does anybody know of any free software to compile a business plan

 

[DuaneJackson]

I'm sure a google search will throw up some freebies. But if you can pay a couple of quid, then check out http://www.teneric.co.uk/

 

[Alison Jones]

HI

On Amazon Sage Instant Accounts V14 is under £100 now.

 

[dp0848]

HI

On Amazon Sage Instant Accounts V14 is under £100 now.

But it won't run on a Mac ...... http://www.sage.co.uk/software_and_services/finances/sage_instant_accounts/system_requirements.aspx

 

[dp0848]

Data is MUCH more secure on our servers than on your PC - but some people are still uncomfortable with the concept. If you want a good locally installed product, take a look at www.accountz.com. I'm not sure if it does everything you need, but a quickl phonecall or email to them should let you know.

Hi Duane,

I really like Kash Flow and I'm looking for an excuse to recommend it to clients but I too, as you know, have issues with having data stored remotely. My issue is not the day to day safety of the data because I'm sure it is backed up in several places. My big concern is what would happen to the data if Kash Flow went bust.

David.

 

[DuaneJackson]

Hi David,

It's a common concern, and not one that's easy to placate.

Have you grabbed our accounts from companies house? I think our recent accounts have been filed now which should show a growth of 544% in turnover. My co-shareholder, financial backer and Chairman is Lord Young. We also recently turned down an approach by the ex Sage chairman - and he had full sight of all the figures and the ins and outs of the business. I know none of this guarantees anything but it sometimes helps when considering the overall risk from your perspective.

Also, all of the data can be exported at any time in a format compatible with Sage 50 and Excel. We're looking at automating this for members of our Partner Programme.

If you want a demo of the Partner Programme, let me know and I'll arrange it. It'll give you a few compelling reasons to to recommend it to clients.

It's no coincidence that over 60% of the accountants here on UKBF are members of the Partner Programme : )

Duane

 

[dp0848]

Also, all of the data can be exported at any time in a format compatible with Sage 50 and Excel. We're looking at automating this for members of our Partner Programme.

I think that if you could write in code that would make a backup file on a users PC on a daily or even weekly basis that would overcome the concerns that I have. Then the worst case scenario would be the loss of a few days data - not the end of the world. Loosing all your accounting data would be the end of the world!

David.

 

[DuaneJackson]

Well, that gives me an incentive to get it done ASAP : )

Will let you know when it's available.

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

Duane

Could you not make an offline version of KashFlow for people who can't get away from the online hangups?

 

[DuaneJackson]

Nope, 'fraid not. It's not practical from a technical perspective.

 

[dp0848]

Well, that gives me an incentive to get it done ASAP : )

Will let you know when it's available.

Your writing it especially for me? That is service Duane!!

If you can add a feature like that then I think you will have a very, very strong product indeed.

 

[DuaneJackson]

Your writing it especially for me? That is service Duane!!

You'll get used to it : )

 

[dp0848]

Duane

Could you not make an offline version of KashFlow for people who can't get away from the online hangups?

I think SaaS is the way forward but with certain applications, such as accountancy software, backup and data security is so important that for the moment software that lives on your PC is a better choice. I'm sure though that given time people like Duane will find away around these problems.

 

[dp0848]

You'll get used to it : )

Can you write in a feature that makes me a cup of tea once an hour ...... or am I pushing it now????

 

[DuaneJackson]

Can you write in a feature that makes me a cup of tea once an hour ...... or am I pushing it now????

Our tests for new features are:

• Is it going to be of use to a reasonable proportion of our customers
• Can it be implemented without detracting from the simplicity of the software
• Can we actually do it.

I think your request falls over at point 3 at the moment. We don't like to dissapoint, so if you sign up to our Partner Programme today, I'll buy you a "Teasmade" thingie : )

 

[dp0848]

Our tests for new features are:

• Is it going to be of use to a reasonable proportion of our customers
• Can it be implemented without detracting from the simplicity of the software
• Can we actually do it.

I think your request falls over at point 3 at the moment. We don't like to dissapoint, so if you sign up to our Partner Programme today, I'll buy you a "Teasmade" thingie : )

You are a born salesman Mr Jackson!! 10 out of 10 for trying!!

 

[KM-Tiger]

I think SaaS is the way forward but with certain applications, such as accountancy software, backup and data security is so important that for the moment software that lives on your PC is a better choice.

I think that's highly debatable. Personally I would rank Kashflow's security and backup arrangements far higher than the PC's of an average business.

But you do raise an important point about data ownership and control. In going with Kashflow you are relinquishing control to a third party, and therefore by default ownership of that data also. I see why you don't find that acceptable.

The data dump facility would satisfy that objection completely, particularly if it was in a format which was an open standard. To the best of my knowledge there are no standards for accounting data. It could be a first for Kashflow to develop one.

 

[DuaneJackson]

To the best of my knowledge there are no standards for accounting data. It could be a first for Kashflow to develop one.

XBRL for financial reporting, XAPL for accounting data and ebis-xml for Invoices

Neither seem really extensive or well documented enough though.

But the main problem is that the big players like Sage have a vested interest in ensuring there's not a common standard format. Digita should be praised for their approach.

We have no clout to impose a standard, it'd just become 'yet another' format.

 

[dp0848]

I think that's highly debatable. Personally I would rank Kashflow's security and backup arrangements far higher than the PC's of an average business.

But you do raise an important point about data ownership and control. In going with Kashflow you are relinquishing control to a third party, and therefore by default ownership of that data also. I see why you don't find that acceptable.

The data dump facility would satisfy that objection completely, particularly if it was in a format which was an open standard. To the best of my knowledge there are no standards for accounting data. It could be a first for Kashflow to develop one.

I should have made what I wrote a bit clearer. Your right KM, compared with most users Duane's backup facilities are light years ahead which is why I have no problem with Kash Flow / SaaS on a day to day basis. It's the what if Kash Flow goes bust question that stops me using it for now. If the data is sitting on my PC I'm in control. Personally I back my data up to an external hard drive and an virtual drive online but I accept your average user is probably not so careful.

David.

 

[dp0848]

But the main problem is that the big players like Sage have a vested interest in ensuring there's not a common standard format.

What I know about software development you can get on the back of a postage stamp so forgive me if this is a daft question.

Would it be possible to give Kash Flow users a choice the format in which data can be dumped to their own hard drive e.g. press 1 for Sage, 2 for Qucikbooks, 3 for MYOB etc.... Or is that a huge amount of work?

 

[KM-Tiger]

XBRL for financial reporting, XAPL for accounting data and ebis-xml for Invoices

Neither seem really extensive or well documented enough though.

I stand corrected and that's interesting to know.

And a tricky call to know which way to jump without an obvious lead.

 

[DuaneJackson]

Yep, huge amount of work. Well, a fair amount.

The data is actually in a CSV (spreadsheet) format that complies with (and has been rigourously tested) with Sages specification for importing into Sage 50.

The other format we've got it available in is for Digita. And hopefully we may soon have some seamless integration with CCH.

Adding MYOB and QB formats is something that hasn't been requested in the past - so at first glance it falls over on the first of our criteria listed above.

 

[Kent Accountant]

Have you grabbed our accounts from companies house? I think our recent accounts have been filed now which should show a growth of 544% in turnover.

Duane you have only filed abbreviated accounts at Companies House and they do not include the turnover. Accounts filed don't show a growth in retained profitability :|

 

[DuaneJackson]

Duane you have only filed abbreviated accounts at Companies House and they do not include the turnover. Accounts filed don't show a growth in retained profitability :|

Shows how much I know then doesn't it : )

The 544% figure was confirmed by an investment analyst at Elderstreet. I *wish* my profits had gone up that much, but they haven't.

 

[dp0848]

Shows how much I know then doesn't it : )

The 544% figure was confirmed by an investment analyst at Elderstreet. I *wish* my profits had gone up that much, but they haven't.

You need to get some decent accounting software Duane, then you'll know what is going on in your business.

 

[Kent Accountant]

Shows how much I know then doesn't it : )

The 544% figure was confirmed by an investment analyst at Elderstreet. I *wish* my profits had gone up that much, but they haven't.

But the company's accounts and a "what if" scenario should the company fail are what makes it difficult for firms such as dp0848 and mine to recommend the software. If you really are targeting the "partner" market, you should prioritise this, IMHO that is

 

[dp0848]

I agree totally Bob. If Duane can get this data dump thing up and running I really think it will greatly strengthen Kash Flow's position in the market. I for one would give very serious consideration to signing on the dotted line.

 

[Davek0974]

I would also be more interested if i can get storage locally too. I just dont like the thought of not being able to work if the net connection is down or similar. Dave

 

[David Griffiths]

I just dont like the thought of not being able to work if the net connection is down or similar.

When we moved office about three years ago, we had a period of a whole month without office internet access. That's down to BT's legendary efficiency.

Since then we had issues with network speed due to BT overloading the system. On one occasion, I clicked a link, went to the bank and when I got back the page still hadn't loaded. BT weren't interested (other than suggesting a private line at £700 a month!), so we moved to a cable supplier. That took a month.

So in the last three years we have had two whole months without internet access. Yes, it's great being able to access the data from outside the office but it's not at all great when you can't access from within.

 

[DuaneJackson]

I would also be more interested if i can get storage locally too. I just dont like the thought of not being able to work if the net connection is down or similar. Dave

The development above wont give you offline access. It's just a back up of your data - you wouldn't be able to work with it and then upload the changes.

 

[DIY Accounting]

A few years ago I had problems with internet access using the NTL dial service. When I couldn't get internet access I used to use the Tiscali CD-Rom, signed in as though I was interested to use the internet service and from there I used to be able to get access to my email - until NTL fixed the problem etc., If I could do that back then suggests to me there may be a possibility to issue clients with a back up CD to the service so that if the client internet service is down it might still be possible to access the net anyway.

technically not ofay with this but it did work for me - not a proiblem now of course on broadband and use 2 different services on 2 PC's so can so far also get on one or the other.

 

[DuaneJackson]

I agree totally Bob. If Duane can get this data dump thing up and running I really think it will greatly strengthen Kash Flow's position in the market. I for one would give very serious consideration to signing on the dotted line.

Time to put your money (or your time, anyway!) where your mouth is

This feature has just been added.

 

[dp0848]

Time to put your money (or your time, anyway!) where your mouth is

This feature has just been added.

You're a fast worker Duane! I think you have just strengthen your product hugely as you appear to have corrected what for me was its main flaw. I'll certainly be taking a much close look at Kash Flow in the next few weeks.

It's always good to see a provide listening to customers and potential customers. For that alone you deserve to succeed.

Regards.

David.