what software would people recommend.

[Jcloth]

Hi all,
I have contacted my accountant after seeing all the making tax digital stuff. She has said she can help with sage or quick books. What are people thoughts on these. We run a retail/ service shop. Any body else know why the government haven't sent letters this time I only saw by chance an email from sage and thought I'd better check. Cheesed off as its another expense a small business could do without.

 

[Newchodge]

Are you VAT registered? What software do you use at the moment?

 

[Jcloth]

Are you VAT registered? What software do you use at the moment?

I have been doing it all manually up till now.

 

[Newchodge]

ARE YOU VAT REGISTERED? God I am getting so pissed off with people asking for advice then failing to give the relevant information that is needed before advice can be given

 

[UKSBD]

yeah, but a few more any you will be on 10,000 posts ;-)

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi all,
I have contacted my accountant after seeing all the making tax digital stuff. She has said she can help with sage or quick books. What are people thoughts on these. We run a retail/ service shop. Any body else know why the government haven't sent letters this time I only saw by chance an email from sage and thought I'd better check. Cheesed off as its another expense a small business could do without.

Sage and Quickbooks were really the only options many years ago.

Personally I'm not a fan of either I think they are expensive and other systems are much more user friendly.

My favourite is Accounts Portal but you really do have lots of choice.

I think it's disgusting how little publicity we've had for MTD. HMRC really are relying on accountants to inform people

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

If you want to read more about MTD have a look here

 

[Newchodge]

yeah, but a few more any you will be on 10,000 posts ;-)

Good point

 

[UKSBD]

7 to go, make the 10,000 a good un ;-)

 

[tony84]

ARE YOU VAT REGISTERED? God I am getting so pissed off with people asking for advice then failing to give the relevant information that is needed before advice can be given

Just playing devils advocate, could you not say if you are vat registered it would be x and if not, it would be y?

I do not disagree with what you are saying, we receive a few enquiries via email where we ask a few questions and then have to answer a little ambiguously as we do not always receive the answers we need. I prefer a 5 minute chat on the phone but people tend to think it will result in some sort of sales spiel... in my mind, 5 minutes on the phone is easier than 2 hours going back and forth via email.

 

[The Byre]

ARE YOU VAT REGISTERED? God I am getting so pissed off with people asking for advice then failing to give the relevant information that is needed before advice can be given

She told you! She is doing it manually, which means that she does it once a year and/or she gets a man in to do it for her - which ever is the larger of the three.

 

[Newchodge]

Just playing devils advocate, could you not say if you are vat registered it would be x and if not, it would be y?

I do not disagree with what you are saying, we receive a few enquiries via email where we ask a few questions and then have to answer a little ambiguously as we do not always receive the answers we need. I prefer a 5 minute chat on the phone but people tend to think it will result in some sort of sales spiel... in my mind, 5 minutes on the phone is easier than 2 hours going back and forth via email.

Possibly, but I am aware as well that others take advice from these posts. So, for now, if you are not VAT registered, don't worry abouit it. If you are you can get more functional and cheaper software than Sage or Quickbooks. If your accountant cannot handle other software then you have a choice.

 

[Glenn Martin]

Look at Xero as well I am not a fan of Sage nor do I rate QBO.

There is about 20 options but it makes sense to go with something your accountant knows how to use and support.

I was at a HMRC presentation maybe 18 months ago and they HMRC were planning a big marketing campaign in the Autumn of 2017, but that was shelved when MTD was postponed.

I suspect there is maybe a good chance the April 2019 start date may get pushed again as all treasury staff have been seconded to sort out this Brexit lark, as they have not any marketing on it I suspect there is a big question over the start date.

The whole thing is a but of shambles I was preparing clients for it 3 years ago but gave up in the end after several deferrals and constant goal posts moving.

 

[JRatron]

I use Quickbooks Online (different from the desktop software) for 2 different businesses, 1 large, 1 small and I'm really impressed with how easy it all is, especially for the small amount it costs.

 

[Jcloth]

Hi all,

We are vat registered and have been doing it manually written up till now.

 

[Jeremiah@RHJ Accountants]

Xero is best in my opinion.

As you have spoken to your accountant, why not try a free trial of Sage or QB (I am not a fan of either) and see if you like it.

does your accountant offer training on the above?

As we do this for our clients on any software we recommend.

The accounts software is only as good as the information being put in!

 

[Neil Lukins]

We've just started to use a system call WAVE and can't fault it. Very user friendly and you can even link your bank accounts up to it.
It's also free so you can't really complain.