Which accounting system (UK) do you use?

[Connexions]

I am doing a bit of research for a project, and wanted to find out the most popular accounting systems. (can only have 5 options, so if you use another please could you post). Many thanks for the help.

Ive probably missed some really popular ones, so sorry in advance.

 

[john1989]

At this stage, your research seems pointless.

There are many factors that come into play when choosing software. For example, a small home based sole trader business may use VT Cashbook, but a one man limited company contractor may use FreeAgent, whilst a £40m t/o service business might use Open Accounts.

I’ll go further – one of your options is Sage. Sage what? A very small business might use Sage Instant Accounts but a multi million pound business might use Sage 200 or Sage 1000. Sage is just a supplier, and they have many different products.

Therefore, asking ‘which accounting system do you use’ is a pretty pointless question.

It seems as though you do not fully understand the question you are asking.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

You excluded the best on the market - Accounts Portal

and VT cashbook!

 

[john1989]

You excluded the best on the market - Accounts Portal

and VT cashbook!

You mean you didn't vote for Sage?

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

You mean you didn't vote for Sage?

.......no

 

[David Griffiths]

At this stage, your research seems pointless.

There are many factors that come into play when choosing software. For example, a small home based sole trader business may use VT Cashbook, but a one man limited company contractor may use FreeAgent, whilst a £40m t/o service business might use Open Accounts.

I’ll go further – one of your options is Sage. Sage what? A very small business might use Sage Instant Accounts but a multi million pound business might use Sage 200 or Sage 1000. Sage is just a supplier, and they have many different products.

Therefore, asking ‘which accounting system do you use’ is a pretty pointless question.

It seems as though you do not fully understand the question you are asking.

In fairness the purpose of the question is to find the most popular accounting system so the reasons for choosing that system don't really come in to it,

However the question is severely limited by the restriction to five when it probably needs to be nearer to 20 to give reasonable coverage of the main systems - as pointed out Sage One and Sage Line 50 are completely different products for examply. I can't remember the last time I heard of anybody using Pegasus

 

[Connexions]

Yes I was vague and didnt word it very well, but for the purpose of the research the poll is fine. 5 options is a bit limited, nothing i can do there

 

[Scalloway]

VT Cashbook

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Yes I was vague and didnt word it very well, but for the purpose of the research the poll is fine. 5 options is a bit limited, nothing i can do there

Perhaps your poll would have been better making the 5th option 'other'

 

[David Griffiths]

Perhaps your poll would have been better making the 5th option 'other'

But then it would probably win!

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

But then it would probably win!

I think it would

 

[john1989]

I was going to mention an 'other' category yesterday but came to the same opinion as David.

I'd like to know who the two people are that think Sage is the most popular. I've never used Pegasus, but I'd pick that over Sage.

 

[jf-financial]

My fave two aren't there - FreeAgent and VT

 

[David Griffiths]

I'd like to know who the two people are that think Sage is the most popular. I've never used Pegasus, but I'd pick that over Sage.

The question asked is actually "Which accounting system do you use?" not "What do you think is the most popular accounting system?"

It's a long time since I used Pegasus, and no doubt it's changed for the better, but at the time I would have picked Sage in front of it, no question! Draw your own conclusions from that.

 

[john1989]

The question asked is actually "Which accounting system do you use?" not "What do you think is the most popular accounting system?"

I've clearly misinterpreted the poll labelled 'Most popular accounting systems' and their OP "I am doing a bit of research for a project, and wanted to find out the most popular accounting systems'.

I blame my English teacher.

 

[David Griffiths]

I've clearly misinterpreted the poll labelled 'Most popular accounting systems' and their OP "I am doing a bit of research for a project, and wanted to find out the most popular accounting systems'.

I blame my English teacher.

Or ignored the thread title "Which accounting system do you use?"

 

[john1989]

Or ignored the thread title "Which accounting system do you use?"

Either way, my English teacher is to blame.

 

[Dahu371]

If we're going to have a bit of a bash at Sage I'd like to join in. I currently use it and of the 6+ systems I've used (in business) it is by quite a way the worst of the lot. The best? PeachTree. Even if it's owned by Sage...

 

[Turner&Turner Chartered]

We have used a range of different bookkeeping and accounting software,

KashFlow

• Internet-based with capability for you to access your account from anywhere.
• Automatic download of your bank statements into your account means you save time inputting data and balancing the books
• No accounting jargon
• Calculates your profit VAT and tax bills.

Quick Books
From creating invoices to taking payments, with Quickbooks everything runs together and helps you better organise your business.

Sage
Encompassing all aspects of your business, from customers and suppliers to, stock control, and invoicing. Packages include add ons to cater for specialised industries, for example the construction industry Turner & Turner are members of Sage Accountants Club.

Xero

• Internet based, with capability for you to access your account from anywhere.
• Automatic download of your bank statements into your account means you save time keying in dates and balancing the books.
• An easy to use dashboard giving you an instant picture of where your business is, how much customers owe you, how much you owe suppliers, and what your profit, VAT and tax bill situations are.

Turner & Turner Chartered Accountants Preston

 

[Connexions]

Many thanks for the replies.

 

[barrov]

I have used SAGE and nearly committed suicide as a result (Ok, a slight exaggeration but my face does contort every time I hear or see the word SAGE). Quickbooks was much better. By far the best for me, without a shadow of a doubt, is Kashflow).

I have never looked back since stumbling across it and highly recommend it to anyone with a small business. The portion of my brain that 'gets' accounting must be approximately the size of this full stop. This doesn't matter, because Kashflow is intuitive to use, cloud based, (I travel a lot and work on ships - carting around a folder or having to have a specific laptop with me just doesn't float my boat. Kashflow works even via snail pace satellite-based comms, all over the world) and makes keeping your books up to date really quick.

If you haven't tried Kashflow yet, just try it. One day I'm sure you will you will thank me.

(Before any accountants heartily object to my opinion of SAGE, it is probably the best system out there for you as an accountant but as a small business owner I want to spend as little on my time and energy as possible on doing accounting, whilst at the same time be able to know the financial situation of the business at any moment in time. I can do this with Kashflow and it takes me about 20 minutes a month to do everything I need to do. Perfect! SAGE is a powerful system and no doubt it can do wonders for a large company with a team of accountants. The version that I used, which was provided to me by my accountant at the time, was just awful for anyone who hadn't spent the last few years working in an accountancy firm. Perhaps things have changed, perhaps they now have a user friendly version. I hope so for the mental wellbeing of my fellow business owners! I will use Kashflow for the foreseeable future and will continue to shout from the rooftops about how brilliant it is.)

 

[David Griffiths]

(Before any accountants heartily object to my opinion of SAGE, it is probably the best system out there for you as an accountant but as a small business owner I want to spend as little on my time and energy as possible on doing accounting, whilst at the same time be able to know the financial situation of the business at any moment in time. I can do this with Kashflow and it takes me about 20 minutes a month to do everything I need to do. Perfect! SAGE is a powerful system and no doubt it can do wonders for a large company with a team of accountants. The version that I used, which was provided to me by my accountant at the time, was just awful for anyone who hadn't spent the last few years working in an accountancy firm. Perhaps things have changed, perhaps they now have a user friendly version. I hope so for the mental wellbeing of my fellow business owners! I will use Kashflow for the foreseeable future and will continue to shout from the rooftops about how brilliant it is.)

You obviously don't spend a great deal of time in this part of the forum! I think that it's fair to say that most of the accountants on here share your view of Sage. Probably the more so because we are forced to deal with it for those clients who use it - you can walk away but we have to put up with it!

 

[barrov]

I stand corrected David. And I feel your pain.