Accounts Package

[Darren]

As the new tax year is about to start i am on the look out for an accounts package that can do the following:

Add Customer Details
Create Invoices
Auto Generated Invoice Number
Add Custom Invoice Template
Add / Keeptrack of Outgoing Finances.

I have tried Sage Invoicing which was free but didnt really like it, i dont mind paying for software so free or paid it doesnt matter.

Thanks in advance, Darren.

 

[getmein]

I'm using sage 50 (2011) and it will do all of the above. My rationale was, that by doing my own data entry as I went I'd save a few quid on accountant fees.

I suspect, it's probably overkill for what I need and one of the 'lighter' sage packages will do.

Ignore the prices on the sage website (usually much cheaper to go through a reseller - I used a company called centrepoint software who were much cheaper than going direct to sage). Guess you could give them a call and explain your needs.

I remember when I was looking a lot of people recommend MYOB and quickbooks - haven't used them myself - but worth looking at.

 

[monaghan]

Take a look at KashFlow, it is web based but also has an API so you can do clever stuff from your own sites - I have written a small set of PHP classes to generate some of my invoices automatically (my drop catch invoices are created by a script that walks the management database and stuffs data into the API to generate & email the invoices)

I used to use Sage and hated it

If you are just a "normal" person then give KashFlow a try, you can sign up for a 60 day trial with no messing about with credit card details and it will run more or less as you would use it in production (it just blocks things like VAT return submission and puts a watermark on the invoices which is fair enough)

Edit: The link is an affiliate link, but also gives you a discounted price

 

[Darren]

Thank you both for the recommendations.

KashFlow looks like what im after, easy to user interface and reasonably priced p/m also with the API sounds great.

Thanks once again.

Darren.

 

[monaghan]

There's good documentation for the API and various 3rd party systems to talk via the API that you can purchase (for example PayPal importer). It's worth a trial even if you decide not to take it further.

 

[Darren]

Yes i have signed up for the trial now and having a browse around, seems just like what im after.

Thanks, Darren.

 

[wb]

My accountant recommended Kashflow as well so I've just started getting used to that ready for the new tax year.

Wish the invoices could be made to look nicer though, even with the customisation available they don't look too great.

 

[monaghan]

Wish the invoices could be made to look nicer though, even with the customisation available they don't look too great.

Yes, not the prettiest invoices, but does it matter that much?

I don't think the invoices are any worse than other invoice generation systems I receive invoices from each month from much bigger companies, there are 1 or 2 pretty ones, but all the invoices go in the same file and don't get looked at again once they've been recorded & paid whether the invoice is plain or fancy.

 

[WigWam]

+1 for kashflow, tried it last year

WigWam

 

[diablo]

Quickbooks user myself - have used it for years now with no problems.

 

[wb]

Yes, not the prettiest invoices, but does it matter that much?

Won't matter too much for most businesses, but much of the work I do centres around branding and design so invoicing clients with not a pretty invoice isn't really ideal. Will have to do for now though.

 

[bensd]

I bought sage accounts a few months ago but haven't played with it too much yet. Is kashflow a lot easier than sage?

 

[Brassneck]

Been with Kashflow for about 4 years - it's very intuitive and straightforward. Support is awesome. And when I registered for VAT was able to do it all pretty automatically for me.

Stephen.

 

[monaghan]

I bought sage accounts a few months ago but haven't played with it too much yet. Is kashflow a lot easier than sage?

Much easier! I used to cringe each time I had to do the accounts with Sage, I got to the point when I'd only open the accounts to raise a manual invoice or had to do the VAT return. I'm not a reformed person with desires to become an accountant, but don't have the fear of doing the accounts now and am far more up to date than ever before.

Sign up for a free KashFlow trial and you can download the Sage Import tool and load up KashFlow with your Sage data quite simply.

I ran KashFlow and Sage in parallel for the last few months of my financial year and then switched to just KashFlow.

 

[davedevelopment]

I'm using freeagentcentral.com, suits my needs.

If anyone's interested, here's my referral code, we'll both get 10% off if it's used: http://fre.ag/3hn51t61

 

[bensd]

Much easier! I used to cringe each time I had to do the accounts with Sage, I got to the point when I'd only open the accounts to raise a manual invoice or had to do the VAT return. I'm not a reformed person with desires to become an accountant, but don't have the fear of doing the accounts now and am far more up to date than ever before.

Sign up for a free KashFlow trial and you can download the Sage Import tool and load up KashFlow with your Sage data quite simply.

I ran KashFlow and Sage in parallel for the last few months of my financial year and then switched to just KashFlow.

Cheers Alex. I have just signed up for a free trial so I will see how it goes!

 

[monaghan]

My wife still uses my old copy of Sage to help the church treasurer and I see her struggling each time she uses it, but they are committed to Sage and the treasurer seems to understand it, so no chance of moving package.