Best small business accounting software?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 08:17:20 pm
content: Free or quite cheap please.I've been managing things manually up to now, the paperwork is getting a bit silly.Anyone here run a business and know some good accounting software?

author: Zepnat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 08:42:25 pm
content: I'd be interested too, something you can print out invoices and keep track of payments and stuff? I downloaded TurboCash based on a recommendation I read from some forum, not tried it at all but looks ok. My friends gonna show me how to use Sage but there must be something free that does almost the same! I wondered how to back up too, are discs a good medium for long term storage.. I don't trust memory sticks would rather have something physical but that's just me.

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 08:56:29 pm
content: I have been using Quickbooks of various flavours for a few years. They push the web based version which you can run of a free trial. Personally I prefer the desktop versions, which are still available, much cheaper to buy these from the likes of Staples (Simplestart version is £50).For me it's ideal, does everything I need it to, without the gibberish the likes of Sage uses.Worth taking a look at.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 09:03:29 pm
content: Friends use quickbooks, and run well enough on it. The auditors are also happy with it.For paid here the default is mostly Pastel, though if you look at the price it hurts, but is good for business use if you are big enough.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 09:11:28 pm
content: Quote from: jc101 on January 08, 2014, 08:56:29 pmYep Quickbooks is probably the least horrid.Why anyone would want to put all their financial information on someone's cloudandpay through nose for it is beyond me. Till this year I had been using a copy I paid for once in 2006. My accountants upgraded their computer systems and couldn't read the old version files any more - dick heads. A new boxed 2014 version on ebay (which is genuine) was about half the upgrade price direct from Intuit.Make sure you get a UK version if that is what you need.

author: dfmischler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 09:12:56 pm
content: +1 for Quickbooks

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 09:25:22 pm
content: Quote from: Rufus on January 08, 2014, 09:11:28 pmNever buy the boxed software from Intuit, costs a packet. I've found staples to be one of the cheaper places, never tried the e-bay route.+1 on make sure to get the UK version, if your UK based. Otherwise things can get sticky.I did beta the current web version, really could not get on with at all. Lots of things needed to be sorted out to make it suitable IMHO. Despite being offered it for free as part of the beta, I declined. I did get a free upgrade to the 2014 version of the desktop, after finding a nasty bug in QB back in Feb 2013 and reporting it. Got an e-mail from them in December and they upgraded me for free, which they didn't have to. Otherwise, once bought, you can run on any given desktop version for years.

author: briandorey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 09:30:13 pm
content: Another vote for quickbooks, been using it for years now and its nice and simple to use.I also have to use Sage instant accounts as my accountant cant deal with quickbooks and sage is horrible and very un-user friendly!

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2014, 10:50:08 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on January 08, 2014, 08:17:20 pmExcel. I've used the same spreadsheet template for almost 20 years now.Otherwise you need to look at local bookkeeping software. Every country has different rules and tax structures. Be prepared to have to pay for an update every year due to changing regulations.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 12:19:03 am
content: Thank you guys, quickbooks looks quite nice.Next question: does anyone use or can recommend an online payment portal, that doesn't require website integration?Limitations: Cannot be paypal. Needs to essentially work directly from a link to a secure payment page hosted by the provider.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 12:55:17 am
content: Quote from: 8086 on January 09, 2014, 12:19:03 amYou can't do without website integration. Just jumping to a link with the payment details is way too sensity to people hijacking the connection or malware. Many people are clever enough to modify the URL to the payment provider and change the amount.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 01:01:15 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 09, 2014, 12:55:17 amYou know how, with paypal, you can create an invoice, email it to someone, they click a link in the email and it takes them to a payment page? Where they then review the amount and enter card details and pay. That's what I'm after, but not paypal.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 01:26:03 am
content: If you are a little bit serious I wouldn't do it that way. Better have people pay immediately. If they have to pay later they may change their minds.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 01:48:52 am
content: Well right now my system is as follows:1. Send customer quote2. Customer accepts quote and I send invoice3. Customer pays by bank transfer4. Work commencesSo it's really not so different to my current system. I just don't want to be limited to bank transfer, it would be nice to be able to send someone a link to a secure payment gateway instead.Ideally, I would have the whole quote/payment process automated, as you say. But I still haven't figured out how to do it satisfactorily (the quote system, that is) even after several months on-and-off attempting it.Still, I don't really mind - people seem to appreciate being able to correspond with a real person, before money changes hands.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 02:35:24 am
content: You can set this up through a bank, or an online payment provider.Few examples:WorldPayAuthorize.netSage Pay