Small Business Accounts Software

[tim2100]

After realising my accounts system for our cafe has gone to pot - 'read everything has gone into a pile and we have no idea how much or little we are making'

I need some cheap (Preferably Free) software to keep track of money coming in and out, and to enable us to start planning.

I started using Visual Accounts but I really do not like it. It just seems that everything goes into a single list and there is no way of seeing what is there in each section.

I want to be able to do the following
- Keep track of stock brought, and of what type so I can compare prices for everything across suppliers.
- Keep track of Payments out
- Reconcile bank accounts
- etc.

It would also be nice to keep track of personal finances using this.

I have used MS Money before now, but I don't think this covers business.

Can anybody recommend some good, easy to use software.

Cheers
Tim.

[Mrs Trackside]

MS Accounting Pro is Ok, but it's quite new and in usual Microsoft style, there's a lot that needs tweaking. Personally, I wouldn't recommend that system as it's not very user friendly if you are not particularly accounts and computer literate and do something wrong. Quickbooks and Sage are both easy to use and do what you want.

[BigAlinEmbra]

I'd speak to your accountant. If you use what they prefer, then you could end up making a fair saving off your fee as you'll be doing a lot of the work that they've done previously.
And if they don't want to give you a reduction, then I'd be speaking to other accountants too!

[Eric Mc]

Hardly ever works out like that, I'm afraid.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Eric Mc said:

Hardly ever works out like that, I'm afraid.

do you have any suggestions Eric?

I'm in the same situation - I suspect that the continued use of Excel spreadsheets are not really the way forward ...

Thanks

[Eric Mc]

The trouble is , in order to make proper accounting systems work for you, you must be prepared to develop some understanding of basic double entry book-keeping.

Sage works best for those who really do want to get to grips with debits and credits. Quickbooks is a bit more user friendly for the non expert.

[Carsie]

Just helped a Client in exactly the same position as yourself and I set them up with QuickBooks; frankly the benefits totally outway the cost (circa £40.00), Forget Excel, as Eric say's unless you're comfortable with book keeping principles then the error rate is to be avoided!

Drop me a line if you want, glad to help.

[pjmobile]

Check out Microsoft Accounting 2008 - there is a free version which may be to your liking. Has a few advertisements within it, but it could get you started quickly.