Best book keeping software

[drfrank]

I'm after some book keeping software. Nothing flash and must be idiot proof !
Any suggestions ?

[Snapper7]

I used to use FileMaker (on a Mac) for running all my invoices and statements but I did build my own data base and you might not want to do that.

Sage might be a good option as it will run stock / services data, sales orders, invoices and quotes that are linked to stock control, purchase orders linked to stock control, wages and payroll, petty cash, management and accounts reports. Lots of accountancy firms also run sage. Have a chat with your own accountants and see what would be compatible...

[drfrank]

Thanks !
There is no stock control to worry about, just invoicing and accounts.

[andyb28]

We have used Quickbooks for years and are very happy with it.

Friends that own companies say we will outgrow it at some point, but tbh it hasn't happened yet and we are 11 years on.

[drfrank]

Is quick books idiot proof ?

[surveyor]

Kashflow - works well.

[RegMolehusband]

Kashflow. Easy to use, lots of functionality and being enhanced regularly.

[Sixpackpert]

andyb28 said:

We have used Quickbooks for years and are very happy with it.

Friends that own companies say we will outgrow it at some point, but tbh it hasn't happened yet and we are 11 years on.

Same here. Been running it for 14 years and we are upto 1.8 million turnover and it is just starting to get a bit slow, only now looking at something bespoke for the future.

[RegMolehusband]

drfrank said:

Is quick books idiot proof ?

I don't think anything is idiot proof. Rubbish in rubbish out.

[Slipperyfish]

Quickbooks here too, 12 years & counting. Pretty easy to use, easy to unwind errors & nowadays fairly extensive too into things like payroll etc. if you need that stuff.

The only thing I find awkward on it is contra entries, but that's quibbling really.

[drfrank]

There is no payroll, it's just for income and expenses

[Ossiantoad]

Quickbooks is good but we moved to Sage eventually as the business grew.

For my current enterprise which is fairly low on transactions I use Xero which is fine. I've heard Kashflow is similar.

[Steve H]

We use Free Agent, very idiot proof!

[Pot Bellied Fool]

I use Kashflow, quite happy with it but may shift to Xero as bookkeeper more familiar with it. Both have good reputations. Kashflow possibly slightly more idiot proof for owner/bookkeepers doing the accounts in the evening!

Both offer free trials I think so go have a play!

[jammy_basturd]

Kashflow and Xero are considered the best on the market currently. Used Xero and it's very simple to use. Had a demo of Kashflow previously and there's not much in it between Kashflow and Xero.

[Bikerjon]

I did my own very rushed evalution of Freeagent, Kashflow and Xero last month as I wanted to start January using a new system. Freeagent was the nicest to use but for my purposes it lacked some really basic reports. Xero was by far the most complex, but also the most complete product and I think more geared towards a (larger) small business. Kashflow was a nice fit between the two and is ample for my sole trader needs, so I went with that.

[Simon Brooks]

https://www.xero.com/

Amazingly simple to set up and about as idiot proof as they come, really like the feature that allows you to attach a pdf copy of purchase invoices to the actual data file, none of this flicking through reams of paper to find something anymore

would definitely use it again if the need arose

[drfrank]

Thanks for the help !!

[Welshbeef]

drfrank said:

There is no payroll, it's just for income and expenses

Excel would be my route.


That said I do charity work locally - as in I do their "books" for fun on the odd weekend.
Annoyingly if it were all automated it would take fractions of the amount of time - but I don't want a charity to waste £ on software. What is suitable for this? And which can do for multiple charities/companies?

[maxmc2]

Nothing is idiot proof if you don't know the basics of bookkeeping/accounting.