Small business accounting software

[madazrx7]

Company I work for is probably not much longer for this world, so I'm reviving Tim the pool man, part time at first but hopefully will transition into full time.

Going about it a different way this time, setting it up properly and taking on board lessons learned from the 8 years last time (and the 6 month stint running other peoples pool shops in Kalamunda and Floreat)

Getting setup and hoping to kick off in a couple of weeks.

So I'm looking for an accounting package. Very simple, only me (plus a casual in summer when I'm busy enough)

I used QuickBooks years ago for another business, worked pretty well but the new version seems a bit OTT for what I want/need... Last time I bought the box with disc, loaded it and off I went... now it seems they want you to download it and pay an annual fee, with all sorts of online st I don't need (or want) I could virtually do it on a spreadsheet (perhaps I will...) Purchases, invoices, payments, tax, nothing complicated.

Any sole traders can give me any insight/ opinion would be welcomed

[Eric Mc]

The world of accounting software is changing rapidly - with a lot more emphasis on "cloud" type record keeping and (inevitably) regular monthly or annual fees to keep the software current.

Xero (which is actually an NZ company) seems to be becoming popular.

[3200gt]

Give VT transaction a look, cheap as chips, not complicated and easy to use. I've run my company with it to keep the books tidy turning over a couple of mil.
Does everything you need for a straight forward accounting package. Only thing it doesn't do is generate invoices, or at least the version I use doesn't. Probably do a version that'll do that also now.
I think it was/is £100, buy it once and not pay a penny again. Help line is the people that actually wrote the program so first rate.

[Eric Mc]

VT announced recently that they would not be updating their software to cope with HMRCs Making Tax Digital requirements - which would signal its death knell.

The OP is in Australia so this may not be an issue to him but anyone in the UK using VT needs to check with the provider as to what their actual plans are for the next few years.