Accounts - Bookeeping software?

[Pagey]

I'm off into the world working for myself - eek!


Any suggestions on the best (idiot proof and easy to use) software to do my accounts.
I'm going to have a mountain of expenses (fuel, work clothes, train fares, flights, hotelssub contractors etc) all being paid either cheque, direct debit, debit card and when things get tight credit card

One of my customers is going to prove to be a PITA - some work is paid for by one department/office, another department pays for other aspects and certain jobs are paid for by a different department in a different country


I need some sort of software that I can do my accounts on, ad hoc - When I have got the odd hour or so to spare (or when the mountain of receipts is looking ready to topple over) and I want to get my VAT spot on

There isn't going to be vast amounts in the kitty for a while to pay accountants................

Any suggestions much appreciated

[smele]

1. If you ask me they are all stupid and frustrating to use. You could use excel (£100), if you don't have many transactions it works well. Otherwise there are the classic Quickbooks and Sage (£200-300).

2. If you go for Sage or Quickbooks, my best piece of advice for you is to get your self a days training. There are lots of local people who will come to you help you setup a set of accounts and point in the right direction. Well worth the £500-£700.

3. Or just get yourself a part-time bookkeeper. I have a good one that is only £10 an hour and she does about 20 hours a month for a reasonable size business.


I would go with 2 or 3, but probably 3, I bet your time is worth more than £10!

[Pagey]

Hmmmm!

Might take a punt on sage (fingers crossed its not overly frustrating)

Sage Instant accounts v16 I assume

although after a 16 hour day - I might find it somewhat taxing

[Man-At-Arms]

smele said:

3. Or just get yourself a part-time bookkeeper. I have a good one that is only £10 an hour and she does about 20 hours a month for a reasonable size business.

does she bring her own software ?
most bookkeepers/accounts administrators will be mostly trained on Quickbooks or Sage

[john_p]

Excel?

[Vixpy1]

Get a book keeper, if the business goes well you will find your far too busy to keep up with bookeeping.

There is nothing like getting home at midnight and seeing a pile of papers that need sorting.

[smele]

Man-At-Arms said:

smele said:

3. Or just get yourself a part-time bookkeeper. I have a good one that is only £10 an hour and she does about 20 hours a month for a reasonable size business.

does she bring her own software ?
most bookkeepers/accounts administrators will be mostly trained on Quickbooks or Sage

I have a laptop with Sage on that she uses. She works from home, or brings it into the office or I go and pick it up and use it for a while to check up on things.