Quickbooks alternatives - not online!
Discussion
Have been using Quickbooks on a desktop for years, but it is an old version. I am now being forced to upgrade.
Today, I bought the online subscription, my accountant uploaded my file...and I hate it. It is too different to understand, and as he has worked on figures, alot looks wrong but it is difficult for me to unpick.
I would welcome a return to software that is purchased, installed, then runs on a file. Quickbooks make it hard to buy their desktop version, and at normal price costs £26 + VAT/month.
Is there a decent alternative that can import an old QBX file and I can continue working on software that does not have ongoing expensive subs attached to them?
This is all a backward step. It was not broken, but they 'fixed' it anyway.
Today, I bought the online subscription, my accountant uploaded my file...and I hate it. It is too different to understand, and as he has worked on figures, alot looks wrong but it is difficult for me to unpick.
I would welcome a return to software that is purchased, installed, then runs on a file. Quickbooks make it hard to buy their desktop version, and at normal price costs £26 + VAT/month.
Is there a decent alternative that can import an old QBX file and I can continue working on software that does not have ongoing expensive subs attached to them?
This is all a backward step. It was not broken, but they 'fixed' it anyway.
TUS373 said:
Have been using Quickbooks on a desktop for years, but it is an old version. I am now being forced to upgrade.
Today, I bought the online subscription, my accountant uploaded my file...and I hate it. It is too different to understand, and as he has worked on figures, alot looks wrong but it is difficult for me to unpick.
I would welcome a return to software that is purchased, installed, then runs on a file. Quickbooks make it hard to buy their desktop version, and at normal price costs £26 + VAT/month.
Is there a decent alternative that can import an old QBX file and I can continue working on software that does not have ongoing expensive subs attached to them?
This is all a backward step. It was not broken, but they 'fixed' it anyway.
Why are you being forced? The core bookkeeping side of the program still works well. I’m on QB 2016 pro, and tried their online offering and ditched it. Can’t believe how bad it is compared to the original desktop version.Today, I bought the online subscription, my accountant uploaded my file...and I hate it. It is too different to understand, and as he has worked on figures, alot looks wrong but it is difficult for me to unpick.
I would welcome a return to software that is purchased, installed, then runs on a file. Quickbooks make it hard to buy their desktop version, and at normal price costs £26 + VAT/month.
Is there a decent alternative that can import an old QBX file and I can continue working on software that does not have ongoing expensive subs attached to them?
This is all a backward step. It was not broken, but they 'fixed' it anyway.
For filing VAT and payroll we just use standalone software, less than £100 / year for both. They don’t integrate fully with QB, but it’s no big issue as they both are very simple to use.
Why I am being forced:
My 2014 file needed some corrections to be made for data entry during the last financial year. I sent the file to my accountant to rectify which he did, and returned the file to me. I then found I could not open it with message 'its been created in a newer version'. Got back to accountant asking if I can have it saved back as an older version, to which this 'no, not possible'.
Taking this explanation at face value, it means that if I am to pick up from where I left off, and after everything has been corrected and tidied, I need a more modern application - either the online shambles, or the Quickbooks 2020 or 2021 Desktop, which is also subscription only.
I could look for a copy of 2016 Pro on Ebay, but it needs to be new to be sure of the licence.
My 2014 file needed some corrections to be made for data entry during the last financial year. I sent the file to my accountant to rectify which he did, and returned the file to me. I then found I could not open it with message 'its been created in a newer version'. Got back to accountant asking if I can have it saved back as an older version, to which this 'no, not possible'.
Taking this explanation at face value, it means that if I am to pick up from where I left off, and after everything has been corrected and tidied, I need a more modern application - either the online shambles, or the Quickbooks 2020 or 2021 Desktop, which is also subscription only.
I could look for a copy of 2016 Pro on Ebay, but it needs to be new to be sure of the licence.
Just wanted to add:
Quickbook's website is terrible - BUT they are a digital company. It is like visiting a doctor with a gravedigger outside.
I went to watch a tutorial video - it looped showing the first 4 seconds and not getting any further.
Frustrated, I downloaded a '30 day trial' of the UK version of Quickbooks 2021. Downloads, starts to install, then asks for the licence key. Guess what - no option to get a trial. Searched their knowledge base to see other customers have asked the same. A QB expert put a link on to the 'proper' trial version - and it is the same link used.
It is so very very poor. The impression it gives me is not one of confidence.
Also - on the online version, the first transaction I have tried to enter is a refund on a credit card purchase after I sent a product back. They need me to upgrade my paid for online subscription to a higher product to do that!
Holy smoke. Its an eye opener. Utter utter garbage.
Quickbook's website is terrible - BUT they are a digital company. It is like visiting a doctor with a gravedigger outside.
I went to watch a tutorial video - it looped showing the first 4 seconds and not getting any further.
Frustrated, I downloaded a '30 day trial' of the UK version of Quickbooks 2021. Downloads, starts to install, then asks for the licence key. Guess what - no option to get a trial. Searched their knowledge base to see other customers have asked the same. A QB expert put a link on to the 'proper' trial version - and it is the same link used.
It is so very very poor. The impression it gives me is not one of confidence.
Also - on the online version, the first transaction I have tried to enter is a refund on a credit card purchase after I sent a product back. They need me to upgrade my paid for online subscription to a higher product to do that!
Holy smoke. Its an eye opener. Utter utter garbage.
Beetnik said:
You could just ask your accountant for a copy of the journal entries and update your uncorrected file.
This.Moderator edit: no advertising please
I'd expect your accountant to be able to provide a schedule of adjustments for you to enter manually - that's what we provide for some of our clients. If there are a lot of adjustments they may even be able to provide the transaction listing as a csv file for you to import to QB.
I'm not a fan of QB online either, we have quite a lot of clients using Xero, which I've grown to like.
Eric Mc said:
Be aware that over the next few years, HMRC will be requiring digital submission of data on a regular basis (every three months) so whatever software you are using will need to be compatible with these requirements.
Thanks Eric. Please can you say if this applies only to VAT registered businesses or all businesses. For info, I am a sole trader - one man band. Thank you.Beetnik said:
Nothing wrong with QB2014 (I still have a £5m t/o, 150 staff client running perfectly well on the 2011 version).
You could just ask your accountant for a copy of the journal entries and update your uncorrected file.
H there - would be interesting to discuss further offline, but your account is not set to receive emails. You can PM me though if you like, thanks.You could just ask your accountant for a copy of the journal entries and update your uncorrected file.
Moderator edit: no advertising please
TUS373 said:
Thanks Eric. Please can you say if this applies only to VAT registered businesses or all businesses. For info, I am a sole trader - one man band. Thank you.
It will eventually apply to everybody and every business - but there is now a long roll out.Originally, the plan was for digital taxation (Making Tax Digital - MTD) to come in on 6 April 2018. This would have affected those who were Self Employed and/or Buy to Let Landlords. This plan was deferred. It will now come into effect in April 2023 - and the exemption turnover threshold for traders is only £10,000 - so not linked to VAT at all.
MTD for VAT is already in for VAT Registered Traders (limited companies, sole-traders, partnerships and all other entities that need to register for VAT). If a trader is VAT Registered but trading below the £85,000 VAT Registration threshold, they do NOT need to set up for VAT MTD.
Capital Gains Tax in respect of the sale of Residential Properties went digital on 6 April 2020. In other words, taxpayers have now only 30 days to report AND PAY their Capital Gains Tax on the disposal of second homes/buy to lets etc.
Other Capital Gains Tax are still covered by the Self Assessment system.
Limited companies will be on an MTD system for their trading activities/accounts/ Corporation Tax from April 2026.
As you can see, there are different permutations of MTD which kick in at different times for different areas of tax.
The ultimate aim of these plans is to do away with annual reporting for all taxes and create a much more immediate Real Time system. Unfortunately, UK taxation is a fundamentally annual system and laying a quarterly system on top of that is not a great fit. Already HMRC has conceded that even with 30 day/ quarterly submissions of data, annual reconciliation and consolidation submissions will also be required.
In other words, something like an annual Self Assessment /Corporation Tax tax return will remain - in addition to all the above.
So, people will find a large chunk of their admin time will, in future, be spent satisfying the needs of HMRC.
HMRC originally stated clearly that Excel and other spreadsheet systems would not be compliant with their digital taxation requirements. They really want EVERYONE to have some sort of proper and approved accounting software.
In regards to MTD for VAT, they eventually relented and are allowing Excel based submissions - but the business still needs to acquire some sort of "bridging software" to allow the submissions to be transmitted to HMRC.
It's hard at this point to predict whether -
a) they will allow spreadsheets to be used as the basis for the later MTD submissions for other taxes
b) how long they will allow spreadsheets to be used for VAT
I would suggest that if you are contemplating a "proper" book-keeping system, go ahead and get one and skip the spreadsheet stage.
In regards to MTD for VAT, they eventually relented and are allowing Excel based submissions - but the business still needs to acquire some sort of "bridging software" to allow the submissions to be transmitted to HMRC.
It's hard at this point to predict whether -
a) they will allow spreadsheets to be used as the basis for the later MTD submissions for other taxes
b) how long they will allow spreadsheets to be used for VAT
I would suggest that if you are contemplating a "proper" book-keeping system, go ahead and get one and skip the spreadsheet stage.
TUS373 said:
I have 15 years of trading data in there now, so rather committed to a proper platform now I think.
Why? HMRC only want to go back 6/7 years. What I meant was how many transactions or entries per month do you have. If you're making things you may be buying stock or materials but if you're just selling your time there may only be a few entries.If you plan on staying in business for a few more years then I'd suggest you get on board with a package that's going to support the features needed for the upcoming HMRC changes & I'm not sure a 2016 standalone version of anything is going to do that - it simply won't be updated. You might even want to contemplate retiring QB at the end of your financial year & closing it off & starting again - have a look at the popular packages like Xero:
https://www.techradar.com/uk/best/best-accounting-...
You might find your accountant has access to cheap software. At the end of the day monthly subscription software is the way everything is going - AutoCad, Photoshop, Office & loads of others. I agree it's not what we want but at some point you're going to have to face up to it.
TBH I wouldn’t sweat too much about the upcoming changes.
Firstly HMRC will given plenty of notice for any transition to MTD implementation, certainly enough to squeeze more life out of the ‘free’ QB software.
Secondly, as with the VAT MTD, you can export any report in QB to an Excel file with a click of a button. These can be imported into any bridging software that will be developed at the time. We do this with the VAT MTD at the moment. It’s simple.
There’s no doubt that ultimately, there will be a tipping point where the required features are too many to outsource to a 3rd party software, but we’re not there yet.
Bleed your current QB dry, its a good product still.
Firstly HMRC will given plenty of notice for any transition to MTD implementation, certainly enough to squeeze more life out of the ‘free’ QB software.
Secondly, as with the VAT MTD, you can export any report in QB to an Excel file with a click of a button. These can be imported into any bridging software that will be developed at the time. We do this with the VAT MTD at the moment. It’s simple.
There’s no doubt that ultimately, there will be a tipping point where the required features are too many to outsource to a 3rd party software, but we’re not there yet.
Bleed your current QB dry, its a good product still.
Beetnik said:
Nothing wrong with QB2014 (I still have a £5m t/o, 150 staff client running perfectly well on the 2011 version).
You could just ask your accountant for a copy of the journal entries and update your uncorrected file.
Hi BeetnikYou could just ask your accountant for a copy of the journal entries and update your uncorrected file.
Moderator edit: no advertising please
The mods deleted a few posts last night, including my reply to you.
Can you e-mail me through my profile about the thing you posted about.
Thanks.
You've used a piece of software for years and within 24 hours of using something new, you don't like it and want to go back to the old software. This is perfectly natural. People don't like change, and anything different or unfamiliar is "wrong" and they long to be back using the familiar thing.
I would say give the new system more of a chance. Coupled with the fact that HMRC have/are moving to digital submissions plus the fact that your accountants are on the new system, you may have to move eventually anyway, so try and give it a fair craic.
I would say give the new system more of a chance. Coupled with the fact that HMRC have/are moving to digital submissions plus the fact that your accountants are on the new system, you may have to move eventually anyway, so try and give it a fair craic.
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