Accounts??

[DurhamSparky]

now that year end is upon us i want to streamline my accounts system!!1

currently using a spreadsheet and a invoicing software package and collating to form a set of accounts for my accountant!!

looking at integrating it all together into sage instant accounts plus! that way every thing is in one place and i can also keep tabs on my margins on parts etc..!

any body use sage?? and can you all give pro's and cons!!

 

[accordfire]

now that year end is upon us i want to streamline my accounts system!!1

currently using a spreadsheet and a invoicing software package and collating to form a set of accounts for my accountant!!

looking at integrating it all together into sage instant accounts plus! that way every thing is in one place and i can also keep tabs on my margins on parts etc..!

any body use sage?? and can you all give pro's and cons!!

We use Sage Line 50 - which is probably too much for you, but Instant Accounting is pretty good for the smaller business. No major pitfalls, and much better at hand holding than ever.

Sage features here £115 or so, and ISTR available in PC World/Staples too - should do everything you need.

One tip - Staples do "Adams" Sage compatible invoice sheets, etc - much cheaper than Sage genuine, and just as good.

There's a demo company to practice on in it, and a year's web support included too.

They've always been pretty good with us, if we've need anything - they have support for a lot of business things too, not just accounts.

 

[Guest123]

Not familiar with the Sage packages, I'm a Quickbooks man myself.

 

[DurhamSparky]

bill,

can you not just print the invoices out on normal paper??

 

[accordfire]

Not familiar with the Sage packages, I'm a Quickbooks man myself.

I lost faith in Quickbooks after they left the UK for a while back in 2008 or so. Either way, it does what it says on the tin - I just like the fact with Sage that it's UK built - unlike Quickbooks, which is American at heart, and can't do double entry properly even now.

 

[accordfire]

bill,

can you not just print the invoices out on normal paper??

Yes mate - you can - you can do your own template in Sage and have it print out on that on plain paper too.

 

[steamboatwilly]

DS,

Keep it simple. If you're using a spreadsheet presently then don't go too complicated and Sage is certainly overkill. We've used the following package for years as Ltd Company and Partnership and although it looks a bit pants it is straightforward to use and bullet-proof.

Money Manager Business-Introduction

 

[jaresquire]

Quickbooks has a useful timesheet feature to enter hours worked & other costs to be assigned to a job. Does Sage do anything similar?

 

[accordfire]

Quickbooks has a useful timesheet feature to enter hours worked & other costs to be assigned to a job. Does Sage do anything similar?

I know you can do that on Line 50 easy enough with project costing - not sure about Instant though, but I'm sure it would - it's fairly basic accounting practice for any consulting or professional practice to bill by hours and time used.

 

[DurhamSparky]

i like the idea that sage has my accounts IN / OUT / and also has my Invoicing and customer details all in one package!!

 

[mogga]

my mrs works for a small charity and they use Sage even gets training on updates and a phone a friend

 

[Des 56]

Did I have to read that word accounts

My yearly nemesis is fast aproaching the "too late again" time
God, I wish I could get stuck into them, but it just freaks me out, even after 23 years of it

Whatever sytem you have,make sure it has a motivation button

 

[Octopus]

I'm a Quickbooks (Pro) user and find it does everything I need. Took a bit of getting used to, but once set up (templates for estimates and invoices) its so, so, user friendly.