Is anyone using or has used the VT accounting software ? If so please let me have your thoughts if it is worth investing. The plus point I believe is that it can be used for unlimited no of clients.
My accountant recommended VT to me about three years ago, and I have been using it since then.
I can thoroughly recommend it (I have no connection!). I use it for my personal use, and have changed all my clients to VT over the years.
You can download a free version - I use VT+ for all my accounts, - use it for a while to get used to it, and then purchase it. I don't think you have to actually pay anything until later this year if you don't want to. If you don't pay immediately, you cannot access the phone helpline, but I have found the Help section is sufficient.
You can use it for any number of clients.
For one of my clients where I actually go to their office (I normally work from home) I have downlaoded a version in their offices, work there, backup on a memory stick or Email to myself the backup, go home, and then can carry on working there. When VT go live, the company will have to buy a version, but at the moment they have paid nothing, and when they do buy it is only about £150.
Before VT I used Sage, and VT is much, much simpler to use.
Seems you are an expert on VT ! I had it on my PC for a while but not sure how to start using it so logged on the web and listened to the webcast by Ray Sterwart and found it really interesting to use. I messed around using examples and am impressed with it. It really looks quite good and intend using it when I start my bookkeeping business. Hope you don't mind if I ask for any help in the future. I also have the bookcert package to use but this looks better.
One thing do you need Excel on your pc as I don't have it on my laptop but it works so I can only assume you need excel if you need to download data.
The problem hasn't come up to be honest. For new clients, I have just started them off with VT and asked them to download a file themselves. That way you can Email them an update (whilst retaining control yourself) if they want. To be honest a lot of clients aren't interested - they just want the books done, and don't want any more figures.
If they are interested, it gives them the possibility of 'playing around' with their version, and getting all kinds of info out of it like P & L etc.
For accountants - they are the same. If they download a version, I can just send them the Email end of year accounts/end of quarter VAT figures. If they don't you can send them paper copies.
Happy to help! Please feel free to ask - but I am no way an expert! Just very keen on VT and hope more people start to use it.
I found it useful to print off the Help paperwork as well. I know it's a lot, but it means you have it to hand when you want it, rather than looking at Help and printing off the bit you need.
You don't need Excel. If you want to download a report, be it one of the customers, P & L, Age analysis - anything, you can just save it as a PDF.
Otherwise, you can cut and paste into Excel if you wanted. Or Email direct without saving.
The problem hasn't come up to be honest. For new clients, I have just started them off with VT and asked them to download a file themselves. That way you can Email them an update (whilst retaining control yourself) if they want. To be honest a lot of clients aren't interested - they just want the books done, and don't want any more figures.
If they are interested, it gives them the possibility of 'playing around' with their version, and getting all kinds of info out of it like P & L etc.
For accountants - they are the same. If they download a version, I can just send them the Email end of year accounts/end of quarter VAT figures. If they don't you can send them paper copies.
It's worked so far for me.
Babs
What about when VT start charging for the software, would clients and accountants still be able to download a copy?
I'm also a bit confused by the fees as well as it doesn't appear clear (it might be just me though)
They state that VT is free until a certain time, after which there are the following fees.
First year: £125 + VAT
Subsequent years: £100 + VAT
Are these fees only required if you want to receive support for the VT software, or do you have to pay them every year regardless (ie. just to use VT)?
VT has been free so far, but will be charged for later this year.
By that time, though, hopefully you will have used the programme and decided if it is good for you or not.
You can pay the fee now, and this will give you access to the telephone helpline.
As from (I think) Octoberish, VT will start charging, and then you pay a one off fee to start and then an annual fee. If the owner of VT is following this thread, perhaps he can correct this if the details are incorrect.
