I am just setting up as a self-employed bookkeeper and I am really struggling with deciding what software to buy. There seem so many different ones and the sales teams really go for it and I am more confused after spending hours and hours researching than I was before!
At the moment I only have 2 clients, 1 sole-trader and 1 small business. I am speaking to another sole-trader and another small business about taking them on as clients too and although I aim to pull in more clients, it probably won't be too many as I plan to work no more than 2 days a week. This is why I really don't want to spend £700 on Sage (although it's what I know and love).
Also, can I re-charge the cost of software back to clients? And what is a reasonable amount to re-charge as I can't split the whole cost between my two current small clients.
Any advice would be gratefully received. (I do know the pros and cons of Cloud service vs. software so don't need a discussion on security. I'm hoping for recommendations/ advice on suitability for my size of operation and of course on cost).
How about getting your clients to buy the software, and if you are used to Sage do you really need anything more than their instant accounts? (which is a cut down line 50 anyway).
The cloud services are fine but you have the problem of monthly charges that you would have to charge your clients in one way or another.
Of course, if all you need to do is the bookkeeping itself (ie. no invoices etc. just transactions) and there are not too many of them, you could go the spreadsheet route and save some money.
Give VT Transaction+ a spin. Its free for 60 days and not even nearly half the price of sage to buy. It's less clunky than sage and really easy to use.
The views expressed in this post are my own personal (HRA protected) views, and are not representative of any organisation I have any involvement with.
Kris, I'm happy to consider a Cloud service. It's just the other thread I found on the forum where someone asked if anyone had tried the ICB software out, the whole conversation became a debate about the security of Cloud services vs software.
I just need someone to guide me about what is actually suitable for my new business. Some sort of cloud service may be best, my clients could buy direct (solving the 'which software shall I buy issue) and I could access remotely as I am going to be working from home...but there are so many providers and I don't know anyone who actually uses any of them in practice. So I'm not confident enough to recommend one to my clients, and therefore decide to use it myself too.
The views expressed in this post are my own personal (HRA protected) views, and are not representative of any organisation I have any involvement with.
Recharge is dependent on how much value added service you provide your clients with. Many Arithmo practices include charge as part of their bookkeeping service.
How about getting your clients to buy the software, and if you are used to Sage do you really need anything more than their instant accounts? (which is a cut down line 50 anyway).
The cloud services are fine but you have the problem of monthly charges that you would have to charge your clients in one way or another.
Of course, if all you need to do is the bookkeeping itself (ie. no invoices etc. just transactions) and there are not too many of them, you could go the spreadsheet route and save some money.
Agree totally with this - remember that if the client leaves they will want the data and be able to access it so let them take ownership of the software. The online ones are very good as the real time aspect means the client can do some of the work themselves i.e. raise their own invoices.
__________________
Phil Hendy, The Accountancy Mentor
Are you thinking of setting up your own practice or have you set up and need some help?
If so a mentor may be the way forward - feel free to get in touch and see how I can assist you.
You will be earning better if you hire a software developer to provide a tailor-cut software for you. The products you would get off the shelf, would provide you with the general functions you need but if you want specific processes, you should have one made for you. With that, you can charge your clients more as you can show them that what you are doing is for real.
The people on this site are largely bookkeepers and people running small accountancy practices.
Bespoke software sollutions require developers with an understanding of the subject matter. They cost a lot of money to hire.
For small developments you would become dependant upon the work of that developer as they would be the only one with understanding of the coding meaning that they will pretty much be able to hold your busienss to randsom.
If you buy off the shelf software you just become a user of a third party product which may not lend itself to one's companies processes. However, it is invariably a cheaper option to change a companies processes than to reinvent the wheel by developing one's own software sollution or paying a developer to develop a bespoke front end to an existing package. (Either via direct access to the third party source code or a completely seperate front end).
I thinmk that this is one of those area's best left to software development companies as the cost return is beyond any but the most afluent of accountancy practices.
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I also think that is not a sound advice too, as a budding book keeper, you should not rely on someone who has, as unpleasant as it may sound, limited knowledge to the subject at hand. It would be better to use an off the shelf software which you could use to pattern the company's processes than try and use your own. But if Norman here would really like to develop his own, then i would suggest, though it may sound impractical, to learn his own programming language so he could try and develop his own.
Thank you all for the advice. I went for Sage in the end. I know it's more expensive but it's what I know and it means I can pass info straight onto accountants where necessary.
