After much deliberation I decided to join ICB and continue with my AAT studies in the background. I passed level 1 manual with 99% last week and I've booked level 2 for August.
I'm now looking to purchase some software for the level 2 and 3 computerised exams. I've been looking at Sage Instant Accounts Production. On the sage website, if you click on the "accountants and bookkeepers" tab you can get this product for £99 plus VAT and in their information page is says "up to 100 clients". I am assuming that you have to add extra client facilities for a fee but it doesn't say how much.
Ideally I would like to buy something that I can use in my business when I start up.
Sage Instant Accounts production isn't the same product as Sage Instant accounts. You will still (I believe) need to have a copy of Sage Instant accounts or Sage Line 50 in order for Sage Instant accounts production to produce a set of books... Similar I believe to the interaction between VT Accounts and VT Transaction+.
Sage can to get a little extortionate and as much as posible you should try to keep small clients off it and on something cheaper such as VT Transaction+ (very different to Sage).
VT isn't great for the ICB exams as it doesn't have some of the required reports (such as customer and supplier lists... Or if they do exist I haven't found them yet ). Sage instants would be fine for that or if you can get one, one of the 180 day trial versions of Sage line 50 that come with the Sage training certification in a box that you can pick up sometimes at seriously low prices from Amazon.
For that matter, the current Amazon price for Sage instant accounts (not accounts production which as mentioned above is not what you need for the ICB exams) is £99 including VAT and free delivery.
Have a read of this recent thread where lots of different software products were discussed :
Hope this helps and I'm sure that someone will pop along in a minute to fill in the gaps in my Sage Instant Accounts Production knowledge if I've got anything wrong in the above.
kind regards,
Shaun.
P.S. VT Accounts comes with a copy of VT Transaction+ even in the free 60 day trial. Why not give it a go to see if you like it. Might also be worth posting a question to determine whether anyone has sat the ICB computerised exams using VT? Personally I don't think that it's possible but I could be wrong.
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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.
The question of software is difficult, I keep reading the forums and am still undecided. Some one on the ICB forum said they used VT and marked their exam that the software wouldnt print the customer/suppliers reports and passed.Sounds risky to me.I have given myself 2 weeks to make a decision on which software to use for the ICB computerised exams so all the different view will be gratefully read.
Yes, which software to choose is becoming the bain of my life. I have now been told that fusion accounts offer a two months free trial for ICB students to sit the exams. I might have a look at it. Otherwise I might have to buy a copy of Sage Instant Accounts.
I was hoping that any software I invested in could then be used for the business when I start it up. But multi company is far too expensive at this stage.
My first marketing strategy will be to contact accountants and try to get some outsourced work. I have a feeling that most accountants in Glasgow use Sage.
