This is my first post on here so I'm sorry if I commit any major faux pas!!
Tonight I am meeting my first potential client - a second hand car dealer - so I have to make a final decion soon as to which software to choose and I am looking for recommendations!
On the face of it Sage seems to cover all bases - at an expense though! The other I have considered is Quickbooks. I don't want to pay out a fortune initially but I also want to chose something that can cope as I (hopefully!) gain more clients and my work evolves. I know with the car dealer it would be helpful to pick something that could cope with the Margin scheme for VAT.
Any recommendations would be VERY gratefully recieved as I am starting to tie myself in knots looking over the various packages!
Welcome to the forum. Firstly congratulations, I hope the potential turns into a real client. Do they already have any software in place, which they may want to continue with?
There are many packages about and apart from the two you have already mentioned, VT Transaction+ and Kashflow are two that get highly recommended on here. I don't know if they cater for the margin scheme for VAT though.
Sage does not handle the VAT margin scheme, or the required stock book "natively", although there are bolt-ons that will (these aren't cheap either and unless the client is also using it, the whole functionality is slightly wasted). Otherwise, you're looking at doing the "margin" calculation manually (probably in Excel) and importing the required information into Sage (or whatever software you choose) as a journal. It's not ideal, but it's do-able, if you are very organised and methodical.
Also, make sure that they keep their paperwork orderly and write the stock numbers on the relevant sales & purchase invoices/documents, otherwise you'll have a nightmare calculating the VAT margin. And ascertain whether their stock book records are good enough for the VAT margin scheme (or whether you will take this on as part of the bookkeeping)
(Bear in mind that car dealers seem to generate a relatively high amount of paperwork, and this coupled with the VAT margin scheme means that the bookkeeping might take longer than for other businesses of similar size)
I don't think Quickbooks, VT or Kashflow currently handle the VAT margin scheme either, so you would still have to do the required calculation on Excel :(
The title actually says it all. It was an attempt to gain peoples feelings on best software for their money and came up with strong arguements both for and against sage (the against being largely not due to the capital outlay to purchase but rather the licencing policy for servicing multiple clients that really bleeds people using this at bookkeeper level dry).
Personally I think that VT Accounts is brilliant but it does have shortfalls such as no fixed asset register and it's definitely one where you need to know your journals to use it properly.
Quickbooks Pro which I think can have 99 clients (sure Amanda will correct me if I'm wrong there) is definitely worth considering espechially if you get it from Amazon which is normally around 55% cheaper than getting it from Intuit. However you will need to factor in some training materials as well. (Although again, even factoring in £50 for some books you're still not getting close to Sage line 50 territory).
When it comes to Payroll software look at Moneysoft Payroll and 12pay as options. One comes with CIS and the other has it as an add on bringing the prices to pretty much the same so really it all comes down to which one feels best for you. Personally I like Moneysoft Payroll but others like Bill (Wella) swear by 12pay.
Good luck with making the right choice for your business and don't forget to read the above thread which covers this subject in a lot more detail... It's a biggy so you might want to make a cuppa before sitting down to it!
All the best,
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.
Ignore the QB bit of what I said last night in relation to Amazon pricing.
After a small hike of £119 to £124 yesterday it went up to £171 today.
Same thing happened shortly after I told everyone on the site about Sage certification courses with the 180 day trial version of the software at £24 for each of the three levels. Next day they all went to £35 then the following day to £93 and never really came back down again!
Right, so any manufacturers of relevant products out there want your product prices to rocket by best part of 400% almost overnight, send your envelopes stuffed with used £50's to.... lol.
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.
After much persistance on their part I have a webinar thing with IRIS next week, apparently their software isn't at all expensive now and will solve all of my problems and make life splendiferous. Hmmm.
__________________
Jenny
Responses are my opinion based on the information provided. All information should be thoroughly checked before being relied on.
Same thing happened shortly after I told everyone on the site about Sage certification courses with the 180 day trial version of the software at £24 for each of the three levels. Next day they all went to £35 then the following day to £93 and never really came back down again!
I bought the Level I workbook last week. When I saw they gave an estimated time for each section I typed all the sections for each of the 4 books into a spreadsheet to see how long the course would take me. I have covered most of the stuff at this level Sage Instant for my ICB course but there were a few things not mentioned which make things easier. I think after one night I realised I'd soon have that course finished so ordered the next level. If things go to plan I'll sit the level I exam tomorrow and maybe get level II done by next week. Level III - I don't know how long it will take.
Level I cost me £96.22
Level II cost £131.99
__________________
Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
Thanks everyone! I'm just sitting down with a large 'cuppa' to read the thread Shamus recommended!
Turns out the car dealer will definately be my first client! He has only been running his company since June and keeps really good records - well, lets just say 'good' records and I think we will definately be able to iron out any little quirks together! He hasn't been using any software at all just a couple of excel spreadsheets! But his turnover for the first quarter, from what I can make out, means he is going to have to get VAT registered! (He isn't yet!) His bank rec is going to be a bit fiddly but we will get there.
Right... off to read that thread!
thank you very much everyone for your replies! I'll let you know what I decide...
