Just wondering. As a bookkeeper I am hoping to make connections with local accountants this year. As most of them will probably be working with Sage will it be a problem that I use VT? Can a TB from VT be imported to Sage? Will it put accountants off that I don't use the same software as them? I really don't want to use Sage as much for the fact that I don't like it as the cost.
Personally would say that if accountant uses SAGE then as bookkeeper if you didnt also use SAGE then it would put them off.
The accountant will tend to go with a bookkeeper that uses their preferred accounts package be that SAGE, Qbooks, VT, Kashflow, Xero or whatever.
If accountants preferred software is SAGE then defeats the purpose if the bookkeeper is using another accounts package as how will they access the audit trail, nominal ledger etc.
Hi I have a couple of accountants that don't use QB's and I just PDF over the reports that they need, so far it hasn't been a problem. On QB you can PDF the 'General Ledger' which is the same as the Nominal Ledger in Sage. I pretty sure all the reports can be PDF'd and then emailed across.
If I have the same package as the accountant ie QB, then I take a back up and give that to them instead.
Personally I know quite a few accountants that won't touch sage due to cost, and with QB's latest version being so good, I can see why Sage in the future may struggle to get new business.
This is just my opinion of course.
I agree Neil it is a minefield!
-- Edited by Amanda on Sunday 30th of December 2012 11:58:47 AM
I agree with Amanda. I have worked with many accountants who don't use the same packages as me, it's never created a problem (except with one, who came round to my way of thinking).
Also agree that comparing Sage to QB there is no contest any longer, but some Sage users are not like the rest of us. They can't see past Sage for no reason whatsoever.
I can see Marks point in that if the accountant uses Sage then they quite rightly to my mind expect the bookkeeper to work with the same.
In my case although I work with other accountants I do not feel that the situation where I did the bookkeeping on my system to hand over to the accountants to produce the accounts would work so I provide the full service but under the supervision of qualified accountants.
Both Sage and VT+ are bookkeeping packages and whilst it is possible to transfer data between them via CSV files I've never managed to get it to work seamlessly to the point where if a client comes to me who has been using Sage I enter there opening balances into VT for two periods back, reenter the data for one period back into VT to ensure that I get the same financial statements as the previous accountant (I do not charge the client for this but rather regard it as time spent getting to know the clients business) and then move forwards with VT.
Such approach is not faster than struggling through a data transfer but it does help you to understand the clients business somewhat better than simply reading the financial statements.
If the client is a Sage user too large for the above approach I give the clients to one of the accountants that I work with which helps to keep all parties happy.
Although I've turned my back on Sage as like yourself I like neither their product or their licencing I know that I cannot thrive by VT alone so like Amanda and Kris I will also be adopting Quickbooks within the next couple of months (Chrtistmas was supposed to be a couple of weeks of playing with it but instead I got the motherload of work dumped on me on Christmas eve! (still took Christmas day off though... What a rebel eh!)).
There is also a quickbooks online offering which to my mind annulls the need to also adopt other packages such as Xero or Kashflow but no doubt as time passes I will also need to gain some knowledge of those and maybe others.
In a perfect world I would love nothing better than to use only VT but I fear that clients come with varying degree's of history and whilst I am happy to give away the occassional Sage client that would be more costly to take on than they are worth I really don't want to turn too many away so I have no intention of turning away QB users once the snowball really starts to roll down the hill of people moving from Sage to QB. (Which after attending the Intuit roadshow I am quite sure is in the process of happening.... I like to think with the desktop version but feel that I should not turn my back on the Intuit cloud offering).
Oops, I'll write more later. Just had a message that my firewalls switched itself off... Time to install the Norton security update thats been sitting on my shelf for two weeks methinks.
talk later,
Shaun.
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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.
Wish I had attended one the QB events and got a free copy!! How much does QB's cost? What's the cheapest version of sage 50 a bookkeeper could get away with? Wish I could only use VT I really like it.
PS Got a new sole trader client on Christmas day!!!
Just done a bit of research. QB's would cost £460.80 pa for unlimited companies and payroll. Sage would cost £1254 pa for 5 companies and also includes payroll.
Is QB's good? How easy is it to use?
Althought if I purchased QB I could still have a problem if an accountant is using Sage. Oh well decisions decisions!!
can't comment on how easy QB is to use yet (Thats Amanda's territory) but PM me your address and I'll send you the 30 day free trial copy of Premier 2013 + Payroll that I got at the roadshow,
On the Payroll front there is no reason to tie that in with your accounts / bookkeeping software and I think that you may find 12pay a better option.
kind regards,
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.
QB is really easy to use, if you know Sage at all then QB is easier than that. Regarding the cost you do not need to upgrade each year, I still have a Pro2008 version which I use. With reference to the payroll, i don't use it as it works out expensive, you are better off using 12Pay or Moneysoft for Payroll.
The price you have quoted is for the Quickbooks Proadvisor programme so you get more than just one version of QuickBooks. You'll get the accountant version, enterprise and proversion as well as load of other things.
It is really easy to use. I've only started with it about 6 months ago and already love it.
That's great Shaun I'll send you my email address.
Well looks like I may have to learn QB then in the new year as well as finish level 3 and start marketing to accountants. Think I'm going to be very busy.
As everyone knows I am a SAGE fan having used it for 15 years in practice and also teach it at a local enterprise company.
Given now working full time for myself once i get january by and all my tax returns submitted I am going to learn about Qbooks and also xero and kashflow so can offer all four as possible packages to clients.
Going to get fully accredited with SAGE, Qbooks and Xero (dont think Kashflow offers an accreditation at the moment).
Think that the cloud packages will be ones to watch over the next 5 - 10 years
QB is really easy to use, if you know Sage at all then QB is easier than that. Regarding the cost you do not need to upgrade each year, I still have a Pro2008 version which I use. With reference to the payroll, i don't use it as it works out expensive, you are better off using 12Pay or Moneysoft for Payroll.
HTH,
Amanda, i dont use it but isn't payroll included in the proadvisor price?
Kris
Yes Kris it is, but if you are not a pro advisor and just buy a normal package and then add the payroll the monthly amounts they charge are not worth it. I worked somewhere once that had the Premier version and then added payroll and it was very expensive, as you are also paying for the support.
