I wonder if fellow forum users could give me some advice please. I'm planning to start up my own bookkeeping business and was going to purchase Sage Accounts 50. The problem is (which I'll admit I wasn't aware of) is that you have to pay each time you add a new client to the package. Obiously the idea here is to obtain as many clients as possible. Could someone advise me what the best way around this is without spending thousands of pounds on a package which allows you to have unlimited clients.
The issue is Jason that if you turn your back on Sage you turn your back on the people that have been using it for quite some time.
I've found that small businesses who have used it for less time often adopted it because their bank / accountant gave it to them, or it was the only thing on the shelf in PC world, or it was the only one that they had heard of so they assumed that they needed to have it.
This category of short time user client can be led away from it to other products so long as you don't make the conversion costs more expensive than them sticking with Sage.
Its certainly not difficult to undercut Sage shops on price as most other software (the likes of SAP and IRIS excepted) are a fraction of the cost.
My practices software is VT Accounts (including VT Transaction+). I'm also in the process of adopting Quickbooks as, as I've turned my back on half the market by banning Sage I don't want to alienate the other largest player.
Both VT and QB licences cover you for single user, unlimited clients (actually, I think that QB is 99 clients but don't quote me on that).
Fingers crossed Sage will one day wake up and smell the coffee and change their licencing.
All the aove said, if your local market are predominantly established Sage shops them the software you need for your business is pretty much being dictated to you and there is no getting away from the extortionate Sage client tax.
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.
Just tell them you're considering usig something else and Im sure they'll give you a better price - shy kids get nowt as my gran used to say.
Failing that there are loads of places that sell Sage cheaper, just google the product name you're looking for.
Sage is a lot of money but like anything you'll find you get what you pay for.
Quickbooks is really user friendly. They gave this year's version away to those people that went to their seminars. If you join their proadvisor programme they give you a copy to sell and you get support and payroll for a monthly cost which is cheaper than buying it as a one off.
My name is Bjorn and I work for a company called Fortnox software.
We provide completely web-based software, including an accounting package and I think our Accountant Partner programme may be exactly what you are looking for.
We have an application called Client Manager, which is exclusive to accountants and bookkeepers who join the Accountant Partner programme. The Client Manager allows you to login to each of your clients account via one central login, making it a simple affair to manage client details in a secure, online environment.
The Accountant Partner programme is completely free to join and you can use the Client Manager software for an unlimited number of business clients. Another advantage is that we look after all IT aspects such as secure data storage, back-ups and product updates.
I recommend that you have a look at our website (www.fortnox.co.uk) and especially the Accountant Partner programme. I would be happy to set up a free online demonstration of the Client Manager for you or explain the Accountant Partner programme in more detail. Please feel free to call me on 020 3176 2491 or email me at support@fortnox.co.uk.
Just a gentle warning Bjorn, I picked up your two posts this morning and I have to warn that unapproved advertising is frowned upon on the site where the advertiser is not also an active contributor.
For example, if you were giving lots of unbiased bookkeeping / accounts advice and took part in matters such as tax debates then advertising of your product would be incidental to that rather than the whole reason for the post.
See posts from Dalbir who heads up Arithmo (a competitor cloud package to your own) or posts by Tom from 12pay who is always happy to offer payroll advice.
I think that Tom is a particularly good example in that in showing that he knows the subject matter inside out and upside down that has to be the best sales approach for his software.
For pure advertising without contribution you would need to speak with Steve Hillman who owns this site who would be able to give you details on the advertising rates, the payment of which helps to keep this site a free resource.
To contact Steve the initial contact address is info@bookcert.co.uk
I think best for now that I leave your posts pending you becoming an active contributor but place this message below each of them. Future posts of a non contributory nature will result either in post or contact details removal,
sorry to come across so strict but I hope that you appreciate the site cannot be allowed to descend from being a discussion and assistance forum to merely another advertising portal,
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.
