You can get Sage Instant 2013 for under £100 on amazon and that would probably do you for a good few years. Your client would need to have their own copy if they want to view everything.. I am sure though, that this version would let you export PDF reports to send to them. I'm sure someone on here will be able to confirm that.

If they want access to something 24/7 you would probably better asking them subscribe to a cloud based package and then you can work on it, using their log in details.

Hi,

As Kim, I too took advice from this forum and use VT software. I have been extremely pleased with it and would highly recommend it. For payroll, I use Moneysoft, which is very easy to use and affordable.

Debbie

Hi Mark,

ok, call me touchy feely but I think that refering to VT as starter software does do it a disservice.

As you have stated before, you didn't use VT Transaction+, only VT accounts which you referred to as clunky and maybe when not tied to VT Transaction+ it is.

Even where I am moving clients from software such as Sage I push the data through VT Transaction+ to VT Accounts rather than directly to VT Accounts so our experiences are probably somewhat different as the interface between VT Transaction+ and VT Accounts is very smooth.

I think that the bulk of the readers here are interested in the front end of the processing (bookkeeping) rather than the back end (accounts). So its basically looking at the replacing the Sage part of your equation.

Worth noting there is that provided that you do not need support then VT transaction+ is yours forever for as many clients as you need. Its only the VT Accounts part that you need to pay for each year if you need to offer professional accounts production.

I can't compare it against Taxcalc yet but just from the gumf you have a very strong point there in that you are integrating tax and accounts (but not bookkeeping) where of course VT integrates bookkeeping and accounts (but not tax... Ok, there is some corporaton tax elemenet to VT but it isn't in the same playing field as taxcalcs offering).

You could of course tie taxcalc to VT Transaction+ rather than Sage client manager as I note that its only filing that you have replaced. (so the VT Accounts bit). However, I am sure that you have many clients with a lot of Sage history which would be lost in moving them to other software so sure that your software settup is perfect for your business.

This is a question where there's no right or wrong answer to the software that we prefer and what we believe is best both for ourselves and our clients.

Personally I would say that VT is at least equal to any of its competition but with each having their relative merits. I would not say that any of them are better than my software of choice, just different and like the old 12pay vs moneysoft question it all comes down to personal choice.

In my case (as yours) I can aford to buy whichever software that I choose, I've trialled all of the major ones (no cloud software and still not had time to trial taxcalc accounts production yet), I choose VT and would not consider it starter software but rather my software of choice.

kind regards,

Shaun.

p.s. note that non of the above says that you are wrong, it only gives arguement as to why VT is every bit as good as its opposition rather than being considered only as starter software rather than an end in itself.

Whast exactly is it that you want from the cloud?

Personally I pass files around using dropbox. If a client wants access to their data (they all have VT Cashbook in order to view data and do data entry if they want to) or I need to see what the clients been up to then I or they can just open their file without the normal associated cloud risk of the software itself being virtual so any hiccup with the net and everyone is knocked out.

Is that not the best of the cloud in a desktop sollution?

But, in answer to the direct question.

e-conomic gets mentioned on the site occassionally. Normally by first time posters who never post again making it seem as though such are just SEO posts (mostly posted before my watch).

To do a search just type this into Google : site:www.book-keepers.org.uk e-conomic

And that will give you all the relevant posts on the site (I prefer google search to the site one).

Note that non of the posts ever get answered by anyone.

For a run down of e-conomic just have a look at Aweb here : www.accountingweb.co.uk/blog-post/e-conomic-32

from the first line "comes with major turn-offs and relatively expensive fees".... Which probably means that's all that you need to read on that one.

The software is from denmark where it seems to be used heavily by KPMG so can't be all bad... Although KPMG are unlikely to be as budget concious as ourselves (p.s. I should probably mention here that I worked for/with KPMG for seven years and never heard mention of this product but then, its a big company and I was only involved with one little branch of it).

Whilst I am not one for suggesting that following the crowd is best I would be adverse to recommend software with a low take up amongst the bookkeeping community espechially when that software has been around for a long time but made little if any headway into the market where the likes of Xero, Kashflow, etc. are much newer products with much greater takeup (if the cloud was the route that you decided to go down).

kind regards,

Shaun.

Hi Sharon,

sorry, thats not an issue that I've encountered.

I'll have a look to see if I can spot anything that it might be but I'm not a techie wizard on that side of things so hopefully someone like Kris or Vince might pick this up.

Sorry I'm not more useful on this one,

kind regards,

Shaun.

MagdaS wrote:

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Someone on this forum mention software called e-conomic, it has all features which I am looking for.

Does anyone have experience with this one?

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 Hello

I use Sage, Quick Books and e-conomic.  The latter is only for one customer who HAS to use it as part of franchise rules.  I find it far too 'clunky' and not at all intuitive.  It takes a two stage process to enter the sales and purchasing invoices, unlike the most popular software models which only take one.  Everything else (and I mean everything!) is all completed by double entry. Whereas a lot of software products do not require you to have a full working knowledge of the double entry process, e-conomic most definitely does -in fact it assumes you have a good knowledge.  Dont get me wrong - if you are doing this job then you should have!  But if you are any way in-experienced with this side - dont get it.   (my client is expected to use this himself, along with all his fellow franchisees, but he will be the first to admit he has no clue about double entry and that most of his co-horts dont either!!)

For payroll I use both Moneysoft (for most of my clients) and 12Pay (belongs to one of my clients).  Both value for money, relatively intuitive and easy to use. Both in fact also have great support teams.  You can buy licences from both for eg up to three customers, but then its easy to upgrade if you add clients.

Re your customer viewing accounts - there are lots of cloud based accounting versions out there, but personally (and its only a personal view before anyone starts!!) - they appear to be expensive.  Most of my clients have admitted they wouldnt look and just like to be able to contact me if they need info or have their reports at whatever timescales are agreed.  So I would stick to a legacy product (but an up to date one!)

 

 

 

Joanne let me know if you find the answer!! Its driving me mad- I was going to upgrade to their higher package but holding back until I know it works for me