bookkeeping software
I have a client who is terrible a their bookkeeping - late, incorrect. Tried educating them, provided a spreadsheet as they found MS Accounting/VT Cashbook a challenge. They're a small deli so quite a few entries but not tremendous.
They would not hire a bookkeeper and I was thinking of enticing them to do their books online.
I am after therefore an intuitive system, low cost, really friendly and that also helps the acocuntant.
We are using VT Final accounts if that is relevant.
I would not go for something that is not online or that requires me to pay a huge annual fee. Pay as you go for now until we grow the client base will do.
An idea but probably not suitable this time
Being a "small Deli", I suspect that this may be a cash business and therefore what I am about to suggest may not work but, as they say, it's dangerous to assume.
Can you advise the client to make all of their business payments via the business bank account - by use of a debit card, electronic payments via internet banking and, if needed cheque? If they could similarly be persuaded to bank all cash takings, leaving the same cash float in the till every time, you might have a solution.
In the scenario I outline above, the business bank account be the bookkeeping records. You can then get the transactions in a download file, monthly or quarterly say, and import them into an accounting package. You know the records are reliable and add-up, because they are effectively the bank statements. All you now need to do is post the "other side" of each transaction to VAT and the general ledger accounts.
Clearly, you can choose which accounting system to import into, or simply manipulate the import via an excel spreadsheet. Personally, I would use Xero, and its fantastic Fast Cash Coding facility. Then it just becomes - import statements, code transactions, produce reports.
Of course, maybe your client doesn't have internet banking. Seems you have tried all other options, so I would be thinking about steering them toward another accountant in that case.
Hope this helps!
Adrian Pearson
Top Accountants
I too have doubts
Tend to go along with Andy, that if a client understands the importance of keeping reasonable books they will make the effort to do it themselves or get someone to do it for them. If they don't understand or, more usually, care, then not even the simplist idiot proof system will do.
Haveing said that, Iris OpenBooks (Freeagent) is straight forward and you can build them up on it, ie let them do one bit at a time.
Good Luck
WinWeb
Look at winweb.
If you need ledgers then they have it for £12.99 (plus VAT) per month, or for a straight forward cash book it is £9.99 (plus VAT) per month.
They also offer bookkeeping starting from £19.99 per month.
Must be a solution in there somewhere that will suit your client.
Jason
Interesting
Your using VT accounts is, I suggest, very relevant.
The obvious recommendation would be VT Transaction +. If that is too difficult, then VT Cash Book. You say this is a challenge for them. If they can not cope with that, whatever they use will be a challenge for you!
You say thay will not hire a bookkeeper. Can they not see the value of timely and accurate record keeping? A bookkeeper could prove very cost-effective ie. their cost will be less than your cost of remedial work, they will have up to date information to help them manage their business etc.
Maybe they need to provide you with a complete mess and then for you to charge them a huge fee to see sense? Otherwise I would be inclined to wonder if they are more trouble than they are worth.
-- Kind regards Andy
Edit - just thought, have you looked at Cashflow Manager?