The old "practice software" chestnut again...

The old "practice software" chestnut again...

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...IRIS does a great job but seems to have priced itself away from us, as has Digita following a phone call to them.

I'm therefore in the market for some accounts production software and taxation software for around 150 sole trasders, 20 partnership and 20 limited co's. All in all around 220 individual returns.

I have looked at various products incl. Solution 6, Keytime etc.

Curious to know what other firms are using and their thoughts on other packages out there.

Looking to ideally spend no more than £1500 annually.
Desparate for help...

Replies (15)

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By psbhatti
18th Mar 2005 17:18

Look at Keytime systems
I am also having to review my accounting and taxation packages. I have been using sage accounts production (Apex) and Forbes combo tax package.

With Keytime systems at a special bundle offer of £900(to 30/4/05) for no limit accounts, tax (SA & CT) and p11d, I am considering this option.

I also use VT for bookkeeping and accounts and rate this as excellent value for money at under £200.

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By User deleted
15th Mar 2005 14:04

We use....
VT and PTP. V happy with both

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By carnmores
15th Mar 2005 13:40

its value as well as price
i am not saying you fall into this, but so many accountants cannot differentiate when it comes to buying their own software.

say you could finish a set of accounts on Digita in 2 hours whereas it would take 3 on Sage - how do you factor this into your price value equation.

do you put a value on finishing a job quicker or do you want to spend more hours and get paid for them on a job. this is my view is why fixed fee arrangements - for most engagements - are a must, time recording is really only a tool to help you monitor staff and your own quoting ability.

my advice is not to go piecemeal so go back to Digita and ask them again. a bit of competitive tendering!

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By AnonymousUser
15th Mar 2005 13:23

I've looked at Iris from both sides now
No axe to grind, I am merely a customer, but I think you will regret changing from Iris. I mean, how many times do you want to have to key in the same data? Presumably you don't drive a car because it is cheaper to ride a bicycle.

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By ianhunt
15th Mar 2005 14:15

Keytime?
Have you considered the Keytime Accountants' Suite?

This includes Final Accounts (Sole Trader, Partnerships & Limited Companies), Corporation Tax, Tax Professional (Personal, Business, & Partnerships) and P11D Calculator; all with unlimited returns/sets of accounts.

At around £1000 this has to be the best value integrated suite on the market.

Please give me a call if you want any further information or a demonstration disk.

Ian Hunt
0845 456 3103

www.keytimesystems.co.uk

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By AnonymousUser
15th Mar 2005 12:50

Try Sage & PTP
I am very happily using Sage Accounts Production for up to 200 sets of accounts for S/T, P'ships & Ltd Co.s

Support is good, constant upgrades throughout the year to keep up with legislation & within your budget. After 1st year, annual license is £600.

Using PTP tax software for all entities. there again, excellent support, easy to use & good on FBI. Well-priced.

Don't think you'll get within £1,500 for both accounts production & tax returns for the No. of clients you've got.

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By dmackelden
17th Mar 2005 14:10

IRIS for the small user
IRIS sell Starter Packs that are competitively aimed at the small user. They are as functional as the other versions, but address the number of clients you say you have.

IRIS operates using a single central database, as opposed to forging integration links i.e. "It does it all for you".

Please feel free to call me if you would like to know any more.

DAVID MACKELDEN
SALES SUPPORT
IRIS SOFTWARE LIMITED
01753 212200
[email protected]

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By Philip Hoyle
15th Mar 2005 12:07

VT and Drummohr
I have used VT for accounts prep and Drummohr for tax returns for several years now. VT accounts data can easily be exported into Drummohr. Very few problems, very competitively priced, well suited to the small practice. I have no reservations in recommending them. I have approx 40 sole traders, 10 partnerships, 40 small ltd cos, 2 statutory audits and around 150 various tax returns - it works fine for me - not yet found anything I need that they won't cope with. FBI works well too. You'll get VT and Drummohr for under £1,000 for single user licences and the multi-user add-ons don't break the bank either.

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By andyprentice
16th Mar 2005 15:29

VT & Drummohr
I use the above combination and it works very well.

VT is a speedy bookkeeping programme - much easier than many to use. The Final Accounts works well, although you do need to watch what you are doing. Having said that most final accounts programmes need watching and a sanity check.

Drummohr is a plain honest functional piece of software. The calculations are spot on, and no revenue rejections.

Good, cost effective solution - not just the price, but also the speed of use once set-up.

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By carnmores
15th Mar 2005 17:45

Question fro John
as fellow user of Final accounts do you stick the figures in a spreadsheet to get a full set or is ther another way of generating the necessary notes

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By Abacjm
16th Mar 2005 03:37

Excel Notes
Nicholas,
I set up one set of notes in Excel and export the Final Accs to a separate tabbed worksheet on the same workbook.

I load up last year's Accs, say JoeBloggs2004.accs, and as the links have already been established for the previous year, as soon as I import from Final Accs, my notes are updated.

I sometimes have to alter things like date headings but otherwise it works fine. Then save as Joe Bloggs2005.accs and you have it set up for next year.
Setting up the links to the notes for the first time takes a wee bit of time, but after that it is straightforward.
Static info such as Company name etc. Directors Report and Accountants Report can be on the same worksheet or another tabbed oneas usually very little changes apart from the year.

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By Abacjm
15th Mar 2005 15:04

Accounts Software
i have been tempted myself to have a look at VT software because of its Combo link with Drummohr Technology Tax Software, which I have used since 1996/97 with no probs.

However, I have stuck with Moneysoft's Money Manager & Final Acounts which is a one off fee for the software. It does all my S/T's Partnerships, Ltd Co's without any problems whatoever. The company also market the bet payroll software around, handling weekly/2weekly, 4 weekly, monthly, Directors, S/contractors CIS etc and is approved for FBI filing. Updates are free on d/l from the website.
On Money Manager, VAT reports are instant at the push of a button and very passable Annual Accounts are available in Final Accounts. You anc also export the P&L, B/Sheet and F/Assets schedule to Excel and dress it up further if you want more polish! Your lead pages can be developed from a Word template as they seldom change from year to year.
It also has a SA template which you can print out with the relative figures for S/Ts so that you can instantly post to the Drummohr tax software.
Why have recurring annual fees for accs software that does not need to change from year to year.

The payroll is on an annual licence and is prone to more changes than the Accs software, but at £149 p.a well worth it.
Check out the Co. site at http://www.Moneysoft.co.uk.

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By AnonymousUser
18th Mar 2005 16:12

Sage Software 'bundle'
Sage are able to offer you a 'bundle' of software which can fulfil your needs for final accounts production, sole trade and/or partnership tax calculations, personal tax returns and corporation tax returns from as little as £100 per month. Added to this, the data integration from Line 50 to Accounts production, then through to tax means that your data does not need to be re-keyed for each process.

For more information, please contact Sage on 0845 111 11 11 choosing option 3, then option 2 then option 1 and speak with Neil Parsons and his colleagues who will be happy to discuss your requirements and provide you with a competitive quotation.

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By julianansell.hotmail
17th Mar 2005 14:08

VT is the best for a small practice
Having tried most of the accounts software without doubt VT is the best on the market for a small practice. It is priced very reasonably, help notes are excellent and it has all the flexibility you will ever need.

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By Allan Scott
18th Mar 2005 15:21

practice management software
I am in the same position as you and would be interested to hear your views on keytime,
which seems competitively priced.

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