Good afternoon,
I'm researching what software to use for when I start my new practice (January 2010) and I have read lots of good reviews about moneysoft payroll here however I am just wondering what everyone can recommend for the accounts/tax, I see from their website that Moneysoft do 'Final accounts' ?
Many thanks
Heather
Replies (28)
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Tax calc?
You'll presumably need some tax software. I'd recommend Taxcalc. It'd affordable, user-friendly and reliable.
Software
Another thumbs up for VT (and taxcalc)
Jason Dormer
Seahorse (UK) Ltd - For accountants and bookkeepers
I would say it depends on where you want to be
If it is the lowest cost then VT and Tax Calc come highly recomended and are cheap but if you plan to grow your practice I would go for IRIS, not the cheapest but very good and is integrated and saves loads of time and time is money.
current view
I'm trying to choose some software currently and have little experience with the software packages being more used to large corporate packages.
However I know VT/Payroo user who find this works for very small scale.
If you were buying now, for lowest cost combo would it still be VT/Taxcalc plus a pyroll package (which one ?) or if looking more strategic for growth would you still opt for IRIS ( or Xero or CCH)
I'd really appreciate your thoughts
Digita
Start of on a good footing. After years of using PTP I have just moved to Digita. I am kickingmyself for not having started with Digota from day one, Some of the reasons are:-
Digita is porperly integerated;
Tax - is proper tax software and not just a form filler. Don't get me wrong PTP does calculate tax liabilities accurately.
Workflow facility, reporting facilities, analysing features,online filing facilities, are just some opf the features that will stand you in good stead as you grow your practice. I am barely touching the surface.
Customer Service is very helpful and not arrogant. I am now convinced that it was a false economy on my part to use budget version for a small practice, not that Digita is expensive- excellent value for money.
Accounts production, corporation tax, company secretarial all are really excellent products from Digita.
By the way get an online demonstartion arranged. You will than see other features like doument creator. standard letter, contact manager the possibilities are excllent for a 'small' practice.
VT and Legatio FTax
VT is a very good product, and very good value. If you're looking to save costs then before you go for Digita or Iris, perhaps coupling VT with Legatio FTax would be a good idea, both are low cost items that do all you need.
Agree with whats said
It does depend on who you want to be, but for a small practice (anything up to £200k) I would suggest:
* VT for accounts
* TaxCalc or PTP for tax (I like both, although TaxCalc is the better value)
* Moneysoft for payroll
* ACCA Practice Manager for workflow, billing, client database etc etc etc.
Albert
Albert,
Albert,
Would you still recommend the same set up today ie Feb 2015
I'd really appreciate your current thoughts
Legatio?
Try getting support from Legatio- disasster! Acrobat based, software in older version, sorry user downgarde to lower version of acrobat, never call us, we will only call you before you become a customer, after you become a customer we will never ever call you, unless ofcurse we want to sell you something else cheap and cheerful.
VT may be
go for a porper job.
TaxCalc 2009 Demo
Hi Heather
We'd be delighted if you took the opportunity to download a copy of our 2009 software.
It allows you to do everything except file the return but this can be easily switched on should you choose to purchase without losing any data entered. The 2009 software (and demo) includes the use of our free dividend database.
It can be downloaded here: http://taxcalc.com/products/2009/professional_products.asp
Should you have any queries please feel free to call our support team on 08455190882.
Kind regards
Anne Porter
TaxCalc Brand Director
digita cost?
Hi
I agree. Moneysoft and Taxcalc and VT.
Interested in something like digita, but can't find anything about pricing on website - not even a slight clue. I never go further with companies who won't give some kind of outline of costs upfront. Unless it's in there somewhere and i've missed it?
Anyone else use digita? What rough costs involved?
What are you planning to be?
Hi There
Welcome to the club.
It really depends on what you want to acheive through your business objectives and the target client. I suggest you give consideration to the following:
1) Your target client and their net worth
2) How much time are you willing to put in yourself to grow the business both now and future
3) How quick you would want to grow and does your business structure cope with the change in your business growth, etc and etc.
This will assist you make an informed decision.
Lot of people are are short sighted and only plan the next step and hence choose the low cost software. I personally disagree with this and would suggest that if your ambitions are to grow a sucessful practice with great high networth clients, invest now as a good software suite will support you in the long run.
We have MYOB/CCH (now called CCH), and I would recommend you something similar.
I hope this helps.
Jayesh Shah (www.thefpllp.co.uk)
Digita
I'd give them a call, they are a pleasant bunch to deal with, and aren't agressive or pushy........
I'd definitely give Digita a shout.
They are good, and they are responsive. OK, you'll be dealing with salesteam up front, but support folk are equally as accessible and responsive, and their products are (i) a doddle to use (ii) technically good.
Can't give you the prices, as they operate "layered" system which is a bit annoying, but it does mean you get lower cost if you are smaller !! But they will be more expensive that some of the figures talked about.
You want value for money, and you will have to set a budget, but I have found Digita good value even for a small practice (I switched to them after only one year on my own, and with only about £20k turnover at that point due to personal circumstances, but knew I was going to grow, and did not feel other systems offered comparable efficiencies for growth and comparable value for money. Although interested to see AC feel the system he mentions is OK - i.e. efficient as well as low cost - for £200k practice).
Many thanks
Good afternoon,
Thank you all very much for replying, I now have a good selection of products to check out. Your help has been really appreciated.
Heather
Good News for Ftax users
Adobe have upgraded to Reader 9.2 which works well with Ftax (previously, there was a problem with 9.1 and some users had to install Reader 8).
Ftax support is offered predominantly by email. So please email [email protected] at any time of day or night, even on Christmas day if you wish :-) We will help you over the phone during office hours.
Richard
Fat Chnace
I begged for them to call me or me to call them during office hours. No such luck.! E-mail support - laughable. Consistent advice- problem with adobe (not ftax) down grade to adobe 8!. Too bad you are stuck with it!.
Solve one problem get another one about having to buy additional credits!. When you call them sorry you can only email they say rubbish the you should not have to buy additional credit. You say ah but you can't use the software, just go round in loops.
Don't touch this one with a barge pole. If you must use something like Ftax than get 64-8 for all you clients, ensure that they are on your client list on the Online service and file your retruns using the HMRC software. This is excatly what I ended up doing, till I got Digita, what a difference bothin terms of custopmer service and the quality of software/
You pays ...............
You pays your money and you take your chances.
Or You get what you pay for.
unless there has been..............
Unless there has been a recent change in Fatx's policy or working practice - there is no telephone support during office hours or otherwise. This was the case till late September or was it mid-October.
There was no problem with adobe 9.1 as far as I cn see. It worked well with all other programmes.
Is VT compatible with Mac?
Hello I am planning to buy a software for both final accounts production and Corporation Tax. I think most of the people like VT.
Is VT compatible with Mac?
Mac...
Nope - I'm not aware of any 'professional' software that will run on OS X.
Of course you can run Windows in a Virtual Machine on a Mac, and then run the software of your choice...
Parallels
Hi
I run everything on mac, using Parallels to run Excel and VT and Tax Calc - or indeed any other windows software.
Strangely Windows has never crashed on me running it under parallels on Mac - it seems much quicker and way more stable run this way than on an actual "windows" PC!
Hope this helps
MyPAYE is a useful alternative to Moneysoft
Heather,
For accounts and tax, I would concur with almost everybody else here and go for VT & Taxcalc,
but for payroll you ought to take a look at MyPAYE www.mypaye.co.uk - particularly if you want your clients to enter the base data. It's all online so you don't have to worry about back-ups, latest tax tables etc and they only charge £1 per payslip, which you can mark up if you wish.
Best of luck in 2010.
Andy
Year End Accounts & Tax & Payroll for Small Businesses in Oxfordshire
Re: Best of breed
The best accounts software - VT final accounts
Payroll - Moneysoft
Tax - BTC
Tim Charles FCCA
Software for a small practice
Like the original post I am setting up an accountancy practice and researching what accounts and tax software would be most suitable for a start up practice. I am wondering what other people in similar situation have/are using? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Many Thanks
SarasP