RE: BEST SME ACCOUNTING & PAYROLL SOFTWARE

I am looking to choose a new software package for my bookkeeping/accounts firm.

Didn't find your answer?

Guys,

I have been with Kashflow for a number of years but I am not exactly excited about them at the moment.  Considering migrating my platform to another software package (accounting and payroll).  Most prominent alternative providers in my thoughts at the moment are:

Quickbooks, Sage, Xero.

Your comments are most welcome particularly with regards to your "Support" experiences with them.  Appreciate your responses in advance.

Replies (17)

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JCACE
By jcace
03rd Dec 2018 21:15

A few years ago I moved from Sage payroll to BrightPay and have never regretted the move.
Their intuitive handling of Auto Enrolment is excellent; the inclusion of CIS makes handling this straightforward; the way you can adapt the pay structures, reports etc, means that you can easily deal with most problems that payroll can throw your way.
Top rate software, with excellent support, and very affordable.

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Replying to jcace:
By Patmos
04th Dec 2018 18:46

Jcace,

Appreciate your response.

Thanks.

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By bernard michael
04th Dec 2018 10:38

Why are you considering Sage ??

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By NYB
04th Dec 2018 10:45

i would endorse an earlier reply re payroll and Brightpay. It really is a great package. I have inroduced it to others who love it. It also has a bolt on - Connect which allows client and employee self service - good for GDPR. Clients love it as well. It is so fairly priced as well

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Replying to NYB:
By Patmos
04th Dec 2018 18:48

NYB,

Appreciate your response.

Thanks.

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By JDBENJAMIN
04th Dec 2018 11:16

I agree with the others about Brightpay. It's much better than any other payroll software I have ever used, and it's not expensive. For accounting I recommend VT Transaction Plus, which is very simple, cheap, and reliable. I have hated Sage for decades, and you would be bonkers to choose them. Quickbooks is better than Sage, but so is almost anything. I don't recommend Xero, as you cannot make backups, and it lacks all kinds of essential features, such as showing the double entry, and having proper sales and purchase ledgers. You won't regret choosing VT and Brightpay.

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Replying to JDBENJAMIN:
By Patmos
04th Dec 2018 18:50

JDBENJAMIN,

Appreciate your response.

Thanks.

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Replying to JDBENJAMIN:
By Patmos
04th Dec 2018 18:51

JDBENJAMIN,

Appreciate your response.

Thanks.

Thanks (0)
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By BlackBriar
04th Dec 2018 11:59

Sage, generally, gets a bad rap on here but I have no issue with recommending their Business Cloud Accounting.

It's our chosen cloud offering and it has the added advantage of "built-in" final accounts and corporation tax modules. The support is pretty good and issues can normally be remedied via chat or phone.

Now I'm not saying it's the perfect choice but hardly the nightmare some make it out to be.

I can't comment on payroll however.

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Replying to BlackBriar:
By Patmos
04th Dec 2018 18:53

BlackBriar,

Appreciate your response.

Thanks.

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By ScribbleD
04th Dec 2018 12:23

You can't go wrong with Brightpay for payroll. Excellent price, excellent software and excellent support.

Not a fan of Sage. Go with Xero or Quickbooks.

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
04th Dec 2018 12:30

Another Brightpay supporter here- have no idea how good customer support is as have not needed them, very easy and intuitive with no steep learning curve.

I moved a few years ago from Iris Payemaster ,after many years with them (cost issues and expected lifespan of the product), and am quite happy with Brightpay as a successor

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By Alex_T
04th Dec 2018 13:58

BrightPay - Payroll
BTC Software - Accounts
Xero - Bookkeeping

Best of luck!

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me.jpg
By clark.hall
04th Dec 2018 14:18

Having tried a few my preferences :
-VT for accounts prep (fast to use once you're through the learning curve)
-Taxfiler for tax returns (good value, no fuss, fast entry)
-BrightPay for bureau payroll (clean, nice user interface, good value, excellent handling and automating of Auto Enrolment)
-Xero is my preferred option for clients to do their bookkeeping but of course each client will have their own needs

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
04th Dec 2018 14:45

As others have said Brightpay is great for Payroll.

Internally we have full Taxcalc suite for AP, CT, SA etc

There is loads of comparison on the site for bookkeeping software, I prefer Xero having tried them all, I find their 5 versions of the software offer something for everyone in my client base, their bank feeds are also far better than the rest.

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By carnmores
04th Dec 2018 18:17

search this site this question gets asked every week

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By Coppice Payroll
05th Dec 2018 00:12

Just commenting to endorse the recommendations of BrightPay for Payroll.

Don't have enough experience elsewhere to add in but happy to answer any questions you might have on my experience with various Payroll Packages.

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