Software packages for start up

Can anyone please recommend user friendly integrated packages for a new accounting practise?

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Hi, I am about to set up my own practise and I have been researching the various software packages available . I want one that is fully integrated, will do accounts production, file tax returns, practise management and be ‘cloud’ based. I am on a tight budget as this will be my only income and I don’t have a client base yet. Thank you in advance 

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By Moonbeam
02nd Mar 2018 20:46

Fully integrated packages are much more expensive than cherry picked lower cost ones that are more suitable for you. Just buy a lower cost product when you need it and not beforehand. I like: Taxfiler, Brightpay and Xero. No, they aren't integrated, but then my practice is not heaving with clients (pity, that)

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By A4TUser
03rd Mar 2018 10:09

Thank you for your response. To be honest I wasn’t sure which way to go I was just familiar with the integrated approach as I have used this at work for the last 6 years. I am finding this option expensive so may revert to your advice and look at the ones you have suggested. I just wasn’t sure how this will work with MTD I guess that’s an unknown with either route at the minute. Thank you

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Me
By John Charman
03rd Mar 2018 09:41

Absolutely agree with the first response, if you want something integrated it's going to cost more.

If I was going to start on my own with a relatively small budget then I'd be looking at tax calc for accounts production and tax returns.

For payroll I'd look at Moneysoft Payroll Manager. Absolutely fantastic piece of software which will cost you about £120 per year.

Best of luck.

John

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By A4TUser
03rd Mar 2018 10:11

Hi John, thanks again and as I have said to the first person I will look at these options, particularly until I build up a client base. Do these systems deal with corporation tax returns also? Thank you

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By bernard michael
03rd Mar 2018 11:22

Along with a lot of others
I use VT, Taxcalc and Moneysoft
However if MTD comes in I may have to change.

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By INITMAN
08th Mar 2018 12:21

Hi Bernard

I use the same software as you have mentioned.
From your post it seems that one or more of the software supliers is not MTD compliant.
Can you enlighten me please ?
Thanks

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Replying to INITMAN:
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
09th Mar 2018 09:09

VT

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RLI
By lionofludesch
03rd Mar 2018 12:03

It's VT+, Moneysoft and Taxfiler for me + the occasional other accounting software where the client has decided to use something exotic.

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Jennifer Adams
By Jennifer Adams
03rd Mar 2018 13:34

Re payroll... it depends upon how many employees. Less than 3 use Capium (e.g directors only) = free and user friendly

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By A4TUser
03rd Mar 2018 15:11

Thank you for all your responses, I will read up the pros and cons of all the above and try and make a decision. Do any of you use a practise management software to store client documents, create assignments and do billing or do you just use a more simple approach? Thank you

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Replying to A4TUser:
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By lionofludesch
03rd Mar 2018 15:25

Practice Management software is fine for a busy office, ankle deep in employees but it's a waste of money when there's just you in the office.

A spreadsheet or a white board will do the job.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
03rd Mar 2018 16:53

Spreadsheet and whiteboard, bit high tech for me.

An A4 hardcover notebook with pages set up for
client schedules/lists re vat returns, accounts and tax return deadlines etc.

A similar lined hardback notebook used re taking notes when seeing clients (got fed up mislaying loose papers) which is from front to back whilst from back to front there is also a non routine to do list where items get scored out as completed.

A third notebook used re note taking/ documenting re CPD etc, even the odd discussion on A Web gets an entry if it is something I think is useful.

A Diary.

The wonderful advantage of there only being one user in the practice though I do keep client telephone numbers on an excel sheet.

Of course the above only works with a limited number of clients, finding notes might be a real pain if there were vast reams of notes.

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Replying to DJKL:
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By lionofludesch
03rd Mar 2018 17:06

DJKL wrote:

Spreadsheet and whiteboard, bit high tech for me.

I have a Box. Jobs in the Box - I choose one to be done. If the job is too big to fit in the Box, I put the file in the Box so I don't forget about the job on the Floor.

But these young folk today don't like low tech solutions, however well they work.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
03rd Mar 2018 19:25

If you want to make it interesting give each job a number between one and twenty and get a dart board, some darts and a blindfold.

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By A4TUser
03rd Mar 2018 19:35

Hi, this sounds interesting but I never was any good at darts so I wound’t get much done ha ha.
Thank you for your input

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Replying to DJKL:
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By lionofludesch
04th Mar 2018 11:20

I may try that.

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Replying to DJKL:
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
03rd Mar 2018 23:47

DJKL wrote:

Spreadsheet and whiteboard, bit high tech for me.

An A4 hardcover notebook with pages set up for
client schedules/lists re vat returns, accounts and tax return deadlines etc.

A similar lined hardback notebook used re taking notes when seeing clients (got fed up mislaying loose papers) which is from front to back whilst from back to front there is also a non routine to do list where items get scored out as completed.

A third notebook used re note taking/ documenting re CPD etc, even the odd discussion on A Web gets an entry if it is something I think is useful.

A Diary.

The wonderful advantage of there only being one user in the practice though I do keep client telephone numbers on an excel sheet.

Of course the above only works with a limited number of clients, finding notes might be a real pain if there were vast reams of notes.

Knew you were ol’ skule - he’s the proof!!

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Replying to atleastisoundknowledgable...:
RLI
By lionofludesch
04th Mar 2018 11:22

atleastisoundknowledgable... wrote:

Knew you were ol’ skule - he’s the proof!!

"Small" helps too. If you only have five or ten clients' jobs in at any one time, you don't need such a big box.

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
03rd Mar 2018 15:36

Look at the starter version of Taxcalc its great and will easily scale up with you, with our needing to change.

Also look at Brightpay for payroll.

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By Tim Vane
03rd Mar 2018 17:03

I would suggest Taxfiler for a start up as it covers your tax returns and accounts for a tenner a month. Moneysoft or Brightpay for payroll - trial both and choose the one that you like best. I agree that for a one man startup you don't need too much in the way of PM, but if you look around there are plenty of cloud options that you can use as your practice grows. Make sure you get PC, PI etc - just as important as software!

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By A4TUser
03rd Mar 2018 19:30

Hi, thanks again for all your comments, I will take your advice and start with these separate software solutions. I will review in particular money soft and brightpay, tax calc and tax file and Xero to start with as these keep being suggested. With regards practise management I am familiar with the old note pad method to record client details and I was considering using a spreadsheet to maintain a client list. With regards to a comment about ‘young ones’ and technology, I only wish, I am fairly old school unfortunately. I started in management accounts, have worked in audit and only came back to accounts in the last 6 years where I worked in a small accountancy practise as the office manager. Although I am setting off on my own now the plan is to go into partnership in 6 months with another accountant friend, can I just say it is very usefully having forums such as this to seek advice. Thank you

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By marks
03rd Mar 2018 22:24

As other have said you wont get a fully integrated package that is cheap.

If starting out get VT/Talcalc/Moneysoft or Taxfiler/Moneysoft. They dont have any PM facilities but will cover accounts/tax returns/payroll.

To keep track of PM then just use a spreadsheet.

When i started out 5 years ago started with VT/Taxcalc. Then moved to Taxcalc for accounts and tax returns. Was more expensive than VT/Taxcalc but was integrated for accounts and tax. Kept everything else on spreadsheet and in my head.

Now use IRIS which is fully integrated for accounts/tax/PM/automail/time recording. But now have 6 members of staff and over 200 clients so wouldnt be possible to keep a track of everything without something fully integrated IMO.

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By A4TUser
04th Mar 2018 13:17

Thanks, you seem to be doing very well, I wish you continued success.

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Replying to marks:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
04th Mar 2018 13:20

To be fair to Taxcalc it does have some limited features re PM and a newish feature re setting tasks is I think available, however the only bit I really look at is the recording/reporting tax return submissions/ pending screen.

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Replying to DJKL:
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By A4TUser
04th Mar 2018 13:52

Thank you, all this information has been very informative. Can’t wait to get started, just got to sort out all the practicalities first, get computer sorted and then keep my fingers crossed that the clients will come.

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Replying to A4TUser:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
05th Mar 2018 10:18

"If you build it (he) they will come" , F of D by coincidence being on Pointless on Saturday night.

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By Alex_T
05th Mar 2018 12:53

BrightPay - Payroll
BTC Software - Accounts
Xero - Bookkeeping

There are so many threads to choose from on this subject, here are but a few -

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/new-start-up-softwares

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/what-software-do-you-use

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/new-practice-software-advise

Best of luck!

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By Charlie Carne
08th Mar 2018 12:23

For accounts production and filing tax returns (IT & CT), I'd strongly recommend Taxfiler. Unlike TaxCalc, it is in the cloud (as you requested) and the tax is fully integrated with the accounts. For bookkeeping, unless you already have a cloud product that you know well, I'd strongly recommend QBO (QuickBooks Online). It's very easy to use, they have excellent telephone support and offer a free full-day classroom training course to accountants. It also integrates with Taxfiler, so the year-end TB is automatically posted into the statutory accounts module. For practice management, take a look at Senta.co and AccountingHub.io.

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Replying to charliecarne:
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By A4TUser
09th Mar 2018 17:36

Thank you we are looking st the tax filer and tax calc but looking at what you say tax filer may be more suitable, this is useful information thank you

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By weuk
08th Mar 2018 12:24

I would suggest you go for Capium. A very good software and at a very good price. And it is what Accountants in the UK always missed the most, a reasonably price suite. I do not use payroll though and stick to Moneysoft, but the reason is not price but the laziness to migrate so many clients and their staff onto a new software.

If I was you, I would never complicate my life by using different softwares for each, Accountancy and Tax is already so stressfull with all the changes to legislation.

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By chatman
08th Mar 2018 12:39

Integration can come at the cost of functionality and usability. Digita claims to be fully integrated (despite having no bookkeeping programme) but I saved hours every month and a huge amount of money when I moved away from them and simply selected the best programme of each type. I currently use:

-Xero for bookkeeping
-Tax Filer and VT Final Accounts for statutory accounts production and filing
-Taxfiler for tax returns
-Moneysoft Payroll Manage for payroll
-Accountancy Manager for practice management

I used to use TaxCalc, for tax returns. It was good, but Taxfiler is cheaper and just as good.

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By Johnoh
08th Mar 2018 13:34

Look at capium. They will quote you for up to 50 clients. They do the whole package including practice management. You can pick and choose what u need. E.g. Payroll, tax, accounts production. Bookkeeping is free for clients. Good luck

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By pauljohnston
08th Mar 2018 13:55

Experience shows that changing ship is hard work. I avoid anything that is free because it never is.

VT, Taxfiler, are great so is moneysoft for payroll. Dont put off geeting a crm it will cost you in the long run. Senta charges £27 per month and I am sure others do too. Also look at inform direct. Choose qbooks and or zero with mtd comming . taking into account the MS office exchange suite I estimate all of the above will cost around £10-£120 pm.

The idea of having best of breed software took a hit some years ago but with APIs now being offered and the cloud being a good medium best of breed has returned.

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By Cantona1
08th Mar 2018 20:22

I am glad no one has mentioned the dreadful software: Sage

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By North East Accountant
09th Mar 2018 08:54

How is it dreadful?

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By Cantona1
09th Mar 2018 20:24

The first time I used Sage was 20 years ago. I am tempting for a company that used Sage 200. I was hoping against hope Sage has improved.
I can not drill a report.
Need to close a year-end or a period. I should be given the option to lock a period. Accounts do not close- they are always open, so long as the entity trades.

When I import in to Sage, I get an error. When I looked at the error details, the code raised an "Exception". It appears that the code is written in C#. An end-user should never see an "Exception": It is only meant for development. Let me give you an example. When a person develops a web application, he/she has to write the code, test it and deploy it. During the testing, you encounter lots of errors due to bugs, system and other errors. You need to see the error type so that to fix it, but when you go live, the end-user should only see a standard error, such as 400 or 401: "Page no found". The end-user should never see the error like" Template does not exist" or "out of bound exception". Sage shows this error to end-user.
If this software has been developed by a small company with not marketing clout, you might not get a day light again with this type of amateurish error. If you are a "Blue chip" company, you can get away with murder.
It is not an Accounting software fit a purpose. Look at how Xero has been designed.

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By totallytopcat
08th Mar 2018 20:30

Capium. I’ve beenusing it for 3 years & it does everything & price grows with you. Started up to 100 clients for £600pa with payroll, bookkeeping, tax, companies house accounts. Really easy to use.

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By A4TUser
09th Mar 2018 17:39

Thank you, I will look at this also as it has been mentioned a couple of times

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By chatman
08th Mar 2018 20:34

You don't hear a lot about Capium. Has anyone here had bad experience with it?

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Man of Kent
By Kent accountant
08th Mar 2018 20:57

Bin the idea of integrated software - that's the big practice mentality which you need to lose.

As pretty much everyone has said best of breed offers the best alternative in terms of ease of use, cost and with API's the ability to link it all together.

If I were you I'd look at:

Accounts only - VT

Accounts and Tax - BTC, Taxcalc, Taxfiler

Personally I use VT for accounts and BTC for tax. I have used BTC for accounts production but find it slow, clunky and not especially user friendly when compared to VT.

Bear in mind most of your clients' accounts will be very simple and the disclosure requirements will be very straight forward so don't waste on accounts production software.

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By BigBadWolf
11th Mar 2018 23:32

I personally use:
Bookkeeping: VTT+
Final Accounts: VT
Tax: Taxcalc
Payroll: Moneysoft

If I was starting up: I'd go for Taxcalc as it does, Final Accounts, Tax & Company Secretarial, It also has basic Practice management and a new cloud connect service which allows you to access your data over the cloud. The reason i have stuck to VT for final accounts is partially cost and partially because i cant be bothered to import comparative data, and also because of the seamless integration with VTT+

For payroll moneysoft is great and I currently use it in conjunction with dropbox to allow access to my data on my laptop.

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