I've been using Yodlee with Xero for years and it works great with most bank accounts. I occasionally have to re-enter the login details but usually just a refresh will get the account right up to date.
IMO Sage were late to react to the demand for online software and are still catching up, slowly. I found the free Wave accounting to be better and easier to use than the paid for Sage One software.
Even better, pay for something that will be faster and do almost everything you need like Xero or QBO.
I had a quick look recently and wasn't too impressed. Not as good as Wave at the moment, plus you'll get bombarded with emails from the accountants that provide it.
As mentioned you have to pay for bank feeds. I struggled to upload a CSV file because of the date formatting despite selecting the correct bank. I think you'll save more time using a slightly slower Wave, and much more time using QBO or Xero.
Free software isn't going to come close to Xero. Even most of the paid for software is quite far behind. You get what you pay for!
Sorry @chatman, I didn't realise you had asked a question until I stumbled upon the discussion again today!
In case you haven't found out - yes, the subscriber can invite guest collaborators to edit or just view their data. So you don't need the client's log in details.
Just thought I'd defend Wave a bit. It isn't perfect by any means, but if used well it's better than a spreadsheet or a box of records.
It's free because it has a small ad banner on the right, which I hardly notice. In the US/Canada they also have payroll which isn't free.
It does now have a bank rec, and it can cope with UK VAT but at the moment anything other than standard invoice accounting needs adjusting when you do the returns.
They said they were getting Yodlee soon so the bank feeds should be improving considerably. Until then, the bank statement import works fine.
The chart of accounts can be added to quite easily.
I think the best tip I had when designing our website was to 'put yourself in their shoes'. If you were looking for an accountant, what would catch your eye and keep you on the website until you clicked the contact button.
Of course you have to get people to the website in the first place, otherwise it's a waste of effort.
Referrals are difficult when you have few clients to start with. We've concentrated on our website and social media. Good SEO and lots of accounting and tax content helps you get found on Google and gives you something to share on Twitter etc.
My answers
I've been using Yodlee with Xero for years and it works great with most bank accounts. I occasionally have to re-enter the login details but usually just a refresh will get the account right up to date.
£3 per month per bank per client soon adds up.
I highly recommend Xero - see https://www.cloud-book.co.uk/accounting/online/xero-review/
Even a VAT inspector commented yesterday on how impressed he was with Xero.
IMO Sage were late to react to the demand for online software and are still catching up, slowly. I found the free Wave accounting to be better and easier to use than the paid for Sage One software.
Even better, pay for something that will be faster and do almost everything you need like Xero or QBO.
That rival firm offers all of their services from the start, not just bookkeeping, via all the Pandle emails you get.
I had a quick look recently and wasn't too impressed. Not as good as Wave at the moment, plus you'll get bombarded with emails from the accountants that provide it.
As mentioned you have to pay for bank feeds. I struggled to upload a CSV file because of the date formatting despite selecting the correct bank. I think you'll save more time using a slightly slower Wave, and much more time using QBO or Xero.
Free software isn't going to come close to Xero. Even most of the paid for software is quite far behind. You get what you pay for!
Try Insightly. They've been improving their email facility recently and I've just noticed you can add custom contact fields to the email templates.
If you do, please badger them to add repeating projects!
Sorry @chatman, I didn't realise you had asked a question until I stumbled upon the discussion again today!
In case you haven't found out - yes, the subscriber can invite guest collaborators to edit or just view their data. So you don't need the client's log in details.
easybooksapp
I've had a few emails from Easybooksapp.com.
I don't own anything Apple so I can't try it, but it might be worth a look.
Let me know what you think.
We recommend Wave
Just thought I'd defend Wave a bit. It isn't perfect by any means, but if used well it's better than a spreadsheet or a box of records.
It's free because it has a small ad banner on the right, which I hardly notice. In the US/Canada they also have payroll which isn't free.
It does now have a bank rec, and it can cope with UK VAT but at the moment anything other than standard invoice accounting needs adjusting when you do the returns.
They said they were getting Yodlee soon so the bank feeds should be improving considerably. Until then, the bank statement import works fine.
The chart of accounts can be added to quite easily.
We recently wrote a full review of Wave Accounting.
Focus on your audience
I think the best tip I had when designing our website was to 'put yourself in their shoes'. If you were looking for an accountant, what would catch your eye and keep you on the website until you clicked the contact button.
Of course you have to get people to the website in the first place, otherwise it's a waste of effort.
Accountants Newcastle
Website & Social Media
Referrals are difficult when you have few clients to start with. We've concentrated on our website and social media. Good SEO and lots of accounting and tax content helps you get found on Google and gives you something to share on Twitter etc.
It seems to be working well for us, so far!...http://www.cloud-book.co.uk/newcastle-accountants/