Accounting programs

[Bunkermagnet]

Anyone recommend a good (cheaper is better) accounting program for a sole trader?
My daughter has just gone solo, and needs something to keep her accounts as well as create invoices and receipts.
I know google will give me ideas and reviews, but sometimes asking"normal" people is the best way.
Cheers

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Anyone recommend a good (cheaper is better) accounting program for a sole trader?
My daughter has just gone solo, and needs something to keep her accounts as well as create invoices and receipts.
I know google will give me ideas and reviews, but sometimes asking"normal" people is the best way.
Cheers

The traditional answer has always been "Sage", which is quite a clunky program and probably way OTT for your daughter. I would probably recommend something online, Xero accounts is very popular at the moment. I don't know the prices, but sometimes paying a little extra can be a good thing to get a better product.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Has she got herself an accountant yet? They may recommend one. I know they will get commission on it but it means they will understand the system she is using.

We use Sage at work, don't like it or them. They push you into paying monthly for support, mainly because there are problems with their software so you need it, so you don't get away with a one off payment. They are big in the market though.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Accountant will be sorted in time, primarily to make sure everything is correct for the Revenue return.
Dont really want anything too big, or that needs constant pennies on it.

 

[Dellboy]

Been self employed for 30+ yrs, used a lot of different types without much success.

For the last 7-8 yrs I have used Excle for my accounts, Word for letters, so easy to make up a letter head template and use pages ( Mac user ) for sending estimates in PDF format.

There is no real need to spend lots of software, my accountant, who happens to be the wife set up a worksheet on Excle for me and it's so easy to use and once the formulas have been set up a child could do it.

 

[fundy]

quickbooks probably as easy to use as any of them but there pretty much of a muchness these days (just a different front end), need any help setting up or anything like that feel free to ask

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Lady Doon says Quick Books looks useful but she has not had any practical experience with it.

 

[apj0524]

Used Quick Books its Ok tried Xero very bugy and support not good so went back to quick books

 

[rulefan]

Have a look at Freshbooks and Wave (there is a free version). I have considered both but still use Quicken 98 in Windows 10 ( http://www.oldversion.com/windows/quicken-98 ).