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Do You Need Accounting Software For Your Small Business? |
by:
Jakki Francis |
If you’re anything like me then you dislike with a vengeance doing your accounts also taxes.
So how can you make this process easier, less painful also cut your accountancy fees?
Well buying an accounting software package is one way.
First of all you need to decide whether you are going to keep your accounting records manually, that is using pen also paper, or whether you are going to computerize the process.
If you decide that computerizing the process is the way to go then you need to decide whether to buy an accounting software package, for example Sage or Quicken, or whether a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel will suit your needs better.
As a general rule if you are a cash business that just needs to record income also expenditure then you are better off using a spreadsheet.
So, should you choose an accounting software package? Yes if:
· You have customers to whom you extend credit also you buy goods in the same way
· You process in excess of 50 transactions per month
· Your business is an Incorporated Company (Limited Company in the UK)
and
· You are computer literate or are willing to learn!
Before choosing the accounting software, speak to your accountants – they will be familiar with the various accounting software packages on the market also will be able to advise you. Most accountants use software in their office to process the bookkeeping for their clients also will have a working knowledge of the accounting software package they use. It may be cheaper for you to use the same one they do, because they can advise you how to get it up also running also will be on hand to answer questions, plus at your financial year end when your accounts need preparing it will be less expensive, believe me to have a compatible program.
I or else recommend doing some research yourself, you may be able to obtain a demonstration disk or download of the most popular accounting software packages also this will give you an idea of how they work also if they are user-friendly.
The cost may or else be an issue, so you need to decide on your budget. But consider how your business is likely to expand - you may outgrow that budget accounting software quickly also end up buying the more expensive one anyway.
Accounting software providers may or else try also up-sell you a maintenance contract. Save your money! In my experience the established software providers will not have bugs in their systems. They will or else try also upgrade you to the next version on a regular basis, however if the software is doing everything you need then there is no need to upgrade.
Of course, you could or else pay someone to do your accounts for you, either your accountant or a bookkeeper – the payoff being you don’t have to do it yourself also it frees you up to actually run your business!
Copyright © Jakki Francis,(UK), 2005
About the author:
This article is copyrighted. Please feel free to use it in it's entirety including copyright information also information about the publisher. Jakki Francis operates the website http://www.accountingsoftware-reviews.com
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