Accounting software - any farming ones recommended?

Keen to learn

New Member
Location
Somerset
Hi all

I have a small farm business and have to ‘go digital’ this year for VAT returns etc.

Non-farming friends have recommended Xero. Apparently it might have an agricultural package you can add on?

Does anyone have any experience of this or is there a good one that most farmers use?

I only need something simple to issue invoices and keep track of expense invoices, then submit to tax man. Ideally i’d like to record time sheets too though, and record mileage.

All thoughts appreciated.

Cheers
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Those using xero, does it take loads of time out of the job? Mother uses a new version of key prime and it seems to be pretty time consuming. i wondered if we got XERO i could do it all with it just being checked once a week? Been told a child could use it!
 

Boysground

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Accounts are accounts you don’t need a Agricultural system. I moved to Xero 7 years ago. My accountant uses Xero which makes everything easy they can see everything without you having to take them any paperwork. I started with a basic list of heading codes provided by the accountant but it has now been heavily modified by me. The only training I have had is a morning with the accountants Xero expert.

My advice is,
Talk to your accountant and see what they use. But do what you are happy with

Don’t start thinking you have to use every function. Do the necessary basics 1st and do more as you gain experience

Xero online help is really good, use it.

There is a lot of Xero experience on TFF and a very long Hints and tips thread. Ask any question on here and somebody will know the answer

Finally don’t be scared of the change. Xero has probably been the most significant change I have ever made to my business. I know it so much better now it’s worth every penny.

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Boysground

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Those using xero, does it take loads of time out of the job? Mother uses a new version of key prime and it seems to be pretty time consuming. i wondered if we got XERO i could do it all with it just being checked once a week? Been told a child could use it!

Xero has the potential to do much more than most will ever use. Most bills can be put on really quickly, I use one of the add ins that learn your invoices and as they are scanned and emailed in it creates a draft in Xero that just needs checking.

My business is quite big with well over 100 statement lines a month to check, I don’t ever think I am wasting time on Xero

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Xero is very easy to use while doing your day to day job especially if your accountant also uses it.
I just look on once a week and reconcile any bank transactions and complete any cash transactions.
Anything I don't know how to deal with I leave and the accountant deals with.
Invoices can be set up from day 1 with a template and default product items and then it is easy to do them from a phone or tablet while on the move and email them directly to the client.
It can be linked to card payment facilities such as Stripe so clients can pay online with a credit/debit card.
 

Boysground

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Hi all

I have a small farm business and have to ‘go digital’ this year for VAT returns etc.

Non-farming friends have recommended Xero. Apparently it might have an agricultural package you can add on?

Does anyone have any experience of this or is there a good one that most farmers use?

I only need something simple to issue invoices and keep track of expense invoices, then submit to tax man. Ideally i’d like to record time sheets too though, and record mileage.

All thoughts appreciated.

Cheers

I forgot using a feed direct from the bank for your statements saves time and definitely reduces chances of mistakes

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Keen to learn

New Member
Location
Somerset
All - this is great, i really appreciate it.

looks like Xero it is then!

Does anyone know if it has the option to track milage? Similarly record time (e.g. record hours i’m spending on different enterprises)? Both would be handy.

Thanks for your help all.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Those using xero, does it take loads of time out of the job? Mother uses a new version of key prime and it seems to be pretty time consuming. i wondered if we got XERO i could do it all with it just being checked once a week? Been told a child could use it!

I use Quickbooks, but have no reason to think Xero would be any different. When I set up in business on my own in 2012, I had never done any form of book keeping (Mum used to do it on Sage at home, which was enough to put me off that program!).
I didn’t need to use my accountant to set it up, other than a couple of queries over the years when setting up HP agreements, and have only contacted QB support twice in that time.

Make up whatever headings you like, relevant to YOUR business, making keeping track of costs easier. Setting up a bank feed makes things even easier to see where your finances are at any time.
These programs really are intuitive and easy to use. Even I can manage it.👍
 

Timbo

Member
Location
Gods County
All - this is great, i really appreciate it.

looks like Xero it is then!

Does anyone know if it has the option to track milage? Similarly record time (e.g. record hours i’m spending on different enterprises)? Both would be handy.

Thanks for your help all.

Take your time to set whichever you choose up correctly first off. Get some advice which transaction codes to use if you need to that match what your accountant uses. Don't initially connect your bank feed. Balance it manually first. Put a month on and make sure you're happy what you're doing and that it reconiles.

You can have xero on your phone and scan and attach invoices directly to xero or directly email them in.

Youll halve your time at least, and know more clearly where things lie.
 

chickens and wheat

Member
Mixed Farmer
I ran xero parallel to fathers farmplan for 2 months, he was sceptic and wanted 6 months to prove its accuracy, After 2 months he relented, I used to spend more time just preparing the paperwork for him than I do using xero now. And we no longer have to drive to the accountant with two boxes full of invoices at the year end, all carefully numbered and clipped in ring binders.

The accountant has also moved to paperless tax submissions, We signed theses electronically this year.
 

gatepost

Member
Location
Cotswolds
I use Key prime, I think the fact it is for agri helps, contra entries etc, also does balance sheet and depreciation etc, so for a small business like mine you can do away with an accountant for tax. A bit expensive though, and I have never tried any other packages.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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