Accounting software for small agri business

[Gil582]

Looking into the above,

Needing to be MTD compliant and preferably able to complete self assessment- would be nice to keep it simple with one program.

I see Xero getting a lot of good reviews on here but their basic package does not offer enough and the standard offering @ £22/month we feel, is getting too pricey, relative to the size of the business...

Like the look of ‘Wave’ (no monthly charge) but it is not...yet??.... on HMRC’s compatible list.

Anyone have experience with other programs?

Cheers

 

[neilo]

QuickBooks is almost identical to Xero, and the 'Pro' desktop version was only £85 when I bought it. I think they might have gone subscription only now too, but might be worth enquiring at Intuit?

 

[Steevo]

Looking into the above,

Needing to be MTD compliant and preferably able to complete self assessment- would be nice to keep it simple with one program.

I see Xero getting a lot of good reviews on here but their basic package does not offer enough and the standard offering @ £22/month we feel, is getting too pricey, relative to the size of the business...

Like the look of ‘Wave’ (no monthly charge) but it is not...yet??.... on HMRC’s compatible list.

Anyone have experience with other programs?

Cheers

When you say the basic package is not enough, and the standard offering is too pricey....have you looked at their Cashbook offering? £9 a month only.

It's only available through Xero partner accountants though.

https://www.xero.com/uk/features-an...-cashbook/#section-id-ledger-cashbook-pricing

 

[Still Farming]

Any cheaper

 

[BDBed]

The basic KashFlow is £9 a month. Would recommend it.

 

[Bald Rick]

Iris Kashflow

(Krazy name)

 

[DrWazzock]

Ask your accountant what they recommend and who they use. Often they will get you a better deal than going direct to the software provider yourself and most importantly they can help you set it up and tailor it to your needs. Then at the year end everything is compatible with your accountant, so their fee should be cheap as chips for doing your tax return. That's what we did with Quickbooks online and so far so good.

I hear Xero is as good if not better but our accountant doesn't use it so it ruled it out for us, sadly.

 

[Steevo]

Ask your accountant what they recommend and who they use. Often they will get you a better deal than going direct to the software provider yourself and most importantly they can help you set it up and tailor it to your needs. Then at the year end everything is compatible with your accountant, so their fee should be cheap as chips for doing your tax return. That's what we did with Quickbooks online and so far so good.

I hear Xero is as good if not better but our accountant doesn't use it so it ruled it out for us, sadly.

Very sensible words!

I'm awaiting my first set of accounts and bill after switching to Xero system. Will be very interesting to see the fee charged this time around compared to previous.

 

[Gil582]

Thanks all! Having a look at Kashflow—interesting !

@neilo, not sure about desktop version, something cloud based could be helpful here.... for better or worse i suppose, their self employed package is reasonably priced but doesn’t offer VAT, and the next option gets expensive imo.

@Steevo, just meaning the basic option only allows 5 invoices / 5 bills ect and this would be limiting. No, hadn’t noticed the cashbook offering.. the price is right but missing the invoicing feature unfortunately.

Anyone use ‘Zoho Books’ ?

 

[Steevo]

Careful you don’t penny pinch on the software and be pound foolish.

If you need features, you have to fork out for them.

Your accountancy bill should hopefully reduce when you move to cloud based software so that could save the fee and then some!

 

[Steevo]

Careful you don’t penny pinch on the software and be pound foolish.

If you need features, you have to fork out for them.

Your accountancy bill should hopefully reduce when you move to cloud based software so that could save the fee and then some!

Not to mention the time saving from almost automated accounts.

I too was worried about the extra cost of Xero before moving...having moved, I would never go back. £108 a year is cheap for the time it has saved me, let alone my hopefully soon to be reduced accountancy bill. It's revolutionised my ability to look back at transactions/invoices too.

 

[stroller]

Not to mention the time saving from almost automated accounts.

I too was worried about the extra cost of Xero before moving...having moved, I would never go back. £108 a year is cheap for the time it has saved me, let alone my hopefully soon to be reduced accountancy bill. It's revolutionised my ability to look back at transactions/invoices too.

Keep us posted if the accountants bill drops.

 

[neilo]

I think I need to find one of these accountants that actually reduces their bill.....

 

[chipchap]

I currently use my own homebrewed spreadsheet based system for cash analysis and record keeping for VAT. I reckon all I will need is bridging software to file digitally. Has anybody found software as a one-off purchase, rather than a monthly fee?

 

[Steevo]

Keep us posted if the accountants bill drops.

I intend to.

 

[DrWazzock]

I currently use my own homebrewed spreadsheet based system for cash analysis and record keeping for VAT. I reckon all I will need is bridging software to file digitally. Has anybody found software as a one-off purchase, rather than a monthly fee?

I found some but couldn't be sure they were reputable or not so I darent press the download button in case it was a virus that took over my machine or something. In the end I just conformed and went down the accounting package route as they say that eventually income tax will also go digital and so I will be more prepared for it.

 

[Boysground]

I intend to.

My accountants bill went down after I moved to Xero. Not a huge amount but enough to notice. Also I moved from farmplan to Xero so I definitely saved money there.

Bg

 

[matthew]

Thanks all! Having a look at Kashflow—interesting !

@neilo, not sure about desktop version, something cloud based could be helpful here.... for better or worse i suppose, their self employed package is reasonably priced but doesn’t offer VAT, and the next option gets expensive imo.

@Steevo, just meaning the basic option only allows 5 invoices / 5 bills ect and this would be limiting. No, hadn’t noticed the cashbook offering.. the price is right but missing the invoicing feature unfortunately.

Anyone use ‘Zoho Books’ ?

Q/B aka Intuit : I pay £7.50 plus VAT for introductory period of 6 months, then £15 plus VAT per month.
Through an accountant you will get it cheaper, but he will be the ‘master administrator’, which means you can’t delete him if he does anything daft. As mine did. (Went digging in my accounts without permission)
NeilO loves it. I’m sort of getting there, but find it a faff. And as yet have not managed to get the VAT to agree with my ledgers. Only a few ££s and pence in one case, but irritating just the same.
I know it’s the nut on the office chair, but it does take time.

 

[Hooby Farmer]

My accountant said for the amount of business the farm does id be better to stick to excel.

 

[Little squeak]

how many features did you get for £108 a year Steevo? was that through your accountant or yourself?