DIY Accounting

[VectraMan]

ZedAccounts is looking pretty good I have to say. I've been having a play with the Lite version, which seems quite straightforward but can also do the year end stuff so no need for accountants at all. The only thing I've noticed that's missing is VAT cash accounting, but it wouldn't be the end of the world to not bother with that.

[ratewhore]

I think it would be overkill for contractor companies, but good if you have a small business with a couple of staff, lots of people to invoice or complicated bank reconciliations.

Is there not a HMRC tool which would suit contractors/v small businesses?

[zedAccounts]

ZedAccounts is looking pretty good I have to say. I've been having a play with the Lite version, which seems quite straightforward but can also do the year end stuff so no need for accountants at all. The only thing I've noticed that's missing is VAT cash accounting, but it wouldn't be the end of the world to not bother with that.

Thanks for the comments. The next release (probably May) will have features for VAT cash accounting.

ZED.

[diesel]

My accountant wants to put their fees up from £50 pm to £60pm, seems a bit excessive, although service is good for my LTC co. What do others pay for private accountants?

[Wanderer]

ZedAccounts is looking pretty good I have to say.

Looked OK until I read this:

Q: Is it possible to modify my company's .zed file outside of zedAccounts?

A: No, the file is encrypted and all editing needs to be done using zedAccounts.

I wouldn't want to get tied into some proprietary system that could lock me out of my accounts and I wouldn't be able to recover or export my data because it's been encrypted.

Is there a good reason for the encryption?

[zedAccounts]

Is there a good reason for the encryption?

It's to prevent ppl editing the data outside of zedAccounts and circumventing validation checks, etc. The software won't ever "lock" you out of your accounts as you can always access the information via the software.

ZED.

[Platypus]

My accountant wants to put their fees up from £50 pm to £60pm, seems a bit excessive, although service is good for my LTC co. What do others pay for private accountants?

I ditched the accountant whose fees rose steadily toward the 2K mark and now use someone who charges me £1200.

So at £60 pm it sounds to me like a good deal.

[Wanderer]

It's to prevent ppl editing the data outside of zedAccounts and circumventing validation checks, etc. The software won't ever "lock" you out of your accounts as you can always access the information via the software.

But there's no way to export a copy of the data, I could only ever view/modify it through zedAccounts? Sorry but that's no use to me.

I've got to keep my records for 6 years and zedAccounts could be long gone by then leaving me in a pickle. Quite apart from that, I would like to be able to have ownership of my own data which I don't have if it's encrypted and only accessible via a proprietary program.

[VectraMan]

But there's no way to export a copy of the data, I could only ever view/modify it through zedAccounts? Sorry but that's no use to me.

I've got to keep my records for 6 years and zedAccounts could be long gone by then leaving me in a pickle. Quite apart from that, I would like to be able to have ownership of my own data which I don't have if it's encrypted and only accessible via a proprietary program.

It's a good point, although I'd keep paper records of everything which would satisfy the 6 year requirement if the worse happened. But a print, or some other export of all the data from the ledgers would be a start.

As a software engineer I naturally distrust all software too.

[zedAccounts]

But a print, or some other export of all the data from the ledgers would be a start.

Fair point, certainly easy enough to add.

ZED.