Reply to: Cloud Accountancy Systems

[john@UKCA]

Quickfile

Would anyone even half sensible really 100% trust a free cloud based service which can presumably disappear at a moments notice?

Don't think Quickfile will disappear at a moments notice. More likely to become a subscription based software like Xero, Freeagent & Clear Books.

Was originally free for all but now free only for small businesses. Has automatic bank feed facility which is a plus.

[Fred Bloggs]

Or have a look at Quickfile which is free cloud based accounting software up to 1000 ledger entries with great support.

Would anyone even half sensible really 100% trust a free cloud based service which can presumably disappear at a moments notice?

[john@UKCA]

A free option is to use sjd spreadsheet in parallel but additional work for yourself.

Or have a look at Quickfile which is free cloud based accounting software up to 1000 ledger entries with great support.

[Raj121279]

Help Please

Crunch Accounting is simply amazing. I never worry about anything being late or worry about doing any type of return as it's all done for me. I know exactly what I can take out.

You can sign up for a demo account for so many days...

I remember those days where I would dread the end of my VAT quarter, now I actually look forward to it, honestly!

Neo

Neo, What did you end up doing with tax thing with AML and HMRC?

[jffinancial]

FreeAgent

we mainly work with FreeAgent which is a brilliant system for freelancers and contractors. We do work with Xero as well but I'd say it's more suited to small businesses as has been mentioned above. We have done a comparison of FreeAgent and Xero here if you're interested:

Xero vs FreeAgent – which is the right accounting software for you ? – Freelancer Accountants London | Contractor Accountants London

[neo222]

Crunch Accounting is simply amazing. I never worry about anything being late or worry about doing any type of return as it's all done for me. I know exactly what I can take out.

You can sign up for a demo account for so many days...

I remember those days where I would dread the end of my VAT quarter, now I actually look forward to it, honestly!

Neo

[morf]

A free option is to use sjd spreadsheet in parallel but additional work for yourself.

[JonNorris@Crunch]

Uniquely it has a real time CT predictor and also has a tax timeline which gives an at-a-glance overview of what's due and when.

FreeAgent is great, but that's not unique. We and a few others have done that for quite a while.

[garethevans1986]

We use Xero, love it. Also has a .NET API too

GE

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Xero is great. But for the typical contractor probably FreeAgent is better. I'm certified in both and so deal with both day-to-day. Xero has more bells and whistles which may be more relevant to more complicated businesses. Freeagent on the other hand is exactly what is required. Uniquely it has a real time CT predictor and also has a tax timeline which gives an at-a-glance overview of what's due and when.

That said, if you're going with Nixon Williams you'd be as well to stick with their system. If they're as good as they appear you'll not leave them anyway.

[tractor]

...

Cloud accounting seems to gaining momentum now.

Not used them myself, can't give any opinions, but 'heard of':
1) Xero (www.xero.com/uk/)
2) crunch (www.crunch.co.uk)

From the small business (SewLomax Ltd) video on the Xero web site:
"Xero has totally changed how we do our accounts, it's simply, you don't need to have any background in accounting, it means we
have reliable figures to look at, we also use it for invoicing, projecting cashflow, see the figures in a very simple way"

I suspect some (many?) accountants are reselling the Xero service. Just watched the 'for accountants' video on the Xero site
... "Work collaboratively, build relationships with clients to grow their business, and bill not for your
hours but for your skills, you're accountants, now get out there and make it happen"

I use Xero. One touch VAT Returns, no CT returns yet but then I always have the accountant produce those and make the returns simply because I am not qualified. I do all the day to day accounting and VAT, accountant answers the occasional question and does the returns.

Xero is great for me and the customer service is pretty good and quick too.

[SunnyInHades]

Cloud accounting seems to gaining momentum now.

Not used them myself, can't give any opinions, but 'heard of':
1) Xero (www.xero.com/uk/)
2) crunch (www.crunch.co.uk)

From the small business (SewLomax Ltd) video on the Xero web site:
"Xero has totally changed how we do our accounts, it's simply, you don't need to have any background in accounting, it means we
have reliable figures to look at, we also use it for invoicing, projecting cashflow, see the figures in a very simple way"

I suspect some (many?) accountants are reselling the Xero service. Just watched the 'for accountants' video on the Xero site
... "Work collaboratively, build relationships with clients to grow their business, and bill not for your
hours but for your skills, you're accountants, now get out there and make it happen"

[alphadog]

We can

RTI PAYE, VAT & Annual accounts are all generated and filed automatically through HMRC's API (although they're still manually checked and signed off by accountants).

We can't do Self Assessments yet but we're hoping to build that at some point. In the meantime I've heard very good things about gosimpletax.com

Let me know when your robot figures out how to do Self Assessments and I'll consider sending my business your way

[Maslins]

I use Nixon Williams as my accountant. They have an online system which I use for tracking my business. However I am concerned that if I leave them, I don't know if I could take my data with me.

Is it worth setting up another cloud based system, as well as Nixon Williams?

What do you all do?

I wouldn't bother running something else in addition to NW's offering...just means you're doubling your bookkeeping work, and of course paying for an independent bookkeeping package unnecessarily.

If the above is a big concern to you, might be worth looking at a generic package like FreeAgent. That way you'll find dozens, if not hundreds of different accountants who work with it. You can therefore potentially change accountant without changing bookkeeping software.

[JonNorris@Crunch]

I might be mistaken, but last I heard, there aren't any cloud software packages that can prepare and submit annual accounts and tax returns yet. When that happens, I might take another look at it.

We can

RTI PAYE, VAT & Annual accounts are all generated and filed automatically through HMRC's API (although they're still manually checked and signed off by accountants).

We can't do Self Assessments yet but we're hoping to build that at some point. In the meantime I've heard very good things about gosimpletax.com