Reply to: online account service inniaccounts

[JonNorris@Crunch]

Can you just offer that feature to the higher levels of service?

Yeah, the bank feeds are only for the £59.50 package and above, I'm afraid. They have certain running costs associated with them (again, because of our friends the banks) so we can't offer them on Solo.

[lithium147]

Hi everyone, ran across this thread and thought I'd drop in the official Crunch line



We're reviewing our packages right now based on customer feedback. We're not going to remove anyone from the packages they're on, we're just re-jigging things a bit.

The Barclays statement upload problem is a pain in the rear end - we have similar problems with HSBC. Our dev team build the statement uploader to recognise each bank's formats, then the banks change them and everything breaks, so we have to fix it. They change them again, we fix it again, ad infinitum. It's a problem all accountancy software providers have, unfortunately.

As was mentioned though we have bank feeds for Cater Allen (and more banks coming) which remove that particular headache. We also have a special deal with Cater Allen so our clients get free business banking.

More than happy to answer any questions you guys have about Crunch!

I think the automated bank reconciliation is a nice-to-have feature.
Can you just offer that feature to the higher levels of service?
In which case, its not a valid reason to stop the solo offering, in my view.

[JonNorris@Crunch]

If they didn't keep doing this most of us wouldn't have a contracts and you would have less business so there is an upside

Haha, touché!

[northernladuk]

The Barclays statement upload problem is a pain in the rear end - we have similar problems with HSBC. Our dev team build the statement uploader to recognise each bank's formats, then the banks change them and everything breaks, so we have to fix it. They change them again, we fix it again, ad infinitum. It's a problem all accountancy software providers have, unfortunately.

If they didn't keep doing this most of us wouldn't have a contracts and you would have less business so there is an upside

[JonNorris@Crunch]

Hi there

Hi everyone, ran across this thread and thought I'd drop in the official Crunch line

Seems like crunch have just terminated there "solo" packages for new sign ups

We're reviewing our packages right now based on customer feedback. We're not going to remove anyone from the packages they're on, we're just re-jigging things a bit.

The Barclays statement upload problem is a pain in the rear end - we have similar problems with HSBC. Our dev team build the statement uploader to recognise each bank's formats, then the banks change them and everything breaks, so we have to fix it. They change them again, we fix it again, ad infinitum. It's a problem all accountancy software providers have, unfortunately.

As was mentioned though we have bank feeds for Cater Allen (and more banks coming) which remove that particular headache. We also have a special deal with Cater Allen so our clients get free business banking.

More than happy to answer any questions you guys have about Crunch!

[lithium147]

Seems like crunch have just terminated there "solo" packages for new sign ups

[Buzby]

move to Crunch

Im probably going to join Crunch based on this - anyone care to recommend me so that we both get our Amazon vouchers...please PM me or email me at [email protected].

Cheers

I have joined Crunch and started the process to move from existing accountant. thanks everyone for recommendations, and ditto the vouchers - any existing Crunch users on this post can PM me your email address.

[captainham]

Im probably going to join Crunch based on this - anyone care to recommend me so that we both get our Amazon vouchers...please PM me or email me at [email protected].

Cheers

You cheap hussy...Amazon voucher and a bag of Skips and you're anyone's

[ecfc29]

Sounds like you and the OP can bag a voucher each via the magic of PM, perhaps...

Im probably going to join Crunch based on this - anyone care to recommend me so that we both get our Amazon vouchers...please PM me or email me at [email protected].

Cheers

[captainham]

PS Ask around where you work - if you can get a personal recommend from someone - they give you both a £25 amazon voucher. That's how I came across it - was asking around if anyone had used online payroll service. Hadn't even thought of online accounting.

Sounds like you and the OP can bag a voucher each via the magic of PM, perhaps...

[IR35FanClub]

Yes, using the £71 a month option. The software is really good, and they are constantly improving it. For example they recently added a facility to automatically add expenses to your accounts that correspond to your regular payments, in my case the direct debit that pays them and the one that goes to childcare provider.

The best feature they've added is that they can automatically pull in all your bank account transaction details from Cater Allen. You can reconcile these against accounts entries if those already exist, otherwise use them as a basis for generating the accounts entries.

To do quarterly VAT, all it takes is ten minutes reconciling bank data with accounts and/or generating any missing entries, then tick a box to say your accounts are up-to-date. The next thing that happens (from your point of view) is that HMRC collect the VAT by direct debit at the last possible date. (Inbetween, their accountants submit the returns online.)

You just reminded me to get my application off to Carter Allen - currently with Barclays and their csv statement extract kills me. The transaction references come out different to those on the PDF view. And trying to get them into crunch is a pain. This is probably the only thing in Crunch I don't like - but that's more to do with Barclays than crunch. I'm spending about 1/2 hour a month manually building a CSV by cut and pasting from the PDF! :-( In the good old days, i used to photocopy the paper statement, and go through my accounting xls and tick off each transaction with a pencil. A whole year took about 10 minutes.

In answer to previous questions... never used the expense scanner, thought it would be a great feature, but I do my expenses in batch once a month so used my A4 scanner.

To those of you who like doing your own submissions - that's kind of what Crunch does. Except it generates the info for you to review before sending it in via HMRC webservices (or whatever they use at the backend). I love it - screwed up my vat retrun a few times previously by claiming the same (£2000 of apple gear) capital purchase in 2 periods. You also get a reminder to do it. and also to chase any invoices which haven't been paid yet - or to book them in if they have - as this will affect what goes on the return. I.e you don't pay VAT on invoices that were issued in the period but haven't been paid yet. Never knew that before - but then it had never happened either.

I particularly like the invoicing feature - stick in your logo - add a footer - like please pay within 30 days to bank account 9999999 sort code 99-99-99. And the fact you can put stuff like 5 days at £1500 per day and it works out the VAT for you.

Also like the Flat rate VAT adjustment. On the Landing page you can see a figure that is your Flat Rate "Additional Profit" which you'd haven not received on the standard scheme.

The other thing that is good is the current tax and profit position. Stop you taking a dividend that is too big and which would be illegal.

Things I don't like...
Recon can get in a mess if you have two transactions on the same date - think it's fixed now as I haven't seen it for a few months.
The "pay yourself" feature can be a bit confusing to start with. It records the payments you will make - but you still need to book them in under directors withdrawals. I might have a think about this and send them a feature request. They have a wiki where people can +1 for new features - so bigger issues can get done first. (Agile dev?).

Overall - I'd recommend them as its much better then spreadsheets. And having it online means you can do it from anywhere - not just when you are back at home at the weekend.

Like another poster said - in case of supplier failure, I keep electronic copies of all divvys, invoices, tax returns etc. Download the PDF from Crunch to laptop, it then automatically backs up to Timecapsule, and to dropbox. With 4 copies in various places I'm covered for hardware, viral and accidental screw ups. Unless there's a nuclear attack that hits several major cities.

PS Ask around where you work - if you can get a personal recommend from someone - they give you both a £25 amazon voucher. That's how I came across it - was asking around if anyone had used online payroll service. Hadn't even thought of online accounting.

[IR35 Avoider]

Looks good, built in java too..

Anyone using it in anger?

Yes, using the £71 a month option. The software is really good, and they are constantly improving it. For example they recently added a facility to automatically add expenses to your accounts that correspond to your regular payments, in my case the direct debit that pays them and the one that goes to childcare provider.

The best feature they've added is that they can automatically pull in all your bank account transaction details from Cater Allen. You can reconcile these against accounts entries if those already exist, otherwise use them as a basis for generating the accounts entries.

To do quarterly VAT, all it takes is ten minutes reconciling bank data with accounts and/or generating any missing entries, then tick a box to say your accounts are up-to-date. The next thing that happens (from your point of view) is that HMRC collect the VAT by direct debit at the last possible date. (Inbetween, their accountants submit the returns online.)

[Buzby]

Crunch

Im a start up and am looking for an accountant. I have a good grasp of things but want to go for the full package i.e. accountant does tax returns, vat etc.

Thinking of going with Crunch - would you recommend them?

I have looked at online accountants and think I will be moving from my traditional account to Crunch. They get good reviews, you can submit expenses from an Iphone app and good price.

[ecfc29]

+1 on that. Likin it. Think they do it cheaper by having a 1st line set of advisors who answer the most common questions and pass you on to accounts technicians with more difficut questions, who pass you on to a proper accountant if you need specialist advice.

Try their software for free, upgrade to £9.99 if you want support or pay the full £70 odd inc VAT per month if you want accounts done too. No extra charges at year end.

Im a start up and am looking for an accountant. I have a good grasp of things but want to go for the full package i.e. accountant does tax returns, vat etc.

Thinking of going with Crunch - would you recommend them?

[northernladuk]

Dividend vouchers are just print outs, so cant you just print them out when the TAX man comes knocking?

Technically yes but also by not having them you are technically paying yourself illegal dividends.
Only needs him to see the signature is exactly the same on every copy or printer ink is slowly fading on them all to screw you.

Very bad practice carrying quite a bit of risk IMO.