What bookkeeping program is good!

[karlaamaya]

Hello everyone,

For those of you that offer bookkeeping services, what programs do you use? I currently have Quickbooks but wanted to know if there is another program besides QB that I can use.

Thanks,

Karla

http://www.yourpracticaladmin.com

[Business-Bytes]

Hi Karla,
I have an accounting background so I prefer Peachtree Accounting (and if I could afford it, MAS90 or MAS200 [by the same company]). I think for most clients they prefer/use QB, though, so I will probably invest in that too, for file transfer reasons, to accommodate those clients.

[debhowardgreenleaf]

Karla: If you're going to offer bookkeeping services, QuickBooks is by far the most common program in the U.S. It will be the program that your clients are using. Even if your client hires you to do "everything" and doesn't care what program you use, their accountant might want the file at year-end for tax purposes and they will readily accept a QB file.

If you're offering online bookkeeping services, where your clients can login and enter a check they wrote or run their own reports, there's lots of choices: QB Online, Outright.com, Freshbooks.com, ClarityAccounting.com etc... But many of these are extremely limited and I wouldn't recommend Outright if you're providing professional bookkeeping services ... it doesn't allow for reconciliations among many other limitations. QB Online allows you to do a lot, but isn't cheap

Deb

[karlaamaya]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the advise.

Deb, at the present time I'm using QB simple start on line but I still don't understand how I can separate my client's information with my own. Please advise.

Thanks,

Karla

[debhowardgreenleaf]

Karla: Woah ... you will need a separate set of books for all companies. You can have many companies associated with your QB Online login. You will need one company file for your business and another company file for each of your client's companies. I usually ask my client to put the $9.95 or $34.95 on their credit card so none of those charges go through my business. At present, if you start with the free company, you can upgrade to the basic version and get three months for free before they start charging you $9.95/month. Be careful, though, as the Basic version allows you to write checks, but not track payables. Payables are only available in the $34.95/month version. My experience is that clients are SOOOO happy to have someone else taking care of the books that the little extra they pay for QB Online isn't even a consideration.

Deb

[AngelicaP33]

Karla: Woah ... you will need a separate set of books for all companies. You can have many companies associated with your QB Online login. You will need one company file for your business and another company file for each of your client's companies. I usually ask my client to put the $9.95 or $34.95 on their credit card so none of those charges go through my business. At present, if you start with the free company, you can upgrade to the basic version and get three months for free before they start charging you $9.95/month. Be careful, though, as the Basic version allows you to write checks, but not track payables. Payables are only available in the $34.95/month version. My experience is that clients are SOOOO happy to have someone else taking care of the books that the little extra they pay for QB Online isn't even a consideration.

Deb

Hey Deb, so if we don't have QB installed already-do VA's usually ask the client to pay for it? Also, which is better to get QB online or just install the QB from the CD??

[debhowardgreenleaf]

Hi, Jelly

It has been my experience that you, the VA, need to be the proud owner of QB (desktop version). Then you can offer bookkeeping services to as many clients as you would like. If you're sharing files with a client, however, you need to have the same version they have. In other words, if they're still using QB2008, you need to have QB2008. I have clients using everything from QB2006 through QB2009, so I have all four installed on my system!

If your client opts for QB Online, however, then I would make them pay for the subscription. Then you get listed as one of the authorized users. The beauty of the Online version is that you both have access to the "live" file at any time. You can use the file for data entry and reconciliations; they can run reports and check balances -- all at the same time.

HTH!
Deb

[RaquelSD]

I suggest Peachtree Accounting for anyone who has accounting background. QuickBooks is easier to use, but Peachtree is much more extensive.

[Sharon Clark]

There is also Simply Accounting which is much like QB. For ease of accessing information I use "logmein.com" which is free, this allows me to log into my clients computer remotely and work right in their QB. It is fantastic. Some versions of QB have remote access, I have a couple of clients which have this feature and it allows me to log into their computer remotely and work in their QB.

There are a lot of options out there, you will find the one that works for you.

[shadowcat]

Does anyone have any ideas for the same kind of thing for the UK - I know that Sage 50 is the industry standard but the cost is way above my limit - I have quickbrook simple start but it is out of date and there does not seem to be a 2010 version for the UK yet.