Accounting/bookkeeping software

[The Yeti]

Hi Guys

I know this isnt the typical forum for suck a post but I hope some one can help me.

Some of you may or may not know but I am tied up with a NSW Rural Firebirgade any how to cut along sotry short we have changed treasurers and now find our selfs in need of a Accounting/bookkeeping software package, as this is a volantery organisation the least amount of $$$ spent the better so does any one know of any free downloads os easy to use packages?

Thanks

Mike

[jonk]

This one from MYOB is only $100

http://www.myob.com/servlet/Satellit...n_AU&c=Product

[xbgs351]

I only have experience with MYOB, but I find it very easy to use.

[OldManGhia]

Do you really need a commercial product for a rural fire brigade? The Tax Office have a simple package that is free. Called eRecord it may be all you need.

http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/pat...03_003_002_001

[Abacus]

One of the most important issues that you have to consider is the availability of people who can use the program.

This probably makes MYOB your best choice. MYOB is by no means the best little accounting app out there, but it is one of the easiest to use, and most importantly, bookkeepers who can operate it are pretty much falling out of trees. This means that if you have a change in treasurer or bookkeeper, his/her replacement will be up to speed pretty quickly.

MYOB comes in a few flavours. They all basically use the same data file, but as you go lower in the range the available feature set is more and more restricted.

A comparison chart is here:

http://myob.com/servlet/Satellite?ci...n_AU&c=Product

The bottom of the range is Business Basics. My experience is that this package is really "too basic" for pretty much anybody who needs to track money. It may be adequate for your purposes.

I don't know whether you actually need to track people you owe money to (fuel suppliers, etc), or who owes you money (sponsors, government). If you do need to keep an eye on this stuff, it is worthwhile upgrading to MYOB Accounting.

There is really no point going higher unless you have paid employees. Being a Rural Fire Service I'm guessing you don't. However, if you only have 2-3 paid casuals it's probably worthwhile computerising your payroll to keep track of PAYG (used to be group tax) and superannuation obligations. This would mean upgrading to MYOB Accounting Plus.

[normxb]

I've been out of touch with Acc. software for a while , but is "Quicken" or "Quickbooks" (I think it was called) still around . I was pretty inexpensive , would that do the job/has anyone used it ?

MYOB is very good , most businesses around here use it.

[CAMS290]

I use a program called "Cashflow Manager", very easy to use.

[jonk]

Don't ever use eRecord from the tax office ! I've had to re-install it back onto a client's computer for his cafe and each time it never ever goes smoothly.

Reason I mentioned MYOB is you get superior custy service, where as the tax off. will take a day to answer if your stuff is techy related.

Plus all accountants I've heard of insist of MYOB because it's cheap for them.

[OldManGhia]

Originally Posted by jonk

This one from MYOB is only $100

http://www.myob.com/servlet/Satellit...n_AU&c=Product

That link shows a product worth $349 so I dont know where you get the $100 from. The cheapest MYOB product is $149.

Also, MYOB support is not free. They charge by the minute unless you have a support plan which you pay for. They also badger you to update to the latest and greatest version everytime there is an update. I received 4 faxes of 2 pages in a two week period recommending I upgrade, and would probably have continued if I hadn't contacted them and told them to knock it off. They also suggested there were changes to the BAS coming up that you should prepare for. I contacted my accoutant and he was not aware of any pending changes that would require me to update my software.

Edit:
I forgot to mention that MYOB has to activated over the internet not just once but every six months or so. If you don't you can view your accounts but not change them. To bad if you don't have an internet connection.

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by normxb

I've been out of touch with Acc. software for a while , but is "Quicken" or "Quickbooks" (I think it was called) still around . I was pretty inexpensive , would that do the job/has anyone used it ?

MYOB is very good , most businesses around here use it.

Yes QuickBooks is still around. I've been using QuickBooks since 1997, and I'm running QuickBooks Premier 2005-06 right now. It's my tool of choice. In most respects it is a superior product to MYOB. In particular, the reporting facility within Quickbooks kills MYOB.

The problem is finding pilots who can fly it. In the hands of an untrained booky who doesn't have a firm grasp of their own limitations, things can turn downright nasty. Of course, if your booky is switched on and on the ball, QB is marvellous.

In my experience the great untrained masses just can't cause as much expensive rectification work if they are using MYOB.

Quickbooks is overkill for The Yeti's requirements.

Quickbooks should not be confused with Quicken. Same company, different product line. Quicken is a sub-average personal finance tool, and it's rubbish.

Originally Posted by CAMS290

I use a program called "Cashflow Manager", very easy to use.

The link to cashflow manager is here:

http://www.cashflow-manager.com/aust...cts-pc-cfm.asp

Cashflow Manager is part of a larger suite of apps (invoice manager, etc). I've never used it. I dare say, if you are up and running with it, it may do the job, unless you want to trace payables and receivables (see my earlier post).

The problem is that whilst an app may well be easy to use if you've taken the time to learn it, most people's eyes glaze over at the prospect of facing the unknown, particularly if they are already familiar with a known quantity. Take a Rural Fire Brigade service, where I imagine the post of treasurer or bookkeeper could rotate over time, and it would be worthwhile picking a product that more people feel comfortable with.

Originally Posted by jonk

Don't ever use eRecord from the tax office ! I've had to re-install it back onto a client's computer for his cafe and each time it never ever goes smoothly.

Reason I mentioned MYOB is you get superior custy service, where as the tax off. will take a day to answer if your stuff is techy related.

Plus all accountants I've heard of insist of MYOB because it's cheap for them.

I concur with what jonk says.

Originally Posted by AU98C-Wagon

That link shows a product worth $349 so I dont know where you get the $100 from. The cheapest MYOB product is $149.

Also, MYOB support is not free. They charge by the minute unless you have a support plan which you pay for. They also badger you to update to the latest and greatest version everytime there is an update. I received 4 faxes of 2 pages in a two week period recommending I upgrade, and would probably have continued if I hadn't contacted them and told them to knock it off. They also suggested there were changes to the BAS coming up that you should prepare for. I contacted my accoutant and he was not aware of any pending changes that would require me to update my software.

Edit:
I forgot to mention that MYOB has to activated over the internet not just once but every six months or so. If you don't you can view your accounts but not change them. To bad if you don't have an internet connection.

No, MYOB ain't cheap. But does it represent value for money? I think it does.

The cost of updating your software is just part and parcel of system maintenance. Sure, I get irked at the way MYOB (and QB) hard code each years tax rates into their software, but bugger it, it still beats the daylights out of doing the work in an Exel spreadsheet. I won't do work for prospective clients who don't keep their software reasonably up to date. It's just not worth my time.

Whilst MYOB's support isn't cheap, It isn't what I would call particularly over the top. Have you priced a Microsoft support call lately? And MYOB would have to be the one package that requires sod-all support. Neither I nor any client that I know of has had to log a support call to MYOB in years.

Oh, and you don't need an internet connection to activate your data file. You can do it by phone. Takes about 15 seconds.

[OldManGhia]

Originally Posted by Abacus

Oh, and you don't need an internet connection to activate your data file. You can do it by phone. Takes about 15 seconds.

Once maybe I'd accept that but every few months no way. They are so paranoid your going to rip them off its rediculous. I wont be upgrading and as soon as I can find a suitable replacement I'll ditch MYOB all together.

[rodderz]

I use Quickbooks Accounting Small Business, I was told MYOB was easy but i got the Quickbooks as my accountant has it, and I can just put my memory stick into his and bring it up. Takes some getting used to but get an accountant to run through the tax codes and it's a sinch. All I do is record all dockets to suppliers, income & expenses with the name or company associated with it and it records everything. From job reports to profit/loss, and only takes a few mins to get the BAS statement up

[jonk]

Originally Posted by AU98C-Wagon

That link shows a product worth $349 so I dont know where you get the $100 from. The cheapest MYOB product is $149.

I didn't go for heavy checking but I thought it was the $100 product which has been discounted for a while at OfficeWorks.

And yeah Quicken is good too.