Accounting Software
We'll kick straight off this week with a letter from one of my readers:
I am a keen reader of your Herald Express column and have downloaded some useful free software as a result. I was wondering if you know of any free downloads of Home Accounting software so I can manage simple income & expenditure, ability to categorise entries & bank reconciliation? Nothing too sophisticated.
John Green, by e-mail
In all honesty I am unsure where to begin; despite the fact I am self employed I have never come across accounting software that hasn't sent me running to the hills when I got down to using it. I personally get along rather well by simply using sales statistics generated without human intervention by our website, with the help of a stack of paperwork detailing our expenses and the collective date in then transferred to a Excel spreadsheet. Whilst this is by no stretch of the imagination the most organised system but then by using a few simple formula I have the information I need.
My problem locating a suitable piece of software for John has been compounded by the fact that such software seems to polarise users easily; the same piece of software will typically receive just as many 5/5 reviews as it does 1/5 reviews. I'd imagine that since accountancy software has such a steep learning curve that for everyone who gives up after two minutes, there is another that perseveres and finds the application quite capable once the surface has been scratched.
Following a fairly thorough search I have settled on Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2008. I am not overly happy with it however as although it doesn't cost a penny, this software is a huge 250mb download and this in my eyes is extreme for any software (and plain excessive for a simple bookkeeping suite).
My decision has been reached because, unlike most of the accounting software which has a habit of looking alien, this package looks and feels very similar to Office which should result in a much less steep learning curve.
Even though a more complete paid for version of the application is available, the Express version covers most imaginable needs of a home user or small business owner. You can create invoices and quotes; generate sales and returns, input bills and charges. In addition there are other more contemporary features such as eBay and Paypal incorporation. Those that are VAT registered can generate their VAT returns through the application and those with employees can take care of the Payroll. You are also able to import your existing financial data from other applications such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Money or Quickbooks along with importing and reconciling online bank statements.
To get started simply visit www.msofficeaccounting.co.uk and click the 'download free express' link and you will automatically be redirected to the download site designed for the UK version of this software complete with pound signs and UK taxation systems. It's very rare that Microsoft release anything for free that could be considered fully featured and although this application does have its faults I am confident that providing you can stomach the large download then you won't be disappointed.
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Article Tags:
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,invoices
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