[Rosemary]

Can anyone recommend a simple accounting package? It needs to do VAT returns and allow me to allocate invoices between different enterprises.

It also has to be completely idiot proof and easy to use.

[RUSTYME]

A bin !
Simple to use , scew up paper , aim and throw .
Job done . Also makes an excellent source of fire lighting material .

[henchard]

I always used Quickbooks for my small business. Found it very good once I'd got to grips with it's quirks. VAT returns were a doddle. I suspect that most people now go for SageOne

https://shop.sage.co.uk/sageoneaccounts.aspx


as Sage is sort of the defacto staondard like Microsoft Word.


It wouldn't be hard to set up a decent spread sheet and some people recommend this (No knowledge myself)

http://www.vtsoftware.co.uk/cashbook/index.htm

Personally I'd go down the Sage route and pay a bit more in the knowledge that your VAT ruturns are hassle free.

[GeorgieB82]

I use Quickbooks and I have no accounting background at all. VAT and end of year accounts are a doddle.

[Brucklay]

I used quickbooks when I was vat registered and found it very easy and still use it for my accounts - lots of sage versions if you want more options - personally I wanted things kept simple.

[Rosemary]

I tried Quickbooks and hated it, although it's the one my accountant recommended. I get a bit panicky out of my comfort zone - like learning new software - so maybe I didn't give it enough time. It seemed awfully complicated though.

[henchard]

I tried Quickbooks and hated it, although it's the one my accountant recommended. I get a bit panicky out of my comfort zone - like learning new software - so maybe I didn't give it enough time. It seemed awfully complicated though.

I didn't find it the most intuitive that's why I called it quirky.

However, it does all fall into place especially if you set up a mock set of accounts first (i.e. a somewhere you can do no harm) before going live with your real accounts. I don't have it now (retired) but seem to recall saving my old files when I knew things were correct then if I made real errors I could just overite the current file with the 'backup one' ( a bit like a restore point in Windows) without having to do lots of corrections.

[doganjo]

Try Liberty Accounts - £13 a month, complete support at all stages by email, text or phone, also backed up every night so you never lose anything (perhaps not necessary with Dan readily available though)  I've just gone back to work to help out a friend and fell right back into it straight away.  I

[doganjo]

I hate sage and quick books, why accountant recommend them to non accountants I have no idea!  They are both quirky and need background knowledge of book keeping and how to lay out a set of accounts to set them up.

[Rosemary]

I hate sage and quick books, why accountant recommend them to non accountants I have no idea!  They are both quirky and need background knowledge of book keeping and how to lay out a set of accounts to set them up.

I agree. My previous accountant provided a wee database that was SOOOOO simple, did VAT returns, P&L, Trading accounts and stuff. It was so simple but it was not so good for any management information - say I bought sheep, pig and poultry feed on one invoice - there was no facility to attribute these to different enterprises so I had to keep a spreadsheet as well. And I hate double work.

[Victorian Farmer]

Use Google they have all you need.

[mowhaugh]

I think Cashflow Manager might suit what you need, they also have excellent telephone support available on a yearly subscription which I think is about £70/year.

[chrismahon]

I had a package called Money Manager 6. Probably been updated now but you could do VAT and allocate different codes to items and separate them. Much simpler and cheaper than Sage -£80 I paid I think. But it won't run on a Mac, so it went with our old computer. Made my income tax returns a 15 minute job every year.

[john and helen]

we tried sage, and helen hated it, she went back to the good old book system

[doganjo]

I take it you need more than Excel?