What can accounting packages do?
Accountancy packages perform a range of accounting and bookkeeping functions to enable you to keep accurate accounts, storing your financial information in one place and helping you to manage the data effectively.
The range of tasks available varies depending on the package, but common features include recording and categorising transactions, recording expenses, managing payroll, submitting accounts, running financial reports and connecting directly to your business bank account.
Advantages of using an accounting package
This range of features offered by accountancy software means they offer many and varied feature benefits and can provide advantages to businesses:
- Saving time by making routine financial tasks easier
- Quickly generating key financial reports for timely data to inform decisions
- Storing all financial data securely in one place, but allowing easy access for multiple authorised users
- Helping maintain mandatory records and ensuring the data in them is accurate
- Making processes simpler, such as payroll, P&L accounts, invoicing
- Improving insight into financial management by collating key data
- Making tax filing easier
- Reducing errors with clear input tools and good reporting that is easy to review
- Providing additional support with accountancy information and regular updates
- Flagging up deadlines
How to choose the right accounting package
When you begin researching accounting packages it can seem overwhelming to decide which of the many available is best for your business.
Beware of lots of “bells and whistles” you pay for but never use. Here are some considerations to narrow down the options:
Who will be using the software?
The number of users and skill levels is important.
The package should suit users who aren’t professional accountants but need to produce legally compliant accounts.
What does your business need?
Smaller businesses may have less complex needs than larger organisations; retail businesses may value stock control function more than a business consultant, for example.
There are some basic accounting requirements for all businesses but, beyond that, it comes down to individual needs. Pick a package that meets them without being loaded with unnecessarily features.
Scalability
Don’t just buy for now, consider your plans for growth and how the new software will support your business in the longer term.
Easy to use
If the package isn’t user friendly, staff will be reluctant to use the software and your business won’t benefit fully. You may also have to invest more in training or hiring an expert user.
Budget
This will also determine which accounting packages are available to you, so it’s important to understand any hidden costs in set-up or running the package.
Support for compliance requirements
Will the package meet HMRC and other legal requirements for business accounting, especially as “Making Tax Digital” is being rolled out by HMRC.
The most popular accounting packages
For small businesses in the UK there are several accounting packages that prove popular with users.
Each has something slightly different to offer but all are aimed at smaller businesses and support users with limited accountancy experience:
- QuickBooks Online: Used by many accounting professionals it offers a good basic plan as well, so it’s scalable and easy to integrate with third party apps.
- Xero: Easy inventory managements, with a good mobile app and payroll functionality. Very good for small businesses looking for a simple solution.
- FreshBooks: Highly customisable invoicing but also offering a broad range of other features. Has a user-friendly interface.
- Sage: Known for its good customer support, it offers good value for its range or features and a good user interface.
- Wave: Creates simple invoices and supports an unlimited number of users with no transaction or billing limits. It can also manage several businesses in one account.
Finding the right support
No matter what sort of software you use, you need the right expert support to help you get the most form it.
At Syn-Star we work on a daily basis with our partner clients to help meet their IT needs, including finding the right software, installing, training and maintenance.
We know there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution and we work closely with our partners to understand their business needs and give tailored service.
If you want to introduce accounting software to improve your financial management but are unsure where to start, contact our team to explore which may be the right accounting software for your business.