I have decided to use Xero, which is an online accounting package.  My reasons for choosing this package are as follows:

 

• I can log on anywhere and work on client’s accounts

• I can give my client’s access to their accounts within xero to allow them to look at their accounts as and when required

• We can both access the client’s accounts at the same time from different places and discuss either using the telephone or skype etc

• Due to the way it has been set up, it is less time consuming entering data and preparing reports than some packages, so therefore this will ensure that my clients are not paying too much

• With Xero your data isn’t stored on your computer – if your laptop crashes, or gets lost, or stolen, all your data remains completely safe and unaffected.

• Unlike some software packages, it is a very affordable package, therefore ensuring that I don’t need to overcharge clients to cover this.

 

Compare Xero

 

Xero is the global leader in online accounting.  While older desktop software companies have struggled to move online, Xero started with a blank canvas to build online accounting right.

Xero is unique.  Xero is the only online accounting vendor that has developed accountant and bookkeeper functionality on the same platform to make it easy for advisors to make businesses grow.  And as a platform, there are over 100 solution partners that seamlessly integrate with Xero, giving customers and partners loads of choice for connected systems to make doing business even better.

 

 

My Opinion

 

I am new to Xero. I have never used an online accounting system before.  My experience in accounting software is with different versions of Sage and SAP.  I have been taking part in some webinar training sessions and I have been very impressed so far with what the package can do.  I find that I am following the information easily and the way they have created it, in my opinion is fantastic as it cuts out lots of repetitive posting.  You can post items while reconciling your bank, upload your bank, saving you posting hundreds of line items individually, it recognises previous posts and codes them for you for you to authorise.  All this saves time therefore saving my clients money and that is one of my main aims, to be an affordable bookkeeper.

 

A few examples of what it does are as detailed below:

 

The Dashboard allows you to look at the overall position of your company as soon as you log on.  It shows the position of your bank any money due to come in and be paid out.  It also has a brief summary of any accounts that you wish to keep an eye on in the ‘Account Watch list’ section.

Aged Receivable reports can be processed at the click of a button to allow my clients to see at a glance who is due money.  This can prevent further goods being sent to debtors saving my client money in the future.

This is one of the layouts of the Profit and Loss accounts.  I can also show the actual v budget, current financial year and by cost centre if applicable. It can be saved as an excel file or pdf which will allow me to e-mail it to the client as soon as it is finalised for approval.