Accounting software

[OriginalTouch]

I have been useing quick books for the last 10 years +

However i have not got the link to from actinic to quck books to work as yet

Does any one on here use it ? if so how does it work for you

Actinic Link works fine for me with Quickbooks, although it's true that you do have to manually input all of the products.

If your Quickbooks products are set up as sub-categories eg clothes>tshirts>ref001, then you have to complete the product reference table in the Actinic Link to say that ref001 = clothes:tshirts:ref001.

Perhaps you could tell us where exactly you have the problem and the version of Quickbooks you are using?

[Tricky]

We have just started using MYOB Accounting Plus (Mind Your Own Business) recommended by my australian accountant, very popular in the southern hemisphere.
Easy to use, and unlike Sage you can make adjustments anytime.
Handles multi currency and stock control.

http://myob.com/servlet/Satellite?ci...e=en_UK&c=Page

Why not try the 30 day trial.

[marke]

Couple of things come to mind reading this thread. Actinic link for Sage Line 50 can be made to go both ways, actinic to sage and sage to actinic. Sage can be a bit cumbersome but, once mastered it is a very powerful package.

There was a thread sometime ago regarding the maximum number of customers on QuickBooks. It was limited to 5000 customers which, if you are importing each order on a customer by customer basis you will soon reach. If you are just entering a daily sales figure into an "internet sales" account then its no problem. As I say this thread was some time ago so QuickBooks may have changed this now but it is worth asking the question if you are considering QuickBooks. At the time their support center seemed to be suggesting that to get round this problem you should take a backup of your data as an archive, then delete some of your customers to make space.

Another thing to bear in mind with Sage is that Sage has bought Protx. It is therefore reasonable to assume that there will be some close integration between line 50 and Protx in the future. I understand that work has already started on this. Clearly only relevant if you use Protx but if you do it might bring some benefits.

[Chunkford]

I've heard horror stories about sage - but then you could say the same with others when you do some digging.

Currently someone i work with is using TAS, but is now moving over to MAMUT. I've had a little play with it myself, and i must say it is very good. I like it.

[Sean Williams]

I've heard horror stories about sage -

Could you give some examples please?

[OriginalTouch]

Tried both and these were our feelings as a small business:

Positive QB, Negative Sage:

I heard that Sage is very tight on the accounting side. For example, if you made an error and you wanted to delete an invoice, you would have to create a credit note etc etc whereas Quickbooks allows you to delete any mistake and creates an auditing trail automatically in the background.

Sage can be very difficult to master as the package works on a tab basis, deals with (accounting standards) Account Numbers where as Quickbooks works as a simple to use flowchart for 'dummies'!

Using Sage means having to keep up with the latest version to keep the package up to date. Quickbooks enables you to buy a package and use it for years to come, never upgrading. Sage is expensive and will always be. Quickbooks is a couple of hundred pounds.

Positive Sage, Negative QB:

Quickbooks "Support" is atrocious and is just not worth the effort. Better to learn the intricacies yourself than call someone who knows less than you.

Quickbooks has major issues with VAT and multi-currency. There are some things you will need to manually do yourself for accounting purposes. Just use Quickbooks as an 'order inputter'.

Worldpay and Quickbooks are supposed to integrate but there are a couple of issues with sending invoice emails - again easy to overcome but manually.

Multi-user Quickbooks only allows a few users simultaneously before grinding to a halt. No good for several users.

Outcome:

Quickbooks is quick and cheap to use as a "stepping stone". Gets your business off the ground. When it can no longer handle some of the company's requirements, then invest in a better, more professional, (albeit more expensive) Sage. QB has provided us well for 8 years with only one upgrade. However, we may need to go to Sage in the future if only for its better integration with Actinic.

By the way, also tried Mamut, MYOB, TAS. - All have certain limitations and advantages. Best advice if not going with the comprehensive Sage is to make a list of your company's requirements, mult-currency, VAT, product lists etc and read the specifications. Not every package will satisfy everything.

[Sean Williams]

Thanks Sam - much appreciated.

We've been using TAS, which is almost as pedantic as Sage, so I guess we're most of the way there.

[pnagames]

thanks Sam

we are looking to go to QB for now.

the good thing is that they told us they have a 30day trial which means you can return to them the product for whatever reason from wherever you purchase it (you need to provide your invoice)

as we have an account the uk supplier we will get it from there (cheaper) and we will take it from there

we were thinking to get the basic version but we will more than likely get the premier version

[OriginalTouch]

Please bear in mind if you are needing multi-currency it is NOT included in the new version 2008.
If you need multi-currency, buy an older version (even ebay?).
If you do decide to buy, you do not have to be using the latest version of Quickbooks - better to look at the small print to see which features go with which year - changes all the time.

[george]

Good thread this, always good to see constructive discussion on stuff like accounts packages.



Now all we need is Sam to sort her avatar.

[OriginalTouch]

Why, don't you think I'm attractive enough?

[george]

I have a problem with green jumpers.

[george]

I'd like your opinion on which QB would work for us, safe to email you?

[OriginalTouch]

No problem. Make sure you send me your major requirements, based on your type of business.

[OriginalTouch]

Here is a forum for Quickbooks.

Can show everyone some of its pitfalls and advantages, as well as general business accounting advice.

http://community.quickbooks.co.uk/