CM Accounts

[HSMM]

Do any of you use special accounting software for your accounts?

I have a mixture of current/savings/credit accounts and I used to use Microsoft Money. This doesn't work for Windows 7 and my old laptop is about to die.

(I am going to try and find 'Geeky Stuff' to post this on too)

Sage instant may be worth a look? Might be over kill but would last you.

I have been ploughing through the SAGE website and trying to understand it, but I will have another look. Thanks mummyosaurus.

www.childsplayaccounts.co.uk
Fabby excel spreadsheet created by childminder Lisa Finlay for CM's. Its very simple to use. Just a one off cost £15 last time I looked and then can reuse every year. For a small fee Lisa can also add personalisations if needed eg I asked for an extra column in the expenses list as it was something I needed separate figure for for my Early years funding.

I think I could probably write an Excel spreadsheet myself, but thanks for the idea.

I'm a complete technophobe and still use the good old paper method! Usually between 21st and 31st January.................

Babysdays now have an accounting section as well as everything else.

I use QuickBooks very easy to use and hubby installed for me think it was free.

It's more than just a straight spreadsheet HSMM - worth looking at the website anyway.
On the sheet there is an area for listing expenses by date & type. An area for journeys. An area for meals. An area for utility bills. An area for your working hours. An area for income. All calculations are made & transferred to the summary P&L sheet. The % you can claim for utilities & wear & tear is automatically calculated & factored in. On another sheet you enter the details of each family on your books (this transfers to the income area too). This generates a summary sheet (like an invoice) for each family showing payments made (from the income you input on the other sheet)
On the P&L summary it shows in a pie chart what proportion of your money went where as well as showing you your total income/expenses/profit.
I don't use all aspects of it but it saves me hours (and I'm one of those who leaves her accounts till the last minute lol)
I could write a spreadsheet but it would take me hours so I felt the fee well worth it - and no I'm not on commission :)

Thanks ChildrenAtHeart, I will have a look (and perhaps steal a few ideas).

cleverchick - QuickBooks was one of the ones I found on a search engine, but I had never heard of them and though they might be a spy trying to steal all my really exciting banking data :).

underpaidandoverworked - seriously considering going back to a shoe box full of receipts! (but hubby loves his pie charts and loves me being able to find the receipt for the thing we bought 3 yrs ago - perhaps he should do the accounts)

I've used childsplay accounts from the off and although I'm good at putting spreadsheets together, I just don't have time to do one like childsplay, I LOVE it. I was lucky though, I bought it when I started childminding and it was a lot cheaper, I'd still pay £15 for it now though.

I'm an accountant; I've seen dozens of accounting systems and hundreds of 'home grown' spreadsheets. For most small businesses I recommend either an online system - my favourite (and one of the cheapest) is Accounts Portal or VT Cashbook which is free.

But I have seen childsplay accounts and would recommend it for childminders over anything else :)

The VT cashbook looks like it might do the job.

Thanks mranchovy