Can anyone recommend some accounting software for a small, vat registered business?

[Bodkin]

I seem to have volunteered myself to be DPs accountant and he has just had to go VAT registered.

I've done small business accounts before and have used both Quickbooks and Tasbooks... but just seen the price of them - flipping heck - about £300!

Am we going to have to cough up, or are their cheaper alternatives?

Are we going to ....

I use Cashflow Manager. I find it very esy to use, it's very straightforward. Once the info from bank statement is put in, I click print and out comes all the amounts to put straight into the VAT return!

Cashflow Manager

Oooh, that looks nice and simple to use... but I am being a bit thick - is it free to download?

No its not free, I can't remember how much we paid, I think it was about £150, maybe less. We just have the Cashflow bit at the moment but I'm thinking of getting the Invoice Manager as well. I think the Invoice part is around £60.

Ah right, yes I thought that was too good to be true... just couldn't find any mention of a price on the website.

Do I just go to "downloads" and proceed from there?

I'm not sure, we bought it from our accountant so he gave us the manual and the disk. I downloaded it onto PC then phoned to register and get the activation code.

Oh, ok... I'll go to the downloads bit and see what happens.

Thanks for your help - it looks like just what I'm after

Good luck with it! It really is very easy and they have a helpline so you can't go wrong really!

Hmm, well I think the download is just a demo, but I seem to be having a few probs with it.... hey ho, have e-mailed them.

As an aside....if you are just getting VAT registered have you looked at the flat rate scheme? depending on type of business and projected turnover it can be advantageous (you charge full VAT to customers and pay over a reduced rate depending on bus type)If you register in 1st year of incorp then you can take off an additional 1% for the first year (I think) C&E website allows you to work out whether it is worth doing for you because you then can't reclaim vat on purchases under 2k

VAT return far simpler but you do still need to keep receipts etc for accounts!!!