What is the recommended accounting software for remote accountants?
Anita Sajkiewicz FCCA
Proactive Accountant for Irish LTD Companies | Making Numbers Simple & Helping Company Directors Keep More of Their Profits
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The best software I would recommend and I would say 99% of other remote accountants would recommend it too, is cloud accounting software.
You may be not familiar with it because when you work in the corporate sector you do not work on cloud software because it is not suitable for big organizations. It has certain limitations but it is great for small to medium organizations.
What does the cloud mean?
We use cloud technology on a daily basis so just to mention that in the cloud means that all the data is stored on a server not on your laptop, not on your computer, it's on a server in the cloud. You can access the data from any location.
If you work from your home office or if you work from a campsite, like me, or if you work from a café, or hotel you just need a laptop and access to the internet. You log into your software and everything is there.
What's the difference between desktop-based software, that you are used to?
Desktop-based software works on one machine. It has to be installed on this machine, all the updates have to be installed on a regular basis. It's costly, it's cumbersome, and you need IT support to assist you.
You do not need that for cloud software because once you pay your monthly subscription, they take care of everything. You don't need to worry about updates, you get instant support from them. Usually, they respond very quickly and this is not your worry.
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Data security is also very important.
Your cloud software provider takes care of data security while in your corporation, in a bigger organization, you work with they have either an IT security guy or an IT security department. They have to take care of it by themselves.
Which software, you may ask? There are many cloud applications on the market but I would focus on two leaders. You may start with smaller ones, like Surf Accounting, Wave Accounting, Check My Books, or Red Cloud Accounting, but when you grow your practice you will quickly discover the limitations of other not-so-robust types of software.
So I would focus on two leaders: XERO Cloud Accounting or QuickBooks Online.
XERO is more popular in the United Kingdom and Europe, Australia, New Zealand market while QuickBooks Online is more popular on the American market.
They have very similar functionality, however, my preference is XERO because I find it more user-friendly, more intuitive, and more logical when you look at how it works. It has better reporting tools and it is more suitable for small to medium businesses.
QuickBooks Online is more for smaller businesses. When you get a client with a more complex structure or more complex requirements, XERO can handle it, while QuickBooks Online does not always.
That would be my recommendation and my reasons why I chose XERO.
Both of them provide you with excellent support, an excellent knowledge base, and free training, which I would advise you to do straight away if you are planning to start a remote accounting business. You can do your advisor certificate even now, they have free online resources. You do this training online, it's free and it will get you started.
If you need some more support, grab my FREE guide which will help you make the transition from your 9-5 job to starting a remote practice and working from anywhere. In this guide?5 Steps To Start Your Remote Accounting Business?I share?my own?experience and give advice to help you get started.
Just click the link below to get it now.