Business Software

Generali

My wife runs a business and wants me to set up an accounts and customer logging system. I would like to use free software as I feel that this would be easier than trying to set something up from scratch using Excel. Any ideas as to what are the better (or worse) packages to use?

MercilessKiller

Well if you don't already have Microsoft Access, then the Open Office database software. It's free and will allow you to keep all types of records in a full database.

If you want software dedicated to customer logging, such as an already set up template database, you'd be looking at paying for software i'd imagine.

GreenNotM

look for the post on free crm software -- either in here or the small bus/charity forum....

Hi again this is the thread been moved to here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=158926 has a couple of ideas

apintofstella

Try http://www.turbocashuk.com/

Quoting from their website:
"TurboCASH is much more than a simple 'home finances' or small business bookkeeping system (compare us to Quickbooks and Sage and see why). Small business accounting software providers typically release a low-end product for £100 that excludes such basic features as stock control. TurboCASH includes most functions a business will ever need: debtors, creditors, general ledger, full stock control, VAT accounting, invoicing, bank reconciliation, trial balance, balance sheet and income statements, full reporting and analysis, as well as mutli-company and multi-user capabilities.

TurboCASH accounting software is flexible. It can be configured for any country and any small business. We currently have chart of accounts available for free download for the UK and USA. More countries are being added continually. We have embraced the General Public License, and strive to provide powerful small business accounting software that doesn't break the bank."

If you go down this route i'd be interested to know how you get on ....

Generali

The business is a parenting advice firm (website) so I don't need any stock control or anything like that.

What I need to do is keep track of who her clients are and what they use her for. Also, I need to be able to send out invoices and keep track of whether or not the invoices have been paid. Finally, I need to keep track of the money going into and out of the business (she has advertising and marketing expenses for example) so I can do some basic accounts that her accountant can work from.

I've got pretty good Excel skills and could probably (with the help of a book) set something up there. I realise that Access is going to be the best way to keep track of who her clients are but I have had nightmares trying to use that in the past. I get very confused with the whole data relationships thing, something that is pretty much fundamental to being able to use Access.

I was wondering if there were any packages out there that are going to be easier for me to set up than trying to put together something in Excel (or possible Excel and Access if I can summon up the courage to try again with it!). My boss has let me go part time for 8 weeks but I can think of better things to do with my time than set up accounting packages!