Money management software for charity

Beverley

I've just taken over as treasurer for a small charity. The current software used is Quicken but this won't run on my Windows 7 computer.

I'm looking for an accounts package that will incorporate basic sales and expenses. We don't currently employ anyone but I don't want to rule out the possibility in the future.

I'd also like to be able to import the data from Quicken to the new package.

Can anyone offer any suggestions/recommendations?

grumpycrab

Microsoft Excel?

macman

Will it run in Compatability mode?
You can still buy the US version of Quicken, as long as you're not doing international currency conversion and can live with $ signs for £ signs, then that might be the best solution?

eneville

I'd advise completely free software, HomeBank or GNUCash. There's also MoneyDance.

Beverley

macman wrote: »

Will it run in Compatability mode?
You can still buy the US version of Quicken, as long as you're not doing international currency conversion and can live with $ signs for £ signs, then that might be the best solution?

Unfortunately we tried running it in Compatibility mode and it wouldn't work.

We'd ratehr not go with the US version as we feel that if we need to download more software, it should be right - as opposed to just OK.

Beverley

eneville wrote: »

I'd advise completely free software, HomeBank or GNUCash. There's also MoneyDance.

Thanks - have you used any of these? I'm looking for redcommendations from people who have personal experience of the software so that I can compare the positive and negative aspects of each.

Beverley

grumpycrab wrote: »

Microsoft Excel?

Thanks. I use Excel for my personal accounts but need something a little more sophisticated for the Charity.

eneville

Beverley wrote: »

Thanks - have you used any of these? I'm looking for redcommendations from people who have personal experience of the software so that I can compare the positive and negative aspects of each.

Yes I use HomeBank and GNUCash on a regular basis. They both accept .qif files.

I have a complex system for exporting from my various bank accounts, normalising the data and then reading it in both these programs. I'm sure there's a better way that the way I do it, but it works for me.

I like homebank as it shows very detailed graphs, GNUCash on the other hand provides some very nice reports so I like to keep my data source as .qif rather than editing the information in either program.

John_Gray

Have a look at Sage Instant Accounts (brief review). Sage Line 50 and SagePay packages are the de facto leaders in this market in the UK, and Instant Accounts is the baby. Sage software is reassuringly expensive...

billywhizz

Which version, I'm running quicken 2000 on win7 64 bit with no issues.

hanwellmike

Microsoft are providing free versions of MS Money from their website. It's because they are discontinuing this product. They are calling them ''sunset'' versions. One is for home and the other is for small businesses. I haven't used them myself but it should be a decent program. They are American versions but I am sure could be Anglicised.

I use Excel myself for accounts for a small limited company and if you are already using Excel, then I would give it a go. One advantage with Excel is that bank downloads are likely to be compatible and basically you can do what you want with the data.

I have maybe 250-300 transactions per year to account for and I simply use Excel to categorise the Income and Expenditure. I don't do graphs and forecasts. We don't have suppliers or employees and we maintain just one current account. So quite simple for us.