How to choose the right computer equipment for your business to increase your productivity and efficiency without it costing the earth.
Business software helps you complete a range of tasks. Choose the right software, provide support and train your staff with our introduction.
It is highly likely that you depend on the internet for some aspects of your business. Find out how you can use the internet more effectively.
Good communication with customers, partners and suppliers is vital for business success. This summary explores business communication methods.
How would you cope if your IT system failed or was breached? We cover the main IT security issues and how to protect against them.
Good IT management can help you choose, use and implement IT. Our overview helps you manage IT in a way that maximises the return on your investment.
IT support is vital if you rely on your IT system. But how can you set up an effective safety net in case things go wrong? We explore the options.
Getting the right IT is just the first step. Appropriate training, policies and working practices can help you maximise return on your IT investment.
Accounts software helps you track and manage your company finances, ensuring you keep on top of your business accounts.
It can save you time and money by automating tasks and allows you to understand and predict your cashflow.
Unless your business processes very few transactions (ten or fewer a month), you will probably benefit from using accounts software rather than doing your accounts on paper.
Accounts software eliminates the need to enter information more than once and carries out laborious calculations automatically.
Accounts software can be used to perform these core accounting tasks:
More advanced business accounting software can carry out additional tasks like running payroll, stock control and recording purchases made through a retail point of sale system. These functions often require the accounts software to be integrated into your other business systems.
For instance, an accounts package could be tied into your website to record online sales, or could link to your customer relationship management (CRM) software so you can see which customers are most profitable.
Accounts software can be divided into three broad groups:
You can opt for traditional desktop accounting software (which you install on your computer), or online accounting software, which you log in to through a web browser. It's a form of cloud computing and a good way to get the benefits of accounts software with lower management costs. It also has the benefit that you pay on a monthly basis and can spread the cost rather than paying up front.
Online accounting software is inherently more flexible, because you can access it from any internet-connected device. Many packages can also be accessed from mobile phones.
When choosing business accounting software, build a set of finance software requirements. Consider what you want to do with the package, but also make sure it will be compatible with your existing business computer systems.
For example, will it run on the operating system you use and be able to link to your customer database? How much training will your staff need?
Accounts software publishers often produce other business software, like customer relationship management packages. These programs may be designed to link together, so consider picking a single software company and sticking with them.
If your business uses an accountant, consult them before choosing your office accounting software. It may be advisable to find a package which can integrate with your accountant's systems.
Finally, remember that your accounting software requirements will probably change as your business grows. Look for a package that can be easily upgraded as required.
