Finance – Software solutions

When anyone starts up a business, there are various factors to consider, from funding the venture to marketing, staffing and taxes, to name a few.

Each of these areas has tailored platforms and specialists – and with this we have come to rely a great deal on technology. There are many amazing tools out there. Accounting is no different. There is a large selection of accounting programmes out there, each with their own level of complexity and abilities.

Yes, these do come with a price tag, but many of the charges are minimal and the advantages of using these programmes outweigh the costs in the long term. 

The majority of programmes link directly to your bank account and mirror the transactions, making the need to sift through paper statements to pick out your income and expenses a thing of the past. As the transactions come through within hours, it means that you and your accountant or tax consultant are getting a real time picture of how the business is tracking and, if changes are needed, they can be implemented right away rather than a year later when it may be too late. 

This is also a great advantage for keeping track of your taxes, as you can pre-empt the need to put money away for tax that may be due after a successful period of trading.

There are various additional features to many of the programmes that can assist with things like payroll, GST, stock and timesheets. While not all businesses have the same needs, there will be a programme to suit your individual needs.

Whether you are new to business or have been running a business for a while, if you have not considered an accounting programme, I suggest looking at the options available and considering how it could help you. 

If you need advice on choosing what might suit your business needs best from the wide variety that is available, I suggest speaking to your accountant or tax consultant.