www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

I have used this accounts package for some time, in it's full blown version called RetailMan when we had the shop it had POS, Barcode reading stock control and all.

I now use the simplified version for my invoices and purchasing etc, keeps a track of who's paid who hasn't etc, not that it's difficult to track them, but if you needed to it will.

It's more for the presentation of invoices, looks good (I think) and is really important.

If anyone wants to check it out there's a FREE download, and the program has no restrictions in its FREE form, all the items work but it's for a limited time till you buy a key.

Ezi Accounting for Business is the Accounts package and it's a great investment of £100. I'm not on a link to sell (you'll see there's no referral code attached on that link) I just like the package, like the developer and find the support fantastic.

Feel free to ask me about it as I've been using it for quite a while and know it quite well.

Here's an Invoice as an example of what you can produce and send to your customers. I know many of you hand an invoice in (as I used to) from a duplicate book. I still offer a receipt in a duplicate book but come back and produce a proper invoice and either drop it off or post it, for me the difference in presentation is worth it, you can also add your business cards to the envelope to allow the customer to pass your details on. It's a much more effective solution when the envelope arrives a few days after the event.

It's also a package that you can hand to your accountant and everything is in there for them, that should save you money every year end.

An interesting package - I'll give it a go.

We currently use Quickbooks but I find it far too 'involved'.

Tried QB long time ago, nice package and well respected.

I've also used Sage Line 50 for many years but again like you found it too involved and it was a horror at the shop, we found this package which lacked lots of features which we asked about and within days the developer had added them? Amazing, you ask Sage that and they'll have someone work out a quote for the work!

As I said any questions feel free to ask.

That looks really good Alan

I purchased Quickbooks a few years back and it was ok for a few days, but I used to buy from and sell to the same company.

Quickbooks would not let me buy and sell to the same company and so I ditched it

I got called by quickbooks support, so I told them that their package was crap and that I could not buy and sell to the same people.

I now use excel, but I think I'll try the software you recommend

ultimatehandyman wrote: I now use excel, but I think I'll try the software you recommend

When we (Mrs k_e and me) started self employed I made an excel spreadsheet accounting system that, whilst not bells and whistles, did all we required a that time with the upside that I understood everthing in it! This is not the case with 'bought' packages...... black magic for the most part

I use http://www.kashflow.co.uk/default_b.asp. Its designed for non accountants and is simple to use.Its a web based application so not for everyone but this also means its hard to lose all your data if your pc goes wrong with no backup.
The things i like best are that my accountant can just log in and do the work he needs to do,the emailing invoices and also the automated letters it can generate for late payers to chase them up.

Downside is its an ongoing fee but if you do it through your accountant its lower than the monthly amount.

Vat is an absolute doddlw, set up your online vat details from hmrc into thr software and you only have to click submit return for kashflow to submit your vat return online.Vat is idiot proof with kashflow.

It also allows you to track where your work is coming from per £1 spent.

Doing quotes ? then input them into the software and if you get the job you can just click to convert it to an invoice and email it or print it out.


Like the op it makes you sound like a salesman for the firm but when you get something that works well its worth shouting about.Probably because they care about their customers too and will develop addons on request.

I tried the EZI accounting package and I even printed off the instruction manual.

I can't get to grips with it and will just continue using excel as it works lol

The EZI package keeps crashing on my pc and when I try to do certain things it stops working

It has some good features though, but they need to sort out the issues with it- especially if they want people to pay for it.

Perhaps it is not compatible with windown 7

ultimatehandyman wrote:I tried the EZI accounting package and I even printed off the instruction manual.

I can't get to grips with it

What can't you get to grips with?

ultimatehandyman wrote:The EZI package keeps crashing on my pc and when I try to do certain things it stops working

What things?

ultimatehandyman wrote:Perhaps it is not compatible with windown 7

It is.

Ok. If I open up the package and click on the "sales invoices and quotations" button, then click on the link at the bottom that says "F7 invoices list" it bings up a list of invoices that I have created. There is only the one test invoice in there.

Now when I tick the check box alongside this invoice and then click on the Screen logo at the bottom I get the error message saying that the package has stopped working. I then have to close the program down.

I can print off the invoice, but I want to view it on the screen, so that I can see the changes that I make.
I have tried this several times after restarting the computer and it does it every single time.

Have posted your issue to Ezi Help-desk and here's the response (petty damn quick too).

I'll post it here in case anyone else has the same problem......

Hi 'Jaeger',

This problem has to do with the Windows Vita and 7 protection system.
The user MUST run the program as administrator (right click on the Ezi Icon, and choose Run as Administrator), this can be set permanently by right clicking on the icon, choose property and set the permissions in there.

It must just be me, but I have always been more than happy with Sage!

I know a lot hate it though, but I can never understand why

Thanks Alan, that has fixed the issue.

I'll try and have a proper go with it now for a few days