- Over at U.K. Business Forum we came across the following discussion: Clearbooks vs Quickbooks Online?
Hi all,
I wondered if someone could offer advice. I currently use Quickbooks Pro 2014 (desktop version) for our accounts but this is causing issues because we are exclusive Mac OSX users and it means we have to have a Windows PC sat in the corner for when the account needs to dial in to do our VAT returns. So, I have been looking for either a Mac solution or an online solution.
The main issue with a computer version is the accountant needing to remote access the computer to work on our accounts whereas with an online version, they just log in and away they go.
I have done many trials over the past few months and have narrowed my search down to Clearbooks vs Quickbooks online.
Clearbooks looks like it's going to cost £20+vat per month.
Quickbooks online looks like it's going to cost £13.30+vat per month.
So, on a purely cost perspective, Quickbooks would win.
Can anyone here offer a 'from experience' comparison between the two?PAIN IN THE NECK?
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Not many will have used both systems - perhaps an accountant.
I can say that ClearBooks is great. Its not just the software, its the support (free) you get with the laymans questions on how to work it!
UKBF NEWCOMER
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Thanks. There are many accountants on this forum, hence my question
I had a ClearBooks trial through our accountant but it was a bit restricted in what I could do and what I needed to ask the accountant to do.
PAIN IN THE NECK?
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My accountant is a Xero partner. I tried Xero and it was hopeless at Reverse Charge VAT. He agrees.
Do you mean that it was necessary for your accountant to do things for you - or that the trial was not good because of your accountants involvement?
I have not used any accountant at all to set up and go with CB
- Thanks x 1
UKBF CONTRIBUTOR
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Hi @lumencreative
What exactly do you need the system to do? Whilst many of the online offerings broadly handle the same things as you'd expect, some cope with certain specifics better than others.
And has your accountant specifically recommended one or another?
UKBF NEWCOMER
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The account was 'managed' by the accountant so certain features had to be enabled by the accountant if I wanted them.
UKBF NEWCOMER
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Basically, we use an online system to generate and email pro forma invoices to customers. When a customer pays, these are then converted automatically to invoices with sequential numbering, so generating the invoices isn't really an issue, however, we do need the system to be able to record the invoices.
We then would like a system that can store PDF copies of supplier invoices when we add them to the system.
We are a limited company and we are VAT registered so it needs to be able to handle VAT including reverse VAT.UKBF NEWCOMER
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I suppose the key thing to consider is I need to make a decision as to whether it's worth paying £13-£20+vat per month vs using the Quickbooks PC software we already have.
PAIN IN THE NECK?
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Understood. IMHO no need to get CB through an accountant. If you can do simple book keeping, then go direct to CB. That way you can have access to everything. If you then want to involve an accountant and let them have access (or end their access) to CB, you can choose to do that.
That is not to say an accountant is not needed. They are experts and def required at year end, but for most stuff they are not needed if you are happy with book keeping.
G
UKBF NEWCOMER
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clear books - £16 per month for 2 year subscription
quick books - £19 per month (£13.30 if you buy now without using free trial! so it says on website)
vat exclusive prices
PAIN IN THE NECK?
Posts: 3,580 Likes: 699
CB = excellent. And can send quarter return direct to HMRC
You sure this is key?
The time saving, accuracy, cloud storage, automatic back ups, access from anywhere in the world, instant reports..... and on and on all for £20 a month? Not worth dithering about.
I bet you will stop using a PC altogether and use CB to send out Quotes instead of your current method.
UKBF CONTRIBUTOR
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Understood and all do'able through Clear Books.
When it comes to document storage, I must admit I tend to stick to the likes of Dropbox, simply storing everything in 'YYMMDD Supplier' order. Easily searchable from any device and removes what could be a potential headache if you ever moved software provider. (I say 'potential' as the storage side of things isn't really something i've looked at in great detail as yet so can't comment more than that). Clear Books offer something called PDF Cubed but it comes at a cost.
I've used the desktop version of QB but not the online one. If I was comparing desktop QB to Clear Books, Clear Books would win hands down - especially on usability.
UKBF NEWCOMER
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Through the accountant, the cost was £10+vat per month (from memory) which is why I looked at it.
UKBF NEWCOMER
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Well yes, cost is key. As I said, we already have Quickbooks Pro 2014 desktop version so it's kind of a question of do we need to start paying £20 per month forever.
Yes, we would stop using a PC altogether and use whichever online version we choose but that's not really the questionUKBF NEWCOMER
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Thanks. I have to agree that I really struggled with Quickbooks in the early stages (still do to a certain extent), but it was more that I'd paid £240 (or whatever it was) for Quickbooks 2013 so was determined to use it. I got a free upgrade to 2014 before cancelling the subscription.
I guess for the document storage, we do have a business class NAS solution which could be used instead. Didn't think of what happens if we move to a different provider.UKBF CONTRIBUTOR
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...and in all honesty I couldn't tell you (although I could find out fairly easily if needed).
As a side note, i'm surprised your accountant didn't give you full admin rights during the trial - seems pretty pointless restricting certain aspects whilst you're trying to make your mind up.
Was there anything you were still unsure of come the end of the trial or was it just a case of needing to get a feel for it?
UKBF NEWCOMER
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It was more the need to get the feel of it to be honest. It's pretty much a given that all do very similar things but we're quite design conscious to be honest (being a design and hosting company) so one of the key things was what invoices would look like if we ended up moving our invoicing to Clearbooks.
I'm trying to avoid getting a trial of Quickbooks online to get the discount they're offering but might sign up with a different email account to see what it's like.
On a side note, my accountant has confirmed that Clearbooks through them is £10+vat per month so not too bad.UKBF CONTRIBUTOR
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That's very kind of your accountant to pass the saving onto you. You'll also get free bank feeds which normally cost an additional £3.50 per month.
Invoicing - there are plenty of templates on there already but if you're tech savvy you can even design your own. The email process etc works well too.
I spent close to 6 months trialling different software for my clients before taking the plunge and even then I was 110% sure until we went live for real - can you ever be?
UKBF NEWCOMER
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Just gone for a trial of Quickbooks Online and signed up for an independent trial of Clearbooks as well. I will spend this evening playing around with both (need to make a decision as vat return is due so need to get accounts up to date).
After a quick glance, there is a limited amount of flexibility with the invoice design with Quickbooks Online but the interface is much nicer. Clearbooks have greater flexibility with the invoice design but not as good in terms of interface.
Decisions, decisions
UKBF CONTRIBUTOR
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I have been using Quickbooks Pro, desktop, for a while. I hate it. If something presents a problem quickbooks finds a 'workaround' instead of correcting the software so it works properly. I hate it. haven't tried the online version, so this is probable not much help. Did I mention that i hate Quickbooks?
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
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