Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Xero has overhauled its partner programme to stop subscription poaching "zombies", and will introduce a new code of conduct from 2015

iStart.com writes: Xero has announced an overhaul of its partner programme, which will be trialled in Australia before being rolled out internationally. Xero Australia managing director Chris Ridd, speaking at Xerocon in Sydney last week, said that the new model would reward partners which engaged in training and quality service delivery, rather than just those which had the greatest number of customers.

In the past he said there had been complaints about partners being zombie-like in their efforts to poach clients from other Xero partners. “We don’t want to create org-hungry zombies,” said Ridd.

The new regime comes into effect next April, which he said would allow partners to accrue the points required in order to acquire one of four status levels.

Xero also plans to introduce a new code of conduct for its partners in 2015 that will guard against instances of companies holding users’ data hostage in order to settle payment disputes. This has occasionally been a problem in the past when the Xero subscriber who accesses the data may not be the person or company which owns it.

Ridd said that the new code would guard against such disputes. “Xero will not tolerate SMEs being denied access,” he said, adding that this should be baked into the terms and conditions and letters of engagement sent out by Xero partners.

Speaking at Xerocon, the company’s annual conference, in Sydney last week, Ridd said that there were now 147,000 customers of Xero in Australia. 

It’s gunning for a whole heap more, and last week announced an arrangement with Telstra to offer a six-month free trial of Xero for SMEs as part of the Telstra T-suite range of software-as-a-service due to kick off in September.

The company also announced a small business marketplace with around 350 different add-on solutions for Xero users. 

A partnership with insurance firm CGU has also been flagged which will allow Xero users to opt into a service that lets CGU to interrogate a company’s Xero data to determine workers’ compensation premiums for the business.

It wasn’t all beer and skittles for the company however as the Australian Financial Review newspaper last week ran an interview with Select Equities analyst Mark Southwell-Keely who said that the company’s shares were now priced at more than double what they were really worth, and forecast that shares would come back to earth with a bump as cloud accounting competition from the likes of Reckon, Intuit and MYOB took hold.
Posted on 4:23 PM | Categories:

Xero : and eBillity Streamline Time Tracking and Billing for Legal Professionals

Xero, a global leader in online accounting software, and business software provider eBillity, today announced a partnership that gives lawyers time back in their day to focus on servicing their clients. The partnership integrates Xero's accounting software with eBillity's Time Tracker to create an integrated cloud-based solution for easily managing a firm's finances, tracking billable time and streamlining invoice creation.

eBillity's Time Tracker enables lawyers to record their billable time and expenses at any time from anywhere and through any device and includes features specifically for lawyers such as pre-loaded ABA billing codes and LEDES-formatted invoicing. With this integration, lawyers can now save time by automatically syncing this data with Xero's online accounting platform, making invoicing and payment processing a seamless process. Prior to this integration, users inefficiently spent time manually re-entering invoice data from eBillity into Xero in order to keep their books up to date.

"As more attorneys and law firms move their financial infrastructure online with our accounting platform it's important that we support the best-in-class tools that they rely on every day such as eBillity's Time Tracker," said Jamie Sutherland, President, Xero U.S. "With this new integration, lawyers can spend less time on back-office tasks and focus more on serving their clients."

"Both eBillity and Xero were built from the ground up for the cloud and today's mobile work world," said Murray Hidary, eBillity CEO and co-founder. "With our integration, attorneys and law firms can now get the latest financial management and time-tracking technology as one integrated solution to efficiently manage their firm's finances and cash flow."

eBillity's Time Tracker is available to download from the Xero Add-on Marketplace.
About eBillity

eBillity develops cloud-based business software for small and mid-sized businesses. Its flagship product Time Tracker is designed for professional services providers such as lawyers, engineers, accountants, and business consultants who bill for their time. Time Tracker and Time Tracker + Billing integrate with major business solutions including Xero, QuickBooks and Concur to help individuals and firms streamline their business and accounting practices. Headquartered in New Jersey, eBillity was founded in 2009 by entrepreneurs Douglas Dweck andMurray Hidary, who previously built Dice, the leading career site for technology and engineering professionals. More information about eBillity is available at http://www.ebillity.com
Posted on 4:18 PM | Categories:

Digital First writes: Can Xero Bring Clarity to the Chaos of Add-Ons?

Inbal Steinberg for Digital First writes: Xero has 350 add-on programs with nine new ones added in the past three weeks. That is three new programs each week!
It is virtually impossible for accountants to keep on top of new add-ons and have time left to do their accounting too.
The updated marketplace and a better search option are a welcome addition, but will it make a substantial difference?
Yes – if you have the time, you can test features and functionality by getting a trial account. But you will find it quite hard to access critical factors.
  • How financially stable is the company behind the add-on program?
  • Does the developer have the resources to keep up with new technology?
  • Can you measure the maturity and stability of the software?
  • How well does the company understand the intricacies of the business process?
  • Can you synchronise data in all add-ons or are you duplicating lists of customers, products and prices?
The last point is the most important. People often overlook the fact that they will now have lists of data in so many systems and not all data will get automatically synced between them. A very common scenario is to connect Xero + Unleashed + Vend + Magento + Google Contacts or a CRM.
Add-ons are still not purchased through a unified platform, like iPhone or Android apps, which is why there is no central location for reviews and real user discussion.
If Xero creates a real app store, information about the number of users and their level of satisfaction will naturally surface and become transparent.
And until then? Probably not to worry if you are looking at areas that are not the lifeblood of a business.
But for any core systems it is definitely worth investing time and effort in a thorough exploration of the solution first.
Inbal Steinberg is a cloud solution specialist with cloud integrator Convertworx.
Digital First sums up a philosophy that suits the challenge facing business owners trying to keep up with the pace of technological and social change. In the same way that websites are often designed “mobile first”, so businesses should be built “digital first”.  Digital First was formerly named BoxFreeIT.com.au from its launch in June 2011 until 28 July, 2014.
Posted on 11:56 AM | Categories:

What tax deductions do you claim as an employed software developer?

Over at Quora we read, "As a professional software developer who receives a W2 from my employer, I'm never sure what sort of tax deductions I can put on my taxes. Throughout the year I make purchases to enhance my skills as a developer, such as: technical/business books, new devices (tablets/phones) and magazine subscriptions. Are these expenses viable deductions to claim on my taxes? What other deductions do you claim?"

Response:

Mike Emeigh replies: You can deduct unreimbursed employee expenses on Line 21 of Schedule A to the extent that those expenses exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income. See Publication 529 (2012), Miscellaneous Deductions for a detailed description of what this entails. This rarely comes into play for most people because they don't have sufficient unreimbursed expenses to reach the 2% limit, and even if they do it only matters when they have enough other deductions to use Schedule A.

As to your specific questions:

You can deduct work-related education expenses (including books) when those expenses are for education that is either:
  1. needed to maintain or improve skills required by your present job, or
  2. required by your employer to keep your salary, status, or job, and the requirement serves a business purpose of your job.
You cannot deduct work-related education expenses when that education is needed to meet the minimum requirements of your job, or when that education qualifies you for a new trade or business (even if you have no intention of entering that business).

You can deduct the cost of subscriptions to professional journals and trade magazines related to your work.

Normally, you would not be able to deduct the cost of new devices (such as tablets and smartphones) unless you are required to purchase or own them as a condition of your employment and your use of them is for the convenience of your employer. You would normally depreciate these over the useful life of the device, rather than deducting them, if they qualify.

You can deduct membership dues for professional organizations if those memberships help you carry out the duties of your job.

You can deduct the cost of tools and supplies (such as paper and printer ink) that you purchase and that you use on the job.
Posted on 9:36 AM | Categories:

MerchantMaverick: Xero VS QuickBooks Online / Winner: XERO

Katherine Miller for MerchantMaverick.com writes: Xero VS QuickBooks Online

xero-logoVS
intuit-quickbooks-logo
Winner: XERO

Overview:

Intuit has dominated the accounting software market for years. Depending where you get your numbers, estimates put the company at 80-90% market share for small business accounting in North America. QuickBooks is a household name, with a reputation for reliability. It’s only relatively recently that the competition has begun to heat up – and it’s happening in the rapidly expanding field of cloud accounting software. Specifically, it’s happening with Xero.
Developed in New Zealand and initially geared toward the Australasian market, Xero now serves 250,000 businesses in more than 100 countries. The company claims it provides “Beautiful Accounting,” focusing on ease of use, solid functionality, and an ambitious development schedule – product updates come out every 3-6 weeks. While QuickBooks Online remains a more popular program (serving 575,000 businesses, according toan article in CPA Practice Advisor), Xero is beginning to look like a serious competitor … especially now that they are venturing into areas in which QuickBooks once had a near-monopoly.
So how do the two programs line up? Let’s take a look.

Web-hosted or Locally Installed:

Both Xero and QuickBooks Online are cloud-based. Both include free mobile apps for iPhone/iPad and Android devices.

Users and Permissions:

Winner: Xero
Xero allows for unlimited users, no matter what your subscription plan. QuickBooks Online allows for 1, 3, or 5 users, depending on the size of your plan. (You can also grant access to up to 2 accountants, who do not count toward your user limit.)

Pricing:

Winner: Tie
Long story short: QuickBooks wins on the low end of the spectrum, the programs are neck-and-neck in the middle, and Xero wins on the high end. If you want to allow clients to pay invoices online, QuickBooks charges higher credit card processing fees across the board.
While it can be hard to determine comparable pricing due to different plan offerings, the following chart should provide a rough idea of how the plans line up:
Plan TypeXeroQuickBooks Online
BasicStarter ($9)Simple Start ($12.95)
Mid-levelStandard ($30)Essentials ($26.95)
Plus ($39.95)
With basic payroll, 5 employeesStandard ($30)Essentials & Payroll ($53.95)
Plus & Payroll ($66.95)
With full payroll, 10 employeesPremium 10 ($70)Essentials & Payroll ($73.15)
Plus & Payroll ($86.15)
If you need the bare minimum, the QuickBooks Online Simple Start option beats out anything Xero has to offer (Xero’s Starter package includes only 5 invoices/month; QuickBooks gives you unlimited invoicing with every subscription). However, above that level, Xero tends to offer more bang for the buck. Nearly all its features are included in its Standard Plan, whereas with QuickBooks you’ll need to upgrade to Plus for job costing, purchase orders, or 1099s.
If you plan to use integrated payroll, Xero is a much better deal … but only if you’re in a country and/or state where the company offers payroll. Currently Xero offers payroll in only 7 U.S. states.
Both programs offer you an opportunity to let your clients pay invoices online. Xero does this through payment processors such as PayPal and Stripe; you can choose whichever you wish. QuickBooks restricts its users to its own service: QuickBooks Payments, which has higher credit card processing fees than most other services (3.4% + $0.25 vs. Paypal’s 2.9% + $0.30).

Ease of Use:

Winner: Xero
Xero is remarkably easy to use. It’s so well designed that I actually find myself smiling when using it … and that’s praise I don’t readily give to accounting software, especially after I’ve been testing it for a few hours. The layout makes sense, navigation is generally efficient, and the knowledge base is comprehensive and well-organized.
QuickBooks Online is laid out quite intuitively, but since the redesign last year, the program has suffered from a lack of efficiency, along with some minor bugs. Navigation sometimes includes unnecessary steps and the knowledge base is extremely limited, consisting of only 24 articles.

Product Features:

Winner: QuickBooks Online
Xero and QuickBooks Online are at the front of the pack when it comes to cloud-based accounting for small businesses and start-ups. However, neither of them is a perfect solution, and in the area of feature selection, QuickBooks edges ahead.
Xero does not have a quick, easy way to send either receipts or quotes. You can use a workaround, but it’s clunky. In addition, Xero does not support inventory from an accounting standpoint; you can keep a list of what’s in stock, but if you sell 40 widgets, Xero will not automatically make the necessary COGS/Asset entries for you. That’s a problem. You can use an add-on, but it costs extra. Inventory support and quotes are both expected later this year, but as of right now, they’re not there.
QBO isn’t perfect either. You can’t manually mark an invoice as sent, which is frustrating if you mail your invoices rather than sending them electronically. Many features which come standard with any version of Xero are only available in the Plus version of QuickBooks (e.g. the expensive one). And some Xero features, such as expense reporting and multiple currencies, aren’t supported at all.
In the end, QuickBooks Online edges ahead in this category … though which program is best for any given company will depend on that company’s needs. [snip].  The article continues @ MerchantMaverick.,com, click here to continue reading...
Posted on 9:28 AM | Categories:

Megi Software: Cloud Accounting / The Quickbooks - Xero for China / Develop Add-ons & Beta Test!

Megi, cloud accounting for your business in China.  Business Software with Chinese Characteristics: We are building Megi or “美记” to simplify the way businesses keep their books up-to-date and to give them the tools to run better and more profitably.  Megi is being designed from the ground up to meet the specific demands of running a business in China. Here are a few of the fresh features it will offer.
  •  -Secure online access from anywhere
  •  -High quality add-on & apps
  •  -Deep integration with local service providers
  • Fresh & Modern Approach

    With Megi, we are making accounting simpler yet more powerful for thousands of small businesses in China. We are taking day-to-day financial management activities and we are making them easier to do for owners, managers and even accountants.  Megi is bringing a fresh alternative to the clunky, buggy and frustrating accounting software that modern Chinese businesses have been stuck with.
    •  -Automated Tasks & Activities
    •  -User-friendly & Beautiful Interface
    •  -Connected Services
    •  -Fully China Compliant

Develop Add-ons For Megi

Integrate your existing application with Megi or develop new add-ons for millions of Chinese businesses. Join our Developer Program for free.
    • Become a Beta Tester

      Try Megi before it is released publicly and help us build the best accounting app ever. As a beta tester, you will get start using of Megi for free.

      Find out about our vision to create better business opportunities for accountants, business advisors and community organizers.
    • Join the Affiliate Program

Posted on 6:15 AM | Categories:

QuickBooks Integration in Agile CRM / Free for up to 2 users!

Agile CRM writes:  Many modern businesses rely on Intuit’s QuickBooks software to manage all of their finances, from payments and invoicing to payroll and bookkeeping, and we’re excited to announce a new CRM integration with the popular online accounting solution.

Agile CRM’s QuickBooks plugin lets you manage payments and invoices directly from contact pages in the CRM. The plugin also displays past invoices, with itemized details, right on contact pages in the CRM. It’s a tremendously useful way to stay up-to-date on your customers’ financial relationship with your company.

As with many Agile CRM plugins relating to contact data and customer histories, the QuickBooks plugin takes the form of an interactive widget. Once you authorize Agile to integrate with your QuickBooks account, the widget automatically pops up on contact pages in Agile, and you’ll immediately have access to the plugin’s awesome real-time features:

Instant sync: The plugin automatically syncs your QuickBooks and Agile CRM data in real time without the need for any additional software or hardware. You’ll never need to enter the same data more than once, and you can rest assured that your entire team will always be up to date.
QuickBooks CRM Plugin


Create and send invoices: With the QuickBooks widget, you can create and send invoices directly from the CRM. Create invoices with the plugin while reviewing your contact’s complete user timeline in Agile’s unique 360-degree contact view. Send immediately.

Create invoices with QuickBooks plugin

Track and receive payments: Not only can you use the plugin to track payments, but you can also use it to receive payments, so your customers never have to wait for confirmation that their payments were received. Close deals and build your business in real time.

Receive Payments with QuickBooks plugin

See customer payment histories: Negotiating a new deal or following up on an old invoice? With the QuickBooks widget in Agile CRM, you’ll always know exactly where you stand with a contact. Save time and scale the smart way.

Receive Payments with QuickBooks plugin

Like Agile CRM, QuickBooks has features that appeal to a wide range of companies, including SaaS companies and eCommerce businesses. Don’t forget to use Agile as a social CRM to thank your best customers on social media, so they can spread the word about how much they love your company.

Our financial software integrations are currently only available in paid plans. Not sure you’re ready? Start with a free CRM account and upgrade at your leisure. Free accounts in Agile CRM include cool features like social media integration, marketing automation campaigns, and 2-way Google Apps integration, so you’ll be off to a great start.
Posted on 6:01 AM | Categories:

3 Ways Small Business Are Kicking Butt with Mobile Access to QuickBooks Desktop / MethodCRM

MethodCRM writes: There’s no question. 
Being able to access your customer and financial data from “the cloud” is making it much easier to run a small business.
But what if you’re one of the millions of companies using QuickBooks Desktop? What options are out there for you?!
More specifically, what are your options if you’re an avid QuickBooks Desktop user with remote staff across the country or have a mobile team out of the office making sales or servicing customers?
Since the discontinuation of the QuickBooks Desktop companion app, the Method team has received several inquiries from QuickBooks Desktop users on whether Method:CRM can help “mobilize” their accounting software.  I thought I would share how Method:CRM can equipped your team with remote access to your QuickBooks Desktop file and help improve your business overall.
If you’re already a Method:CRM customer or Partner, you know that the superpower of Method:CRM is its patent sync with QuickBooks. For those new to Method:CRM, this means you can create estimates, invoices, work orders and more from within Method:CRM and your work is mirrored in QuickBooks.  And because Method:CRM is a cloud-based application, you can access customer data and execute accounting tasks from any mobile device connected to the internet.  
So, for those of you running your business on QuickBooks Desktop, here’s how small businesses are kicking butt through QuickBooks Desktop mobile access in today’s fast paced, competitive economy:

1) They’re Keeping Customers Happy by Centralizing Data

CRM for QuickBooks DesktopHealthLinc Medical Equipment experinced a 30% increase in deliveries and technical services with Method:CRM
If your small business has field staff, is your team using manual processes for documenting Lead info, keeping track of estimates, or updating your team on customer interactions?  Do they keep handwritten notes? Is their weapon of choice a spreadsheet or notebook?  And what point during the day do they call or email the office for input into QuickBooks?  At day’s end?
And what happens if one of those customers calls in to get clarification on the estimate they just received? Without info on the estimate, the team back at the office won’t be equipped to answer questions, and the customer is left feeling poorly served.
With anywhere, anytime access to QuickBooks via Method:CRM, your field staff inputs everything directly into a centralized database from any mobile device and your entire team is kept informed and up-to-date.  If you’ve experienced it before, you’ll agree that scrambling for information while on the phone with a customer is the worst!
Instead, everything is in one place, in real-time and no more annoyed customers.

2) They’re Increasing Revenue by Speeding Things Up

QBD_blog_post
What is your internal process for when your sales team submits a new order? Is there a chain reaction amongst your team members? Could your business benefit from speeding things up a bit?
Well, consider this. Small businesses that provide even one person in the field with mobile access to enter estimates and update customer info increases the productivity of the whole team.  Because the sync between Method:CRM and QuickBooks updates in real-time, office staff (whether down the street or across the state) can get going on orders as soon as soon as the customer makes the request.
No more time-lag of someone getting back to the office, or their desk at home, to submit sales orders by phone or email.  The engine of your business gets going immediately!

3) They’re Growing by Unifying Distributed Teams 

DoodyCalls_collage
Doody Calls franchises are located across the U.S with all customer inquiries handled at head office through Method:CRM   
 Millions of companies use QuickBooks Desktop because it’s able to handle various business complexities. But the cause of complexity for many small business is operating effectively with a geographically dispersed team.  Head office may reside in North Carolina, but there’s a salesperson in Georgia, one in New York, and a third in Texas. In today’s connected world this works for many small businesses, so more power to them, but it helps to address the challenges this setup brings as well.
The challenge?  
It’s no making sure salespeople keep in contact with the rest of the team - it is ensuring sales keeps the rest of the team up-to-date on the business’s contacts.  And if you guessed these team members often use their own way of managing customer data, you guessed right.  
So, how do these companies stay on the same page and make sure customer data is not lost (e.g. paper notes and hard drives) or lost in translation (e.g. emails/phone calls/faxes)?
Unifying within Method:CRM allows a dispersed team remote (but limited) access to QuickBooks.   
QBD_post
Whether you’re running a two-person family business or managing a team spread out across multiple states, growing your business involves putting your accounting software to work for your whole team and ensuring vital customer information doesn’t fall through the cracks.
To read a detailed account of how one small business improved customer relationships and continues to grow a remote sales team with Method:CRM, check out the Remis Power Systems Success Story.    
Or, sign up for a free 30-day test-run of Method:CRM with your own QuickBooks Desktop file.
Posted on 5:52 AM | Categories: