Posts Tagged ‘small business accounting software’

Wisdom from a small business owner – Why small business ERP is key to your survival

small business erp

Managing a company efficiently is about organisation, focus and process as a massive 55% of businesses don’t make it to their fifth birthday. The observers offer useless ‘insight’ as to why this occurs. I continuosly observe three key reasons why this tragedy occurs so often and to so many people with different backgrounds, education and skill.

The first reason is insufficient market understanding.

Refusal to look at the water ahead. For example Individuals have the idea, build the product and then expect the market to appear and purchase. In networked age there is no excuse for lack of research before spending any time and cash on creating a product until you have robust evidence there is a market.

The number two reason is lack of understanding of the basics of business.

The majority of folks starting a business know their trade, how to deliver a service or manufacture a product, but not how to run a business.  Having the ability to understand and track the balances in the Income statement or the balance sheet is a vital. The basic knowledge of accounting is not very often imparted coherently by the business publications, online resources and those with the knowledge such as CPAs and bookkeepers. This domain is further exacerbated by technology vendors and their affiliates peddling small business accounting software at fledgling businesses.

Small business accounting software isnt a complete answer.

Until recently ERP software solutions and packages were only affordable by corporations who had figured out that the back and front office systems need to be wired together to give a comprehensive view of the business. One software developer NetSuite had the vision to see the gap in the market and began offering its small business ERP software. NetSuite competitors have seen the gap as well and as a result cheaper easier to use solutions have appeared.

The final reason companies fail is because of a dirth of process and procedures that provide the vital disciplines and consistency a business must have to work effectively.

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Big software for tiny firms

sage software online

You have probably heard of SAP software. It’s a software package deployed by a major percentage of medium sized and large enterprises all over the planet. The prime use of the system is to connect the entire enterprise together and enable hundreds and often thousands of workers to record, share and recall information concerning the physical and financial processes of the enterprise. Large firms are managed by smart individuals who comprehend the strategic benefits of this category of software, such as how it can give them an appreciation of why issues are happening inside their company or where there might be opportunity for refinements.

This category of system is commonly known as ERP. It is very complex, very costly and can take along time to deploy. An installation of ERP software is a major capital expenditure but this doesn’t stop substantial organisations purchasing these systems.

Until recently software like this was not within reach or financially viable for small businesses. As a result small businesses have not been aware of the substantial benefits that ERP systems can deliver. Small enterprises have been wrongly convinced by aggressive manufacturers such as Sage Software and Intuit that small business accounting software is the solution. These platforms most often have no capacity to allow their users to connect the whole firm or perform common tasks such as customer relationship management.

The success of Web based CRM software from businesses like Salesforce.com is a good example of the small business accounting software organisations misleading or misunderstanding the small business community.

It is for this reason that small business ERP firms in the same category as Salesorder.com have begun to make great strides in the market. They deliver saas which includes all of the major features a small enterprise requires at an affordable price. What is even more compelling is these systems are simple to operate and can be rolled out in a short amount of time.

Now ERP platforms are no longer the privilege of big enterprises.

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Running your business on the web for free

sage accounting software

I have been wrestling for along period with my bookkeeping and I wanted to share with you a shortcut that I uncovered after a lot of trial and error. People in small enterprises tend to prefer doing more important jobs like finding, understanding and keeping customers in preference to looking after their accounting. All organisations have to pay special attention to their accounting if they want to avoid issues.

I asked my bookkeeper for advice and he convinced me I should use Sage Software which turned out to be a small business accounting software package. I just went out and purchased the package without even considering if it would suit my needs. On reflection I am glad I didn’t waste too much money on this as this software is possibly the worst and most disorganised software I have ever had the misfortune to use. To be honest whenever I find the word accounting attached to the word software I am immediately reminded of the first piece of advice I must share with you and that is just about all small business accounting software assumes the user possesses good practical knowledge of accounting.

I had to discover a solution that would work for me so reluctantly I swept my schedule and set aside quality time to find an answer. The great news is I found a really good answer, it’s an online system called salesorder.com.

Possibly the best business technology I have come across, salesorder.com works on the internet and is really well designed and of course lets me do my job anywhere I can access the Internet. And here is the coolest bit I want to tell you, the team at salesorder.com know their subject, just like their service they are easy to work with and better still are happy to spend quality time with their customers (even the free ones) helping folks like me to understand and address real problems in my company and to top it off they have taught me the accounting I need to know.

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Remote Working Part 2 – Managing yourself

Quickbooks online

The key reason members of both sexes fail to adjust to operating remotely is they don’t see the criticality of having first class organisation and sustainable self management.

I have been working remotely for over seven years since I first unearthed Quickbooks online an ‘on demand’ small business accounting software service and was struck by the fact that if you can perform accounting online then why shouldn’t you be able to perform other important types of work remotely?

Whilst working remotely has substantial gains there are numerous mistakes that people make which turn into problems that result in decreased productivity and reduced morale. The number one reason for reductions in effectiveness in remote workers is disruption and it is a confirmed and well publicised fact that it can take a person up to twenty minutes to establish their original output level after experiencing an interruption.

Deeper insights reveal that individuals who are regularly experience distractions are more likely to suffer from lower memory power and are prone to developing mental health issues in later life. We live in an over communicated time and it is important that you are aware of the issues this causes before you start working remotely. When working remotely you should do everything possible to reduce the jeopardy of being disrupted.

Here are my most important tips:

1, Get a consistent schedule, tell everyone about it and obsessively maintain it!

Good examples are a fixed time of day when you read or write and send electronic mail and make or receive telephone conversatiions. Before I began working remotely I used to receive up to 200 e-mails in 24 hours. Now I think I am unfortunate if I get in excess of four. To start over with my e-mail experience I altered my e-mail address and vigorously took precautions to shield the details being made available to anyone. I then made sure every party who I gave my e-mail address to, to use it prudently. I also set up an automatic response that swiftly told anyone sending me mail my schedule for attending to mail and if someone should have my urgent attention to mark it as ‘Urgent’.

2. Get rid of alerts.

Turn off every function that can send you a perceptible alert. This includes portable and
conventional telephones and types of alerts from e-mail such as on screen pop ups, warning sounds, display changes to your inbox list and of course facing a window. Get a door on your study and put up a ‘do not disturb’ sign on it.

In ‘Remote Working Part 3 – Top tools and tricks’ I will reveal my favourite tools and software.

 

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Remote Working Part 1 – The Rough Guide – Summary

Quickbooks online edition

Obviously not everyone can work remotely as many types of employment require us to go to their place of work or travel to perform their work face to face. But for those of us who are allowed to work remotely then I thought it would be useful to share my experiences and give some practical guidance by distributing it on the web in the hope that I could give others valuable advice for adapting to remote working or managing remote workers.

I can tell you that there are a substantial number of so called ’experts’ online who will try and get you to buy information for big sums of cash, believe me you don’t need to do this.

I am blessed to be allowed to work wherever I choose and just about everybody who asks me what work I do wants to understand how I manage to work remotely. Don’t misinterpret me I am still developing the science of remote working as everyday I meet tribes on the Internet who show me new ways and I am continually unearthing new packages and processes that make my life simpler and improve my productivity.

In the past 7 years I have immensely adapted my working practices to let me to do most of my work remotely with a kit of web tools and robust self management. One early morning whilst exploring the web I came across Quickbooks online and this made me aware of what just might be possible. The discovery of ’hosted’ ‘on demand’ small business accounting software was the turning point for me and the launch pad of my ‘remote working experience.

I have to tell you up front that efficiently working remotely is as much about the systems as it is about self discipline. Working remotely also means putting it to your co-workers, managers and customers as to what they can expect and how they will communicate with you.

In ‘Remote Working Part 2 – Effective working styles’ I show you how to focus.

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Remote Working Part 1 – The Rough Guide – Summary

Quickbooks online edition

Obviously not everybody can work remotely as many types of employment require us to go to their place of work or travel to perform their work face to face. But for those of us given the opportunity to work remotely then I thought it would be useful to share my experiences and give some practical wisdom by putting it on the net in the hope that I could give others useful timesavers for adapting to remote working or managing remote workers.

I can tell you that there are groups of self proclaimed ‘gurus’ on the Internet who will try and get you to buy online education for significant sums of money, believe me you don’t need to do this.

I am blessed to be able to work in whatever location I choose and just about everyone who asks me what I do for a living wants to understand how I manage to work remotely. Don’t get me wrong here I am still improving the science of remote working as everyday I come across tribes online who teach me new knowledge and I am always uncovering new systems and processes that make my life easier and improve my productivity.

Over the past 7 years I have steadily adapted my working practices to allow me to do all of my work remotely with a portfolio of internet tools and solid self discipline. One lunchtime whilst exploring the net I uncovered Quickbooks online and this brought to my attention what just might be possible. The encounter with ’hosted’ ‘on demand’ small business accounting software was the turning point for me and the beginning of my ‘remote working history.

I have got to say up front that efficiently working remotely is as much about the software as it is about self management. Working remotely also means getting across to your co-workers, superiors and clients as to what they can expect and how they will stay in touch with you.

In ‘Remote Working Part 2 – Things you should know about managing yourself’ I show you how to focus.

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