Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
  One for the shortlist - well worth considering November 22, 2008
SimpleStart is easy to use if this is what you are looking for `simplicity' then this is the package to buy. Ease of use is essential for the smaller concern one or two people who are looking for something straightforward, that does not require lots of time or complications.
SimpleStart is not aimed at the VAT registered business, if you are VAT registered then use caution perhaps before purchasing.
No particular problems were noted whilst using the software this seemed quick, easy and functional.
If this product should be on a short list of options, I am sure that no one would be displeased or regret the purchase of this software accountancy package.
 Reasonable Basic Accounting Package October 25, 2008
As a small buisness owner myself - this product arrived with interest!
At first gance all the key areas are here for anyone wishing to manage & operate their accounts - invoicing, estimating and bank reconciliation - are pretty well covered. You can also create invoices through a hyperlink on the homepage and email both estimates and invoices as PDF attachments.
Reporting wise we have again all the usual suspects including a trial balance and ad hoc reports such as "total sales per customer". Interstingly (and a hint towards the target market) - the language used is in very plain English without any accountancy-speak - quite a useful feature for a one man business wishing to comply and comprehend, purely the basics!
My main gripe is what it has always been with Quickbooks - it is not transportable nor (im my experience) compatible with other programmes - maybe I'm wrong, but I could not export an invoice to Word for top and tailing, nor extract data to Exel for further analysis. To me this is a minus as risk aside I don't think the package is complete enough to operate on a stand-alone basis.
In summary - just about sufficient to manage small business accounts without payroll and stock - let down by incompatibility issues and inflexibility.
Easy as 123 October 23, 2008
I've used quicken for my home accounts for years...and I was looking for something to help me with my self employment business.
I trialed the Microsoft Office Accounting Professional..but found it a little complex to set up without some accounting knowledge..so...Simple Start seemed like a good plan.
I currently use a number of spreadsheets for my accounts..and Quickstart is basically a number of spreadsheets/work sheets which you can access from the main menu...there are some nice repoting facilities which you can't get too easily from excel unless you are clever!!
Having said that...my problem really was needing to be able to input historical data...so it would be a really useful program.
I'd say it does what it says on the box....it's straight forward to set up
but get it before you've done three years of work and it takes too long to input!!!
 Does what it says on the tin October 21, 2008
If you have a very simple business model run from a single account and without the need for any sophisticated payroll, stock control or invoicing, this is probably the product for you.
Made for home businesses, it gives you a good head start but will probably need to change as your business grows. Its simplicity is its main virtue, being intuitive for entrepreneurs whose toes curl at the very thought of maintaining an accounts model.
For my business, I expect it to save a little money on accountancy bills by virtue of producing a trial balance for my accountant to play with, but there will be other functions I need to maintain on spreadsheets because SimpleStart can't live with my needs. My advice - use it until you are confident, then branch out when you need.
A cut-down version of a product with questionable pedigree... October 17, 2008
Just to be clear, no your eyes don't deceive you, this item is only 10% of the cost of the QuickBooks Pro 2008 offering (~200 as of writing). However the review page for the fully-featured offering contains a host of warnings for potential users about file compatibility, multiple currency support, and poor customer support from the company.
So, an easy to use entry-level programme it may be but presumably the company is hoping to get you hooked on the upgrade cycle as with anti-virus software, so know what you're getting into as this bargain may turn out to be too good to be true!
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