Create accounting environment within Access

[carusoandnico]

Hello people!

I am new here, if you want to get to know who I am check (access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=245752).
I joined the forum because I have a serious need. I'm on a really low budget tech company, thus I do not want to pay for expensive accounting tools such as Quickbooks. We mainly develop websites, graphic designs, SEO, and in general web services. I thought I could keep my whole accounting through an Access database.

So here lies my question, where can I find a template/example to follow in order to create a functioning accounting environment on Access? I would need to keep track of Customers and Invoicing, mostly I need to be alerted regarding who needs to pay for recurring services (such as web hosting), then late payments and customers who need invoicing. I would like to account for the expenses of each project related to any given customers. Overall an accounting tool I can use without having to buy a monthly subscription for hundreds of dollars. (Check the attached img for an example of the existing database I've created)
(s18.postimg.org/xbrsd48u1/Database.jpg)

If you know of any other proven solution, please let me know. Thank you!!!
______
I just realized I need 10 posts to attach images or links. Just copy the URL to the address bar, sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[Catalina]

Forgive for saying so but developing an accounting program with Access is very time consuming and
will eventually cost you more than just buying one of the shelf.
And if you have little experience with Access it is a task that may be too complicated.

Check out this link:
http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=240267&highlight=accounting

Catalina

 

[carusoandnico]

The reason why I was asking for it is the fact that given the limited number of transaction and the ease of keeping track of all of those, I was not willing to pay $50-$100 monthly for QuickBooks (I only saw now that the cheapest one is around $15 which is really affordable). I really don't like to pay monthly fees for something which is going to be used sporadically.

However thank you for showing me Sage, I have heard of it but never looked into it. The packages I'm interested in are the Pro and First Step. Do you have any experience with any of the two? Some advises?

 

[Catalina]

May be there is something here you can use.

http://www.databaseanswers.org/data_models/index.htm

Catalina

 

[carusoandnico]

That's a really useful resource! I appreciate it.

I think however that I'll go for the Simply Accounting Sage 50 Pro, less hassles and more efficiency.

Thank you very much for your responses!

 

[Catalina]

I think however that I'll go for the Simply Accounting Sage 50 Pro, less hassles and more efficiency.

Good choice and good luck with the business.

Catalina

 

[gemma-the-husky]

i take it you are in the US.

Sage is a UK firm.

I presume their stuff will work in the US, but in the UK we have sales taxes called VAT, and no local sales taxes. we call receivables a sales ledger, and so on.

worth checking their website to make sure Sage50 is US-friendly.

 

[Catalina]

They have a US edition:

http://na.sage.com/sage-50-accounting-us/store?WT.ac=SNA_HP_new_readytobuyS50US_link

Catalina

 

[carusoandnico]

Actually the firm is based in Italy, therefore I'm positive that no accounting software out there which is worth buying will ever have an Italian edition. All the tax related stuff is managed by a real accountant.

I would like the software to be useful for management decision making and handy for the administrative and billing department.

Which one do you think is better, the US or UK edition knowing that I won't be using tax features?

 

[carusoandnico]

Btw, I've studied accounting in the US, Spain and Italy if it can be of any help.

 

[Catalina]

It will probably be best to ask the accountant for advice about which edition to use.

 

[RainLover]

It will probably be best to ask the accountant for advice about which edition to use.

A very good idea. In fact this should be the Accountant's decission.

One important thing to comsider is could you write a package that will satisify an Auditor. These Guys can get very fussy.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

Sage is a UK FTSE 100 firm, based in Newcastle England.

http://www.sage.co.uk/

They may well use an Italian office for international purposes, though.

If you are in the US, I would get a US edition.

 

[carusoandnico]

I'll get in touch with the external accountant and see what he has to say.
In the meantime, thank you for all your responses!!