Getting started is the hardest part

If you understand up-front that computer accounting is easy to do but tricky to get started, then you won't be tempted to give up early (and you won't think you can't do it because it didn't go too well last time!). It takes a bit to get computer accounting up and running, especially on your own.

Our Workshop will get you over the hump and the lights will come on quite quickly. From there it is easy to keep your computer accounting working.

These are the hurdles...

There are five 'challenges' for a newcomer to computer accounting - fortunately they won’t seem so hard looking back on them.

1. Choosing Software

There is a lot of software out there, and as a beginner, it is very difficult to size up.  Even if you know what features you need (which of course most newcomers don't) there are no standard feature lists to compare. On top of that many packages have very similar sounding names that don’t give any clues - like 'Accounting', 'AccountingPlus', 'Cashbook' and 'BusinessBasics' in the case of MYOB and 'EasyStart', 'Accounting', 'Small Business' and 'Plus' in the case of Quicken. It's hard to pick the one that is right for you, with the features you need.

2. Installing the Software

There is nothing too challenging about getting new software installed. It is only hard if you don't know how to do it - which of course applies to anyone new to computers.

3. Setting Up the Software

Before you can use accounting software you have to set it up - but you have to know what you are doing to be able to do that. So you can't get the software installed - to learn how to use it - without first knowing how to use it so you can get it installed! A classic Catch 22... On top of that you need a small amount of accounting knowledge to set up the software too.

4. Learning to Use the Software

Learning to use an accounting package by doing your own accounting is tough - and can be pretty disheartening. You see mistakes (and get tired of redoing everything), or you don’t know you have made mistakes and everything starts to unravel! It’s a very hard way to do it...

5. Keep it all Safe

Once you commit to computerised accounting you absolutely MUST backup your data (unless you like re-entering it all!). Sooner or later you will have a problem with either your computer or you. Up to date backups that you can rely on are absolutely vital.

It is much more common than you might think for people to get over the first 4 hurdles above, only to give up computer accounting because they lost their data...

They're easy to solve in a workshop...

The Bookz Workshops will help you overcome computer accounting's 'tricky' bits by:

• Starting you on a simple, easy to learn accounting program called Cashbook Complete
• Having you install the software on your own training computer
• Taking you through setting up the software
• Training you in the use of the software using a dummy company, and
• Getting you to do backups throughout the Workshop