Will my accountants like what I am doing?

They should!  You will be able to run a better, more professional business, and you will save yourself time, effort and money.  Your accountants should be in favour of that.

We have some further thoughts about talking to your accountants here.

Can I really learn computer accounting in a day?

Yes you can!  You will continue to learn more about your software over time, but you can expect to learn how to set up and use a basic computer accounting (cashbook) system in a day.

You should not expect to get your own accounting running during that day too - there's a limit to the amount of time anyone can spend on a computer!

Once you have mastered the basic functions, you can also expect to master the more advanced features of your accounting (like invoicing) in a day too.

We provide a full copy of all our relevant training materials for you to keep, so you can also reference anything about the software in the future.

How do the Workshops work?

Everyone works at their own computer, and on it are a full set of the training videos.  You can move through the videos at your own pace while the tutor (and your classmates...) are always available to help and make suggestions.  By having your own timetable you can proceed at your speed, doing what you want, going as far as you like, without having to wait for (or keep up with) others.

At times throughout the Workshop we will all stop and discuss other subjects, and we get to learn about (and contribute to) what makes small business accounting work.  You'll have things that work for you, and that will help others.  For more on how our Workshops work, see here.

What do I bring to the Workshop?

Just you!  And don't bring any personal financial information.  We use a full set of dummy accounts so we are all doing the same, we can compare with each other, and we all get the same results - and any mistakes in learning the software can be recognised and dealt with.  Leave your own bank statements at home.

Do I need to buy (your) software?

No! We supply a free trial copy of the software with our training.  It is a full working copy except for the ability to create advanced reports and to implement security.  Neither function is critical to learning to use the software itself, which will operate for at least 90 days without issue.  After that it seems to continue to operate normally (not if it has over a certain number of entries in the cashbook apparently) but it will ‘nag’ you to register it.  Eventually it will not let you open it.

The software is not ‘ours’, we don’t ‘make’ it and we don’t promote it as the ultimate software.  It works for small businesses but there will be people for whom it is not ideal.  We are happy to tell you if we think you are heading in the wrong direction.

We can help you register your software, at a 10% discount, or you can do it yourself at their website.

Will it work on my computer?

You get a trial version of the software in our training.  Take it home and try it out (for 3 months) before you buy.  Tell us about your computer and we will tell you if it is going to work before you start.  If you have a Mac, you will either need to boot your late model Mac into Windows, or you will need to run your Mac in Windows emulation mode.  There is no Mac version of the software (or many other accounting programs either).

Can I create customised letterheads for invoices and quotes etc.?

Yes.  You can print on pre-printed letterheads if you want to, or you can create one with your own logo or picture too.  Here's a simple example taken from our Workshop training.

Will I be able to take my accounts home to work on them?

Yes.  The beauty of the Cashbook Complete licencing is that you can load the software on as many computers as you like.  Once you register your company file, you can place it on any computer - even your accountant’s - and it stays registered.  All you have to do is take your data file anywhere you want to work.  (Be very careful not to get confused as to which file is the latest version, and make sure no-one is using other copies while you are away.)  A laptop is a great way of doing small business accounting if you need to move around.

I don’t know anything about accounting...

You don't need to!  You do need to be able to do some things on your computer, but they are not hard and you certainly don’t need to be an expert.  You don’t need any accounting skills, just a knowledge of your organisation from a financial perspective.  You don’t need to be able to type either - two fingers will do.

Will it work at our place?

The software is ideal for most small enterprises.  It will work well for farmers, and for clubs and societies, tradesmen, landlords, job seekers, start-ups; anyone wanting basic accounting.

If you have any questions about the suitability of the software for your purposes, give us a call on 0 (800) 12 66 59.  We're happy to chat about it. 

How much does Cashbook Complete cost?

See their website here.