having the right people (accountants) around you

Following my discovery of a bank who felt like an ally rather than an enemy I decided I should try and fix the other weights in my business life.

I have never been the best at book keeping, I hate paper. Managing the accounts for the various companies I’ve run over the years has been hard going. I’ve often started writing web applications to try and help me get the information into digital form where I feel comfortable. Unfortunately, it is quite a complex task and I could never devote the required time into getting something working.

For some reason I never quite clicked with the accountants I was using either, they never made suggestions unless I asked and somehow I never really felt comfortable with what I was or should be doing.

Recently I discovered FreeAgentCentral, an online book keeping system designed for small companies and freelancers, and it has literally changed my life. Now that I’m using FreeAgentCentral, and having switched to an accountancy firm (BFCA) that knows FreeAgentCentral inside-out, my books pretty much sort themselves out. I always know what is outstanding and when it’s due. The interface allows me to easily produce professional looking invoices for any as-yet-unbilled work. All the businesses tax liabilities and deadlines are automatically calculated and visible at all times.

Using FreeAgentCentral is a pleasure, as is dealing with BFCA who have quickly answered any questions I had clearly and concisely.

I highly recommend them both if you run a small company or do freelance work.

Take the pain out of your book keeping!

Note: The links to FreeAgentCentral above contain a referral code which means you will get a 10% discount on the monthly fee if you sign up.