Accounting Excel Template???

[peeker]

Hi all,

As I am getting ready to launch my new business within the next 30 days, one of the decisions I have to make is how to keep track of the bookkeeping. Being a macintosh guy, I have heard horror stories about Quickbooks for Mac, read some tough customer service stories about MYOB FirstEdge, don't trust the web based accounting software yet and have thought to start out with a series of Excel spreadsheets.

In an hour look for some samples online, I am either not finding any freeware examples, or am too tired to be "google creative".

Does anyone use an excel spreadsheet for keeping their books?
Would you be willing to share the template you use?

Lastly... I'll ask the open ended question... even though I know this will bring many varied responses...

What are you finding as the best macintosh based accounting tools for a portrait based photography business (bookkeeping, invoicing, A/P, A/R)???

I look forward to everyone's ideas!
Scott Peek

[kenw]

not much specific help, but a ton of XLS templates are available for free at MS.com

[The Philos]

Microsoft Accounting 2009 Express is a free download (I don't know if there is a Mac version available though) http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...729681033.aspx

[aginther]

Just saw your post and bookkeeping is what I do in real life :(
Dependig on how indepth you wanna get and how much you need to track.
Quickbooks is one of the most user friendly programs around. Especially if accounting is not your favorite past time. I am not a mac user so I can't help ya there but Quikbooks does have an online version and their support is awesome. There is a forum and numerous other help outlets.

[tresorph]

Originally Posted by ThePhilosopher

Microsoft Accounting 2009 Express is a free download (I don't know if there is a Mac version available though) http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...729681033.aspx

As an Accountant by day - I started using this MS Acctg Express version for my photog business last year. I just sent off my first Texas Sales Tax return, using a Report from this software as my backup. I think Quickbooks is too big of a program as a new business and MS Acctg should suffice IME. There is a lot of customization you can do, but again I know accounting and it's nuances, so I am not sure how the learning curve is for others.

With any accounting software, have the foundation and all your data in correctly (beg. balances, assets, etc) before starting day to day entries.
For a self proprietor not grossing more than 30K/year I'd suggest doing cash versus accrual accounting. Cash works as your checkbook - in and out. A quick explanation of accrual is that revenue is booked when invoices are sent not when you are paid.

The upside to QB is there is a lot of support (forums, books, businesses). You can get a bookeeping company or CPA$$Firm to set you up, and train you to do your day to day maintenance.

[kfvintx]

I'm not sure which accounting software would be best for your startup portrait business and the above have given you pretty good accounting/business guidance (I'm also in accounting)... what I can offer being a Mac guy also is that your best bet is to probably run any of them using Windows (through Boot Camp or Parrallel or something similar). You have more choices and probably better support when using Windows version of business applications. A little more expensive with additional software but better in the long run I think.

[peeker]

thanks for the advise above. Having officially launched on the 30th, now is the time to catchup on all of those startup expenditures.

www.scottpeekphotography.com