If you're anything like me then you hate with a vengeance doing your accounts plus taxes.

So how can you make this technique not as hard, less painful plus cut your accountancy fees?

First of all you need to decide whether you are going to keep your accounting records physically, that is using pen plus paper, or whether you are going to computerize the technique.

Well buying an accounting application package is four way.

As a general rule if you are a money business that needs to record income plus expenditure then you are better off using a spreadsheet.

If you decide that computerizing the technique is the way to go then you need to decide whether to buy an accounting application package, for example Sage or Quicken, or whether a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel will suit your needs better.

? you have customers to whom you extend credit plus you buy goods in the same way

So, should you pick an accounting application package? Yes if:

? You technique in excess of 50 transactions per month

? Your business is an Incorporated Company (Limited Company in the UK)

? you are computer literate or are willing to learn!

and

Before choosing the accounting application, speak to your accountants ? they will be familiar with the various accounting application packages on the market plus will be able to advise you. Most accountants use application in their office to technique the bookkeeping for their clients plus will have a working knowledge of the accounting application package they use. It may be cheaper for you to use the same four they do, because they can advise you how to get it up plus walking plus will be on hand to answer questions, plus at your financial year end when your accounts need preparing it will be less pricey, believe me to have a compatible program.

I also recommend doing some research yourself, you may be able to obtain a demonstration disk or download of the most popular accounting application packages plus this will give you an idea of how they work plus if they are user-friendly.

The cost may also be an issue, so you need to decide on your budget. But consider how your business is likely to expand - you may outgrow that budget accounting application quickly plus end up buying the more pricey four anyway.

Accounting application providers may also try plus up-sell you a maintenance contract. Save your currency! In my experience the established application providers will not have bugs in their systems. they will also try plus upgrade you to the next version on a regular basis, but if the application is doing everything you need then there is no need to upgrade.

Of coursework, you could also pay somebody to do your accounts for you, either your accountant or a bookkeeper ? the payoff being you don't have to do it yourself plus it frees you up to actually run your business!