Bookkeeping & record-keeping
Accounting Software Guidance for Bookkeeping
Accounting software guidance helps you choose, set up, and use the right cloud tools so your bookkeeping is consistent, accurate, and far less manual. It is designed to give you reliable numbers during the year, reduce errors, and make VAT and tax deadlines easier to handle.
More information
What the guidance covers
You get practical, hands-on support to make your bookkeeping system clear, compliant, and easy to run.
- Help choosing the right software for your business (for example, Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent)
- Clean, logical setup: chart of accounts, tracking categories, opening balances
- Bank feeds and rules to reduce manual data entry
- Invoicing and payment workflows that match how you get paid
- Expense capture, supplier management, and reconciliation routines
- VAT settings and checks to support accurate VAT returns
- Integrations with tools you already use (POS, ecommerce, time tracking, payment platforms)
- User access, roles, and approval controls for you and your team
- Simple guidance on what to do weekly and monthly to stay on top of records
When this service is most useful
This is a good fit if you are:
- Moving from spreadsheets to cloud accounting
- Setting up a new limited company and want to start with clean records
- Spending too long on bookkeeping, or duplicating work across tools
- Struggling with inconsistent coding, messy bank reconciliations, or unclear reports
- Preparing for VAT registration, Making Tax Digital, or regular management reporting
How the guidance is delivered
The process is kept straightforward and tailored to your day-to-day admin.
- Current setup review: what you do now, what is not working, and what you need the system to produce.
- Software and workflow plan: recommendations based on how you invoice, pay costs, and track VAT.
- Configuration and tidy-up: core settings, bank feeds, rules, and reporting structure.
- Practical walkthrough: how to raise invoices, record costs, reconcile, and keep records audit-ready.
- Handover checklist: clear steps for what to do each week and month.
After setup: keeping bookkeeping consistent
Once your system is in place, you can keep improving accuracy and saving time by:
- Using a standard coding approach so reports stay meaningful
- Running routine checks (reconciliations, VAT control, debtors and creditors)
- Reviewing your workflow as your business changes (new services, staff, or sales channels)
- Getting periodic support when you add apps, switch VAT schemes, or want better reporting
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you help me choose between Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent?
Yes. The guidance is based on how your business operates, what you need to report on, and how you want to run your admin. You will get a clear recommendation and the reasons behind it.
Can you set up the software as well as advise?
Yes, the service can include setup and configuration so you are not left with a plan you have to implement alone. This can cover key settings, bank feeds, VAT setup, and basic workflows.
Will this make my VAT returns easier?
Yes. Correct VAT settings and consistent bookkeeping reduce errors and make VAT returns quicker to prepare and check. You will also have a clearer audit trail if HMRC ever asks questions.
I already have software but my books are messy. Can you fix the workflow?
Yes. The first step is to review what is causing the issues, such as coding, bank reconciliations, or duplicate apps. Then the workflow is simplified so you can keep things tidy going forward.
Do I need to be good with tech for this to work?
No. The aim is to keep the system simple and repeatable, with clear steps for weekly and monthly tasks. You will be shown how to use the key features you actually need.
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