Accounting Software For Apple Mac's

[Dave]

Are there any Mac users out there and if so what accounting software do you run?

We have found MYOB for Mac's but there seems to be very little else out there for business users. Did find a company called kashflow but this is a internet based solution which worries me!

Other idea running something like VMware, Boot Camp or Crossover which allows user to run windows applications on Mac's. However, not sure if Sage would run OK if we did this

Anybody got any recommendations?

[lewey]

Hi Dave,

We use macs too, and have MYOB, as was only thing that was really available for macs at the time I was looking. Though I think now Quickbooks may also have a mac version (but not sure). At the moment still on older powerpc based mac, but if you have, or could get in near future one of the newer ones then you could look at pc based programs and just run them on windows on the mac.

There are a growing number of internet based solutions (saas - software as a service), and think these will quickly get better. Have heard of kashflow, and Xero is another (but doesn't currently have a stock option).

Then there are some mac based pos (point of sale) solutions, but I haven't looked into them in depth enough so far as to whether they would fit well with importing files of online orders too or not. Lightspeed is a name I've seen, but is a bit pricier.

It would be also possible to get something a bit more custom done using filemaker, which is a mac based database program, and know some people have created accounting database systems with it. Just not sure how complex (and hence costly)your needs would be.

[Dave]

Hi Lewey,

Downloaded the trial version of MYOB and it seems to fit our requirements well so we will be purchasing this shortly. We read Quickbooks may pull out of the UK market so decided it would not be prudent to go down this route in case we got problems!

After many years of using PC's I am a converted Mac user. We have just taken delivery of a new iMac with a 500GB Time Capsule and its amazing. It looks good, saves space on your desk, has fantastic features and the Time Machine backup to the Wireless Time Capsule makes backups easy.

Only problem is our accountants do not use Macs so it will cost us slightly more money to have our accounts prepared!

[lewey]

Hmm, sounds odd that it would cost more to have your accounts done because your accountants don't use macs. Shouldn't be an excuse.

They can use MYOB - it is also in pc version, and the two can 'talk' to each other. But also MYOB can send them files (and receive them) in excel format etc, so don't see what difference it makes to them.

I'd love to get one of the new iMacs!

[Dave]

Lewey,

The accountants also don't have MYOB as they say all their clients use Sage!

I have noticed you can export reports to excel so will be able to give them reports & spreadsheets.

Will see what happens next year and if they do charge more just because we are not on Sage then maybe it might be time to change accountants!

We had a walk around PC World at the weekend and a lot of the PC's they were selling were around the same price or more expensive than the iMac

Go on splash the cash and get one, you will not be disappointed!

[john]

Hi Dave,
I think the reasons most accountants like Sage is because they are sales agents for it and get a commisssion, we use Quickbooks (for over 10 years) and as UK is one of thier biggest markets, I can't see them pulling out!

[Dave]

Hi John,

Think you are right about the accountants and sage but we have gone ahead and purchased MYOB which we are very happy with.

It appears we were wrong about quickbooks and it is infact quicken the personnel finance software package which is being withdrawn from the uk market.