Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Accounting software for coho?

[Jerry Koch-Gonzalez (jerry]

I use QuickBooks Online for Pioneer Valley Cohousing and I am happy with
it. I imagine Freshbooks could be better but I am not familiar with it. You
definitely should not be using Quicken for cohousing bookkeeping - it does
not have the appropriate capacities and will make your life harder. Even
with QuickBooks, I keep a set of instructions printed and handy for unusual
bookkeeping entries, like dealing with uncashed reimbursement checks that
revert back to funds in our accounts, refunds, overpayments.
I now have a "cash management" account with our local bank which allows me
to pull condo fees from almost everyone's bank accounts like credit card
companies and utilities do from mine, and it has made my life a lot easier.
Fewer errors and almost no chasing people for late payments.

Jerry Koch-Gonzalez  413-687-5444
Co-Founder
, Sociocracy For All <http://sociocracyforall.org/> and  New England NVC
<http://newenglandnvc.org/>
Founding Resident, Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community
<http://cohousing.com/>

To talk to me about sociocracy or NVC, go here:
https://talktojerry.youcanbook.me


On Mon, Oct 14, 2019 at 1:39 PM Sharon Villines via Cohousing-L <
cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> > On Oct 14, 2019, at 1:06 PM, Craig Wright <crw [at] crw.xyz> wrote:
>
> > Does anyone have an accounting software suggestion? I am considering
> Quickbooks Online but the price of entry is pretty high. However, if it
> makes data entry, invoicing, and reporting easier, I think it would be
> worth it.
>
> We have a management company that does ours, which I think is more work
> than doing it ourselves (personal opinion), but myself I found FreshBooks
> to be far superior to Quicken or Quickbooks. I would definitely recommend
> an online software, however, because then other community members, as
> authorized, can enter data, check data, etc.
>
> Freshbooks was designed about 10 (?) years ago? Maybe a bit longer, but
> recently enough not to have the problem of baggage necessary to keep old
> versions and customers happy. And sufficiently long ago that they have
> experience and have gotten any bugs worked out. It imports records from
> other accounting programs. Has excellent help files. Speaks Plain English.
> Very nice clean design. Full reporting capability. Enter the data and push
> a button. You can update reports as often as you like.
>
> The only reason to use Quickbooks is if you work with a CPA who requires
> it. Some people love it but I have found it needlessly obtuse. But it’s
> been around a very long time so many people rely on it.
>
> For understanding accounting, this article from Entrepreneur evaluates
> accounting information websites:
> https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249673
>
> Their first choice is one I have found very good, The Accounting Coach.
> Tons of information, great dictionary.
> https://www.accountingcoach.com
>
> When you understand all the ins and outs, watching the figures can be lots
> of fun. Don’t despair!
>
> Sharon
> ----
> Sharon Villines
> Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
> http://www.takomavillage.org
>
>
>
>
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