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I heard this week that Microsoft have decided to pull Microsoft Office Accounting from their portfolio. What were they thinking? Had they realised that business apps like this aimed at SME ought to be delivered online?

I can understand the rationale behind Microsoft's decision. Office Accounting was never going to be a big earner for them with so many ways to legitimately acquire it for free. What I can't understand however is their timing... giving just 6 weeks' notice for users to transfer their payroll function (delivered as a web service) to a new provider. This has really highlighted to me the importance of using critical business systems from a provider you trust and for whom their software / service is a core part of their business.

Book keeping at GoldFigure

When I first started GoldFigure I used the free Office Accounting Express then later, as a registered BizSpark member, upgraded to the Professional version. Shortly afterwards I realised that I was digging a grave as far as financial administration. I used two computers (PC and a laptop) but couldn't really access MSOA on my laptop, certainly not on the move. The reason was that MSOA used a SQL database (naturally) but remote access would be impossible. On top of this MSOA required Office to create invoices (not too much bother) and would only send invoices via Outlook. I chose to use Thunderbird so would have to save the invoice, attach to an email, send the email then delete the temporary file. Argh!

Enter Kashflow

I began digging and quickly found KashFlow which delivered all the functionality I used in MSOA and some other really useful functionality like being able to remind me by email. when invoices were overdue. All this however was not free... I had to pay £15.99 per month for the privilege. Hang on though - a couple of hours spent each week on quotes and invoicing, the hassle of having to use a single PC... £15.99 is a bargain.

Being an application delivered online KashFlow is exactly the right product for our business. It allows me to manage our finances from anywhere, I can even raise an invoice from my phone and email it to a client. I regularly use an hour of otherwise dead time on the train to catch up on the books using my 3G connection. I no longer have to worry about backup, I have my own little virtual PA reminding me when to chase customers and to cap it all I file my quarterly VAT return in a few seconds.

A better relationship with my accountant

I chose my accountant based on my requirement that they should be able to use KashFlow, not rely on a Sage-style end of year export. I found Park Lane Accountants in Chippenham and after meeting up with their owner, Barrie Jenkins, could see that with them as a fully subscribed KashFlow partner, able to access my books at any time through their accountant portal, I would get more than just a tick in the box submission of my books to Companies House each year. I can call at any time and know that their advice is based on the latest picture of our finances.

Are there alternatives to KashFlow?

Of course! A number have come out of the woodwork in the last year or so. Xero looks excellent, as does e-Conomic and there are others. All of them have good points and bad but I know that with KashFlow I have direct line to their CEO and am able to shape their product (to a certain extent) if I ever see an oddity.

It would be easy enough to migrate to a new accounting system but KashFlow are clever and have a tidy little eco-system going with integrations to other platforms. All this make me unlikely to want to move away from KashFlow and would make that process particularly painful, not least because we are now totally hooked on our Javelin CRM system which communicates flawlessly with KashFlow.

All in all I am glad that GoldFigure is part of this SaaS eco-system. No wonder Microsoft got scared!