Whether you love it or find it disturbingly unhealthy, we are living in a constantly connected age. For a small business, living without a smartphone on the move is pretty much impossible. When you’re out and about, whether you want to access your emails, host a video conference or update your social media, there’s an app for that. And of course, with a rise in cloud-based accounting, there are apps galore for all your number-crunching needs.
But what are the benefits of using an accounting app?
Anyone can access from anywhere
The accessibility of an accounting app has got to be the number one reason to make the switch. In years gone by, the only way to do your own accounts was from one machine only, but with all your data floating around in the cloud, it means you, your business partner or your accountant can get quick and easy access from anywhere with an internet connection.
Price
One of the downsides of traditional desktop software is having to fork out a hefty sum before you get started – then again when you need to upgrade. With online cloud accounting, you pay a much smaller chunk on a monthly basis, allowing you to budget accordingly and giving you the peace of mind that you will always have access to the latest software. Not only that, but with software such as Quickbooks Online, you also have access to free UK telephone support as part of your subscription.
App integration
The fun doesn’t stop with the app itself – higher quality accounting apps can integrate with other apps you use everyday in your business. From PayPal or Stripe payments to Shopify sales data and even your Google Calendar, these significantly cut down on boring data entry time, can automate your tasks like invoicing, and reduce the risk of user error.
Your data is safe
You get to choose who accesses your data, and until then, your numbers are all stored securely in the cloud, using the same encryption technology that online banks use. In days gone by, the death of a hard drive meant the total loss of all of your accounts unless you made regular back-ups. But now, if you have an unfortunate smartphone accident (it happens to the best of us), your data is still hovering around up there, ready to access on to whatever device you’ve download the app.
For more advice on switching over to cloud-based accounting like Quickbooks Online, give us a call today.