Salka“Thanks to Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2008, we’ve eliminated the need for a bookkeeper and minimised our use of an accountant.” Salka is a trendy café and sandwich bar in Amersham, Buckinghamshire that trumps Pret A Manger by not only making its sandwiches on the premises but also by baking its own baguettes too. The bread is fresh daily and the baguettes in customers’ sandwiches is never more than an hour old. The goal: “a wholesome lunch, not the plastic-wrapped food you get from chains.” Karen Cross, one of the two co-founders, wanted a business that would give her a bit more control over her work schedule so that she could arrange it around her children and other commitments. Time is precious to her and she wanted a business that was easy to run. To achieve this, she needed an accounting package that was easy to use. How to stay on top of your businessSalka chose Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2008. It was familiar, sharing a look and feel with other popular Microsoft programs. Their accountants also gave it a seal of approval and assured them that its PAYE and National Insurance calculations would be OK’d by HM Revenue & Customs. “We do all our invoicing, sales, purchases and payroll on it,” says Karen. She was able to pick it up and use it without training - she can do the basics without going on a course or getting support from a local firm. She says that this is a big contrast to some of the other accounting programs on the market. The software helps Karen and her business partner stay on top of the business and make sure that it stays profitable. Sharing data between programsWhen it comes to the day-to-day operations - especially stock control - she uses Microsoft Excel 2007. She and her colleague both bought laptops which means that they can work at home or in the café and share data between Excel and Accounting. “The beauty of using Microsoft is that you can export data from one program to another,” says Karen. Saving time and saving moneyThe combination of Excel 2007 and Accounting Professional helps Karen to save time and save money. The café has an accountant for VAT returns, returns to Companies House and other “big jobs” but she can do everything else herself. This saves a small fortune in accountancy fees and it eliminates the need for a bookkeeper. A growing business can do without these costs. For a busy, working mum, saving time is just as important as saving money. “I never wanted to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Karen. With her laptop, the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Accounting Professional, she is spending less time working and more time getting things done. “I’m working hard,” she says, “but I can do it much more flexibly.” |
