OT computer program for farm accounting

[John S-B]

Does anyone know of a good, simple computer program that I could use to keep track of expenses and income for my hay baling business? I"m not a computer whiz, and MS office spreadsheets take too much time to set up for me. What do you guys use?

 

[Case Lady]

I use Quick Books and like it very well. Quick books Pro gives you more reports that you can run, but for a basic business, the Quick Books will work for you very well.

 

[Anonymous-0]

There is AgExpert that I think comes from Farm Credit Canada.Rather expensive at $300+ the way I remember it. We're still using the old way.You just write it down.If we didn't do that we would of lost all te info along with the program the last time we got the viruses taken off the computer everything got deleted.

 

[Dick L]

A agree with Case Lady, Quick Books would be the cheap and easy way to go.

We use a combination of Quick Book, Daceasy, Excell, Access along with Word here at the plant. That covers our payroll, accounting, production, inventory, and sales needs. We use a coupla three or so of photo programs in our advertising.

 

[Goose]

MS Works has some business spreadsheets that adapt well. I use one of those for our farm.

For my customer work in my shop, I made my own up on Excel.

 

[neblinc]

As with all accounting software, setting up all your info is the time consuming part, no matter what program it is.
There are no shortcuts. The more info you can provide the program up front, the easier it is to keep track of income & expense.

For a simple hay business, tracking income & expense, I would just use Quicken, cheap & easy to use. It's just like a check register with the added options of catagories.

Randy

 

[John S-B]

I'm really looking for some kind of template where I can just fill in the blanks. I've tried to find something in Quicken and MS works, but they're too confusing to me. I've never taken any courses in this kind of stuff, or any computer courses at all for that matter. I'm strictly a plug-n-play person.

 

[Walt Davies]

I use quicken download all data straight from the bank setup categories and then use Turbo tax to do your taxes.
It does take some know how to get it all setup but I do my taxes in about an hour.
cost about $40 buck a year compared to $400 to $600 by the guys down town.
Walt

 

[John S-B]

I don't do taxes. I got people. My guy does it for less than $250 for me, the wife and my side jobs.

 

[Ron in AR]

Try this link.....
Farm software downloads

 

[rrlund]

I'm just using Quicken. I had a high priced Red Wing program that was a pain in the neck to use,even harder to reinstall when ever we upgraded the computer. My son told me to try Quicken,then wouldn't help me learn it. Told me I was going to be the one to run it,so I'd better learn myself. Kept getting agrivated and didn't think it would work for me,but after a few hours of walking away and coming back,wish I'd started using it years before.

 

[Joe(TX)]

Quicken is not actually an accounting program. It is an glorified check book program. Quickbooks is for actual accounting.

 

[havvey]

I would use an accountant (i do) looked into these years back and you have to keep buying them and they were not easy or cheap. 2. If you are small just use a paper ledger (for some minor things) i do and just give the accountant the tally. Have a few collums like sold, fuel, repair etc.

 

[Weldon K]

I use Farmbiz from Specialized Data Systems. Designed for farm accounting, it was easy to learn and simple to use. Free download for 6 months trial usage. Then, if you want it, buy for $249 and it's yours forever.
Farm Accounting Software Info.

 

[JM in Merit]

I used Excel. It does everything I need, but I probably do not have that big of operation as allot on here do.
I have setup a spreadsheet for a guy that had dump truck operation along with a custom hay baling operation and a cow calf operations. It made his stuff allot easier and all he did (well his wife imputed the stuff) was imput the info and start over each year with a new spreadhseet. At end of the year it gave him his income for the year ( he did not have me do deprication, just income and diect costs etc)
Not sure what all you needing, they are not to hard to setup. I usually like to set them up in winter when have more down time.
I got one friend who farms big time and he uses quick books and like it real well.
Let me know if you go this route with excel I be glad to help

 

[rrlund]

Prints out reports just the way I want them for the tax preparer though. And he did ask for a simple program for a hay business.

 

[Bill in Colo]

Red Wing, started using it in a continuing ed class 10 years ago I've paid for a upgrade over the last few years,works great,but is really more than I need now I just do the cow calf thing,I've given up the farming and custom work. Great program for those of you with several enterprizes and employees.