Business Computing Tips
By K&K Fainges kfainges@...

Keeping your accounts, especially in these days of the BAS and GST
can be a landmine for new businesses. The old shoe box just won't cut
it any more.

So what do you do if you haven't got the budget or skill to use one
of the accounting packages?

Well, you can use the free program E-Record given out by the ATO
www.ato.gov.au It does most things you need, and is pretty easy to
set up. The general guide though, is when in doubt, ask your
accountant. I would add to that, always double check. Never take one
person's word for anything.

The other way to do your books is to just do up your own accounts on
excel. Can I hear the arghs from here?   

Go to the library and get a current, Australian book on book-keeping.
Check out what accounts they keep.

Most real book-keeping is just a list of money coming in and going
out so you can keep track. The main thing is to watch the GST. I have
done a simple one that would only work for reporting on a cash basis,
not accrual, but it would get the job done. Gives you an idea anyway.
The main thing would be updating the formulas to make sure they went
down the page far enough and you would need to do a new one each
month or put a new total line in. To download the sample, click on
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/fainges-announce/files/

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Please feel free to pass it on to your friends, just let them know I
wrote it.

Karen Fainges holds a Bachelor of Business, and a Grad. Cert of
Vocational and Educational Training. All this is nice but it's the 14
years of having to make sales or starve that makes her think she has
really learnt what does and doesn't work. A tutor for all ages, she
specialises in helping people get started on the long road to
technology.

"It has to be practical, it has to be cheap, and it has to work."