I have been a proud user of Filemaker and, having upgraded to FM 9 (and Vista), I also want to use it for bookkeeping. I have a small business and am not looking for complicated tax issues, just simple bookkeeping. Are there any simple templates available? I am prepared to 'build' it myself. Thank you.

Hi Brett,

Genuine comment, so I hope the following helps:

There really is no point re-inventing a bookkeeping system...

(But there is every point getting your operational system(s) exactly right and that could mean FM or a standard package and then linking to accounting/bookkeeping either through importing or automated integration of some sort)

But I see very little value/return in writing S/L, P/L, N/L, bank recs and cash book etc - it will take you hundreds of hours to get it right for something that you can buy for as little as £100

Unless, of course, you have some very out of the ordinary requirement

Some PC ones:

Sage Line 50 if you want to help your accountant;

Quick books if you want flexibility and cheapness;

MS new 2008 accounting - value seems extraordinary cos its going to give you MS Office integration etc;

Access Accounts for brilliant integration tools

Loads of others...especially if you start looking at the larger sector

(I had a business that sold accounting software for 10 yrs albeit to medium sized businesses so do have some experience in this area!)

HTH

Thanks Simon for the excellent advice!