Labour support only 11% in huge online poll
ClearBooks.co.uk has announced the preliminary results to one of the most comprehensive surveys on the UK economy on the day of the 2010 final leaders’ debate. The “2010 Election Survey: Business and The Economy” has been completed over the last 24 hours by 33,279 members of the general public who gave their opinions on issues affecting the economy and the election.
Key Findings:
- In the wake of bigotgate it appears Labour’s support is waning with only 11% of respondents intending to vote for them.
- In what will be one of tonight’s key talking points the majority of people want to see a cut in public debt now.
- Tories might have support of big business but small businesses are not bothered about NI rise of 1% with 51% of them saying it won’t affect hiring.
- Lib dem deputy leader Vince Cable chosen as the best man to run our finances with 35% of the vote.
- Tories winning the hearts but not yet minds – 43.1% of people say they best represent their views or have the best policies for ther business, but only 35.8% are prepared to vote for them.
The full survey results will be published online at 4pm: http://www.clearbooks.co.uk/results/
Key Statistics:
Of the 33,279 People Surveyed in the last 24 hours:
Who will you be voting for in the election?
- 36% Conservative / 11% Labour / 19% Liberal Democrat / 11% Other.
- 20% were still undecided and 3% won’t be voting.
What approach to debt would you like the government to take?
- 51% Cut Today / 33% Cut In A Year.
- 13% were unsure and 3% felt government debt did not need to be cut.
Should banks be broken up into smaller institutions?
- Yes 63% / No 23% / Unsure 14%.
Will a 1% increase in National insurance result in a reduction in new hires in your business?
Of the 6,221 businesses and self employed that took part in the survey:
- 51% No / 34% Yes / Unsure 15%.
Tim Fouracre, Clear Books MD commented “I think the most notable outcome of the survey is that there is an appetite for real debate on key issues instead of spin.” He added “Politicians need to start straight talking on the economy. Let’s hope tonight they stop dodging the issues. What Clear Books users want is transparency.”
–ends–
Notes To Editors
Technical Details
A snapshot of the survey was taken at 12:00 on Thursday 29th April 2010, when 33,279 had been submitted. The survey was taken by 6,221 small business owners, 16,189 employees, and 10,869 members of the general public who are economically inactive (e.g. pensioners, students and full time parents) from across the UK. The respondents were made up of people subscribed to PetrolPrices.com and OurProperty.co.uk these are large consumer web sites owned by Fubra Limited which is planning two further surveys before the election on key issues of: Motoring and Transport and Property and Inheritance.
About Clear Books
Clear Books is an online accounting application for small businesses. Clear Books was incorporated in July 2008 as a joint venture between Chartered Accountant and former KPMG employee Tim Fouracre, and online media company, Fubra Limited. The service was officially launched in July 2009 with a slogan “Online accounting to free your time” and costs from GBP 5 per month. Upgrades and support are free and no installation or prior knowledge of accounting is required.
Contact
Nick Braithwaite
Clear Books Public Relations
t: 08448-138-138
e:press@clearbooks.co.uk
www.clearbooks.co.uk
SOURCE: Clear Books
Clear Books Announces Financing Deal To Further Scale Its SaaS Online Accounting Software
LONDON–Clear Books, the UK based privately held online accounting application, announces a new financing deal from key strategic investors for an undisclosed sum. Clear Books provides an online alternative to more traditional desktop accounting software products provided by The Sage Group PLC and Intuit INC, and a more UK focused service than online international competitors Xero Limited. The deal will enable Clear Books to increase its development resources and accelerate growth plans in the UK.
Clear Books is a rapidly growing company with customer numbers increasing more than 20% per month. It is quickly establishing itself as a leader in the growing SaaS online accounting software market in the UK. Managing Director, Tim Fouracre, said, “Our cash flows continue to reflect impressive growth month on month, but this additional financing will help us accelerate our expansion plans. One of our key objectives is to add depth to our development team to ensure we continue to develop the very best application. Our aim is to make both maintaining company accounts and doing the bookkeeping as easy as possible for small businesses. We are already making great progress on this front with our online VAT filing direct to HMRC and our new payroll module”.
Clear Books is an online accounting application for small businesses. Clear Books was incorporated in July 2008 as a joint venture between Chartered Accountant and former KPMG employee Tim Fouracre, and online media company, Fubra Limited. The service was officially launced in July 2009 with a slogan “Online accounting to free your time” and costs from £5 per month. Upgrades and support are free and no installation or prior knowledge of accounting is required.
Contacts
Clear Books
Public Relations
Nick Braithwaite
08448-138-138
press@clearbooks.co.uk
www.clearbooks.co.uk
MPs Offered £100 000 Worth of Accounting Software To Publish Their Expenses
MPs Offered £100 000 Worth of Accounting Software To Publish Their Expenses
London (04/02/10) – Every MP has been offered free online accounting software to publish their accounts publicly on the Internet. All 646 MPs are being offered a term’s use of the online accounting software worth around £100 000 a year. Through this service all MPs’ accounts will be open to scrutiny by the public.
Clear Books, the firm that runs the online accounting software, is hoping that the pledge will lead to a quicker and more transparent solution to the expenses scandal than through any government led initiative.
Tim Fouracre the Clear Books MD stated, “Today’s announcement that MPs have to pay £1.12 million back has inspired us to help clear up what Nick Clegg referred to as a rotten Parliament. We are laying down the gauntlet to MPs who need to step up and show us how open they are really willing to be.”
He added, “With the Legg report itself costing an alleged £1.16m, this will save the taxpayer further expense as Parliament will not need to develop their own system. Members of the public will finally have access to detailed financial data with all MPs’ expenses categorised. Our accounting software is online so it is the perfect platform for serving up this data to the general public.
-end-
Contact: Nick Braithwaite
Email: press@clearbooks.co.uk
Tel: 020 7348 3411
Notes To Editors:
1. Clear Books Limited is an online accounting company more information can be found at www.clearbooks.co.uk.
Accounting Is Boring Viral Website Launched
Accounting Is Boring Viral Website Launched
London (04/02/10) – A new viral website entitled Accounting Is Boring has officially launched today. AccountingIsBoring.com spawned out of recognition for the large feeling of discontent there is on twitter towards accounting. Accounting Is Boring has already found a fan in tweeter and apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry, who tweeted her approval of the viral campaign. The viral website was also featured in The Independent’s Business Diary. Clear Books, an online accounting system, created the website with the aim of tapping into students, accountants and business owners who wish to spend less time doing their boring accounts.
The website consists of tweets from across the globe with references to how boring accounting is. Examples include @leifkendall tweet, “Spent two hours entering expenses into accounts software last night. Boring!”, while @brucieebruce touched on a popular theme with his tweet, “Accounting is so boring!”. The website also has a poll for people to vote on what they would rather be doing than accounting.
Clear Books MD Tim Fouracre stated, “The concept is very simple, we wanted to capture the frustrations towards accounting in one place and hopefully raise a smile at the same time.”
He added, “The website is not intended to be a direct jab at accounting. In fact we believe that there are new, even fun, ways to do the accounts. Accounting does not have to be boring”.
To be featured on Accounting Is Boring anyone who is on twitter simply has to include the words “Accounting” and “Boring” in a twitter message.
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Contact: Nick Braithwaite
Email: press@clearbooks.co.uk
Tel: 020 7348 3411
Notes To Editors:
1. Clear Books Limited is an online accounting company more information can be found at www.clearbooks.co.uk.
Online VAT returns recognised by HMRC
We are pleased to announce that our online VAT returns system has been recognised by HMRC. We are now listed on their 3rd party VAT software page:
We currently support online submission of VAT 100 forms (the standard quarterly VAT return). If you use Clear Books as your day to day invoicing and accounts system, then filing a VAT return takes just a few minutes.
You can find out more about our VAT return system at the links below:
We successfully completed HMRC’s testing procedure to show that we can submit VAT returns online directly to HMRC.
What this means is that when our users create a VAT Return in Clear Books they can, at the click of a button, submit their VAT return electronically and instantly to HMRC.
Clear Books Accounting Software: New Design, Record Users, Free Your Time!
Clear Books accounting software has revamped its online accounting website. The fresh design coincides with flying through 100 paying users and a new company slogan, “Free Your Time”.
Free Your Time
“Free Your Time” is about empowering small business owners to focus on running, growing and analysing their businesses rather than spending time bogged down in accounting admin.
This is achieved through simple time saving features such as a quick bank import tool, one click online VAT filing to HMRC and automatic chasing of late paying customers.
100 Paying Users
In just over three months paid subscriptions to Clear Books have rocketed from zero to over 100. The company is targeting 1,000 by July 2010 and remains on track to achieve this with new paying users signing up to its online accounting system at an increasing rate.
Fresh Design
The new look to www.clearbooks.co.uk is aimed at standardising the style throughout and giving an even sleeker finish. Next on the agenda is a makeover of the accounting system itself and the continued rollout of new features and usability enhancements.
50 paid-up online accountancy software customers in the first month? You bet-cha!
(Aldershot, UK) Online accounting software company Clear Books has secured 50 paying customers in its first month, spurred on by a bet between the founder and a former colleague.
Launched on the 1st of July 2009, Clear Books is a complete online accounting software package with all the features to rival accounting software market leaders, and more, but at a fraction of the cost.
When chartered accountant and former KPMG employee Tim Fouracre left his city job to start Clear Books one of his soon-to-be-ex colleagues, David Brockton, challenged him to a bet – that Clear Books wouldn’t have 50 paying customers in its first year, with the winner being treated to dinner by the loser. 
Accounting Software Special Offer (£5 per month)
Open For Business
Clear Books is rewarding all beta testers and early adopters with a special opening offer. Clear Books Premium will cost just £5* per month (standard price £15* per month) for the first six months.
Clear Books Premium is our premier price plan including unlimited transactions and unlimited users.
This offer is a special thank you to all our beta testers who have given, and continue to give, excellent feedback which constantly improves Clear Books on a day to day basis.
The offer will be available to all our current users and will also be available to new users for a short period of time. So don’t miss out, sign up now as we’re open for business!
* price excludes VAT
Accounting Software Accredited by The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers
Clear Books online accounting software has been accredited by The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB).
To find out more about the ICB and to read their review of the Clear Books accounting system please visit Clear Books Software Accreditation.
Validating Clear Books
It was important for us to get Clear Books accredited by the ICB to give our users an independent, third party validation of our accounting system.
Future Accreditations
We intend to take futher steps to independently validate Clear Books accounting software including software accreditation from the ICAEW.
Official Launch
The ICB accreditation has been approved as we gear up for our official launch. The beta sign will be removed shortly.