Accounting Software For Freelance Web Developer

Flexible online accounting sotware to help make your organisation's finances more manageable.

60 Second Interview with Barry Fogarty

1. What do you do?
I’m a freelance web developer, based in London.

2. How long has your company been in business?
About 18 months.

3. What is the size of your company?
It’s just me, I’m a sole trader.

4. Why did you decide to choose Clear Books for your online accounting?
I wanted a single system to create invoices, keep track of expenses and to help prepare my tax return.  And I wanted to be able to use it from any computer.  When I tried out Clear Books, I knew it was The One!

5. What were you using before you signed up to Clear Books?
I was using desktop-based tools – Sliq Invoicing and MS Excel (DIY Accounting spreadsheets).

6. What were your views on going online with your accounting, prior to joining Clear Books?
I was a bit worried about privacy and security, but after a hard-drive meltdown, I was very keen to move my accounting to the Cloud.

7. How have those views now changed since using Clear Books (if at all)?
I’m happy with the security level offered by the site – and also the ethos seems to be very much about open data standards.  So if I change in the future I can take my data with me.  I also love the way I can get a weekly backup of my data.

8. Did you expect Clear Books to work out as well for you as it has done?
It has definitely exceeded my expectations, and at £5/month it’s a steal.

9. How has your life and your business changed since you began using Clear Books?
My finances are under control, I am saving hours of data entry each month, but most importantly, I feel I have escaped the tyranny of financial data-entry and nightly backup.

10. Which Clear Books feature could you not live without and why?
Bank statement import – what a time-saver!

11. What are your business plans for the future?
This year I would like to become a limited company and expand my client base.

12. How will Clear Books help in getting you there?
Clear Books helps me be organised financially, which allows me to focus on my business.  It has all the tools required for company accounting so I am not worried about having to change systems when my business grows.

13. If you were to recommend Clear Books to a friend or client, how would you describe us?
I would say that Clear Books helps you take control of your finances.

14. How has Clear Books helped you save time?
The bank import tool saves me typing out my transactions into 2 or more systems, which I had to do previously.

15. Why would you recommend Clear Books to people in a similar trade to you?
At only £5/month, it is a no-brainer for sole trader bookkeeping.  I would encourage web design professionals to give it a go – if you use online banking and submit PDF invoices to clients over email, it’s perfect.