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Frequently asked questions

Getting Started

Who are Clear Books?

Clear Books provide award winning cloud accounting software & easy to use cloud payroll to small businesses in the UK.

What is the cloud?

Put simply, the cloud means ‘online’. Cloud technology stores data online without you having to download a physical copy of it on a computer. Examples of where you may already use the cloud in everyday life include online banking, social media and some email systems such as Gmail.

With regards to Clear Books, it means you can access your data from any computer, and more than one person can see the data at the same time. This means you and your accountant or colleagues can work collaboratively with your data from different locations.

Do I need to install anything?

You don’t have to install anything at all. Simply open your browser of choice, head to and log in.

Is internet access required to use Clear Books applications?

Yes. As we’re cloud based, you do need an internet connection to access our applications. However, if you download the Clear Books Accounting Mobile app you can always add bills, quotes invoices and expenses to your account while offline and simply sync them to your account when you’re back online.

How do I know which Accounting subscription plan is suitable for me?

Our pricing page offers an exhaustive feature list for our subscription plans, which will prove beneficial when choosing the best plan for you. If you’re still looking for help feel free to get in touch with the Clear Books team on 0800 862 0202.

Can I add users to my accounts?

You can invite an unlimited amount of users to all our applications, and we have extensive user permission options to ensure each person with access only sees the areas they need to see.


Security

How secure is Clear Books?

Our servers utilise the Linux operating system which powers 99% of the web. Linux is also the operating system of choice of information security professionals and has been for decades! We install the bare minimum of required software to reduce the risk of being infected with viruses and to reduce software clashes that could create harmful bugs. We also use secure connections for all backups and server administration tasks. Our systems are monitored and audited by our dedicated server administration team who regularly apply security patches to keep our software up to date.

Your data is backed up regularly and stored in multi-site locations. We take a daily backup of your data and store 30 days of these backups, whereas with traditional accounting software you are confined to the one installation on your desktop and would need to do these backups manually. In addition, all of our secure data centres are monitored 24 hours a day with CCTV and onsite security.

To sum up. We back up your data daily, run no other software on our servers, keep our OS fully up to date with the latest security patches and keep our servers in a secure location which is monitored by both CCTV and onsite security 24 hours a day - you’re better off using Clear Books.

For further information, please visit:

www.clearbooks.co.uk/terms/security/
www.clearbooks.co.uk/terms/privacy/

Is Clear Books still going to be here tomorrow?

Clear Books is backed by a successful established company, Fubra Limited, which has been operating since 2000. They have a strong balance sheet, a history of profitability and run a large number of websites with more than 3 million subscribers in their network.

What happens to my data if I close my account?

As set out in our Terms of Use, once an account has been closed, any Data will no longer be accessible by You. That Data will be archived after three months, and permanently deleted seven years after your account closure.

If there is a need to restore the data to a readily accessible format at your request before it is permanently deleted, charges may apply.

If You want to retain the Data in your account when you cancel your subscription, please contact support who can offer You a low-cost view-only dormant account (a Dormant Account).


Payment and subscriptions

Can I try Clear Books applications for free?

Of course you can. Simply click the try for free button in the top right corner!

What forms of payment can I use?

You can pay by either direct debit or debit/credit card.

How robust is the software?

Clear Books Accounting has been accredited by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). To read more about this accreditation click here.

Can I upgrade the subscription plan I’m on?

Yes you can. If you’re looking to upgrade to a full accounting plan, simply head to Subscription to see the relevant plan available to you. You are unable to downgrade your account.

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?

Yes. You can cancel your subscription at any time, and you will retain access until your current subscription ends.


Support and Training

What support options do you have?

We provide a wide variety of free support options so we can help you in the most convenient way.

Telephone and live chat support is available to all customers from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. If you’re in a rush, and can't stick around to talk with a member of the support team, you can always email us with your query and a member of the team will get back to you. The support team aim to respond to all queries within 2 hours, though they’re normally much quicker. We’ve also got a great Community forum where you can ask questions, submit praise and report any issues you may be having.

I need help setting up my Clear Books account. Who do I contact?

Our support team can be contacted Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, and offer free assistance via telephone and email. You can also refer to our help guides here.

Do you have any user guides I can view?

We most certainly do. Check out our official user guide here. We also have a library of support guides for when you’re trying to complete more specific tasks. In addition, feel free to browse and post in our community forum where you can get additional help from both staff and other users alike. If you’re looking for further support, you can always click on the Need Help? link found on the top right of every page within your account.

Do you provide any training on the software?

We have loads of training available. We provide classroom based training at our offices, online training or we can even come to you. You can email or phone our sales team for more information on sales@clearbooks.co.uk or 0800 862 0202.


Miscellaneous

In which countries is Clear Books available?

Clear Books can be set up to be used in all countries. We offer a multi currency option which allows you to set up the account in your home currencies. Bank accounts, invoices and bills can be created in multiple currencies, we also have a tool that allows you to set custom tax rates.

How do I share my data with my accountant through Clear Books?

Simply invite them into your account. Head to Home > Users and click the “Invite User” button.

How many users can I add to my account?

As many as you’d like. We don’t cap the amount of users you can add to your account.

How do I change my password?

If you know your password then you can change it once you are logged in. You can do this by clicking on the person icon in the top right corner of the screen and then selecting change password. If you have forgotten your password it can be reset by clicking ‘Forgotten your password?’ on the login page.


Need more help?

Check out our support guides, ask the Community or contact us.

ICB accreditation

Clear Books, accredited by The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (reg. no. 843585), delivers valued, comprehensive online accounting software for small businesses in the UK.