We're all ready to munch into some chocolate over the next few weeks. But that’s not all there is to be excited about! The new tax year is kicking off right around Easter. Giving you the perfect time to switch software providers. 

As your business grows, your payroll, practice management and tax needs are going to change. If that’s the case for your business, you might want to make a switch to run your firm more efficiently. In this blog we're going to look at five questions you should be asking yourself when looking to introduce new software into your practice.  

Firstly, you're going to want to define your business needs. In terms of features, costs, and durability. Some other things you'll need to consider are: 

• How many people you employ  
• How many clients you have 
• Your budget 

This Easter at Bright, our goal is to allow you to keep all your eggs in one basket. With our host of high-quality products, you can seamlessly keep your clients' payroll and tax in check, while managing your practice with ease. Tools like payroll software, BrightPay, tax software, BTCSoftware, and practice management solution AccountancyManager, automate many processes and keep your business at peak performance.  

Here are five questions to ask yourself when switching to new software this year:  

Is it easy to use?  

Making sure your new software is easy to use is an important step when transitioning. Whether it’s payroll or bookkeeping, the last thing you want is to commit to new software that’s complicated and tough to learn how to use. It’s a good idea to try out a free trial or multiple free trials of the different software available. This gives you a chance to test out the software and see if it meets your needs. Although free trials can have limited functionality, they usually provide you with the basic tools to help you decide whether the software is able to keep up with your demands. 

Is it affordable? 

Firstly, decide how much you're willing to spend overall on software. Then weigh up your options based off that. If something stands out but is too expensive, check out any discounts or special offers they might be offering. Once you’ve found a potential software provider for your business, you’ll want to make sure you're getting your money’s worth. It pays to look into the software’s features and whether they can save your business time and money. Choosing the cheapest solution is not always the best idea. A more expensive software can end up saving you money in the long run. 

Is there reliable support? 

Every time you process payroll or file a tax return, you're dealing with sensitive financial information and there is little room for error. Having an experienced support team available to you is crucial. If something goes wrong and you need help as soon as possible, you need a good team you can trust to help you out. If you're unsure about a certain software company, have a look at their reviews. This will tell you how other accountants feel about the company and their services. 

Is it secure?  

Security in accounting systems is essential today. You'll need to address all of your security concerns before investing in software. While reading up on a software’s features, it’s worth looking into that company’s history to check for any notable data leaks or breaches. The important thing isn't about what problems they had, it's what they did to fix them that matters, then you can judge whether they’re trustworthy or not. 

Does it have cloud capabilities? Cloud-based software can help keep your files secure. Instead of having to back up your data manually, the software automatically saves the data online, so you don’t ever have to worry about making mistakes or losing any client data.  

Software that offers any cloud features or add-ons is a highly attractive option as it allows for flexibility. You can work from the office, from home, or even work on your holidays, once your connected to the internet.  

Does it integrate with other software?  

Software that integrates with others can improve efficiency in your workplace, saving you time by not having to enter the same data over and over again. This also helps reduce mistakes due to human error. One example is integrating your bookkeeping software with your payroll software. This allows you to send your payroll data directly to your accounting software in just a few clicks. 

Keeping these questions in mind will help you make the right decision when choosing new software for your practice. 

Recommendations  

We recommend switching software at the beginning of a new tax year as it will reduce the amount of data that needs to be migrated. The good news is it’s not too late to decide to switch. There's still time to test out some of the solutions out there and get up and running for the new tax year. 

At Bright, we have a host of products that can help your practice get 2023/24 off to the best start. Bright’s products stretch across the entire accounting industry. With payroll, tax, practice management and accounts production tools available to make your life easier.