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http://springreach.co.uk/, https://www.aat.org.uk/find-an-accountant-or-bookkeeper

Springreach Training & Coaching, Ipswich (2026)

23/09/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆? 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀?

The main four packages I support are VT, Pandle, FreeAgent and Xero. But I also support other packages, including Sage and QuickBooks.

Why those four?

𝗩𝗧
I’ve been using VT for my own bookkeeping for over 20 years. I still haven’t found anything I like more. It’s an easy-to-use, beginner-friendly, desktop accounting package.

It doesn’t have a bank feed so, if you have lots of transactions, .csv imports might feel a bit technical. It’s also not cloud based, so you’ll need strict version control if you use it on more than one PC.

But, as starter package – and, in cases like mine, well beyond – it’s great. Choose between the free version for cash basis accounts, or the paid-for version for invoice basis accounts and Making Tax Digital.

𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲
Pandle was a comparatively recent discovery. Frustrated with the cost of the leading software providers, I started looking for an affordable cloud-based bookkeeping package suitable for small businesses. Four years ago, I found Pandle.

In that time, I’ve used it for a range of clients, testing its bookkeeping capabilities and sending in Making Tax Digital quarterly updates.

Choose between the free version for cash basis accounts - which includes MTD - or the paid-for version for invoice basis accounts and a bank feed.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁
FreeAgent is software I used to use years ago and have recently reacquainted myself with. As a stand-alone package, it might seem expensive. As a freebie add-on with a NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank or Mettle account, it’s a no-brainer.

It’s a solid, user-friendly option for small businesses – whether you’re self-employed or a director of your own limited company.

𝗫𝗲𝗿𝗼
Xero took a bit of getting used to. It feels quite different to other bookkeeping software, which can make it quite a steep learning curve. But it’s great for small-to-medium sized businesses; and integrates well with many other apps and platforms.

There is lot I like about Xero, although the restrictions on its lower-priced plans mean that it can quickly get expensive. On the flip side, if you’re intending to grow your business, Xero will grow with you.

𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗲
I’ve been a Sage user for many years. There are several different versions. If you’re looking for support or software setup in Sage Free, Sage Accounting or Sage 50, please get in touch.

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
If you are already using QuickBooks and are looking for support, I’d be pleased to help. I don’t do QuickBooks software setups.

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
If the software you use, or are interested in using isn’t listed, feel free to get in touch. Most bookkeeping packages operate in a similar manner. Even if it’s not one I’ve come across, I’m happy to research and guide you 1-to-1 through how to do your own bookkeeping in a software package of your choice.

16/09/2026

If you’re looking for straightforward, affordable bookkeeping software, Pandle might be just what you need.

Pandle has been around for 10 years now. It has a clean, smart user interface, is easy to use, and costs a fraction of what the mainstream bookkeeping packages do. It’s suitable whether you’re in the Self Assessment or Making Tax Digital Tax systems.

There are free and paid-for versions of the software, both of which are MTD-compatible. You can already use Pandle to submit quarterly updates to HM Revenue & Customs. Pandle’s developers are working on making submission of end-of-year MTD Tax Returns possible by next April.

𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 is ideal if you’re self-employed, don’t have very many transactions, and keep your accounts on a cash basis (money in, money out).

Pandle Free doesn’t have a bank feed, but 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼 does. Even if you keep cash basis accounts, for £6 a month including VAT (or £3 a month via your accountant), it’s worth subscribing to Pandle Pro for the bank feed.

A bank feed connects your bookkeeping software to your business bank account and downloads the date, description and amount of each transaction directly into your software.

Other benefits of Pandle Pro include the ability to create bank rules to auto-post transactions; and - optionally - to upload copy invoices and receipts into the software (electronic document storage).

Pandle Pro gives you the option to keep your accounts on an invoice rather than a cash basis. This allows you to issue sales invoices to your customers and keep track of who’s paid and who hasn’t (although data entry can be a little slow if you have a lot of customer and supplier invoices).

Pandle Pro is also suitable for VAT-registered businesses and small limited companies.

Pandle offers a limited range of smartly formatted reports, readily exportable to Excel. These reports give you and your accountant all the figures you need for the self-employed pages of your Tax Return, or for your accountant to prepare your company’s end of year accounts from.

I’ve been using Pandle for four years now. Whether you’re a sole trader or the director of a small limited company, I’ve seen first-hand how Pandle can simplify and de-stress the bookkeeping process when compared to using spreadsheets or persisting with a software package that’s more complicated than your business needs.

If you’re interested in moving to different software to keep your bookkeeping records, please get in touch. I’m a qualified accountant, keen to help self-employed small business owners learn to handle their own bookkeeping with confidence. I offer one-to-one software setup and training packages for VT, Pandle, FreeAgent, Xero and others – with group training options and ongoing support available.

If you'd like a 15-minute discovery call to see whether Pandle could be right for you and your business, leave me a message below!

09/09/2026

I love VT. I've used it right from when I first became self-employed.

Other bookkeeping software has come on to the market, which on the face of it might seem like an improvement. Maybe it's cloud-based, or has the facility to connect to my bank and download transactions directly into the software. Yet still I stick with VT.

Here's why.

It's fast. It's flexible. It's reliable and user-friendly. There are no hidden nasties - you either pay for it or you don't. Once you subscribe, you're not going to hit any transaction limits or feature restrictions - everything the software is capable of is included in a single price.

I use it to keep track of my business income and expenditure - to record transactions that have already happened.

I use it to project my cash flow - estimating future income and expenses so I don't miss anything and can make sure I've got the funds available to meet larger payments.

I use it to analyse my income and expenses for my Tax Return. It does Making Tax Digital quarterly updates too.

If I want more detail to help me run my business, I can break my income and expenses down and allocate them to different departments, so I can see how each part of my business is doing in isolation.

I can run reports in under a second using shortcut keys. No ploughing through menus and repeatedly re-selecting the same dates over and over because the software has forgotten what period I ran the report for last time.

If I had a massive business with loads of transactions, would I want software with a bank feed? Maybe. But then I can export a .csv download of all bank transactions, copy-paste them into VT, use its "autocomplete" function to suggest which category each transaction belongs in, and upload them in bulk. It requires a little IT knowledge to be able to handle .csv imports in VT, but that's more than compensated for by the ease of data entry, super-quick reporting, and not having to wait for each page of a cloud-based accounting software package to load.

It's a fabulous little package. If you'd like a 15-minute discovery call to see if VT might be right for you and your business, leave me a message below!

09/09/2026

𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆?

According to a news article this week, primary school teachers have been hired to work in Glasgow's high schools to address the growing number of new starts who are unable to ready properly.

The article took me right back to my sixth form days, when I used to help the head of the remedial department (as it was called then) with the incoming first years during my lunch hour. Descriptions have changed - head of learning support, incoming Year 7s - but the statistics haven't. 40 years later, nearly 1 in 4 children don't meet minimum reading proficiency levels by the time they leave primary school.

I used to sit with them patiently whilst they read. Sometimes we did basic maths. I loved the lightbulb moments. Every time they had a breakthrough, I'd feel a leap of joy.

It was around this time that I found out I wasn't going to university (personal circumstances, not grades). After two spells of work experience with a local firm of accountants, I was offered a training contract. It wasn't the teaching job I'd dreamt of, but there were still opportunities. Every time our department was allocated a work experience student, I would jump at the chance to take them under my wing.

In every job I've had, I've always managed to find a way to blend training or mentoring in - looking after work experience students, trainees and junior colleagues; proactively offering training to clients of the accountancy practices I was working for; supporting adult learning and career change decisions.

I've been running my own accountancy practice for 18 years now. My ethos towards bookkeeping has always been: why should people pay me to do something that, with a little help and support, they could do for themselves?

That's why I set up Springreach Training & Coaching. Through Springreach, I offer one-to-one and group support for small business owners who want to learn to do their own bookkeeping using software.

I offer one-to-one done-with-you software setup and training packages. We'll set your software up together and I'll train you how to use it. You'll learn what to do, when to do it and what to look out for - practical, hands-on training via Zoom screen share using your software and working on your transactions.

If you're happy that you mostly know what you're doing, and just want a place you can come and ask questions, I also run a the Springreach DIY Bookkeeping Community. Membership includes a monthly Zoom, where I present a 20-30 minute masterclass, followed by a Q&A session on anything bookkeeping, software or Making Tax Digital. There's a private Facebook group for Q&A support throughout the month, a training portal and a monthly roundup email. This month's topic is on how to account for cash transactions in software.

Interested? Leave a comment below or send me a message via the Springreach website.

02/09/2026

If you’re looking for an easy way to transition from spreadsheets to software, VT may be the answer.

VT Cash Book is a brilliant free option for people who keep cash basis accounts and still complete a Self Assessment Tax Return. You can also use the software to keep track of your personal finances. The paid-for version, VT Transaction+, is Making Tax Digital compatible.

I love this software because it’s fast and easy to use. Everything is editable. Other than deleting a transaction by mistake, there’s very little you can do wrong in it that can't be corrected.

Plus points:
- UK-based company
- Free for anyone who keeps cash basis accounts and is still in Self Assessment
- Making Tax Digital compatible (paid subscribers only)
- User-friendly
- Fast data entry
- Super-fast reporting
- Date lock (prevents changes to completed accounting periods)
- Unlimited businesses per user

Minus points:
- Can only do Making Tax Digital quarterly updates (not end-of-year MTD Tax Return)
- Not cloud-based (needs regular backing up)
- No bank feed (all transaction data has to be entered manually or by .csv import in paid-for version)
- No audit trail (doesn’t keep a record of transactions edited or deleted)
- No mobile phone app
- No in-software document storage
- Only works with Windows

Conclusion:

VT Cash Book is a brilliant free option for people who keep cash basis accounts and still complete a Self Assessment Tax Return. It’s best suited to a single user, with the data being stored on a single computer or laptop and backed up regularly.

The paid-for version, VT Transaction+, is an affordable option for people who keep accruals basis accounts or who need to comply with Making Tax Digital. It currently costs £108 a year including VAT (equivalent to £9/month).

Both VT software packages are a great place to start, particularly if you’re used to spreadsheets and have never used accounting software before. Mistakes are easily corrected, which helps the software feel very “forgiving” to beginners.

All versions of VT have a bank reconciliation feature, so you can check that all the transactions on your business bank statement have been included.

VT is Making Tax Digital compatible for Income Tax and VAT, although both MTD features need the paid-for licence. VT Transaction+ can only submit MTD for Income Tax quarterly updates, so you’ll need to use different software (or ask an accountant) to submit your end-of-year MTD Tax Return.

If you’re interested in using software to keep your bookkeeping records, please get in touch. I’m a qualified accountant, keen to help self-employed small business owners learn to handle their own bookkeeping with confidence. I offer one-to-one software setup and training packages for VT, Pandle, FreeAgent, Xero and others – group training options and ongoing support available.

25/08/2026

My heart dropped as I read the letter. I’d just come back from an amazing family holiday in Croatia. The envelope had been on the doormat when I got back.

“We’re really sorry … blah, blah … difficult economic circumstances … blah...”

Why me? I just couldn’t comprehend it. I’d worked my socks off at work. I’d studied hard on block release. My tutors were confident I would pass - unlike one of the male students in my cohort.

But suddenly here I was, 3 days before my intermediate ICAEW exam results were due, soon-to-be unemployed.

It wasn’t just the loss of a job. It was potentially the loss of my career. Without a training contract, I couldn’t continue my studies to become a chartered accountant, even though I'd passed my exams.

Months of demoralisation followed. There seemed to be no accountancy training contracts available, and every industry job application was met with a similar response. You’re overqualified. We don't doubt you can do it, we just don’t think you’ll stay.

Finally, I was offered a job with a shipping company. If I switched from ICAEW to ACCA, which frustratingly meant redoing all my intermediate level exams, they’d sponsor my studies. I accepted. A job was better than no job, and at least my career would be on the move again.

I quickly realised the benefits of my new role. Working for a firm of accountants had shown me how to create a set of accounts starting with a Trial Balance, but I'd had no clue what happened before that. Working in industry filled in the missing puzzle piece. It taught me how to do bookkeeping from the envelope on the doormat upwards.

The AAT published an article last week, quoting the director of an up-and-coming accountancy firm: “We’ve taken on some people who’ve gone into chartered qualifications straight from school but have missed bookkeeping qualifications,” says striveX Founder/Director Rachel Harris. “If we take on somebody like that, I’ll guarantee within six months they’ll be asking to do a week’s work experience with our bookkeeping team, because they don’t understand what’s going on at a basic level, such as debits and credits.”

In my career, I have come across many accountants who are not great at bookkeeping. If it weren’t for my unplanned detour into shipping, I would be one of them.

Not all accountants do bookkeeping. Not all bookkeepers do accounts or tax. If you’re looking to get solid foundations in place for your business, with the support of someone with hands-on experience at all levels, let's connect!

I’m an ACCA-qualified accountant, operating under an AAT practising licence, keen to help self-employed small business owners learn to handle their own bookkeeping with confidence - see 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

20/08/2026

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆.

Six months ago, I received a message through LinkedIn from someone I'd never met. It said "I'm curious about your work. You're doing accountancy and bookkeeping, AND you're a coach, mentor, and trainer. That's an interesting combination!" We exchanged a few messages. She wasn't trying to sell me anything, she was genuinely curious.

By that point, I'd almost come to dread getting connection requests and messages on LinkedIn. What were they trying to sell me? Had they even read my profile to understand the nature and scale of business that I run? But something about this one felt different - and, because of that, I kept her in mind.

If you're self-employed and looking for support in moving from spreadsheets to software, or are currently using a software package that doesn't work for you and are looking to change, maybe I can help?

I'm a qualified accountant with 30+ years bookkeeping, accounts and Self Assessment tax experience. I signed up for Making Tax Digital voluntarily a year ago, so I've also been through a full year's cycle of Making Tax Digital quarterly updates and end of year submissions.

My vision is to help people who are self-employed move to keeping digital records, whether that's in preparation for Making Tax Digital, or just because they're looking for an easier way to keep their business bookkeeping records than what they're currently doing.

I work mainly with hands-on trades, self-employed freelancers and wellbeing specialists. I offer a done-with-you service - making sure your software is set up correctly, showing you how to use it, and offering ongoing support for as long as you feel you need it. We'll do it together via screenshare, so you can see how it works, and get used to using the software yourself until you're ready to go solo.

Whether I'm on the receiving end or not, sales is still inherently uncomfortable for me. You certainly won't be getting a DM straight to your inbox 😎. But if you're curious about working with me, I'd love to hear from you.

#𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

[Image credit: konjophotography.pixieset.com]

14/08/2026

"𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗱𝗼?"

From September, HMRC are going to start auto-enrolling anyone who they believe should be in the new MTD tax system who hasn't signed up voluntarily.

The disadvantage of HMRC signing you up is that you lose the opportunity to check the business and rental property details that HMRC hold about you.

There are only a few grounds for exemption for MTD. Some exemptions are automatic, others need you to actively apply to HMRC for exemption.

428,000 sole traders and landlords missed the first MTD deadline. 294,000 haven't signed up for MTD yet. Even if you fundamentally disagree with MTD, ignoring its existence won't make it go away.

HMRC won't be issuing penalty points or imposing fines for missed quarterly updates this year. They realise it's a big change. The purpose of the "soft landing" is to give you time to adapt your record-keeping system to comply.

Spreadsheets can still be used for Making Tax Digital, but you'll need bridging software to submit the figures to HMRC.

The easiest way to comply with Making Tax Digital is to get HMRC-recognised accounting software. There are plenty of software packages to choose from, but you need to have an idea of what you want the software to be able to do. Not all software can do everything.

Some software can only do the quarterly returns. If you are used to doing your own Self Assessment Tax Return, you'll also need MTD-compatible software to submit your end of year Tax Return. You won't be able to submit your Making Tax Digital Tax Return via your Government Gateway account.

If you've missed the first deadline and don't know where to start, please get in touch via the Springreach Training & Coaching website. I'm a qualified accountant, keen to support people who want to continue to handle their own tax affairs post-Making Tax Digital. For a one-off fee, I can assess which software packages might suit you and your business best, set your chosen software up, show you how to use it, help you submit the outstanding update, and offer optional ongoing support until you're ready to go solo - helping maintain your independence in this period of change.

Why wait until Making Tax Digital applies to you? If your total income from self-employment and rental property was over £30,000 in the 2025-26 tax year, you'll need to comply with Making Tax Digital from next April. Take the pressure off and start keeping digital records this year. You can register now to join MTD from April 2027. Get into the habit of updating your bookkeeping regularly, without the pressure of any deadlines, and you'll be able to relax - safe in the knowledge that you're all set for next year.

28/07/2026

“𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴” – a statement I have encountered more than once over the last couple of months. With the first Making Tax Digital filing deadline only 10 days away now, it’s crucial that you feel able to trust the software or app you’re using.

The question is, once you start having doubts about it, what do you do? Can you satisfy yourself that the problem was a one-off? Should you spend time and effort trying to sort it out yourself? Do you pay a bookkeeper or accountant to sort it out for you? What if you pay a professional to sort it out and the software malfunctions again?Once trust in a package or app has been lost, it's very hard to rebuild.

Several weeks ago I was contacted by a lady in exactly this position. Whilst she hadn’t been using all the features of the software package she was on, the bit she had been using had been working well - until a software update corrupted her data. Find out how we dealt with it in my latest blog.

I’m seeing more and more people expressing concern at the number of software packages and apps that are coming onto the market – packages that have been recognised by HMRC, and are technically able to meet the requirements of Making Tax Digital, but which are somehow lacking when you look at the bigger picture. Does the software truly meet your needs, or does it just tick the box for being MTD-compatible? Has an accountant or tax professional been involved in its development? Can you export your bookeeping data if you decide to move to a different provider? Can you run backup reports to store locally in case the software company goes under?

If you’ve got any concerns about the software or app you’re currently using and would like to explore alternatives, please get in touch. Equally, if you are new to bookkeeping and accounting software and want help in getting started, I can set you up from scratch with a reputable software package and train you how to use it. Prices from £300 with optional ongoing support £15pm.

[Image by Drazen Zigic on Magnific]

24/07/2026

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do!" If you're used to handling your own bookkeeping and tax affairs, and are worried that is going to change that, I'd love to help. I'm a licensed accountant dedicated to helping businesses get ready for Making Tax Digital. I can set up your and train you how to use it. One-off service. No ongoing commitment. Prices from £300. Two spaces available for setup by 7th August deadline.

[Image by rawpixel.com

Springreach Training & Coaching

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