Pandle Review – Free Accounting Software
Read our Pandle review to see if the software is suitable for your needs. I stumbled across Pandle as a recommendation from another bookkeeper in a Facebook discussion. After signing up and using the software, I can see how some people would love it.
The software has been created from the ground up with UK businesses in mind. It has been designed with ease of use in mind and kept simple.
Some features are only included in the paid version, so as your company expands, you can upgrade Pandle to the level of service you require. The main features in the paid-for version are automatic bank feeds, the number of users, Paypal feeds, receipt uploads, additional invoice templates and cash flow forecasting.
I have also transferred a small charity from Excel bookkeeping to Pandle, and after using it for a year, they are pleased with the information they can get from the reports.
Pandle Review – Ease of use
The one thing on the first impression of the dashboard is how simple it looks to use and see the information. The dashboard shows charts for the bank balance, sales, profit and loss, cash flow and expenses. The charts make it simple to see the position of your company.
On the header, there is a menu to enter transactions, categories, view transactions, reports and tools – making it easy to find anything in the accounts. You can also enter transactions, new customers and suppliers using the + button in the header.
Pandle is easy to set up using their wizard, which guides you through the complete process. Opening balances can be entered from your accounts if you are transferring your accounts across from another system.
Categories
One of the most important things to get right in any accounting system is the chart of accounts or categories. Pandle, at first glance, has most of the categories that any business will need. If you want to add a new code, it is straightforward, making sure you can get the information that you need.
Pandle Review – Reports
Pandle doesn’t have as many reports as some of the leading accounting software providers, including QuickBooks and Xero, but it does include the reports that a small business will need. The reports available are:
There are also six exports in Excel available:
- Customers
- Customer Invoices
- Suppliers
- Supplier Invoices
- Transactions
- General Ledger
Invoicing in Pandle
Invoicing is easy to set up and use. There is a facility to upload the company logo. The design is relatively simple and easy to view. The software includes several different design layouts, so one should be suitable. On the bottom of the invoice, there is a created by Pandle that shows their logo.
In the document settings, additional information can be added to include any bank details or details that may be required.
As with most cloud accounting software, invoices are emailed directly through the software.
VAT Returns
Pandle handles VAT returns with ease as you would expect. As with most accounting software packages they are compliant with the Making Tax Digital. It means that VAT returns are submitted directly to HMRC using Pandle.
Support
Support is offered with online articles, videos, live chat, training sessions and remote access. I have contacted support about an issue, and they were very quick to respond with the answer.
Pandle Review – Updates
Pandle is constantly updating its software, and new features are added all the time. They email all updates to the software.
Data Security
Pandle is fully compliant with GDPR. All data is transferred via a secure HTTPS connection. Regular backups are made and stored in Google’s UK data centre. Further information on data security is available.
Upgrading to Pandle Pro
If you have been using Pandle for a while or want to trial their Pro version, they offer a 7-day trial. If you are not satisfied at the end of the trial, it is easy to downgrade back to the free version. The Pro version is £5 per month, so it is a cheaper option than other software.
Pandle Review Summary
Pandle is a great free accounting software package suitable for small businesses. It is easy to set up and has most features that other software has to offer. As with any software, it takes a while to get used to and learn where features are.
If you are expecting your business to grow, you may find in time that you need to look for a different package. If you do change accounting software, Pandle will keep your records for six years.
To find out more about their software, visit the Pandle website.
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