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Small business accounting software accessed via the cloud is increasingly becoming the way forward for savvy SMBs in Ireland who appreciate the flexibility, cost-effectiveness and simplicity of managing their accounts in the cloud.

Benefits Of Cloud Accounting At A Glance:

Cost – You only pay a small monthly service fee, no expensive software to purchase
Flexibility – log in anytime, anywhere, from any electronic device connected to the internet
Service – constant support, no upgrade fees, unlimited secure data storage
But some SMBs are still apprehensive of the cloud. What’s holding them back?

For many it’s confusion surrounding what ‘the cloud’ is, how it works and what it can do for them. Others are sticking with their existing on-premises accounting software because they have already invested a great deal of time and money in it – and when it comes time for the license to be renewed on their software, the temptation is to stick with what they know… even if that system is flawed.

Financial advantages of the cloud

Small businesses that embrace cloud computing are more likely to enjoy rising revenue than those that don’t.

Businesses that adopt cloud technology are much more likely to see an increase in earnings compared to those that do not. Enabling businesses to access data from any location provides them with a far greater level of flexibility. This allows companies to take advantage of unexpected business opportunities and to adapt to changing business environments. Rather than charge a large upfront price for a software package as is the case with on site software cloud computing can be offered to companies at a much more reasonable monthly price. This saves on large outlays which may require capital that simply is not available.

Maintenance is another area that cloud services bring savings in. On site software is likely ot require an additional service charge for updates and patches and any conflicts with onsite hardware are likely to have to be resolved by local IT staff or contractors. Hardware conflicts are no longer a problem with cloud services as the hardware the programs run on are off site and maintained by the cloud service. This means that even if a local computer breaks down you still have access to the service form any other computer that is available.

So with the obvious financial and flexible usage benefits cloud services provide, what could be holding you back from trying out a cloud-based accounting service?

Big Red Cloud offers complete support for Small Business Accounting

We understand that as a small business owner managing your own accounts can be difficult, and moving from your existing on-premises software to cloud technology can be overwhelming. While cloud technology is highly functional, flexible, convenient and intuitive, you may still encounter some head-scratching moment as you get to grips with this new way of working.

This is why you need all the support you can get.

Big Red Cloud is here to help

When choosing a cloud accounting service it’s important to opt for a SaaS provider who can offer you guidance when setting up your new accounting system and continue that support throughout your service agreement.

Our telephone, email or live chat support centre is there to provide answers to all your questions to make sure you are making the most of your accounting service. Support is free of charge to all cloud customers. We also offer a wide range of How To Videos for easy-to-follow tutorials on using Big Red Cloud.

Related: What can cloud do for your business?

Marc O'Dwyer

After completing a Graduate program in Marketing, Marc’s impressive sales career began at Allied Irish Banks, Pitney Bowes and Panasonic where he received numerous Irish and European sales performance awards and consistently exceeded targets and expectations. In 1992, Marc’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to set up his own business, Irish International Sales (IIS). Initially, this company was a reseller for Take 5 Accounts and Payroll software. Within four years, IIS became the largest reseller of Take 5 in Ireland, acquiring four other Take 5 resellers. He also found time to set up two mobile phone shops under the Cellular World brand and a web design company offering website design services for small businesses. In 2001, he bought the majority share in a small Irish software business, Big Red Book. At that time, the company was losing money. The company became profitable within two months, and Marc then acquired a payroll company to compliment Big Red Books Accounting products. In 2003, IIS were appointed as Channel Partners with SAP for their new SME product, SAP Business One. Marc sold his Take 5 business and concentrated on developing this new market for SAP As a result, by 2007, IIS was recognised as the largest Channel Partner for SAP in EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa). In 2008, the IIS Sales Manager bought the Company from Marc in an MBO. He launched Big red cloud in June 2012, the online version of big red book, to date the company successfully converts 59% of trials into sales and the number of customers is growing rapidly. Marc continues to run both Big Red Book and Big Red Cloud which now support 75,000 businesses. He is a very keen sportsman, having played rugby for 20 years, represented Leinster at under 16 and under 20 levels, and league squash with Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club for 10 years. Marc has competed in 11 Marathons, including the London and Boston Marathons, and has completed several Triathlons and Half Ironman races. He has also completed six Ironman Races in Austria(x2), Frankfurt (Germany), Nice (France) , Mallorca (Spain) and Copenhagen (Denmark)