All too often we hear about the hefty amounts non-clients of ours pay for their practice software. However familiar and comfortable an accountancy practice is with its current set-up, it makes good commercial sense to check every so often what other solutions are available on the market.
In fact we encourage all accountants in practice to periodically review their practice software options to ensure they are getting a good deal.
Untangling your practice from your current practice software contract
Once you have found the right deal, it is not always a quick and easy ride to swap provider. Whether you pay annually, quarterly or monthly the small print in your contract can make the transition far from straightforward. Never assume you can leave without giving notice – even from a basic annual contract.
Tips for avoiding software contract pitfalls
At BTCSoftware we’ve helped countless customers move away from rival providers and are happy to share the benefit of our experience with some simple words of advice. If you are looking to extract your accountancy practice from its current practice software contract as painlessly as possible, here are our top tips:
- Get a written confirmation of your current contract situation. Tell the provider you’re reviewing your options and need to know exactly where you stand.
- Establish what notice period (if any) you will need to serve and by when. Even with annual contracts some providers will expect you to give a minimum 3 months’ notice before the contract end date.
- Make sure when your provider confirms your current contract situation and notice period they include all your software. Some practice software suppliers like to ensure your various contracts end at different times, as this makes it harder for you to leave.
- Check what will happen to your data when you leave. Whilst some providers will grant you free “read-only” access to all your old data, others have been known to try to play hard-ball.
Be contract-savvy with your next provider
And of course it follows that you should consider these self-same issues when considering your next practice software solution. Look for a provider that is open and transparent about its pricing model, contracts and notice periods. Find one that will help you migrate your data, provide an initial “overlap” period before your old software is turned off and will harmonise your disparate contract end dates.
Of course, this is something that comes naturally to us at BTCSoftware. Our passion for equable and fair contracts led us to launch our Ban the Ladder campaign to highlight such unfair pricing models and practices.
Get a second opinion
So if you are questioning whether your software is really delivering the best deal for your practice, and you would like to review your options, please do get in touch. Contact us on 0800 612 7650 or via email: Sales@BTCSoftware.co.uk
