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############ RESPONDANT 1 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

Quickbooks

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

The best thing about Quickbooks is that you can keep track of your invoices, along with the accounting records. A lot of other software programs like the 弥生 series, you need separate software programs to keep track of sales records (such as 弥生販売) and accounting (such as 弥生会計).

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

It's really about what I don't like about Quickbooks. The software interface is not really organized, and "context menus" (menus that change depending on the active dialog box) is confusing at times. The well-thought out shortcut menus should take care of this.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

I started using accounting software as soon as I started my business. I really couldn't think of an alternative and efficient method of keeping track of transactions. Maybe, you are very experienced with spreadsheets, and can keep everything organized simply using spreadsheets. Can you create balance sheets simply using spreadsheets? If you can, you probably don't need a dedicated software program.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

It's probably a good idea to work with accountants. I have an accountant working for me, and I pay 15000 yen a month to have him look over my bookkeeping records. He gives me good advice, and keeps me up-to-date on the newest tax laws. I also usually pay about 100,000 yen at tax time, to have him file the tax forms. I think it's worth it, because I rather have everything done right the first time. I can't imagine doing all the paper work to file corrections.

############ RESPONDANT 2 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

QB

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

Based on reviews from Amazon and Honyaku/JAT.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

All in one place, easier to use for invoices than Excel templates

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

Depends on business complexity, the more complex the more it might be helpful.

############ RESPONDANT 3 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

Filemaker Pro database.

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

It works but could be better. At least I can estimate my income and check what comes in with what I expected.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

As a minimum.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

Billing is not one of my favorite things to do. I would prefer that the client does the paperwork.

############ RESPONDANT 4 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

弥生会計02ｽﾀﾝﾀﾞｰﾄﾞ

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

ﾆﾌﾃｨの会計ﾌｫｰﾗﾑに投稿されていた｢経理ｿﾌﾄ比較｣を読んで｡

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

ｼｪｱが大きい｡会計事務所で使われていることが多い(将来､経理を会計事務所に委託することがあっても､会計事務所との互換性があるので有利)｡

QuickBooksも試用しましたが､もの足りない感じ｡その他にも2-3のﾌﾟﾛｸﾞﾗﾑを使いましたが､｢弥生｣が一番気に入っています｡ある程度ｶｽﾀﾏｲｽﾞできるところがいいですね｡

｢弥生｣は､毎年のようにｱｯﾌﾟｸﾞﾚｰﾄﾞしなくてはならないので大変です｡ 税制が変わるので仕方がないですが｡

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

その人次第｡基本的な経理の知識がないと使いこなせない｡

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

経理は｢弥生｣で記帳していますが､日々の仕事の管理(顧客名､翻訳の内容､締切日､納品日､見積もり､請求､売掛､買掛)は､FileMaker Proでﾃﾞｰﾀﾍﾞｰｽを作って行っています｡自作のﾌﾟﾛｸﾞﾗﾑの方が自由がきいて便利｡

############ RESPONDANT 5 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

Recently moved to Japan and haven't picked up Japanese accounting software. Probably will at some point.

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

Spreadsheet at the moment.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

It works but it's not as convenient as software, especially when it comes to filing taxes.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

Not particularly.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

I'd be very interested in knowing what Japan-centro software packages other translators are using and the pros and cons of each.

############ RESPONDANT 6 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

There really is no specific reason. I suppose the cost of the software is the main deterrent—I'm not sure if I would find it useful enough to justify the cost.

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

I have a file folder that contains handwritten notes (usually on the envelope) regarding each check I am paid. In addition, as I send out invoices, I note the name and amount (and date) in an Excel spreadsheet, and when the check comes in, I update the spreadsheet to reflect the receipt of the money.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

By and large, I find it satisfactory.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

I don't know that I could explain it well enough to have someone else use this method successfully, but if they could follow it, I think they would find it a fairly good way to keep records, despite its apparent primitiveness.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

No, not really. I hope you get a lot of useful information, and look forward to reading the article.

############ RESPONDANT 7 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

I am an in-house translator, and my freelance income is easy to keep track of without such software.

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

None at all. (I have a box with income slips in it, I guess.)

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

It's fine for now. If I do switch to a full-time freelancer somewhere down the road I will have to look into something more systematic, I guess.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

Not unless they're in the same boat as me.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

Sometimes my computers come with Quicken or some similar software pre-installed. I always erase it. ;-)

############ RESPONDANT 8 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

Quickbooks Pro 2002

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

Ease of invoicing, estimating. It is very easy to separate business and any personal stuff paid directly put of business accounts. It is more suitable for business than Quicken which I was using before.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

You set up your business and it gives you a myriad of methods for tracking and handling, lots of report functions, easy data filtering, the ability to automatically generate forms for estimates and invoices from the same data. It also has easy time-based tracking of accounts payable, etc. It is just far more convenient than spread sheets and the like.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

Yes. But I would only recommend Quickbooks Pro with reservations now. When I started with it in 1999, it was great and the service from Intuit was great. The latter has changed, and you cannot get any help from them without entering an expensive service contract now. (I had an installation problem right after upgrading, but they refused to accept it as an installation program and said if I wanted help I would have to sign a $300 consulting contract.)

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

I think there are a lot of solutions, but I went the way that takes the least amount of my time to handle that part of business and be able to keep on top of it.

############ RESPONDANT 9 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

My system evolved over time, and at first a professional package seemed overkill and not worth the cost.

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

Access Database for billing, spreadsheet for accounting.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

It seems to do the job.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

No. Too complicated for the average user.

############ RESPONDANT 10 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

QUICKBOOKS

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

MOST WIDELY USED. RICH FEATURE SET, E.G., A/R AND A/P REPORTS, AND CUSTOMIZED REPORTS. GOOD INTERFACE WITH TAX SOFTWARE. USED BY MY ACCOUNTANT AS WELL, WHICH ENABLES SHARING OF THE DATA.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

ARE YOU KIDDING?

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

YES, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY NEED TO TRACK FINANCIAL DATA FOR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES, E.G., FOR TAX RETURNS, OR FOR FINANCIAL ANALYSIS LIKE P&L REPORTS BY CLIENT, MONTH, ETC.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE TAKES AN INVESTMENT OF TIME TO SET UP AND TO MAINTAIN, BUT IT SAVES A TON OF TIME AT TAX FILING TIME, AND GIVES ME A PICTURE OF HOW I'M DOING AS A BUSINESS.

############ RESPONDANT 11 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

We currently use Yayoi Kaikei 2003 Pro under Windows.

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

We began with Obanto years ago, after surveying everything on the market for less than JY500,000, on both Mac and Windows platforms. We would have preferred Mac, but eventually want with Obanto on Windows because it offered all the functions we needed. I don't remember all he details, but freedom to create business divisions, categories in income and expenditure within divisions, consumption tax, and financial report output in the proper format were a few.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

It doesn't need programming to do its job. Spreadsheets do, and my time costs money.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

It is quite expensive, and requires an annual support contract. I strongly recommend that people in business keep complete records, because you WILL be audited. Each business has its own specific needs and wants, and I doubt that my choices would be optimal for everyone. I got along just fine with pencil and paper for the first 5 years, and with Excel for the second.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

Your local chamber of commerce and tax offices will be delighted to provide you with information on exactly what sort of records you need. They will probably contradict each other; assume the worst. Keep as much information as possible, and make sure you can find things. The income tax people will let you know any time you have made a mistake, usually during an audit when you will pay for your negligence.

############ RESPONDANT 12 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

PCA会計

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

At the time I started using it (1992), it was the best PC-based Japanese-capable accounting software available. (It may no longer be the best, but having more than 10 years of back-data available makes me reluctant to change.)

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

Advantages:
• Laborsaving—With spreadsheet programs, I was always having to tweak the algorithms to adopt to changes in tax codes, etc. That inevitably involved either testing or debugging to make sure the result was correct. With PCA, just installing the periodic upgrades takes care of that work.
• Comforting—Peace of mind from knowing the calculations are correct. (Incorrect setup or input can make the figures wrong, but at least there are no mathematical errors.)
• Helpline—The person actually doing the input can ask the helpline about how to use the system, instead of having to ask me.

Disadvantages:
• Cost.
• Inflexibility—I still do a lot of things in Excel to give me more flexibility for forecasting, invoicing, multi-currency stuff, etc.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

Yes

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

No

############ RESPONDANT 13 ###############

What software, if any, do you use for your accounting?

Access

If you use a dedicated program, why did you choose it over other apps?

Because when I started using it, that's the only one I knew of, and I don't want to spend time to switch to another program as it provides what I want to do, i.e., book keeping and invoicing.

What do you like/dislike about your accounting method?

Access can generate a formatted invoice that I can send to my clients based on the book-keeping database which I use primarily for tax return preparations, while I believe conventional spreadsheets cannot create invoices within their programs.

Would you recommend that other translators use this accounting/bookkeeping software?

I generally do.

Do you have any other comments on this subject that you would like to share?

No.

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