Small business owners, what accounting package do you recommend ?

[MassiveJim]

[SHORT VERSION]

I have always used excel spreadsheets up to now, but business has grown over the last 12 months and things are getting a bit more complicated now,

So just wanting a more unbiased and real-world opinion from you good folks on what accounting package you use etc.


[SLIGHTLY LONGER VERSION]

New rules regarding VAT mean I need software that can submit the VAT info via MTD. (first VAT submission due shortly)
My business is a repair business fwiw. and not a Ltd company.

I have spoken to 3 accountants and they have all recommended different software (Sage/Quickbooks/Xero), however I am not 100% sure these are unbiased recommendations given that I know 2 of these accountants provide the software directly with a discount.

I have sat with 1 accountant for the best part of 10ish hours, trying to learn how quickbooks works and still don't fully have my head around it. I'm not sure if he made it sound more complicated than it needed to be so that I am more reliant on him or if it genuinely is that complicated. the accountant friend that I spoke to, made it all seem much simpler but didn't really point me in any real direction. She also made a couple of mistakes regarding advice she gave me about VAT, which I questioned (but she maintained she was right) and when I asked the other accountant, he confirmed that she was wrong.

I have never worked in accounts or had any bookkeeping training so a lot of the terminology used I have to google etc, my accounts up to now have been quite simple expenses on one sheet, income on another, then punch all of those figures into the HMRC self-assessment portal.

 

[MassiveJim]

So far thats
Xero - 7
Sage - 2
Quickbooks - 4
Kashflow - 1

Having done SME accounts for 30yrs using various packages I'm quite a fan of QuickBooks and think it's easy to use.

The thing I find with non accounting people using accounting software is you still need to know the rudiments of accounting, else you end up with the classic GiGo scenario.

That is a bit of an issue for me, I understand figures/money at least which is a start but having spoken to an accountant and had double-entry accounting explained to me I definitely don't "get" accountancy yet. What can I do to make mine and the accountants lives easier ?
I am currently still using my spreadsheet and will probably run it alongside whichever package I use for a short while until I get my head around it all.
At least with my spreadsheet I can see the exact state of the business.