Ann,
The beginning of it was hearing repeatedly for years that practically every Wikimedia community group has trouble reporting their finances back to the Wikimedia Foundation, and that arguments over who is responsible for reporting finances do a lot to cause arguments in community groups which receive grants.
After first evaluating the need to try something different to prevent problems in the future and deciding that paying for software was a good idea, Pine did research then presented it back to the rest of the group and we all discussed the options. That is not a full answer to your question, but in Wikimedia community groups, the bigger question often is "Why should anyone pay for any software?" and coming to terms with our own need was the bigger hurdle here.
From the budget, Pine noted -
-------------- Note: I researched other options including Wave, Quickbooks Online Sage One, and Freshbooks. It appears to me that Xero is the best choice for us based on the following considerations: usability, privacy, multi-user capabilities and access controls, scalable payroll, 3rd-party tool availability, online banking integration, tax reporting, and cost
--------------
The other option considered was Google Spreadsheets, but plain spreadsheets have a history of being insufficient in other community groups.
yours,
On Thu, Jan 15, 2015 at 10:52 PM, Ann Summy ann.summy@gmail.com wrote:
How/why did you all decide on this accounting software? I have to start looking into these as well.
On Thu, Jan 15, 2015 at 1:32 PM, Pine W wiki.pine@gmail.com wrote:
Alex and James,
Xero, the accounting software that we plan to use, is running a sale of 50 percent off for 6 months if we subscribe by January 31. This would save about $90. But our PEG funding is most likely to come in February. Is there a way that we can *quickly* get funding early from WMF or WMDC for just the first month of service, which I believe will be $15 plus tax? I think this will be sufficient to lock in the discount for 6 months. I am trying to avoid loaning my personal funds to keep everything as clean as possible from accounting and legal standpoints.
Thanks, Pine
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