Accounting software (Japanese) - Yayoi Kaikei
sls
from word of mouth and from seeing it on the web i am familiar with the accounting software "Yayoi Kaikei" (which appears to require a computer with the Windows operating system - something i could manage to set up for that purpose). This software is said to be widely used, so i imagine someone on this list might be using it and would be able to answer a question i have: the listed price for the latest version is 40,000 Yen - is there some reason why one would have to buy the latest version?
Thanks & regards: Hendrik
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* http://www.nihon-honyaku.com/ *
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Edward Lipsett /t
> is there some reason why one would have to buy the latest version?
We've used it for about 10 years now.
I'm not sure that's the price... I believe that's the annual maintenance
fee, which is entirely optional.
They change their software every year (sometimes several times a year) to
reflect the latest accounting laws, whatever they may be. When consumption
tax was introduced, for example, they sent us a free update that handled it.
I would strongly advise purchasing the latest version, and if you can swing
the 40,000/year maintenance fee (which includes pretty good online and phone
support), I recommend that, too.
If you have a CPA doing your returns you might be able to get away without
the annual maintenance contract, but that'll only work until they make some
major change in the law. Which could be any day, of course...
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Edward Lipsett, Intercom, Ltd.
translation @intercomltd.com
Publishing: http://www.kurodahan.com
Translation & layout: http://www.intercomltd.com
sls
At 15:32 2008/05/12 +0900, Edward Lipsett /t wrote:
> on 08.5.12 3:23 PM, sls wrote:
>
> > is there some reason why one would have to buy the latest version?
>
> We've used it for about 10 years now.
> I'm not sure that's the price... I believe that's the annual maintenance
> fee, which is entirely optional.
OK, i'll need to pay more attention and read the fine print. :-)
> They change their software every year (sometimes several times a year) to
> reflect the latest accounting laws, whatever they may be. When consumption
> tax was introduced, for example, they sent us a free update that handled it.
>
> I would strongly advise purchasing the latest version, and if you can swing
> the 40,000/year maintenance fee (which includes pretty good online and phone
> support), I recommend that, too.
It would, of course, be useful to get hold of an earlier version (for little money) to familiarize myself with the software - if for some reason i think i want to use something different then i would consider what i paid "study fee". (When checking out the dowload option for the latest version on the company site, the submission of detailed data is required and it looks like one would enter into a purchase agreement at that point - i am not ready for that.)
> If you have a CPA doing your returns you might be able to get away without
> the annual maintenance contract, but that'll only work until they make some
> major change in the law. Which could be any day, of course...
Do you mean to say that software updates are available, as needed, and free, as part of the annual maintenance contract, but not otherwise?
Edward Lipsett /t
> Do you mean to say that software updates are available, as needed, and free,
> as part of the annual maintenance contract, but not otherwise?
Updates and support are free during the course of the year. I don't believe
we have ever been charged for an update during the maintenance period. Every
March or so we fork out another 40,000 yen, though...
Fred Uleman
> If you have a CPA doing your returns ...
reminds me: I was recently talking with a new accountant (long story
skipped here) who suggested I get the same software they use and
further suggested that I get it through them (if I decide to use them)
because they can get it for me cheaper than the big discount stores
such as Yodobashi sell it for.
If you have, or are going to have, a relationship with an accountant,
getting the same software they use can save you money two ways: they
can get the software for you cheaper and they can give you a discount
on the accounting if they don't have to input everything.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Fred Uleman
Edward Lipsett /t
on 08.5.12 4:00 PM, Fred Uleman wrote:
> If you have, or are going to have, a relationship with an accountant,
And have some reason to believe that either you will keep using them for a
number of years, or the software they recommend is pretty common (which
Yayoi is),
> getting the same software they use can save you money two ways: they
> can get the software for you cheaper
Probably, but due diligence...
> and they can give you a discount
> on the accounting if they don't have to input everything.
Yes, this is a major advantage, and you should make full use of it.
sls
At 15:32 2008/05/12 +0900, Edward Lipsett /t wrote:
> I'm not sure that's the price...
Revisited the site and did some searching: 40,000 Yen is the recommended retail price and what the publisher of it charges if you buy the software at their site. The lowest offer i have seen so far is 25000 for version 2008 and 16000 for version 2006 - there is no evidence of a version 2007, which also answers part of my previous question.
At 15:54 2008/05/12 +0900, Edward Lipsett /t wrote:
> on 08.5.12 3:49 PM, sls wrote:
>
> > Do you mean to say that software updates are available, as needed, and free,
> > as part of the annual maintenance contract, but not otherwise?
>
> Updates and support are free during the course of the year. I don't believe
> we have ever been charged for an update during the maintenance period. Every
> March or so we fork out another 40,000 yen, though...
Right. So i'll search for related info and if i don't find it contact the company to find out...
At 16:00 2008/05/12 +0900, Fred Uleman wrote:
> If you have, or are going to have, a relationship with an accountant,
> getting the same software they use can save you money two ways: they
> can get the software for you cheaper and they can give you a discount
> on the accounting if they don't have to input everything.
At 16:04 2008/05/12 +0900, Edward Lipsett /t wrote:
> Yes, this is a major advantage, and you should make full use of it.
Makes sense... but the advice i have received so far (from an accountant) is that once she has helped me get started with the software i would not need her services any longer (my requirements are rather limited, i guess, and it is nice to get such advice, even if it in reality i may have to go back to her on occasion). It sounds like she is familiar with the software but uses something else which appears to cost more and is a tool for much bigger tasks...
I'll ask her about a discount purchase, though...
Regards: Hendrik
sls
> [...] there is no evidence of a version 2007
Right after i had sent the message i found this page where there is evideence of version 2007:
http://www.cbook24.com/bm_detail.asp?sku=9784898147412
Regards: Hendrik
Hirai
> from word of mouth and from seeing it on the web i am familiar with the
> accounting software "Yayoi Kaikei" (which appears to require a computer
> with the Windows operating system - something i could manage to set up for
> that purpose). This software is said to be widely used, so i imagine
> someone on this list might be using it and would be able to answer a
> question i have: the listed price for the latest version is 40,000 Yen -
> is there some reason why one would have to buy the latest version?
>
First of all, Yayoi Kaikei was originally marketed (developed?)
by a company called Intuit, Inc. (a Mountain View-based
company) but was bought by Yayoi several years ago, as I
understand. Yayoi Kaikei is one of the products in their
business application suite, along with Yayoi Sales and
Yayoi Payroll.
I have been using Yayoi Kaikei for more than five years now
as I am incorporated (Yuugen-Gaisha) and am quite satisfied
with it overall. For tax return purposes I hire a tax accountant
(zeirishi) (not CPA), although I would (should) be able to produce
most of the required forms by myself using Yayoi Kaikei.
As long as your operation does not involve anything other
than a PC, associated software, some mailing and shipping,
you may be able to do everything by yourself, but once you
need to deal with asset depreciation, etc., I would recommend
you hire a tax accountant, who would spare you all the chores
of studying the complex taxation system and keeping yourself
up-to-date. It's worth the money.
You might ask, "Since you hire a tax accountant, why do
you need accounting software?" Okay, I may not need it,
but it suits my character, let me put it this way. I keep
books myself every day to have everything at my fingertips
all the time. At the end of a fiscal year, I print out everything
and give it to the tax accountant, which significantly saves
her time. Theoretically, you can demand a discount from the
tax accountant by keeping the books yourself.
The price you mentioned (about 40K\) is the price of the
product itself. As Mr. Lipsett said, they upgrade their
products quite frequently, but I do not buy upgrades every
time. The taxation system changes quite often, but not all
changes affect operation of a small-scale private business.
In fact, during the past five years or so, only one or two
changes have affected my operation, which is rather a
simple one.
Many of the changes introduced to Yayoi products are
rather cosmetic, I would say, such as improvements in
ease of operation or some formats, which have little to
do with changes in the taxation system, and you can do
without in most cases.
They (Yayoi) want you to sign a maintenance/support
contract, but I don't subscribe to their services. Again,
it's kind of superfluous. I would value human support (tax
accountant) more, with which you can rest assured.
My two cents.
M. Hirai 080512
mjh...@beige.ocn.ne.jp