Farm Accountancy Course

jfh

Hi all,
with the recent thread about degree's it got me thinking that i should do a little learning myself. I'm working full time but hope to farm down the line, the thing is i know very little about managing a business, which farming is.

my father works very hard but we have no idea of profit/loss, doing the same thing year after year,regardless.
We shelve out over 1000 each year to an accountant, but the figures are never examined, just done because it has to be done.

So i know there's a few on here with accountancy experience, what would you recommend? is there a part time accountancy/business course that you woudl recommend?
much obliged for any suggestions.

First thing to do would probably be to start regularly recording all incomes and expenses in a spreadsheet.

After that there are lots of bookkeeping / accountancy courses or small business courses available - have a look at your local community college or IT.

Google popped this up - I have no idea if at €645 it is worth it.
http://www.kilroyscollege.ie/course.php?courseid=19&sec=1

jfh

645 is a bit expensive, it would be worth it if i could put it into practice.

i know what your saying about keeping all expenses & incomes on a spreasheet, there has to be a drastic mindset change for this to happen.

The Real Elmer Fudd

I dont think you will find an accountancy course specific to the business Farming, unless there is something through Teagasc or IFAC.

Ring you accountant (after the 16 Nov - the income tax deadline or he wont want to here from you) and explain to him that you would like to get to grips with the figures and understand them a bit more, and that you would like to reduce his bill by doing a bit more of the work yourself.

Ask to meet with him to go through the figures and get him to explain them to you and how it works. ask could he arrange for a junior member of staff to sit down with you for an hour and show you what records you should be keeping to increase your own Knowledge and to decrease their bill.

He will no doubt charge you for the time but it is cheaper than €645 for the course that may or may not help you. and it should reduce your accountancy bill going forward

i Know people will say 'ye like he's going to show you how to reduce his bill'. but if he's worth salt at all he will

Insp. Harry Callahan

I got a Cost Control Planner programme for the laptop from the local Teagasc adviser.
It used on micosoft excel. I find it great,very easy to use,you put in your costs and reciepts, livestock sales and purchases,fertilizer and meal usage.
It shows cash flow graphs and budget planner, really shows where the money goes each month, ie machinery running costs, sheep feed,cattle feed,tillage inputs
I just keep all reciepts,bills and type them in each month.
Its free also which is good!

SoJoMo

Insp. Harry Callahan wrote: »

I got a Cost Control Planner programme for the laptop from the local Teagasc adviser.
It used on micosoft excel. I find it great,very easy to use,you put in your costs and reciepts, livestock sales and purchases,fertilizer and meal usage.
It shows cash flow graphs and budget planner, really shows where the money goes each month, ie machinery running costs, sheep feed,cattle feed,tillage inputs
I just keep all reciepts,bills and type them in each month.
Its free also which is good!

Harry, any chance of you uploading it... seeing since it's free

Username John

SoJoMo wrote: »

Harry, any chance of you uploading it... seeing since it's free

Not sure if uploading of things is allowed if its not directly downloadable from Teasgasc?

I found this online - maybe its what you have Harry?
I thought it was Tillage only, but expanding the rows, shows line items for Dairy, Sheep, etc...

Insp. Harry Callahan

My Teagasc adviser emailed it to me, I took a photo of it and will try and attach to this message,havent done it before so not totally sure how to do it!. Its worth getting though folks because if you put in the correct info into the right headings, shows you as you go through the year exactly where money goes and how much is being spent/got in. It can be an eye opener!

red bull

As far as I can recall that program came free with the farmers journal a few years ago