FarmBooks
By Sanders Software Consulting Inc
Implementing FarmBooks accounting software involves several key steps. Here's a concise overview of the typical implementation process:
Download and install FarmBooks on your computer by following the Installation & Setup Guide.
Launch the application and create a new farm database by entering your farm's details.
Set up your farm's fiscal year to align with your accounting periods.
Customize the default chart of accounts to match your farm's specific financial tracking needs.
Add your bank accounts to enable transaction tracking and reconciliation.
Input employee details to facilitate payroll processing.
Download and apply the latest tax tables to ensure accurate payroll calculations.
Utilize the batch entry feature to import existing financial data from CSV files, streamlining the data entry process.
FarmBooks accounting software offers several customization features to accommodate the specific needs of agricultural businesses:
Form Customization: Users can tailor various forms by renaming or hiding columns, adding business logos, and including personalized footers and image text messages for different form types,s such as estimates and invoices.
Batch Entry with Data Import: The software includes a batch entry feature that allows users to import transactions from bank or credit card statements using CSV files. This function supports the creation of data maps to align imported data with the software's fields, facilitating efficient transaction processing.
FarmBooks accounting software has the following costs associated with its purchase and ongoing use:
Initial Purchase:
Single Farm License: A one-time fee of $595 includes the first year of license and maintenance.
Additional Farms: Licensing additional farms costs $200 for the second farm and $150 for each subsequent farm.
Annual Maintenance Fee: After the first year, there is a yearly maintenance fee of $100. This fee covers program updates, support, and tax table updates.
FarmBooks offers a range of training and support resources to assist new users in effectively utilizing their accounting software:
Free Trial: Prospective users can access a fully functional trial of FarmBooks to evaluate its features before committing to a purchase. This trial allows users to enter up to 30 transactions, providing hands-on experience with the software's capabilities.
User Guides and Documentation: FarmBooks provides comprehensive documentation, including an Installation & Setup Guide, a Full User Guide, and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. These resources cover essential topics such as installation procedures, basic accounting principles, and year-end processing steps.
Support Tickets: Users can submit support tickets directly through the FarmBooks website for personalized assistance with any issues or questions that arise during software use.
FarmBooks implements several security measures to protect user data:
Secure FTP Backup Service: FarmBooks offers a secure FTP backup service, allowing users to back up their databases securely for as little as $5 per month.
FarmBooks releases software updates periodically to introduce new features, address issues, and ensure compliance with tax regulations. For instance, version 4.0.7.0 was released to fix critical issues identified after version 4.0.6.9 . Additionally, the 2025 Tax Rate Table update was made available to align with current tax laws.
Users are notified of available updates through the FarmBooks website, where detailed release notes are provided. To manage updates, users can download them directly from the FarmBooks website. For example, if a user has previously upgraded to version 4.0.6.8 or greater, they can download subsequent versions from the help menu by selecting the option Download .Tax table updates can be downloaded and installed by following the instructions provided on the FarmBooks website .
FarmBooks provides users with full control over their data, offering features that facilitate data portability and management:
Data Export Functionality: FarmBooks includes an export feature that allows users to prepare and export their farm data for use in other programs. This is achieved through the Data Export Wizard, which guides users through selecting the desired export format and options, specifying the export folder, and completing the export process.
FarmBooks offers flexible licensing options to accommodate the evolving needs of agricultural operations:
Single Farm License: The initial license for FarmBooks is priced at $595, which includes the first year of maintenance and support.
Additional Farm Licenses: If your operation expands and requires managing multiple farms, additional licenses can be purchased at reduced rates:
Second farm: $200
Each subsequent farm: $150
These tiered pricing options allow for cost-effective scaling as your organizational needs change.
FarmBooks accounting software operates on a licensing model that emphasizes user autonomy and flexibility. The key aspects of their contract renewal and cancellation policies are as follows:
Initial Purchase and Licensing:
A Single Farm License is available for a one-time fee of $595, which includes the first year of maintenance and support.
For operations managing multiple farms, additional licenses can be acquired at discounted rates:
Second farm: $200
Each subsequent farm: $150
Annual Maintenance Fee:
After the first year, an optional annual maintenance fee of $100 is offered. This fee provides access to program updates, support, and tax table updates.
Payment of this fee is not mandatory; users can choose whether to continue with the maintenance plan based on their needs.
Contract Renewal:
Given that the annual maintenance fee is optional, there is no formal contract renewal process. Users who opt to pay the maintenance fee will continue to receive updates and support for the subsequent year.
If a user decides not to pay the maintenance fee, they can continue using their existing version of FarmBooks without access to new updates or support services.
Cancellation Policy:
As FarmBooks operates on a one-time purchase model with an optional maintenance fee, there is no traditional subscription to cancel.
Users have the flexibility to discontinue paying the annual maintenance fee at any time without affecting their ability to use the software.
However, discontinuing the maintenance plan means forfeiting access to future updates and support.
Refund Policy:
Specific details regarding refunds are not explicitly stated on the FarmBooks website.
