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Every farm seems to have one.  The kitchen table covered in invoices, machinery brochures, farming magazines, half finished cups of tea and a notebook that only one person in the family can actually understand.

For many farming businesses across Cumbria, the “office” is less of an office and more of a constantly moving pile of paperwork that somehow works, until January arrives and everyone starts looking for missing invoices in coat pockets and gloveboxes.

Farming has changed massively over the years.  Modern farms are not just farms anymore.  They are businesses dealing with rising costs, grants, environmental schemes, diversification projects, payroll, VAT, machinery finance and endless paperwork.  Yet despite all of that, many farm offices still operate in much the same way as they did twenty or thirty years ago, and to be fair, there is something quite impressive about it.  Farmers are often some of the most resourceful business people around.  They can remember the price of lambs from ten years ago, know exactly which fields need attention next and somehow keep an entire business moving during some of the busiest and most unpredictable working conditions imaginable.

However, paperwork is usually the job that gets pushed to the bottom of the list, which is understandable.  Nobody wakes up on a sunny May morning excited to sort receipts and submit a VAT return when there are sheep to check, silage to think about and machinery needing repaired before the weather changes again.

With a new financial year underway for many farming businesses, this is a great opportunity to introduce small changes that can make life easier going forward.  Whether that is putting better systems in place, using accounting software for the first time or simply becoming more organised with paperwork, small improvements now can save a great deal of stress later in the year.

More farms are using accounting software because it genuinely saves time.  Many systems now allow invoices and receipts to be emailed or uploaded from a phone, with key details such as the date, supplier, cost and VAT extracted automatically.  This reduces manual paperwork and makes it far less likely that receipts spend six months lost in the passenger seat of a pickup before eventually reaching the accountant in a carrier bag.

Setting aside a small amount of time once or twice a week to deal with paperwork before the day properly begins can make such a difference.  A quiet half hour with your morning coffee can often prevent months of invoices, receipts and bank statements building up into a much bigger job at a later date.

For farming businesses managing livestock, machinery costs, seasonal income and rising overheads, accurate information is now essential.  Good records help you understand what things cost, which areas perform well and where pressure points may arise.  With tighter margins, unpredictable costs and more complex businesses, staying organised supports better decisions throughout the year, not simply at tax return time.

We understand that change can be daunting, especially when it comes to technology.  That is why we have a dedicated software team on hand to guide you through the process.  Whether you are just getting started or looking to get more from your current setup, we can help you make the most of cloud accounting.  Give our team a call on 01228 711888 and find out how we can help you.

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