FlockBase
Review of FlockBase Software: system overview, features, price and cost information. Get free demos and compare to similar programs.
Overview
About FlockBase
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Customer Reviews
See why people love FlockBase
Mark B.
Verified UserReligious Institutions · 2-10 employees
FlockBase
We are just beginning our use of FlockBase. However, we could not be more pleased with the support given to us as we set up our financial management structure. No member of our staff has an accounting background; but with the help of [SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN], all of our finances are now in perfect order! Our financial workload has been greatly reduced, making our office administrator positively giddy! Perhaps best of all, our governing board is thankful that they now receive financial reports that they can easily understand ... for the first time ... ever!
The ease with which our staff learned to use the membership, contribution, and financial management modules
- We have not yet found the capability to print a member directory to give to our members
- If this feature exists, it should be more obvious to the user
- If it does not yet exist, please consider adding it
Switched From
Our financial “system” was actually using Chirch Windows, Microsoft Excel, and QuickBooks. Critical data was “hand-jammed” from one system to the next. Now, with FlockBase, we have one seamless system that is not so prone to data error.
Why they chose it
"FlockBase was more appropriately priced for small churches like ours without giving up the functionality that every church needs."
Wayne J.
Verified UserReligious Institutions · 2-10 employees
FlockBase works well for the small church
Verified reviewer
- FlockBase was affordable
- It has everything we need: Membership data, Contributions, Register and Payroll plus other functions we don't use
- We just installed the newest version, FlockBase 2020
- I like the way it works
- I especially like that you don't have to open FlackBase and FlockBase Accounting separately
- Entering and changing dates has been improved
- I would say the learning curve for FlockBase is moderate
- Customer support is excellent
- Response time is very short
- They are always positive and encouraging while helping solve a problem
- They explain what the problem is and teach you how to solve it
- FlockBase helps us keep track of our members and our finances
- Since we just installed FlockBase 2020, I'm still learning how to use it and haven't found any negative issues
- Reports and printing are locked, which can sometimes be frustrating, if you want a different output
Switched From
The free edition of CahabaWorks did not have a payroll function. We good not get upgrades for the free edition of CahabaWorks. It was to expensive to purchase CahabaWorks with a payroll function and be able to get upgrades.
Alene H.
Verified UserNon-Profit Organization Management · 2-10 employees
Revised version is a big disappointment
We loved the old version of Flockbase and are extremely disappointed with the new system. I will say that every time I have contacted Support they have responded promptly and were very courteous and willing to help. Unfortunately, they just don't provide what we need anymore. We take our records to an outside auditor every 3 years and the documents we need simply cannot be printed any longer. We are looking for a better solution. We need help and we need it now.
- I used this software for 4 years and while it had some features that were slightly cumbersome, it was very workable and affordable
- The financial report could show monthly and annual actual vs budget on a single report
- I could print a membership list and include email addresses and birth dates
- Flockbase recently re-designed it's software and it is a nightmare to use
- The check register reads going up to the top of the screen instead of down
- The check numbers are not sequential making bank statement balancing time consuming while hunting for the check you want to clear
- I cannot print a check register, instead I have to print a general ledger
- I cannot print a 941 report
- We work offline and I usually print the report, take it home and make the EFTPS payment, then return the reoprt and receipt to the church
- I now have to take a picture of the 941 report with my cell phone in order to perform the same task
- I'm trying to teach another person how to use the system but cannot print a chart of accounts
- I have to print a budget instead
- I can still enter household and member information but cannot print out any information other than name, address & phone number
- I cannot print email addresses or birthdays, etc
- The household and membership information is on one screen and I have to constantly scroll down about 3 screens to access the membership portion
- After entering information, it reverts all the way back to household and I have to scroll down 3 screens again for each and every member
- The new program is not user friendly by any means
- It does not give us the reports we once had, there is no step by step guide to tell you if you want to find something you have to look in a completely different module
- Confusing beyond belief
Why they chose it
"Quickbooks is great for businesses but not for churches. We need the fund accounting feature."
Jana M.
Verified UserReligious Institutions · 2-10 employees
Very good setup
The support was fantastic. Anytime I had any issues I could call or email and a response was prompt; either by phone or email.
I really liked the checkbook register which was familiar to me and benefited me as I was learning the other things needed to do church accounting
- There was nothing I really disliked about Flockbase, we just "grew out of it", I suppose
- We had the desktop version and never really transitioned when they went on the cloud as we were using EasyTithe by that time and then moved to Tithe
- ly
Why they chose it
"I was using a paper ledger prior to purchasing Flockbase and I went with Flockbase due to the similarity just computer-based."
Kim P.
Verified UserReligious Institutions · Self-Employed
Small Membership Churches look for Quick Books alternative
We have not yet fully implemented the software, that is, we are still keeping duplicate financial records, but the experience has so far been superior to all other software. Real people answer the phone, real CPA’s respond to accounting questions.
- As a church the two parts of finance that need to integrate 100% are tracking contributions and handling the day to day finances of the church
- Most of the churches use Quickbooks or Quicken because they are the two leading accounting packages, and they most resemble the checkbook for non-accounting purposes
- Tracking contributions is impossible in Quickbooks, unless you treat each contribution as a pledge
- Flockbase easily integrates what was a three step process into a one step basis for a church
- The only concern I have is in the documentation that is provided for how to use the accounting software
- There is an assumption that the people using or setting up the software have an accounting background
- Funds accounting is not the simplest method to use, and a more detailed explanation, particularly in the beginning on the “how-to’s” of entering beginning balances etc would be nice
- The documentation on the membership module is more explanatory and easy to follow
- The best solution is that so far the help desk and the accountant, [SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN], who answered my phone call have been right on top of the request for help
Switched From
We were looking for an integrated program to cover all basis that would be easy to teach etc. I like being able to sign in from home or the road to answer a questions while someone else is looking at the screen in the church office.
Why they chose it
"Integration, and low cost of monthly fee."
Anjela R.
Verified UserReligious Institutions · 2-10 employees
missing some very important features
I’m shocked to be treated that way on the support end. I’ve never had that experience with support people. Usually they are kind and patient in professional businesses I’ve used. I found it so insulting due to the fact I was very kind to the FB associate at all times and I just needed help navigating. I was very disappointed and wanted to like FB. But unfortunately have to go through all the trouble & time to continue researching other church management programs.
- The graphics were big and clear
- Liked how it all looked at first
- Very modern and clean
- Large text was nice
- The colors looked fun and bright
- I was finally explained to by an associate, (after purchasing and misrepresenting the features
- ) the Program only worked as “individual” members & not Family when creating a directory
- It shown as each individual person instead as a family name in the directory
- Associate said that will be changed/added but he had no idea of that time frame
- Also when importing a picture to the directory (used the correct format) it just loaded up an icon & not the picture
- Also, importing was a terrible nightmare
- There spreadsheet sent to me was completely confusing and over complicated
- I never figured that out and skipped importing
- Had to do it manually
- Also, The associate that helped me on the phone started losing his patience with all my questions
- He became short, rude, and irritated to me (female
- ) when I had my male associate call him, he was then polite
- Very strange
- The FB associate (remaining unnamed) repeatedly said to me rudely,”like I said” frustrated with all my questions
- The Senior Pastor was very dissatisfied with the lack of features in the program and rude support so we asked for a refund and went with another program
Switched From
Servant Keeper is being bought out by Realm. Realm is too expensive for our business. Needed to find a new simple, church management program.
Why they chose it
"It was cheaper than most. I like paying one fee and not by the month."
Mary P.
Verified UserNon-Profit Organization Management · 2-10 employees
Flockbase isn't improving
Did not feel I was getting my monies worth from Support.
- I liked that the s/w moved to the cloud
- There were features in the desktop version that did not make it to the cloud version
- And whenever I made suggestions for improvement I got excuses
- Never any communication on improvements that were being made - probably because there weren't any
Why they chose it
"8 years ago I chose FlockBase because, at the time, it did more than pencil and paper and it was very inexpensive."
Mac C.
Verified UserFlockBase Accounting - THE church solution
I began using FlockBase Accounting (FBA) shortly after becoming Treasurer of Riverside United Church in New Brunswick, Canada. I had very little accounting experience or knowledge, and virtually none specifically in church finances. Learning the program and its intricacies was challenging. It is not a business-oriented accounting program, and thus some familiar reports and items are not available, and there are some new ones. Throughout this process, the telephone and email support from FBA was simply excellent: very knowledgeable, very thorough, and very patient. Once I got familiar with the program and its potential, I realized just how good it really is. Not only does it track all income and expenses, but it also ties each of these to a specific fund and account. It is this incorporation of fund accounting that makes the program so unique and so valuable. At any time, I can get exact fund balances as well as account balances, and thus get an in-depth picture of our financial status instantly. Reports (eg for Annual Congregational Meetings) are both more complete and more informative, because I have far better material to use in preparing them. Arranging and maintaining back-ups is very straightforward. Because of a recent computer crash, I have had occasion to test this. The system works like a charm, with no lost data and easy re-establishment of the system. I recommend this program in the highest possible way. Though it does require some work to understand how it works (and that may say more about me than the program), the effort expended is more than justified by the results. The superb support and quick and easy access to that support is a real bonus, and far superior to any I have experienced with ANY other computer-related matter. The fact that the program is so inexpensive makes the $50 annual fee for support and upgrades a worthwhile investment.
Char W.
Verified UserReligious Institutions · 2-10 employees
Update to new program is awful
Not a big fan, not user friendly.
- Was OK before update
- After the update, features were missing and awful directions
- Update was not completely functional
- Original programming was challenging, update is lacking all the features and has terrible directions
- They had to email me the directions, they weren't even working
- Also, could not make labels, it was not functional
David L.
Verified UserReligious Institutions · 2-10 employees
Flockbase Implementation
Our previous system required separate tracking spread sheets for some of our tithing and giving. It also requiredseperate tracking for a balance sheet. This has been solved with the Flockbase system.
- I am not accountant by education
- I depended on the Flockbase Customer Service heavily to implement the system for our church
- The patience and exceptional help was fantastic
- I was able to get the system up and running over a 2 month period
- The software does not Close a year and start new accounting period for fiscal year
- Since you pick the reporting periods I found you have to refer to the beginning balances that happened in the previous fiscal year when reviewing account balances
Switched From
Needed a comprehensive accounting system.
Why they chose it
"Price and flexibility."
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