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Front2Bax

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What Front2Bax is

Front2Bax is on-premise software for organisations that transmit electronic payment transactions to Bacs. It handles Direct Debit collections and Direct Credit payments, including employee salaries and supplier payments. The software can process AUDDIS Direct Debit Instructions and generate them automatically when required. It accepts ASCII files from accounting systems, Excel files and simple text files; tailored schema files let it read files from payroll systems or Excel. Front2Bax is installed on the customer’s systems, and its maker says payment data remains within the customer’s IT environment. It runs on Windows 10 or 11, or equivalent Windows Server systems, and requires Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or later; SQL Server 2019 Express is recommended. Broadband internet is required for Bacs transmissions. Organisations must have their own Service User Number (SUN). The Standard Bacs User plan costs £650.00 per year, while Bacs Bureau User costs £1200.00 per year; both include technical support and have no transaction fees. The maker, elseWare, says it has provided Bacs software and support since 1995.

Who it suits

It suits organisations with their own Service User Number that need to submit Bacs Direct Debit or Direct Credit transactions. The bureau plan is for organisations processing transactions on behalf of multiple customers.

What it does well

  • Processes Direct Debit and Direct Credit transactions.
  • Can generate AUDDIS instructions automatically.
  • Accepts accounting, Excel and text files.
  • Payment data stays within the customer's IT environment, according to the maker.
  • Both plans include technical support and no transaction fees.

What to know first

  • Requires an organisation's own Service User Number.
  • Requires Windows and Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or later.
  • Broadband internet is required for transmissions.
  • No free plan is listed.

Limits

There is no stated limit on copies, clients, transactions, or users. Both plans have no transaction fees; the listed prices are £650.00 per year for Standard Bacs User and £1200.00 per year for Bacs Bureau User.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
Bacs Bureau UserPer year · For organisations processing transactions on behalf of multiple customers · technical support included · no transaction fees£1,200 a year
Standard Bacs UserPer year · Full software access for standard organisation with own SUN · technical support included · no transaction fees£650 a year

As elseware.org.uk lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Visit the elseWare website to find Front2Bax.
  2. Choose the Standard Bacs User plan or the Bacs Bureau User plan.
  3. Install the application on your Windows system or Windows Server environment.
  4. Provide Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or later; SQL Server 2019 Express is recommended.
  5. Prepare a broadband connection for Bacs transmissions.
  6. Use your own Service User Number to process Bacs transactions.

Verdict

Front2Bax is designed for Bacs payment processing within an organisation’s own IT environment. Its SUN requirement, Windows and SQL Server needs, and annual plan costs are important fit considerations.

Questions

How much does Front2Bax cost?

Standard Bacs User costs £650.00 per year. Bacs Bureau User costs £1200.00 per year.

Is there a free plan?

No. Front2Bax is paid software.

Which systems does it run on?

It runs on Windows 10 or 11, or equivalent Windows Server systems. Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or later is required.

Can it handle both Direct Debits and Direct Credits?

Yes. It supports Bacs Direct Debit collections and Direct Credit payments, including salaries and supplier payments.

Who can use Front2Bax?

The organisation must hold its own Service User Number (SUN). The maker says it works exclusively with organisations that hold one.

Who makes Front2Bax?

elseWare provides the software. The maker says it has supplied Bacs software and support since 1995.

Facts from Front2Bax's own pages

AUDDIS
Front2Bax can process AUDDIS Direct Debit Instructions and automatically generate them if required. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Connectivity
A broadband internet connection is required for Bacs transmissions. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Database requirement
Front2Bax requires Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or later; the page recommends SQL Server 2019 Express. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Disaster recovery
The maker says bureaux and payroll providers use Front2Bax as a disaster recovery option. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Eligibility
Users need their own Service User Number (SUN), and the maker says it works exclusively with organisations that hold one. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
File formats
It can process ASCII files from accounting systems, as well as files created in Excel or simple text files. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Founded
1995 · elseware.org.uk, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters
Crawley, England, United Kingdom · elseware.org.uk, 28 Sept 2026
Installation
Front2Bax is an on-premise application installed directly onto the customer's systems, and the maker says payment data stays within the customer's IT environment. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Limits
The maker states there is no limit to software copies, clients, transactions, or users. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Maker history
elseWare says it has provided Bacs software and support since 1995. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Payment types
The software supports Bacs Direct Debit collections and Bacs Direct Credit payments, including employee salaries and supplier payments. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Payroll compatibility
The maker says tailored schema files let Front2Bax read files from any payroll system or Excel. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Purpose
Front2Bax transmits electronic transactions to Bacs for organisations making payments and collecting Direct Debits. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Security
The maker describes built-in security measures and says data is processed safely and kept compliant with UK regulations. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Support
Software customers receive email and telephone support, and the product page says support is included all year with each subscription. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026
Windows requirements
The listed operating systems are Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit recommended, or Windows Server equivalents. · elseware.org.uk, 7 Oct 2026

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