Kulcs-Soft

Kulcs-Soft Zrt. is a Budapest-based Hungarian software company that develops and distributes business administration, payroll and accounting software. Its products are aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises as well as individual entrepreneurs, both in Hungary and abroad. The company was founded on 22 December 1989 as a deposit partnership (betéti társaság) during Hungary's early post-communist entrepreneurial wave, and its name derives from the surname of founder Tibor Kulcsár. It began in a rented room of a flat in Újpest, initially programming custom software based on specific client orders. Over more than three decades the company grew into one of Hungary's best-known business software houses. It was reportedly the first in Hungary to offer business administration products developed for the Windows operating system, and at the turn of the millennium it was the first to reprogram its business software so that the transition to the year 2000 would not disrupt companies' administration. From 2005, with the spread of the internet, it introduced online software; within two years it gained as many customers as in the preceding 17 years. In 2006 it moved to its earlier headquarters at Törökvész út 30/a and converted into a joint-stock company. On 30 October 2009 it listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange. From 2011 it expanded abroad through its Key-Soft business line, and in 2013 its annual revenue reached 1 billion forints. In autumn 2018 it moved to its current headquarters at Mészáros utca 13, in the then newly built EcoDome office building. In December 2024 it withdrew from the Budapest Stock Exchange and continued operating as a private limited company (Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság). The company employs close to 90 people and claims more than 60,000 customers. Its product portfolio includes modular double- and single-entry bookkeeping software, payroll and labour administration software, and a scalable, customisable integrated business management system covering invoicing, inventory management, procurement, CRM, webshop integration and reporting. Its newer Kulcs Flow platform is an online entrepreneurial platform for invoicing, document management and tax return preparation for flat-rate and KATA taxpayers, and can be connected with Kulcs Connect so that invoices and receipt summaries handled in Flow reach the accountant automatically. The company also runs the Kulcs Akadémia, offering professional and product-specific training and credit-point continuing education in accounting, taxation, social security and legislation changes. Its international business line, Key-Soft, has been present since 2011 in a number of countries including Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Germany and Spain, and its programs have been downloaded from more than 50 countries. Kulcs-Soft also operates the Kulcs-Esély Alapítvány, a foundation dedicated to helping children in need and nurturing talent, to which it has devoted more than 130 million forints since 2013.

Kulcs-Soft was founded on 22 December 1989 as a deposit partnership (betéti társaság), during the first wave of entrepreneurship in Hungary. The company's name derives from the surname of its founder, Tibor Kulcsár, and its early history can be considered a 1990s startup success story. It began by renting a room in a flat in Újpest as its office. Initially it programmed custom software based on specific client orders. In Hungary, Kulcs-Soft was reportedly the first to have business administration products developed for the Windows operating system. At the turn of the millennium, Kulcs-Soft was the first to reprogram its business software so that the transition to the year 2000 would not cause problems in companies' administration. From 2005, with the spread of the internet, its online software appeared, and through these the company gained as many customers in two years as in the preceding 17 years. In 2006 it moved to its earlier headquarters at Törökvész út 30/a, and in the same year the company converted into a joint-stock company. On 30 October 2009, Kulcs-Soft entered the Budapest Stock Exchange. From 2011 it also appeared abroad, with its Key-Soft business line. In 2013 its annual revenue reached 1 billion forints. To achieve outstanding results, from 2016 the company carried out conscious organisational transformations. In 2017 the company increased its operating revenue by 25% compared to previous years. In autumn 2018 the company moved to its current headquarters at Mészáros utca 13, in the then newly built EcoDome office building. At the beginning of the 2018 business year, Kulcs-Soft announced its next-generation invoicing software BizXpert on the Hungarian market. The success of the product launch is indicated by the fact that pre-registrations were four times the expectations, and by the end of June the number of users in Hungary exceeded 6,600. Connecting invoicing software to the tax authority was the biggest task of 2018 for companies developing business administration products. Within the framework of the Kulcs Akadémia, from 2019 the company launched online courses in payroll, business administration and accounting. These lectures can be followed live as well as viewed later from the video library. Within the Kulcs Akadémia, nationally recognised lecturers and prominent experts help participants acquire confident knowledge. In December 2024, Kulcs-Soft withdrew from the Budapest Stock Exchange and continued operating as a private limited company (Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság). The Kulcs-Soft name derives from the surname of founder Tibor Kulcsár. The term 'Kulcs' (key) also appears in the company's product names, and often in its slogans and advertisements. The Kulcs-Soft logo has changed five times over the company's more than 30-year existence. In 2009, after the key icon was dropped, it was replaced by a square turning into itself, symbolising continuity, continuous existence, eternity and completeness. From 2013 the logo carried the slogan 'Kulcsrakész ügyvitel'. Subsequently the logo still in use today appeared, representing a cleaner trend and incorporating the emblem. In 1992 the company adopted the 'flying man' emblem, symbolising liberation from the captivity of business administration. The emblem has been transformed several times over the company's more than 30-year existence. The first two detailed flying man graphics were replaced from 2005 by a more schematic depiction. In 2013 the three main product categories received differently coloured figures. Today a red-blue minimalist 'little man' appears, also used in the logo. The company's international business line under the name Key-Soft has been present since 2011 in many countries of the world, including Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Germany and Spain. To date its programs have been downloaded from more than 50 countries. In terms of social responsibility, Kulcs-Soft Zrt. supports foundations helping children in need with 1% of its revenue. Its charitable activity is as old as the company, and from 2013 it was officially registered under the name Kulcs-Esély Alapítvány. The company's founders and leaders have always taken care that needy children and talents also benefit from their business's profits. The Kulcs-Esély Alapítvány is entirely committed to helping children. In 2008 the scope of support was extended to talent nurturing. The foundation aims to help talented children living in disadvantaged situations for social or health reasons, giving them a chance for the life they desire. Since 2013 Kulcs-Soft has devoted more than 130 million forints to this purpose. Besides supporting talented children and the needy, the company has placed emphasis on education, healthcare institutions and sport. In addition, within its support programme, Kulcs-Soft provides software and training free of charge to educational institutions. The Iskolaprogram clearly demonstrates Kulcs-Soft's social responsibility and commitment to supporting the next generation. It is important that the next generation learns on the most modern and continuously developing programs. In this light the company provides business administration, payroll and accounting educational software so that students acquire work-capable and practical knowledge already at school. Graduating students' chances of employment are increased by having acquired knowledge on a recognised software already at school.

• Kulcs-Soft founded as a deposit partnership (betéti társaság) in Hungary.

• The company adopted the 'flying man' emblem.

• With the spread of the internet, Kulcs-Soft introduced online software.

• Moved to earlier headquarters at Törökvész út 30/a and converted into a joint-stock company.

• Kulcs-Soft listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange.

• International expansion began under the Key-Soft business line.

• Annual revenue reached 1 billion forints.

• Company began conscious organisational transformations.

• Operating revenue increased by 25% compared to previous years.

• Announced next-generation invoicing software BizXpert on the Hungarian market; moved to current headquarters at Mészáros utca 13 in the EcoDome office building.

• Launched online courses in payroll, business administration and accounting under the Kulcs Akadémia.

• Withdrew from the Budapest Stock Exchange and continued as a private limited company (Zrt.).

Leading Hungarian provider of business administration, payroll and accounting software for SMEs and individual entrepreneurs, with an international business line under the Key-Soft brand.

• Kulcs Könyvelés

  Modular double- and single-entry bookkeeping software with fixed asset, road transport records, NAV Online Invoice and bank statement import modules.

• Kulcs Bér

  Professional payroll and labour administration software with social security administration, foreign language module, working time records, foreign employment, shift planning and data imports.

• Kulcs Ügyvitel

  Scalable, customisable, integrated business management system covering invoicing, inventory management, procurement, CRM, webshop integration and reports.

• Kulcs Flow

  Modern online entrepreneurial platform for invoicing, document management and tax return preparation for flat-rate and KATA taxpayers; can connect with Kulcs Connect.

• Kulcs Connect

  Integration that automatically sends invoices and receipt summaries handled in Kulcs Flow to the accountant, viewable directly in Kulcs Könyvelés.

• BizXpert

  Next-generation invoicing software announced on the Hungarian market in 2018.

• Kulcs Akadémia

  Professional and product-specific training and credit-point continuing education in accounting, taxation, social security, legislation changes, program usage and tips.

1. 1Kulcs-Soft - Vezető szoftverek kis- és középvállalatoknakks.hu
2. 2Key-Softwikidata.org
3. 3Kulcs-Soft Zrt.hu.wikipedia.org