Customer database/invoicing system
Discussion
Appreciate any help from those in the know!
I’ve got a small business with approx 600 customers the computer system I have now ancient and if anything was to go pop it would be major grief with no proper back up.
I’ve looked about for something suitable that doesn’t cost a fortune to run. Basically what I’m looking for is something that I can store all my clients and produce invoices for a few different services that I do currently have about 10 templates for the different options.
The thing I can’t seem to find is that it’s run on a diary type system I’m a continuous business to currently when I invoice for a job it shows the next date I’m back on the customers invoice that’s where I can’t seem to find something similar.
The diary is currently on a system called crystal reports and is linked to the database called act! It must be 12 years plus old.
Any help much appreciated!
I’ve got a small business with approx 600 customers the computer system I have now ancient and if anything was to go pop it would be major grief with no proper back up.
I’ve looked about for something suitable that doesn’t cost a fortune to run. Basically what I’m looking for is something that I can store all my clients and produce invoices for a few different services that I do currently have about 10 templates for the different options.
The thing I can’t seem to find is that it’s run on a diary type system I’m a continuous business to currently when I invoice for a job it shows the next date I’m back on the customers invoice that’s where I can’t seem to find something similar.
The diary is currently on a system called crystal reports and is linked to the database called act! It must be 12 years plus old.
Any help much appreciated!
It's a bit hard to read, but I think you're saying that you want to be able to raise periodic invoices for on-going services that you provide to your clients, and in addition to the actual invoice information, you'd like to include reminders about when your next work for the client is scheduled to take place.
Was your current system custom built for you? Are you having to pay annual subscriptions for Crystal Reports or the database?
Was your current system custom built for you? Are you having to pay annual subscriptions for Crystal Reports or the database?
ATG said:
It's a bit hard to read, but I think you're saying that you want to be able to raise periodic invoices for on-going services that you provide to your clients, and in addition to the actual invoice information, you'd like to include reminders about when your next work for the client is scheduled to take place.
Was your current system custom built for you? Are you having to pay annual subscriptions for Crystal Reports or the database?
Yeah not very good at explaining it!Was your current system custom built for you? Are you having to pay annual subscriptions for Crystal Reports or the database?
Yes pretty much. It probably was custom built but not by me it’s not online and it’s currently on an ancient computer it works fine but if anything was to go wrong then I’m stuffed.
Not needing anything radically different option to email invoices would be a great help.
I don’t pay anything for it currently but expecting to for something else.
Somewhere with all my customer details
Easy invoicing (various templates required)
Ability to forward book next visit.
If I was invoicing today’s work I would edit in the next visit manually and that shows up on the invoice but sets up that date for when that comes around and then I would do the same.
ATG said:
If you're providing field services or something similar, a quick glance suggests it would be a good fit and migrating data from Act! to Jobber looks perfectly doable if you plan it properly.
Yes think it’s worth a look there are various similar systems mostly USA. I have a lawn care business so 5 visits a year for the clients.Thanks for the reply’s
Looks like there are a few free alternatives too.
Just a disclaimer: I haven't got first hand experience of any of the products we've been talking about. I've got a general interest in this area because I'm a software developer that builds business applications and that means I'm acutely aware of how much custom built software costs. It's ferociously expensive, meaning that only really large businesses can justify commissioning it. I'm always interested to hear what systems small businesses are using to see if it offers any opportunities to close the gap with the tools large businesses can access.
Just a disclaimer: I haven't got first hand experience of any of the products we've been talking about. I've got a general interest in this area because I'm a software developer that builds business applications and that means I'm acutely aware of how much custom built software costs. It's ferociously expensive, meaning that only really large businesses can justify commissioning it. I'm always interested to hear what systems small businesses are using to see if it offers any opportunities to close the gap with the tools large businesses can access.
Thanks think I will try a few as some seem to have a free trial.
I was part of a franchise but ditched them a few years ago still managed to keep the software and edited it to my business instead. Even about 10 years ago it was running on an old windows xp computer they planned a new system but I think they gave up due to costs and basically moved the old system to a newer operating system with nothing really updated at all.
I ve no idea if I could move the current set up onto a newer computer for a bit more reliability but I d rather find a more modern set up that s a bit more linked into modern ways.
Really don t want to spend a fortune as I m a fairly small business and I m probably into my last few years of doing it so something like jobber or the others similar should hopefully work don t mind paying a monthly fee for something reliable.
I was part of a franchise but ditched them a few years ago still managed to keep the software and edited it to my business instead. Even about 10 years ago it was running on an old windows xp computer they planned a new system but I think they gave up due to costs and basically moved the old system to a newer operating system with nothing really updated at all.
I ve no idea if I could move the current set up onto a newer computer for a bit more reliability but I d rather find a more modern set up that s a bit more linked into modern ways.
Really don t want to spend a fortune as I m a fairly small business and I m probably into my last few years of doing it so something like jobber or the others similar should hopefully work don t mind paying a monthly fee for something reliable.
Edited by Patch1875 on Monday 14th September 17:44
Patch1875 said:
Thanks think I will try a few as some seem to have a free trial.
I was part of a franchise but ditched them a few years ago still managed to keep the software and edited it to my business instead. Even about 10 years ago it was running on an old windows xp computer they planned a new system but I think they gave up due to costs and basically moved the old system to a newer operating system with nothing really updated at all.
I ve no idea if I could move the current set up onto a newer computer for a bit more reliability but I d rather find a more modern set up that s a bit more linked into modern ways.
Really don t want to spend a fortune as I m a fairly small business and I m probably into my last few years of doing it so something like jobber or the others similar should hopefully work don t mind paying a monthly fee for something reliable.
HiI was part of a franchise but ditched them a few years ago still managed to keep the software and edited it to my business instead. Even about 10 years ago it was running on an old windows xp computer they planned a new system but I think they gave up due to costs and basically moved the old system to a newer operating system with nothing really updated at all.
I ve no idea if I could move the current set up onto a newer computer for a bit more reliability but I d rather find a more modern set up that s a bit more linked into modern ways.
Really don t want to spend a fortune as I m a fairly small business and I m probably into my last few years of doing it so something like jobber or the others similar should hopefully work don t mind paying a monthly fee for something reliable.
Edited by Patch1875 on Monday 14th September 17:44
I don't often post, but this is something that I can hopefully help with.
I run a domestic cleaning company in the UK, and have used Jobber for this for about 10 years now. It's more than capable of doing what you are after. I don't know how much you have looked into it, but they have different tiers for their product, and you would probably be fine on the cheapest, or second cheapest, and honestly, its a solid bit of software.
All my work is re-occuring ie weekly or fortnightly cleaning. We have some customers set to invoice automatically after each visit, some that have a "manual release" for the invoice if I know I want to amend something, some customers have a "round up" invoicing setup where it collects all the visits completed since the last invoice and puts them on the same invoice (this can be done on any frequency you like ie weekly, monthly etc)
Basically, it should be what you are after.
More than happy to chat with you if you wanted an "end user" view of it, rather than a polished sales pitch from Jobber themselves.
Ohh, and just in case you weren't aware, Jobber is a Canadian set up, so most customers are Canadian and American, but they have a smaller following in the UK too. It can all be geared up to work in GBP etc, for example.
Cheers
Wing Commander said:
Hi
I don't often post, but this is something that I can hopefully help with.
I run a domestic cleaning company in the UK, and have used Jobber for this for about 10 years now. It's more than capable of doing what you are after. I don't know how much you have looked into it, but they have different tiers for their product, and you would probably be fine on the cheapest, or second cheapest, and honestly, its a solid bit of software.
All my work is re-occuring ie weekly or fortnightly cleaning. We have some customers set to invoice automatically after each visit, some that have a "manual release" for the invoice if I know I want to amend something, some customers have a "round up" invoicing setup where it collects all the visits completed since the last invoice and puts them on the same invoice (this can be done on any frequency you like ie weekly, monthly etc)
Basically, it should be what you are after.
More than happy to chat with you if you wanted an "end user" view of it, rather than a polished sales pitch from Jobber themselves.
Ohh, and just in case you weren't aware, Jobber is a Canadian set up, so most customers are Canadian and American, but they have a smaller following in the UK too. It can all be geared up to work in GBP etc, for example.
Cheers
Thanks appreciate that.I don't often post, but this is something that I can hopefully help with.
I run a domestic cleaning company in the UK, and have used Jobber for this for about 10 years now. It's more than capable of doing what you are after. I don't know how much you have looked into it, but they have different tiers for their product, and you would probably be fine on the cheapest, or second cheapest, and honestly, its a solid bit of software.
All my work is re-occuring ie weekly or fortnightly cleaning. We have some customers set to invoice automatically after each visit, some that have a "manual release" for the invoice if I know I want to amend something, some customers have a "round up" invoicing setup where it collects all the visits completed since the last invoice and puts them on the same invoice (this can be done on any frequency you like ie weekly, monthly etc)
Basically, it should be what you are after.
More than happy to chat with you if you wanted an "end user" view of it, rather than a polished sales pitch from Jobber themselves.
Ohh, and just in case you weren't aware, Jobber is a Canadian set up, so most customers are Canadian and American, but they have a smaller following in the UK too. It can all be geared up to work in GBP etc, for example.
Cheers
Will have a look at the free trial when I get a chance and have a play around with it.
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