What software do you use for managing your business?

[HarryPot]

I'm at a complete loss of were to search for a good management software for my business. It's a small business, but Excel and Visual Basic programs made inside aren't cutting it.

I'm specially looking for something to help the sales part of the business. Make invoices, track sales, inventory and ongoing projects.

I looked at SAP Business One, but starting at $40,000 it's currently out of my budget. And the other programs I see, starting at $100, look way to simple.

So, what do people use around here?

 

[snberk103]

I use AccountEdge for all of my accounting, invoicing, A/R and A/P, etc.

I use Adobe's Lightroom and FileMaker Pro for inventory.

I use Pages for creating letters, documents, ads, etc

I use SandVox for building and managing my website.

Apple Mail for email, Contacts with extensive use of Groups for contacts...

Pens, pencil, notebooks for just about everything else everything else.

Hope that helps...

 

[robanga]

I'm at a complete loss of were to search for a good management software for my business. It's a small business, but Excel and Visual Basic programs made inside aren't cutting it.

I'm specially looking for something to help the sales part of the business. Make invoices, track sales, inventory and ongoing projects.

I looked at SAP Business One, but starting at $40,000 it's currently out of my budget. And the other programs I see, starting at $100, look way to simple.

So, what do people use around here?

Have you looked at some of the hosted options out there? It seems like that for the middle ground between something cobbled together and SAP or Oracle, the hosted companies are doing well.

 

[snberk103]

It would help if you gave some more details about the business. Are you retailing or service oriented? Do you need many unique customers, or a few steady clients?

etc etc

 

[obeygiant]

quickbooks pro, thats basically all you need.

 

[HarryPot]

I use AccountEdge for all of my accounting, invoicing, A/R and A/P, etc.

I'll take a look at it. It seems it has a great design, which helps. At least with me, the rest of the company doesn't seem to mind using programs that still look like Windows 98.

Have you looked at some of the hosted options out there? It seems like that for the middle ground between something cobbled together and SAP or Oracle, the hosted companies are doing well.

I did found some, but I would prefer something local. It might be just me being me, but I've never liked cloud based solutions.

It would help if you gave some more details about the business. Are you retailing or service oriented? Do you need many unique customers, or a few steady clients?

etc etc

Basically retail. Most of our clients are new, so we need many unique customers. Our basic needs is having a programs that can manage invoices, inventory, sales, etc. The most important part we need to organise the most is sales. Right now we have a mess and keeping up is difficult.

quickbooks pro, thats basically all you need.

I'll give it a try. It looks nice.

 

[snberk103]

....
Basically retail. Most of our clients are new, so we need many unique customers. Our basic needs is having a programs that can manage invoices, inventory, sales, etc. The most important part we need to organise the most is sales. Right now we have a mess and keeping up is difficult.

....

I'd look at AccountEdge... it's been a long time since my initial purchase, I've been upgrading since. But at the time they had consultants who would show you 'round the software before you bought it for free. They would get the commission from the SW maker if you bought it. Then they'd be happy to train you for a fee ... but that initial kick at the tires might worth your while.

I'm a small photographic shop, and I barely scratch the surface...but I know that it handles sales well. I'm one version back from current, and the customization of the forms is old fashioned - but you only have to do it once. The current version may be better.

It keeps track of A/R of course. You can set up a "walk up" customer, or you can have cards for each customer with specific rates and whatnot. It will keep inventory for you... you can 'build' an item from inventory parts... etc etc

At the end of the day it has lots of different reports it can print. It also calculates bank reconciliations and sales tax remittances. There is a payroll module you add (I don't use it).

At the end of the year I send a bunch of reports to my accountant. At least in Canada they will provide a free copy of AccountEdge to your accountant so you can just send them raw file, but my accountant has elected not to do that.

I'm happy to answer more questions, but I think your best bet is to find a consultant who will let you kick the tires.

 

[Priamus]

recommend management software

We're using Latitude business management software. It has modules for tracking projects, equipment listing, sales monitoring, resource planning, gantt charts, quotes and invoices which could be what you're looking for.