software w/quickbooks for customer info

[tomoaktree]

What do you guys use to keep track of all the data along with quickbooks ? (pricing , measurements , history etc.)

Tom

[Island Lawn]

Sounds like you are trying to find a way to organize customer data outside of QB. Do I have this right?

Currently I have customer info on a crude database.
Hard copies of all that stuff in a customer file where all the "history" data goes.

OTJ:
I use a clipboard (Daily Record. ALL of the day's data goes here.)3 ring binder(Contact's business cards, Daily records of the last 4 weeks, etc) Briefcase (Big front zipper pocket for day's reciepts), Mechanical pencil (Always sharp, and erasable goof ups), calculator,etc.

Oh yea, also in briefcase, an assortment of all business promo stuff (cards, flyers, brochures, etc)

At the end of the day, I transpose the data from the Daily Record into the crude database and/or the appropriate files.

There has got to be a better/easier way!

[Edited by Island Lawn on 03-13-2001 at 08:41 PM]

[tomoaktree]

Island lawn
I've got the breifcase,clipboard etc. for the truck. I would like to back that info up (incase lost or stolen) on the computer somehow. Is there a program to keep track of everyone? Maybe even put photos in. Example... I would like to have easy access to each customer on the computer with turf area,line trim distance and lot size.Is spreadsheet the only way to go or is there a better method.

Tom

[Henry]

I use Lawn Monkey mostly for billing, but it will do pretty much everything you want. I'm not sure about the line trim part but if you ask they might be able to get that in there too. They're good like that.

[tomoaktree]

Henry
I would love to get lawnmonkey or something similar.Only problem is I have a brand new macintosh and there isn't one software company that I can find who makes something that is mac user freindly. I just bought the newest version of quickbooks that is prob. 5 years old. I like it so far but was wondering what software that I can use in addition to qb.
Tom

[BRL]

MS Office. Not sure if they have a Mac version though. It will do everything you need plus. The spreadsheet & word proccessing programs (Excel & Word) interact with Quickbooks so its easy to coordinate between the programs.

[greenlawncare]

if you use the quickbooks program try qbexpress.com. Got all the regualar features of LM but fully integrates with QB pro. I don't use it, but played with the demo this weekend after seeing it in L&L mag. and was impressed.

[syzer]

We just recently purchased lawn monkey deluxe with the LMDC link (palm pilot). This program far exceeds anything i ever expected it to do. Though it was a large chunk of change I can see it paying for itself already. Will give you reports on just about anythign keep track of everything and is very thorough. You should def. give this one a look.

[tomoaktree]

greenlawncare;
I checked out qbexpress.com. and it looks great . Only problem is I have a Mac. Nobody makes anything for macs.:(

[greenlawncare]

Isn't there some program for macs called "virtual computer"?

[Rooster]

For the mac, I beleive the program is called softwindows. This allow you to run windows based programs on a Mac.

You might look into getting a program called: Act, this is a huge database with lots of options.

Also if you have a pc (windows) and a mac, you could network them which could serve your purpose.

I will check with some Mac programers I know and see what they would suggest!

Hope this helps.

[CMerLand]

Hey BRL

If youd just sit down and input the data into your CLIP program off the shelf and into the computer it will do all that as well as scheduling routing billing chemical tracking etc etc etc. Maybe we'll get together over the winter and I'll help you set it up at a good consulting rate. Pro also hooks up to excel, word and quickbooks.

Talk to you soon,

CMerLand

[greenlawncare]

Tom: I found the product I was thinking of. My brother in law is a graphics artist and recommened "Virtual PC":

http://www.connectix.com/products/vpc4m.html

One thing I noticed on QB Express was that it didn't have a fuel surcharge feature like my LM does. If you do end up looking into it you should see if they are putting that in. This month it will help to offset a good portion of my company's fuel costs - probably $500 or more in May.

[tomoaktree]

Thanks greenlawncare:
I installed virtual pc and didn't like it. I uninstalled it and sent it back. I will only buy stuff that is "made for mac". Thanks though for checking in to it for me.

[ScottH]

I've only tried demo versions of ACT and Goldmine. I liked them both but Goldmine seemed to be more advanced. I would look @ one of these if you want a full blown customer contact program. just keep in mind that you have to keep up with it to do you any good.

If you're just looking to track basic info on the customer, their site, application schedules etc., you might consider using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. I utilize Microsoft Access for inventory tracking. This program is more advanced( Translates into taking a bit more time to set-up) It will allow you to utilize forms for data entry and will allow you to setup multiple report formats. This will reduce time to use the program after it is set-up. There is a newer program that replaced Access but I can't remember what it's called.

[Bret Austin]

First off...
How much is Clip?
Second...
ACT is a great program but takes a tremendous amount of attention to keep up to date. If you're like me, and don't update everyday/week, you'll soon have an out of date database that does you no good.

The main bulk of my business is lawn spraying. I have lots of records to keep. I have a hard time doing this, especially spring and fall when I am swamped. The last thing I want to do is come home and spend 2 hours on the pc.

What are the benefits of a Palm Pilot type unit? The only thing that I can see (by looking at the store) is that you can easily store contact information. But are there ways to actually USE this information?

For instance...
I spray John Doe's yard on Monday, June 3 at 8:45 am, the wind is 5-10 from the West and it's 72 degrees.
Is there a way I could use a Palm to replace my written records in this situation? Could I tell it that I'm at John's house and it would retrieve that invoice or account number and give me a place to put the new spraying information? How about printing when you're in the truck?

Anything to speed up the process would be great!

Thanks for any info...

bretaustin@dtgnet.com

[jeffyr]

There is a version of Quickbooks Pro 2000 for mac. And yes, MS Office is available as well. You can also create a database in Appleworks 6.0.

I would not recommend Softwindows or Virtual PC for the mac--better off with a PC if you want those applications.

jeffyr