Cheap Prices on Software??

[Fubba]

I downloaded the demos of Groundskeeper Lite and Gopher. I liked Groundskeeper better...until I saw the price. $260 for that??? I could make a computer program for less trouble that $260! That's ridiculous. Are there any out there that others use for less money?? I may just have to use Excel, but I like the fact that I can type in all the info and it prints it right out.

[1MajorTom]

This is going to come across as sounding like a smart butt... but if you can make one cheaper, then why don't you?
We use Groundskeeper and I can assure you, it is worth the small investment.

[Wells]

We use Quickbooks Pro - but it is also over $200

You could try: Microsoft Money for Small Business - $70.00
I have no personal experience with this software but it might be more in your price range.

[Fubba]

I didn't mean to sound like a smart butt. I haven't been in the business a really long time and am just now starting to get where people want me to send them bills. I just didn't think something like that would cost that much. My bad for being ignorant.

[walker-talker]

If you plan on growing your business, you should consider a powerful invoicing/routing program you can grow into. I use Lawn Monkey and it does everything I need it to do plus more. I am probably using less than 10% of it's power. I love the report functions. After you put in all your routes for the year, you can have a report generated to let you know what you can expect to gross for the season, month, week & day...basically any time frame. You can see what services generated how much money and much more. Maybe many of the software out there can do this, but this is the only one I have used to this extent. Expect to pay around $850. I have the upgraded version that handles zone based scheduling for chem apps and it was around $1250. Then you have to pay another $300 a year if you want upgrades. Seems like a lot and it is, but if you are in this game for the long haul, don't get cheap.

[BladeRunner1967]

I bought it last year. (My 1st year) I like it. Being part time the cost was tough to justify, but I am glad I did.

[walker-talker]

I bought it last year. (My 1st year) I like it. Being part time the cost was tough to justify, but I am glad I did.What did you buy?

[DLS1]

I downloaded the demos of Groundskeeper Lite and Gopher. I liked Groundskeeper better...until I saw the price. $260 for that??? I could make a computer program for less trouble that $260! That's ridiculous. Are there any out there that others use for less money?? I may just have to use Excel, but I like the fact that I can type in all the info and it prints it right out.

I am a full-time computer programmer and I will tell you from experience of writing programs you are getting a deal. People outside of the industry have no idea the number of hours it takes to develop a software package like Gopher. Then the companies are constantly getting feedback from customers to improve the product. Then you have customer support.

[GreenUtah]

I suggest for those of you feeling sticker shock over $260 that you price programs like CLIP or even software outside of the lawn industry like the Adobe Professional Suite or Macromedias Studio 8 and realize that pro level tools that actually save time specific to your business have a cost to them, just like your commercial rider or a skid steer.

[betterlawn]

People don't consider the fact that software with a small target market will cost correspondingly more.

If it takes one programmer a year to make a decent packageand only 500 people buy it, thats $80K/500 ($160) in programming alone. That would be a programmer getting paid $60K (+benefits). $260 for a niche program like that is really, really cheap.

Most business software of any sort is in the $1K+ range. That's the difference between a lawn care business and a hobby I guess.

If you think you can do better than $260, than you clearly don't know what you are talking about. I could write on too if I needed too, but it would be a couple hundred hours later. I don't work for <$1 an hour...

[BladeRunner1967]

What did you buy?
lol..Groundskeeper Pro

[Team Gopher]

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Hi Fubba,

I am sure there are low cost invoice programs available at your local office supply store. Why not visit one of them and see what you come up with?

Thanks DLS1 for thinking of us.

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[tinman]

gopher was $200......well worth it. clip is way more,,,but probably worth it also. different levels for different business levels.

[topsites]

This is going to come across as sounding like a smart butt... but if you can make one cheaper, then why don't you?
We use Groundskeeper and I can assure you, it is worth the small investment.

LOL I would normally be on the side of the guy talking how expensive it is (it IS outrageous) but you are right: If it's THAT easy, why not do it already? :rolleyes: Even an expert programmer, I think it still would take a year (or three) starting out from scratch (omg what a pita).

As for me, I've tried several different brands and in the end none of them fit my style and after having spent (or is it wasted) several hundred dollars on software that won't do things MY way, I've come to the realization that I either need to think about investing 20 thousand dollars or thereabouts for custom-made software (dream on) OR just do without, which ultimately is what I been doing for the past 3.5 years.

[topsites]

I didn't mean to sound like a smart butt. I haven't been in the business a really long time and am just now starting to get where people want me to send them bills. I just didn't think something like that would cost that much. My bad for being ignorant.

First off you're not entirely ignorant, the price IS outrageous BUT programming can be a real pita in its own category (it ain't easy).

You MIGHT check out Sourceforge and get an open source/Gp licensed program at no cost but you want to check into at LEAST betas and final releases, nothing alpha or pre-alpha is even worth fooling with AND you may find nothing as well. The address is http://sourceforge.net/
As a general rule there usually IS one maybe two complete packages you can use, the rest is all engines and front-ends and pieces and parts, again by the time you'd get done putting one together out of parts you'd be just as well off without.

As for me, I just pick up a stack of 100-some pads of receipts/general-purpose invoices from Staples or Office Max, hand-write the information and send it to them in the mail. That's worked great for the last couple years thou once I got busy, I bought a self-inking address stamp so I stamp each invoice which saves me about 30 seconds vs. writing my name & address :)

[dmc456]

We use Gopher and it is very easy to use. Easier than Grounds Keeper in my opinion. I tried GK first.

Anyway, for $200 you couldn't possible make a better program for the money on either software package. I mean, unless your time is for $5 / hr.

[dmc456]

The best thing about Gopher is the scheduling features. Any program can keep track of billing, but automatically scheduling and daily work logs are such a huge time saver.

I sit in bed each nite and update Gopher from my wireless laptop. When I'm done, I print the next day's work log to my wireless printer in my office. Next day, get up, grab the log from the printer, and head out to work.

[ArizPestWeed]

Fubba
You are complainin about the program and it's price .
You are a joke .
Soooo many use it and love it .
The $260 or what ever is a deal .
Get real , dude :laugh:

[lawnman_scott]

I do my billing with a database in ms word that I made, and it prints everything out onto a invioce. I have downloaded demos and I still think my way is better and faster.

[electro]

I run a commercial contracting company and a software company. The problem with most software whether it be off the shelf universal programs (Microsoft excel) or Industry specific programs is that the customer does not allow for a realistic learning curve. You would'nt give the keys to a bobcat to an apprentice and tell him take on that hill. So make sure with whatever software you buy that you dedicate time to reading the manual. If it's a more complicated package see if the company runs a seminar. Most software programs are capable of so much more than the average user uses them for. I know someone who runs a multimillion dollar firm on only excel.
When you shop for industry specific software make sure that not only is it the right industry but the right niche market. Some programs may work for a residential enviroment but not a great match for a commercial enviroment.
Even if you are a small contractor, there are certain programs that should be in your arsenal. An accountanting program and a scheduling program. This will allow you to spend more time doing what you should be doing, which is enjoying the fruits of your labor.
The investment today will pay back tomorrow.

Electro
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