Clip and Lawn Monkey

[TruGreenDedLawn]

I've search and couldn't find what I want to know

I am desperate for a good program

I do chem. apps. and mowing and so on

Clip: I still cant see spending over $3,000 for a program

Lawn Monkey: price is ok but still high but I would get it

Now I have to get the larger programs to fit my needs so the cheeper ones wont work

I've demo'ed both and both are so confusing

Was it easy to change to the program?

Does it do what you wanted?

Routing is it easy? or do I have to route it for it? and how does it route?

Was it hard to learn to use?

Do you have a Quickbooks link for it?

And my big problem the computer my biz is in is filled so I will have to use a new computer (which is the one I'm on now)

Please help with this dilemma.

THANX

[LAWNGODFATHER]

I would like to know too

LGF:blob1:

[Guido]

You can go right to the Lawn Monkey forum here on Lawnsite and ask, you can probobly get an answer straight from the company or people that are using the software.

You'll probobly get a better response there.

[LoneStarLawn]

Your best bet at getting quick answers to your many questions is to go to both websites and look at the information that they give you. Im sure that both sites will be informative on your search.

We use Lawn Monkey and it is very easy. Plus you have #1 support in case you get stuck.

[trimmasters]

LoneStar, I though you were using Real Green?

[mowerman90]

Check out www.medlin.com for their accounts receivable program. It's only $35 for that module and you can add other modules as you need them. The program is completely customizable for any service business and it's small, not taking up much hardrive space. In addition to all this you can e-mail invoices and statements from within the program. You can download a trail copy from their website and try it before you buy it. I've been using it since I started this business and haven't found a better program yet. One thing it doesn't have is routing. If you have less than 100 accts like me you can write them down on a index card for each day of the week.

[LoneStarLawn]

We were looking into Real Green, but decided to try Lawn Monkey for a year and we are glad that we did.

[Sean Adams]

CLIP - great software, great people, great support. Something as important as management software for any growing business should not be determined merely by price alone. CLIP Sensible Software is a leader in this industry and its involvement only helps its clients. Everyone has their preferences - their comfort zones, so to speak. Over 7,000 green industry professionals use CLIP Software and that's not an accident. They will answer any questions you have, and in the process eliminate any doubts. Check them out at www.clip.com or call them at 800-635-8485.

Sean Adams

[crazygator]

I have a friend using clip and he says it is the best. I will demo at his place just to see it being put through it's paces and let ya know what I see.

[trimmasters]

The thing that drives me crazy about clip: When you call for tech support you can never talk to anybody then, you have to wait for them to call you back! I've rarely had to wait more than an hour for this , But when I have a problem i dont want to wait, I want answers. If I did that to my customers they would be out the door!

[yergus]

my cousin had the clip program and liked it very much, but when i bought the lawn monkey program, he deleted his clip and purchased lawn monkey. i am completely sold on lawn monkey and i am a hard man to sell.
i do all my business on the program, and use quick books in conjunction, although it is really not needed. and lawn monkey is always giving free upgrades on their program. check it out, IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GO.
P.S. i am not a lawn monkey salesman, just another lawn care company looking for ways to improve the business
Bob

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Where are you in Missouri yergus?

I would like to see it up and running if you are near St. Louis.

LGF:blob1:

[Sean Adams]

Everyone feels comfortable with certain things - management software included. I know a lot of people that own CLIP, use CLIP, and feel the same as you do about Lawn Monkey - CLIP is the only way to go for them. It truly does what it claims - it helps you get your life back. It is a system, that once learned, people question how they ever managed without it.

Sean Adams

[David Gretzmier]

I think in the hands of someone fully trained either of these programs are great. having used both, I can tell you that clip is easier to learn, has a better support and documentation system in place. when I first started on lawn monkey, to send invoices it literally took 23 steps to print an invoice. with our suggestions they upgraded this year to pare that number to 15 or 16. I was used to pushing the print button on the invoice screen in peachtree accounting. ONE step. Clip aint no walk in the park however. it also requires extensive training. at least clip offers it. lawn monkey is definetly a self taught system that requires many calls to just set up new customers. to train in lawn monkey, they can only fly down techs at high dollar rates. clip offers training seminars.

both programs feel like a work in progress, lawn monkey especially so. many upgrades came this year. clip was once a year or so. both expensive because lawn computing is a limited market. good luck, try both in the winter and give yourself 2 winter months to learn either extensively and set up your accounts. FINALLY- back up dayly. our computer was hit twice by lightning this year. Dave g

[Sean Adams]

Very good points greenguy.

I do know that CLIP in time has developed a family type atmosphere amongst their users. Thier user conference they have every year is amazing. People from everywhere extending helping hands, providing support, exchanging experiences, amazing speakers, etc... If you own CLIP software and you want to experience something like never before, you have to go to the conference. It is in November in Maryland. If you do not own the software, like greenguy said, the winter is a great time to get in tune with how things work.

Sean Adams

[yergus]

i have used the clip program and i now own the lawn monkey. it doesn't matter about the seminars, after all if your business is big enough to need a program, you don't have the time to go to them anyway. lawn monkey is about one third the price of clip, and lawn monkey will answer any questions you have through their toll free phone number. and when i do my invoices, i have three steps i go through, then i sit back as they print. the support staff is wonderfull. and if you are like me, more experienced in lawn care than computers, you will the calls.
but to be fair, they offer free demos on both, get them both, try them, then buy what you feel offers you the most.

[Sean Adams]

Yergus...I'm not trying to be smart here, but I have to disagree with you about attending seminars and conferences. Just because you now have enough accounts to use software, that does not mean that you are too busy for something as productive and educational as seminars. The most successful people in this industry attribute a great deal of their success to attending these conferences and networking opportunities. In fact, there are a lot of conferences where large, successful companies are represented as speakers as well. The Louisville Expo is not a seminar or a conference. Go to one if you can. There are a lot of different things coming up here soon. You will be blown away by the people, the information, ad the energy it will give you to rush home and run your business better than ever before.

Sean Adams

[yergus]

sean
i am not saying don't go to the seminars, but in my case, most of the time i am too busy, but as my company grows, and i am not needed on the sight, i will be going to any siminar that will benifit my occupation. what i was referring to, was that i have had a chance to work with both programs, and for what both have to offer, my choice is the lawn monkey. the clip program ($3000 price tag) still has less to offer than my lawn monkey (949 price tag)
sorry if i offended you or any other readers, but as i say, check them both out, they both have free demo models, work them both, they are working demos, then you decide.

[yergus]

sean,
i felt bad when i read your reply to me, then after i responded i reread what i wrote, then your reply and it kinda pissed me off.
if you have an excellent program that does everything you need, plus some, that does not have seminars, and the staff are willing to talk with you or through the steps, then why would you be worried about seminars.
as i said, i have done research, and used both programs, and i did not make my decision over a week end, but studdied, worked with each demo, working demo, then made my decision over a four month period.
if you need to go to siminars to learn how to use the program, then it must be a pretty complicated program.
with lawn monkey, i agree, a made at least twenty five calls, all free of charge, and the walked me through every thing i had problems with. and not once did they say "it's in the manual"
i am not a salesman for lawn monkey,and if i ever find a product better, i will switch, but if you look at the program. you will see that it does everything but cooks you dinner.
now i have but one question to ask you. since you have not mentioned anything good about lawn monkey, have you ever used it, or seen it? to me it sounds like you are plugging clip, which i did not say was not a decent program, are you receiving any funds from your advertizing?
but the math tells me that if you buy a program for $3000 (which i would need) , or you buy a program for $949.00 and it does everything, then i would say the smart thinker would go with the lawn monkey.

[Sean Adams]

Yergus...

You got me all wrong. I was not saying anything with the intention to upset or offend. I have seen the lawn monkey software and I never said anything bad about it either. To each his/her own. I am in no way trying to turn this into a contest or a battle. From what I have seen of both types of software, IN MY OPINION, CLIP is superior. I apologize if what I said earlier was presented the wrong way.

Sean Adams

[Gtotoy]

I dont know about all of ya'll , but i use Gopher 98 and think its great for the price,, free Demo and only 300 bucks..

[boozoo]

I am responding to a post a few back on this thread from one of my pards, David Gretzmier aka green guy.

Dave, I think you are much more qualified to give an opinion about CLIP than LM. You used CLIP for a year vs. trying to enter some invoices into LM and then basically giving up on it. Yes, I agree with you that we had a hard time learning it, BUT we also never took the time to do the beginning tutorial, AND we put the program into the hands of our most computer-illiterate partner to start with AND we waited until we got very busy before really trying to learn it, at which time we had to enter in a very large data base. True, it *could* be easier to start, and they *could* have a better manual/tutorial. On the other hand, they are continually upgrading and improving, so I guess it would be hard to publish a manual that would cover everything. I noticed, too, that you never mentioned why you stopped using the CLIP program . . . Anyway, in all fairness, I think LM has given us excellent support, especially when you consider that they knew damn well we hadn't gone through the tutorial! Your friend, Jamey

[yergus]

I PURCHASED MY LAWN MONKEY IN MARCH OF 2001 AND IT CAME WITH A BOOK AS WELL AS HAVING THE MANULAL IN THE HELP SECTION.
I AM STUPID WHEN IT COMES TO COMPUTERS, AND I PICKED UP THE LM EASY ENOUGH THAT ANY ONE CAN DO IT. NOWI COULDN'T SURVIVE IN TH BUSINESS WITHOUT IT.
ANYONE OUT THERE WANTS THE BEST PROGRAM, LAWN MONKEY. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CHEAPER PROGRAMS OUT THERE, BUT I BET THOSE CHEAPER PROGRAMS DON'T DO A FRACTION ON WHAT MINE DOES. AND FOR $948, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN $3000.00

[Lawn DOG]

I have used CLIP for years and have found it to be a very important tool. LM was not around when I purchased CLIP . I have demoed LM and think it has great potential and if I was in the market for a good program this would be an excellent choice. I am glad to see some competition out there for this type of software. It only forces these software companies to compete and offer better products and services. I have felt that CLIP has taken advantage of there customers and overcharges us. I think if LM can provide such good techinal support that CLIP should be paying attention. What ever you chose you will be buying one of the most powerful tools that you could own. CLIP has assisted me in making alot of money but for the money I think you might want to try LM. I do not know if CLIP is better but LM sounds like it is definetly worth what it cost. I have spent much more and would do it all over again.

[Rick Carver]

My company has been useing clip since 1993. We have constantly kept an eye open for any improvements in the software industry, Clip seems to continually beet all the other companies products and features hands down!! Clip leads our industry in new products and never has charged for any upgrades that I know of. They understand what we go threw in our business's and and provides there users with constant support, free forums, training seminars and most importantly THEY LISTEN TO OUR WANTS!!! They always ask us what we want added or changed etc. AND THEY DO IT!!!!! I have demo'd the monkey program and in my humble opinion the product is fair at best. If you compare the two products in question, and include the backbone of the organization [support, R&D etc]
and make an honest comparison Clip just keeps looking better and better. My staff has had to call on support at clip and have never been dissapointed in there response time. My company responds to any of our customers concerns within 24hrs[usually] but clip always responds within the same day, as long as I don't call at the end of the work day. What else can anyone expect for service???? Yous guys running the monkey, and are saisfied,,,, great for you!!! But have you ever really, really looked into the benefits of being a Clip user??? I have made the HONEST COMPARISON, and I'm telling all that have not made up your minds as to what program is best for your company, MAKE AN HONEST COMPARISON!!! Call Clip and ask them for user names and numbers etc. look into more than the dollars and look past the opinions and make your own decision as to how your company can become more profitable by useing Clips products, OH by the way, I have made an in depth analysis as to the actuall cost of my Clip purchases, as I do with all of my purchases in our company. My results are accurate and honest, and I'm glad to be able to boast that all capital spent on Clip products have been paid back in admin time saveing's within 9 months after we implemented it!!!!!!!!! Try doing that with any other capital outlay that usually has no actuall billable recovery status. Clip is the best bang for our buck that I have ever spent in 15 years in this business!!

[yergus]

<b>I have deleted your post! Please repost and quit using ALL CAPS. This is rude and improper netiquette.</b>

Also, don't request that anyone emails you for private information.

Also, im just about sick of the Clip / LawnMonkey discussions. Lets get down to business and quit bitching back and forth. If you want to learn more about Clip or LawnMonkey do a search or request a free demo from the companies.

I will also speak a little about this.... The CLIP conference/seminar is much more than a product teaching tool.

CLIP is used by many, MANY super high $$ profit lawn and landscape companies and thousand more companies just like yours. CLIP is a tried and tested company that works.

Lawn Monkey also offers a great product and proven support.

Get the CLIP demo here: http://www.clip.com/demo.htm
Get the LM demo here: http://www.lawnmonkey.com/evaluate2.html

Chuck Keough

[Buttered Waffle]

I guess this all comes down to what you like. Ford versus Chevy.....exmark versus scag. I happen to be a Ford,Exmark and CLIP kind of guy. I have been running it for a little over a year now and my profits have gone way up as a result. I have time to spend with my wife that I would have never dreamed of last year because of three hours of paper work every night broken down into 15 minutes. The best part about Clip for me is the family atmosphere that the SSI staff exudes. I strive to treat my clients as well as SSI treats me. As far as the price is concerned, you don't need to INVEST $3000.00. There are different versions of the program to suit any ones needs. I have a good bit of money in my Clip program but it has paid for itself close to twice over in the year that I have used it.

[mickemt]

Personally, I am a dedicated CLIP user. the software is easy to use and learn and the support is AWESOME.
CLIP- anything else is a copmuter game.

[Dink38]

I am a clip user. We are a small company and it took me awhile to make the step into buying clip. I did not spend $3000 on my software. That is what makes clips GREAT so many different versions and great support. I think if you give clips a try,you will never go anywhere else.

[mickemt]

If your company has less than 50 clients, you can get into CLIP for under $300.00 . Yes, there are versions with more "bells and whistles", and they do cost more, but the savings in time spent on paperwork more than make up for the cost.
My companys client base tripled this year, but since starting with CLIP, my paperwork time is only about 25-33% of what it was last year.