pesticide record keeping software?

[deltascapes]

i have 250 accounts, i was wondering what software would be good

[mg10117]

i use groundskeeper pro...it takes some getting used to but works real good...great for printing bills...

[ampeg76]

my invoices are dual copies, no problems

[rcreech]

i use groundskeeper pro...it takes some getting used to but works real good...great for printing bills...

SAME HERE!

Love it!

Definitly isn't the BEST software on the market...but I do think it is GREAT for the money!

I too love the preprinted invoices, and I think the giving the customer envelopes are great. I have gotten great comments from that!

[Runner]

I've been looking serious at Realgreen. That and QXpress work (integrate) with Quickbooks. My main concern right now, is finding a good routing software. I want an intelligent one that will automatically insert an address into the right route. That, and take an outside one out if necessary (if too many are added) and put the best one out and into a different route (territory).

[MStine315]

With 600 customers =/- I use CLIP and like it, but can see outgrowing it in a few years. I have "QCLIP" which works with QB for billing. Routing is manual...I set up routes as I see fit. Realgreen will be my next step. You can also do some things manually with windows installed software.

[Runner]

I'll tell ya Mark, I would love to sit down with you sometime, and see just how you implement this. I look at a map of Genesee Co., and am just about overwhelmed, thinking how in the WORLD am I going to do this when I get up to that many customers. Even at just the full time level of around 400. Do you use Microsoft Maps and Streets? I want to set up different routes (territories), and have them printed out as the most efficient loops as possible. I am getting SO tired of driving in circles or out of my way inefficiently.
Now John uses QXpress, so that is a different game, altogether. Everyday, his guy(s) get their folder with printed out maps and directions of the absolute shortest and or fastest routes around.

[Shades of Green LService]

I'll tell ya Mark, I would love to sit down with you sometime, and see just how you implement this. I look at a map of Genesee Co., and am just about overwhelmed, thinking how in the WORLD am I going to do this when I get up to that many customers. Even at just the full time level of around 400. Do you use Microsoft Maps and Streets? I want to set up different routes (territories), and have them printed out as the most efficient loops as possible. I am getting SO tired of driving in circles or out of my way inefficiently.
Now John uses QXpress, so that is a different game, altogether. Everyday, his guy(s) get their folder with printed out maps and directions of the absolute shortest and or fastest routes around.

I have a demo cd of Real green software. They have a routing feature that is nothing short of amazing.

However for the size of my company, Groundskeeper pro is a great product.

[Shades of Green LService]

SAME HERE!

Love it!

Definitly isn't the BEST software on the market...but I do think it is GREAT for the money!

I too love the preprinted invoices, and I think the giving the customer envelopes are great. I have gotten great comments from that!

Also makes billing go A LOT Faster with the window envelopes.

[RigglePLC]

I set my route manually during the winter. Red dots on map--connect with pencil line. I number the cards and always do them in the same order. West to east. I add new customers manually where needed. If they are between stop number 77 and 78--then their number is 77.5.

250 accounts isn't big. For my one-man-show I use Microsoft Works database software. When I type in the date of application--I have it setup to automatically type in the pre-planned information: the price, the chem, the rate, the EPA number, the concentration, and the taget pest. Of course, if I make changes in the price or product--I have to do a few manual entries. I mostly use copy and paste to insert a different product and its EPA number--so i don't have to type the information and number manually. Sometimes I use "Fill Down". If they are all the same you can add all the above information, neatly typed, in one second.

I use the form letter function to send bills--and window envelopes.

Get a computer nerd to help you and see what you can do with a free spreadsheet similar to Excel.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you do.

[Runner]

The problem with Realgreen, is that they want somewhere between 3000 and 5000 dollars for the software program. That is BEFORE their monthly fee.

[KLR]

The problem with Realgreen, is that they want somewhere between 3000 and 5000 dollars for the software program. That is BEFORE their monthly fee.

we use realgreen software and i think you might be a tad low on pricing?
we upgraded to the LA3 version in 2001 (was an LA2 user before). it went for 4500 back then.

we do not subscribe to their monthly upgrades (i believe thats a cost of $700 per year?) There was a learning curve, it change big time compared to the LA2 version we had used. After the initial 6 months of free upgrades and phone support we just stayed with what we had and declined the 'user fees'. We are very comfortable with it after all this time and I cant remember the last time we had to call for tech support (because we are not on the $700 per year plan we do pay per minute i think if we need to call for tech support, or it might be per block of 10 minutes, i'm really not sure)

I do have a ton of dislikes...ie I just called about a week ago to renew all accounts, they give you a special multi digit pass code to do this, this call is free. Problem was I had to wait for 65 minutes for them to get back to me. I didnt dare leave the room in fear of missing the call and being put back at the end of their calling list. Really had to take a wizz too!

Their post cards suck, period.
Though they led us to believe we would get postcard rates from the post office that aint true. Because the postcards fold it requires full postage rate of .41cents (thats not a real big deal...though the postcard rate would save us lots of $$$ per year) The cards are so flimsy...we did a mailing earlier in the fall for aerations, one third of the cards were distroyed because they fall apart as the post office readys them for mailing. We have lots of blank postcards that we stopped using...i couldnt remember why...now i do!

we order envelopes....funny how software companies forms are not universal as in we need special envelopes, get many cases of 500 per case. We had two cases of envelopes that were totally sealed when we got them...call them to complain and they tell me I need a dehumidifier in the office...NO, they came to me that way!

Ordered signs from them...they must have packaged them right off the press...they were ALL stuck together so that when you pulled them apart the print got all messed up. They ended up in the dumpster, useless to us!

The few times we did need tech support, going back some years now possibly they have changed, but i doubt it after the wait for the pass code to renew accounts the other week, anyway we'd have to wait a l o n g time for them to respond and when i'd give them a little lip for the long wait they would say that they are very busy....time to hire more techs ya think, duh.

Anyway, to make a long post a bit shorter...shop around. Knowing what I know now I dont think we would go with realgreen. Maybe check out Practical Solutions?

[Runner]

Man, THANK you for the heads up on this....this a is surely not thge first time I've heard about the wait on tech support. I sure don't like the special envelope bo-jazz, either. I mean, who else does proprietary ENVELOPES! Maybe Qxpress is another option.

[fastpitcher]

We use Qxpress and the mapping module. It is more then worth the money!!!

[ampeg76]

i guess i misunderstood the question, i thought it was about pesticide usage and record keeping!



i just use quickbooks simple start since i'm solo


for scheduling i just have a filing cabinet set up with 52 folders, i place their next treatment in the appropriate folder, never any problems

[rcreech]

The problem with Realgreen, is that they want somewhere between 3000 and 5000 dollars for the software program. That is BEFORE their monthly fee.

I looked into Real Green and there are a lot of hidden costs!

That is why I like Groundskeeper. It is a one time fee of $300. No hidden costs and does a good job!

I route by using an excel spreadsheet and it works great. I can sort by address, route #, last app..and many other ways.

It is very simple!

If you are interested in seeing what I do send me a PM.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

I just tell my customers to call me when they're ready for another treatment.

And records? Who on earth keeps records? Waaaaay too much effort...

[Green Dreams]

I just tell my customers to call me when they're ready for another treatment.

And records? Who on earth keeps records? Waaaaay too much effort...

Uh...I do...its the law here.

Thanks for that post KLR. I too considered Real Green but was very, very turned off by their attitudes and wanting $3k+ when I didn't even have a customer. My old employer used real green and the complints I heard here sound familiar.

They even sent a cease and desist letter to a fine member of this board whose criticism didn't sting like yours did. He was also a client!

Look for that certified letter soon, KLR.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Uh...I do...its the law here.

Dude... kidding... yikes!

[ant]

http://www.billmastersoftware.com/index.html

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

http://www.billmastersoftware.com/index.html

Took a look at this website. Found very little useful detail...

What are the pros and cons of this software, and what others have you tried?

Thanks.