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i am currently wanting to change the estimation program that we are currently using. i am unhappy with it and we just told that it is a discontinued product and nothing more will be done to improve and that they probably will not promote it any more. i have so many complaints i can not list them all but the biggest is that i will not work with Quick books.
If you are using a estimation software i would like to know about it. i have used Estimate and have graduated out of it. it will need to track production, inventory, marketing, and sync with quick books, and make consistent estimates across multiple users with a wide range of products including custom carving and silkscreen printing.
Lovelady
[ June 06, 2011, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: Chris Lovelady ]
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
posted
i have had an inconsistency with multiple users and estimating the same job twice never coming out the same..part of that is with the sliders i think...that is why i went to an other estimating software...i also need to track the WIP(work in progress) as well as marketing tools to track when you speak to a customer and scheduling the next call...you know marketing.
lovelady
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
come on folks are you guessing at your pricing, are you just doing time and materials, are you basing your pricing from markets out of your area market(like standard price books).Do you just guess at it or price your work on what your neighbor is pricing his/her work.
how do you deal with your customer base. are your customers called on a schedule time like every 3 months after the job is done? how do you deal with leads and exploring new target markets, how do you track your profitable items and items that you should not pursue(like magnetics)?
Lovelady
[ June 07, 2011, 08:53 AM: Message edited by: Chris Lovelady ]
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
I'm still using old (1.99) Estimate and, when linked with Quick Books, it does almost all of what you need. Granted, it's a lot easier to control when you're a one man shop though
When I worked for a franchise many years ago, believe I worked with Activity P.O.S. (it might have been Cyrious) which, although slightly flawed, was a very good program that pretty much did everything you need.
A lot of programs have come on the market since I initially looked into estimating programs. So, something better may have come along since then. However, I would likely stick with Estimate for convenience and support should I decide to upgrade.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Cyrious? Yikes! I don't blame you. I think there was a series on shop management software in one of the trade magazines. I'll see if I can dig it up. I think software companies offered a free demo.
posted
Chris, We are in the process of developing our own software using Excel. I use EstiMate often and like the program but we can make more specific forms in Excel. The sign industry is so diverse that it's hard to find one program that covers all types of sign companies. In addition to estimates you can also create charts to track job progress in Excel. It's helping with efficiency but it's very crude right at the moment as we are learning as we go. We haven't yet found the right sales program yet. Have checked out several, but we will probably create our own.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1266 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Jean, My former employer took the route you're embarking on and and, I'll warn you now, it can be a lot more than what you bargained for.
Should you're choose to continue down this route, I would suggest learning and use Microsoft Access or similar database program. It will allow you to do much more than what can be achieved with spreadsheets.
Chris, I believe the article Glenn mentioned was run in the last few months in either Sign & Digital Graphics or Signs of the Times. I'll see if I can find it too.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Jean, If I remember correctly, the "GraphixCALC" Bruce B mentioned above is an access based program that grew from a spreadsheet. And, from what little I recall of it, it's a pretty good program for a relatively low price.
As with all estimating/pricing software, it takes a fair amount time to configure it to fit your needs. It took me about 40 hours to get EstiMate and Quickbooks working together to the point where I am comfortable with the pricing and I can track just about everything I need to know about the business. IMHO, without this step, you're just throwing money away.
And I apologize Chris, I must have already recycled that issue of the magazine that had the estimating software comparisons.
Cheers,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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