Invoice / accounting software

colinl

Hi All,
A mechanic friend of mine has asked if I can make a software package for him to do his invoicing and accounts. It seems that there is no simple, cheap software for small garages in Ireland (there are some UK companies which say their software will work with Irish VAT rates, etc).

I am wondering if this is something others would be interested in too.

If you have used software before can you let me know your experience with it (what parts of it did you like, what didn't you like, was it worth the money).

Or if you haven't used any software, what (if anything) would make you consider using it?

By getting your feedback I might be able to make a product which fits a lot of people's needs.

Cheers,
Colin.

Slidey

The garage I work in uses a program called autoview.

It is pretty cumbersome and is controlled entirely by keyboard

GTE

I hear Sage and Tasbooks talked about a lot.

Jim from Cork

A subject dear to my heart
There are some UK based DMS’s but most are over complicated, using too many std repair codes etc. A little too elaborate for what the small garage needs here. There are a couple of “in between” Irish systems around too.
A good job card, good time management and analysis, a degree of menu pricing, simple invoicing, good history. I suppose most would want elementary stock control as well.
Many systems interface with the likes of Line 50 – that takes care of the accounts and stock control and the workshop module is all that is developed.
Hard to “be all to everybody” but I think it could be a worthwhile venture.

ZANKOU

Sounds like jim from cork has it all there. If you could have a stock history ledger that could be very handy too.

Hellrazer

Theres a great piece of software that I set up for my dad a while back for running his workshop.
Its called FF billing pro.
Basically it does everything--Invoicing,inventory management,accounts.Its a US company and the licence was only 120 dollars for lifetime use.

Download a demo of it and see what you think.
It does exactly what Jim is suggesting.

I found it by fluke one night,downloaded a demo,set up a test company in it and showed my dad how to use it.He tested it for a week,we signed up for the whole package and hes still using it 2 years on.

It doesnt do printed jobcards(he uses hand written ones anyway) but the way we set it up was that basically we setup a part number as your labour rate ie Lab1 is an hour at say 60 euros.We also did a full stock check and put every part on the system with its own part number.It also works with Irish VAT and can be changed every time the vat changes.

Also if you do decide to try it you will need an external drive/usb key to back up everything each night but its all automatic.

The support team are great aswell but Ive only had to call them twice in the 2 years hes been using it and that was only because the licence was giving me an error.

Hope this helps,
Richie.

Jim from Cork

Yes, many garages are using Sage, Tas and others including the one Richie is using.
The problem here is these are invoicing/inventory control systems and to get them to work is a matter of fooling the system (as Richie did with using a part number as labour). Fine in theory but not ideal as it does not address the "service history/Vehicle details" nor the "Labour Control" issues (both important for any workshop!). There are obviously work arounds for these problems, normally outside the software.
A relativley inexpensive DMS could be a seller.

Slidey

Autoview has the vehicle history/service options as well as stock control and employee clock in/out and on/off jobs as well

Jim from Cork

Slidey wrote: »

Autoview has the vehicle history/service options as well as stock control and employee clock in/out and on/off jobs as well

Yes It does. However it come at a price that is too much for the "small" garage. It is also quite old in terms of software and usability is not great.

Slidey

Well I can't comment on price as I am not privey to such vulgarities!!

It is quite cumbersome also.

If the OP does come up with something a little more suitable let us know and I'll pass on the info

Jim from Cork

Well I can't comment on price as I am not privey to such vulgarities!!

It is quite cumbersome also

I suppose it does the biz for many in a quirky, old sort of way!

Hellrazer

Jim from Cork wrote: »

However it come at a price that is too much for the "small" garage.

I think autoview is around 20-30k for the package and then a few grand a year for updates.

Kerridge starts at 30k upwards + your updates per annum.

Avonbrook is a new one on the block which I think starts at 20k but honestly I cant stand it--its even more quirky than autoview.

All these are way too expensive for the small garage.

Slidey

Hellrazer wrote: »

I think autoview is around 20-30k for the package and then a few grand a year for updates.

:eek:

Buford T Justice

for bookeeping, TAS to a free one for small businesses (because they were one once too apparently) its called TAS Basics and you can download it from their website here

Worth a shot

Plug

I came back to the garage after 10 weeks and found they had ditched paper check sheets in favour of these little HP pad things. Auto VHC, anyone use them?

Hellrazer

Plug wrote: »

I came back to the garage after 10 weeks and found they had ditched paper check sheets in favour of these little HP pad things. Auto VHC, anyone use them?

Yeah--we`re getting them in the next few weeks.
Mechanics and breakable gadgets dont mix.Can see them being driven over,dropped into the toilet,hit with various tools when they dont work etc etc.

Going to be fun!!

Slidey

I was just thinking that. Attrition rate could be high!

Plug

I asked them today and they said they were 3 grand a peice:eek:
Bic pen and some paper check sheets, a few quid.

Some lad came to the garage giving the mechanics a course on them(I wasen't there) and one of the lads managed to break it, how? He didn't drop it or roll over it, he confused the computer, the man managed to confuse fcuking the thing:D

Hellrazer

Plug wrote: »

the man managed to confuse fcuking the thing:D

Typical mechanics they can confuse anything!!!!