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If you are using point of sale software, what do you use and/or recommend? If not, how are you tracking sales, inventory, extra charges, etc? Thanks in advance for any info. DD
------------------ Dan Donnelly www.DonnellyArt.com Atlanta donnelly@bellsouth.net
Posts: 139 | From: Atlanta | Registered: Jan 1999
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QuickBooks Pro is a wonderful program, we use it ourselves, but it is not a point of sale software. Glenn estimates with Esti-Mate and then bills with QuickBooks, I guess, and there is nothing wrong with that approach.
We use a program called Activity POS which was originally created for Fast Signs and which has evolved into something more general in nature. The other option is a program called Cyrious, which I know nothing about other than to say the people who use it like it also.
First question to ask is, do you really need a POS? There are some real advantages to having your databases consolidated in a POS, and estimating and billing out of the same program. There are shops around with five or six computers all linked so muliple transactions can go on at once. If you are running a one or two person show with no plans to get seriously big, you might consider Glenn's approach.
In our case, we have so many jobs going on at one time we would be dead without the POS. It is the only way we can keep track of everything that is going on.
------------------ Victor Georgiou AnchorBlanks.com Jack Wills Clipart CD's & FONTS Designer Sign Blanks
Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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I'll repeat the best advice already here, go with what your shop volume demands. Some shops can keep their books as slips of paper in a shoebox until tax time.
We even have an electric sign company that still uses old paper journals!
One shop I work around uses Quick Books Pro and it works fine.
I've heard about the Activity POS of Microsource, and even got a demo cd of their pos system. Very powerful, but must take 3 weeks to setup, especially the estimating portion.
My current project is working with Signwriter's Publishing Company to turn their pricing guides into spreadsheets that can price signs in seconds, with no setup at all. My hope is that smaller shops will use the spreadsheets for estimating, and use accounting software for bookkeeping.
------------------ Order Signwriter's Pricing Guides and Electronic Books at: www.signwritersusa.com
Posts: 20 | From: Billings, MT USA | Registered: May 2000
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