What software do you use to run and manage your shop

rcfitz86 · January 7th, 2011, 08:18 AM

EDIT: I decided to edit the thread to make it more a little more comprehensive.

Let's talk about all the little things you do to keep your shop organized and running smoothly.

Things we can share and talk about:

How do your store and categorize films?
How do you store, manage, and catalog screens?
What kind of software do you use and what do you use them for?
How do you keep track of workflow, order specs, customer info?
What shipping carriers do you use?
Do you rebox, using your own custom labeled boxes?
What suppliers do you use for inks, chemicals, and supplies of the like?
How and what forms of payment do you accept?

Above are just some topics to think about. Feel free to open it up with other topics.

iinc · January 7th, 2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcfitz86

EDIT: I decided to edit the thread to make it more a little more comprehensive.

Let's talk about all the little things you do to keep your shop organized and running smoothly.

Things we can share and talk about:

How do your store and categorize films? Jalema Hanging files
How do you store, manage, and catalog screens? Keep Film reclaim and reuse
What kind of software do you use and what do you use them for? Fastmanager
How do you keep track of workflow, order specs, customer info? Fastmanager
What shipping carriers do you use? UPS FEDEX
Do you rebox, using your own custom labeled boxes? Both
What suppliers do you use for inks, chemicals, and supplies of the like? Wilflex
How and what forms of payment do you accept? ALL ANY WHATEVER I CAN GET

Above are just some topics to think about. Feel free to open it up with other topics.

How do your store and categorize films? Jalema Hanging files
How do you store, manage, and catalog screens? Keep Film reclaim and reuse
What kind of software do you use and what do you use them for? Fastmanager
How do you keep track of workflow, order specs, customer info? Fastmanager
What shipping carriers do you use? UPS FEDEX
Do you rebox, using your own custom labeled boxes? Both
What suppliers do you use for inks, chemicals, and supplies of the like? Wilflex
How and what forms of payment do you accept? ALL ANY WHATEVER I CAN GET

rcfitz86 · January 8th, 2011, 08:32 AM

Very cool. I'll have to check out fast manager and the Jalema system. Where do you get your boxes, Uline?

Gorgeous shop, by the way!

iinc · January 8th, 2011, 09:02 AM

Thanks. I buy boxes from a local paper, tape, box supplier, along with all my towels, tape and paper products.

iinc · January 8th, 2011, 10:36 AM

It integrates with Quickbooks. Takes care of all the day to day stuff, but leaves accounting to quickbooks or you can use it without integrating with quickbooks.

I looked everywhere and this is the best option I found and they have excellent service as well. I spent about 6 months trying everything T-quoter, Shopworks, Impress and FastManager seemed to work best for us.

I use the pro version, but all of the options seem to work really well based on what your needs are.

rcfitz86 · January 9th, 2011, 09:49 AM

I've been using freshbooks for estimates and invoicing.

iinc · January 9th, 2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icon_714

I used t-quoter when I first started. The functions were a bit limited and it was always VERY buggy. It also wasn't the most user friendly program. After a colossal failure of the database I decided to switch. We now run fast manager. It's much easier to use and offers a lot more customization and control. I would highly recommend fast manager.

I went throught the T-quoter nightmare as well. Ran my business off one computer for a year and added a second and everything went all to ***L. Installed FastManager on 6 machines and never looked back.

iinc · January 9th, 2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraphicDisorder

Fast Manager looks awesome. I may have to get that to cut down on the time its taking me to get customers quotes. I do it with a excel sheet right now and its a pain.

There low cost version does a great job estimating and invoicing. And the great hting is it's upgradeable and you don't lose any info. The scheduling module is the best i've seen. That was the BIG issue with us. The dry erase board ran out of room a long time ago. Now we use it for the kids to draw on when they are bored at the shop after school.

iinc · January 9th, 2011, 09:56 AM

Pro, but we schedule 2 autos, 2 shifts and we also schedule all aspects of every job. We also have an off site embroider shop that we schedule as well.

rcfitz86 · January 9th, 2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraphicDisorder

Ya we are small timer, so do you think maybe the lite would be powerful enough for us?

Currently we use a digital calender and an excel sheet and its a PAIN.

Take a peek at freshbooks. I'm a small shop too, and I just switched from excel spreadsheets to freshbooks. Pretty cool software. It's online based and I have it hooked up with Google Apps for Business. However, I don't think it integrates with quickbooks and it might be a pain in the *** for your accountant. Fast Manager is definitely a more comprehensive program which you can always grow into.

Here's my referral link https://printproperinc.freshbooks.com/refer/www
I'm not sure what it gets me, as I just signed up yesterday.