Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: firefly123 on April 07, 2009, 08:11:20 pm
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trying to load george seems to me easier with two diaries and a simple invoice what do you think :-X :-X :-X
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trying to load george seems to me easier with two diaries and a simple invoice what do you think :-X :-X :-X
diaries: 1 for you 1 for tax man ;D
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watch out watch out there's a tax man about
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George has got to be the best thing ive bought since going out on my own, come home from work, 5 mins clicking all the work ive done and thats it finished.....
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been using george for 6 years my accountant says it one of the best softwares he seen
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window cleaner pro.
Its very very good
http://www.windowcleanerpro.co.uk/
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HOW MUCH ? :o
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WCP all the way, i use a PDA/phone with mine, all connects wirelessly. Sync my work on the way out, sync it at end of day few clicks, all accounts done in seconds and expenses, whos paid who hasnt how they paid etc etc
WELL worth the money!
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i'm george (not literally obviously), but as it's the start of the tax year you'd think the pro guy would make his pitch as it's a good time to change.
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Other than looking a bit prettier, I don't see any real advantage of WCP over George - George is cheaper, internet backup is cheaper, support is as good if not better, Palms are generally cheaper than Pocket PCs etc etc etc.
I've used George for years and it's great.
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Other than looking a bit prettier, I don't see any real advantage of WCP over George - George is cheaper, internet backup is cheaper, support is as good if not better, Palms are generally cheaper than Pocket PCs etc etc etc.
I've used George for years and it's great.
I think that its a matter of personal preference, both programs cater specifically for window cleaners but I dont see how you can say that the support is as good if not better when you have not requested any support from us. I am reachable personally by phone, email, online via live help, MSN and normally outside business hours and over the weekends.
As for Palms, even Palm themselves have moved over to the windows OS and most new smartphones come with Windows Mobile rather than the Plam OS. Window Cleaner Pro has grown rapidly since its launch in September and we continue to add new features at the request of our customers. There are many new features that are not present in other software that are coming in the pipeline. We are also looking at a new pricing package to make the software available for more people.
As before, we are always open to suggestions on new features and are more than willing to discuss and include them in the software if we think it will benefit others. Software is not for everyone, some users prefer a paper diary but using technology to help automate many of the day to day tasks can allow you to increase your business or simply have more time to yourself.
If anyone has any questions please feel free to get in touch, cheers
Ian
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As for the support side, Ian has been there day in day out for me if i needed it. Even when he's been away on holiday with his family hes managed to get an email back to me.
Ian shows you exaclty what to do and explains it fully. I downloaded george, didnt get on with it and sent them an email asking a question and the reply a few days later was "Go look at the FAQ's on the site" which finshed it for me.
I use WCP every day, changing things here and there, i know exaclty where i am with debts and the rounds etc. It never lets me down.
As far as a program goes George is no where near as advanced as WCP. And as Ian said constant updates and he takes on all suggetions from us and does it quick. I have mentioned a few things and they have been put into prorgam. We all have input.
If they were a similar price i know all of you would go for WCP without a shadow of a doubt, just shows who wants to invest in their business and who doesnt.
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i just make my own spread sheets on the computor its quite easy dont know why people waste money on programs ;D ;D
Same here
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Ian, has the invoice feature I requested last year been added yet?
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Other than looking a bit prettier, I don't see any real advantage of WCP over George - George is cheaper, internet backup is cheaper, support is as good if not better, Palms are generally cheaper than Pocket PCs etc etc etc.
I've used George for years and it's great.
I think that its a matter of personal preference, both programs cater specifically for window cleaners but I dont see how you can say that the support is as good if not better when you have not requested any support from us. I am reachable personally by phone, email, online via live help, MSN and normally outside business hours and over the weekends.
As for Palms, even Palm themselves have moved over to the windows OS and most new smartphones come with Windows Mobile rather than the Plam OS. Window Cleaner Pro has grown rapidly since its launch in September and we continue to add new features at the request of our customers. There are many new features that are not present in other software that are coming in the pipeline. We are also looking at a new pricing package to make the software available for more people.
As before, we are always open to suggestions on new features and are more than willing to discuss and include them in the software if we think it will benefit others. Software is not for everyone, some users prefer a paper diary but using technology to help automate many of the day to day tasks can allow you to increase your business or simply have more time to yourself.
If anyone has any questions please feel free to get in touch, cheers
Ian
Hi Ian
My comments were in no way meant to be a dig at you or your program, and I take on board what you said about your support.
I actually prefer the look of WCP over George and would love to have a Pocket PC (with all it's additional features) with all my work on. However, there is a big difference in price between WCP and George, your internet backup service and George's, a Pocket PC and the Palm I already have which I feel rules out me changing over. Would be interested to see your new pricing package though when it is available - any ideas when this might be?
Hope this clarifies things a bit better.
Thanks.
Matt.
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If they were a similar price i know all of you would go for WCP without a shadow of a doubt, just shows who wants to invest in their business and who doesnt.
Bit of a sweeping statement.
It doesn't really - many of us are investing in new vehicles, poles etc etc and aren't spending money on things which are not broken so don't need fixing at the present time.
What software did you use before WCP came on the scene, LWC? I purchased George years ago so, by your reckoning, if you've only used WCP, then I invested in my business along time before you did - which, of course, is a ridiculous thing to say.
As Ian said earlier, software doesn't suit everyone. WCP, undoubtedly, is very good. However, George is very good too, doing more or less everything most window cleaners need, at a fraction of the cost.
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Nice to have a sensible chat about this.
as i said i am ver happy with george, but i have never looked at pro. One thing does bother about both of them, and that is that i would like a long term commitment from the authors. I don't want to wake up one morning and find one of you has gone back packing.
In principle i'm not averse to using both, niether are big money.What i want is security. The fact that i gave george fifty quid two years ago worries me. Even microsoft stop support at some point.
George lets you account for cash and other payments seperately which is a big plus. You can also print invoices and a variety of reports such as debt lists.What exactly is your list of benefits Ian?
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Nice to have a sensible chat about this.
as i said i am ver happy with george, but i have never looked at pro. One thing does bother about both of them, and that is that i would like a long term commitment from the authors. I don't want to wake up one morning and find one of you has gone back packing.
In principle i'm not averse to using both, niether are big money.What i want is security. The fact that i gave george fifty quid two years ago worries me. Even microsoft stop support at some point.
George lets you account for cash and other payments seperately which is a big plus. You can also print invoices and a variety of reports such as debt lists.What exactly is your list of benefits Ian?
Hi Slumpbuster,
Its difficult to list the features especially as we have been told that we are not allowed to advertise. I am sure other users can give you a list otherwise you can try the software out for yourselves. However I can say that wcp does allow multiple payments methods and also records details against each i.e cheque number. There is also an extensive list of reports and printouts that you can get out of the system.
As with any product you are using in your business longevity is vital, creating cashflow from a product will allow it to continue development and this is what we are trying to do. You wouldn't clean someones house for a one off small fee and continue doing it forever, likewise if they had an extension you would increase your price accordingly.
If you have any specific questions then please feel free to contact me via email, phone or MSN.
Thanks
Ian
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Ian, has the invoice feature I requested last year been added yet?
Emailing and pre raising invoices is something I am looking at after multi job management and a wall planner. I will keep you posted when its done.
Ian
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Would be interested to see your new pricing package though when it is available - any ideas when this might be?
Matt,
I only thought I had to replay as I spend many hours a day at my PC and am available as much as I can be. I really value the showl support side as its something that means a lot to me with the programs I use for my business. Thanks for being open and honest.
Also the new pricing structure went live this evening, we have now changed the cost to £40 for a yearly license which I hope is within many of your budgets. There is still the 45 free trial and hopefully new new pricing should be beneficial to both sides.
Cheers
Ian
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What i don't understand is why you don't ask for our input. No matter how clever you are Ian, two heads are better than one.Bear in mind that i and several others do this for a living.
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What i don't understand is why you don't ask for our input. No matter how clever you are Ian, two heads are better than one.Bear in mind that i and several others do this for a living.
I have asked for input since the beginning of the project and any comments are always welcome. I try to incorporate as many features as I possible at each new uupdate which I try and get a few out each month. If you read most of my posts/replies on here I always welcome feedback? Just take a look at the features that have been included since our release www.windowcleanerpro.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=7a745b2dbb78bb2d8189bfeffa607747 - Most if not all of these have been requested from users.
Thanks
Ian
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What i don't understand is why you don't ask for our input. No matter how clever you are Ian, two heads are better than one.Bear in mind that i and several others do this for a living.
???
He has had input from all of us from the start and acted on alot of it.
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Regarding the £40 a year payment. What arrangement is there for those who have paid the full price at the start? Does their £200 (or whatever it was) still give them usage for life?
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Regarding the £40 a year payment. What arrangement is there for those who have paid the full price at the start? Does their £200 (or whatever it was) still give them usage for life?
Yes those that bought it have full license and wont have to pay any extra.
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What i don't understand is why you don't ask for our input. No matter how clever you are Ian, two heads are better than one.Bear in mind that i and several others do this for a living.
no offense but what are you on? the poor guy has been on here asking for input and making the changes for over a year!
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I have to agree, Ian has given me lots of help with this program. Also he has been adding things us window cleaners have asked for.
I did look at both programs and liked the look of WCP so went with it.
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ive just changed to wcp from george this weekend , when talking with ian 2 weeks ago he implemented a change i asked for and i wasnt even a customer at the time!
bottom line is this program does an awful lot more than george does, and the new features on the way will make life much simpler, he responds quickly to requests and is open to discuss new ideas with all users.
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I have used George for many years and those of you who know me will know I run a reasonably successful business with 3 vans on the road week in week out.
However, as my business grew I found areas with George that we a little restricted and information needed wasn't easily obtainable.
I have tried several others to fine an upgraded version of george and in my own opinion, for what it's worth, WCP is a VERY good tool indeed and can definately help take your business forward. I have been trialing it since Oct last year, and now FULLY fuctional since Jan 01 this year and have to say that WCP is a worthwhile investment. Not only is the software very good, user friendly and very comprehensive, but you also have an extremely helpful support service where any "issues" or "would like to have's" are either dealt with or added within a few days.
As for the cost.........................well, if in your opinion £40 per year is not a valid investment that is also tax deductable?? well, that's your choice????
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I have had quite a few emails and phone calls over the last couple of days regarding the price change of the software. Quite a few users who are in their trial periods have requested that they would rather pay the one off payment for the software than an ongoing yearly fee.
Therefore I have decided to reinstate the previous pricing structure of a one off fee of £179 instead of a yearly license cost.
Thanks to everyone who contacted me about this.
Ian
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Hi,
Off subject abut. Is there any future developments that will enable the use off WCP with Macs / iPhone?
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Hi,
Off subject abut. Is there any future developments that will enable the use off WCP with Macs / iPhone?
There are plans for the software to run on a Mac but no plans at the moment for the iPhone. However as mobile technology is progressing we may decide to support other platforms like the iPhone and the new mobile OS from Google.
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I have used George for many years and those of you who know me will know I run a reasonably successful business with 3 vans on the road week in week out.
However, as my business grew I found areas with George that we a little restricted and information needed wasn't easily obtainable.
I have tried several others to fine an upgraded version of george and in my own opinion, for what it's worth, WCP is a VERY good tool indeed and can definately help take your business forward. I have been trialing it since Oct last year, and now FULLY fuctional since Jan 01 this year and have to say that WCP is a worthwhile investment. Not only is the software very good, user friendly and very comprehensive, but you also have an extremely helpful support service where any "issues" or "would like to have's" are either dealt with or added within a few days.
As for the cost.........................well, if in your opinion £40 per year is not a valid investment that is also tax deductable?? well, that's your choice????
Nice to hear from you trev. Very good post because you carry credibility. But i thought you had a programme called ceo which did far more including route planning?
How easy is it to change over?
Earlier in the thread i was talking about ian asking for input and baffled some because he does. What i meant was his pricing structure.
Added; just read above post, he has listened. I'm not saying do it cheaper, let us run your business, or that you are a numpty. I'm saying if you can pitch a package we are comfortable with as well as yourself then the chances of success are greater.
And the same question again, how do i get all my info onto pro? Is this another service you could offer?
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Earlier in the thread i was talking about ian asking for input and baffled some because he does. What i meant was his pricing structure.
Hi Slumpbuster,
I did ask for opinions on the price and the general feedback that we received plus our own calculations is why the price is set as it is. It was only highlighted further to us that our price was correct before by the amount of emails and phone calls we had when we changed it, asking us to revert back to the one off fee.
Cheers
Ian
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I't the beginning of the tax year, i've already filed online so now is a great time for me to make any changes.
Without you breaking any forum rules about trying to flog stuff how do i get my info from one programme into another?
Can this prog be run on several computers for one licence fee?
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I't the beginning of the tax year, i've already filed online so now is a great time for me to make any changes.
Without you breaking any forum rules about trying to flog stuff how do i get my info from one programme into another?
Can this prog be run on several computers for one licence fee?
Hi slumpbuster,
The software can only be used on one PC however we do sell additional licenses so that you can run it on another PC. However each will have their own data, i.e making changes on one PC will not reflect those changes in the other PC. You would have to back up your database on the one PC and load it into the second.
As for transfering your data, if you send me an email to ian@windowcleanerpro.com I send you some instructions for different formats.
Thanks
Ian
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to be honest i think the price is fine! i would pay a couple of grand if need be for the right solution. What my beef has been with WCP is that basically it is the same as george. there are a few more defining features on WCP over george but the mechanics are really the same so i'm always asking the question what is the real difference between the to?
they schedule - they hold customer records - they do your accounts!
For me my main gripe has been the scheduling side of things and i can't see how anyone that employs or has any real volume of customer can run a tight schedule from a list? you can't see what's coming up so i can only think that you run over schedule when it comes to things like sick days, holidays, etc. He is now implementing these changes which for me is a massive plus as i feel i have been working blind since starting with WCP. Also the multi task for each client. again once implemented it will be a massive plus. I know that will increase my turnover ten fold as i normally forget when having to clean con roofs every 3 months or insides every 3 months etc! I have become a little frustrated in waiting for these changes but i know ian is working on introducing them soon so i applaud him for that ;)
I know where Ian wants to get the programme and i honestly think it will be the nuts when he gets it there.
for me once the programme has more features added like being able to add multi jobs to a client. texting a customer from the programme, being able to work on multi platforms with WCP etc etc. its all what will set the programme apart from george or others that i know of.
Ian may think i'm a bit of an arse as i do give him a bit of stick but i wouldn't blow smoke up someones arse for the sake of it, I speak my mind and say what i see. To me if he wants the programme to be the best then it has to be leaps and bounds in front of the competition. I'm sure it will be there i guess its just a matter of when.
Keep it coming Ian and it will only be a matter of time before it will make george and the others extinct from use. ;)
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Email sent.
If we are talking about perfection, which is a lot for a sub £200 programme, then more on the accounts side and the possiblity of grading customers.
I'm in Egypt from tomorrow, but upon my return i will have to fly.At the mo my approach is that it is all so mind boggling to attack fifteen pages of list from scratch, that i tend to go for the money. If each day i try to earn the max this reduces the list and is not too much strain on my smalll brain.
However, if there was some info on the list, like how often i clean (8-4-6 weeks? are they good payers?do they pull a face and say it may rain) this would also help in setting the criteria.
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okay so i use this laptop for forum and another for work. I don't want the prog stuck on the wrong one, mainly because one is smaller and easier to print from and lug about.
on the site it gives a download thing, but i want the full version, how to achieve this?
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The download on the website is the full version, it just has a 45 day time limit on it. There is nothing stopping you installing the trail on both PC's but if you should purchase a license it will only be valid on one of them.
Thanks
Ian
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I went basic plus 12mths memory. I need the file from you now.
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hi Ian,
it's on my pc and activated with a full code although it says i only have 45days.
I would like to play with it while i'm in egypt and set the expenses up. i think i might be able to set up a suggested expense table that is grouped in the same (similar way) as the online hmrc form for filing returns.This could be usefull for other users, or could form the basis for others to make further improvements to before being suggested as a basic template to set the expenses.
so i'm wating for the file.What else do you have to do on a sunday morning?
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hi Ian,
it's on my pc and activated with a full code although it says i only have 45days.
I would like to play with it while i'm in egypt and set the expenses up. i think i might be able to set up a suggested expense table that is grouped in the same (similar way) as the online hmrc form for filing returns.This could be usefull for other users, or could form the basis for others to make further improvements to before being suggested as a basic template to set the expenses.
so i'm wating for the file.What else do you have to do on a sunday morning?
Hi slumpbuster,
I am not at my PC at the moment so are unable to validate your license and also sort out your data. I will do this for you this evening and send you an email once its all complete.
Thanks
Ian
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Cheers ;D
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I'm pc useless, but i want to be at the front and very much part of this knowledge economy. I think this more than anything defines the changes that have taken place within window cleaning.It's not just changes in technology (wfp), changes in legislation(H&S), changes in marketing, payment methods, the growth in upvc cleaning of frames gutters and cons, the rise in internal cleans because the custy feels more relaxed about the perception of the type of person doing the job, the trend towards longer frequencies.......
Yes, this is what the knowledge economy means for us, and you either use it and ride the tsunami all the way up the beach or you try to swim against it and end up flailing and going under.
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Clive
Nothing much has changed, we have always done frames and insides.
As for the public perception I have never suffered from that.
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Funnily enough i was thinking about your fed pitch/ release. If you haven't grasped what the knowledge based economy means already (and i'm sure you have in your way as per training accreditation etc) then this is it.
Things have changed a very great deal, even three years ago most people didn't have broadband, were very wary about making a payment over the internet if they had, and you very probably spent much more of your time collecting and doing basic admin.
You've got a website- that's changed- people sometimes go there as the first place they look- thats changed.
etc etc
Anyway, if you can do a press release when you join safecontracter, then when i upgrade my IT facilities to the very best and latest available, and can make a wider point about the knowledge based economy and what it means to us, then i think it's almost a public duty on my part. etc
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jokimg and pomposity aside the other day when you and some of the bigger firms were posting about losing work and starting to re target domestic, there is a huge, and i mean huge demand for internal. The reason this is not widely known is they only approach people they trust. When i get my employee i shall do more of this.
the other reason for these posts is to gee ian up with my file.
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What a great bloke ian is. He's just sent me my converted file.I'm off to egypt for two weeks so this will give me something to play with.
Thanks ian.
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What a great bloke ian is. He's just sent me my converted file.I'm off to egypt for two weeks so this will give me something to play with.
Thanks ian.
No problem, please let me know how you get on with the software and enjoy your break.
Ian
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Transferring Data from george to WCP was very easy and Ian will help you through any issues you may have during this process.
Why am I using WCP above any of the others. Well my main reasons are this:
CEO - Very good, extremely thorough but costly £1,500 + yearly service fees - Very similar to WCP but with a few added features that in all honesty were nice to have but not essential daily requirements and hardly used by me.
George - Excellent product for a single or 2 man operation, but in my opinion and experience, I out grew the programme. I had no way to track information with notes as the notes you input were then transferred onto the worklists. Good if is simple info like, gate locked, or cheque in garage but when your calling people to chase debts etc you need to input history. This history doesnt need to be on your worksheets otherwise your worksheet when printed out would be 50 pages long, but it does need to be on your system. I had no way of tracking who has done what job, important when chasing a debt that is 30 days or older. I also had no way of tracking mailshot success, new campaign success, cancellations (reasons why) etc.... I also had no way of "at a glance" work outstanding, I had to scroll through each and every round to see who was in the red, ok if you only have a few rounds but I have over 25 areas...........
So, as I said, I personally felt I had outgrown George.
Window Cleaner Pro - again this is just my opinion.
Ability to hold much more information on customers, not just job references but debt related.
A "To Do List" linking in with your customer, logging calls, letters, chasing debts etc...
Flagging for "Calling ahead and the reason"
Tagging - The ability to track what is happening in your business, sales campaigns, new business, cancellations etc.....
Calendar View "an at a glance view of whats coming up in the next month.
Schedule View "An at a glance view of any work that is outstanding on ANY round"
Detailed reports - Especially tagging Reports. - Why are customers cancelling, exactly how MANY new customers did your last campaign generate, Is your payment methods successful?
Excellent back up and support from Ian and always willing to embrace any ideas/suggestions that may enhance the system further.
These are all areas that when growing a business are essential information and areas that WCP gives you over and above other operating systems.
Like anything, you only invest if you see the benefits, but just one thing to consider............As long as you are making a profit each year then the purchase of an operating software system can be deducted from your tax liability, so in many ways......IT'S FREE!!
All the above is ONLY my opinion for what it's worth?
regards, Trevor
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Free? only free of tax surely? Seems to be a lot of misconceptions of things being free. Some on here think they are getting a free van if they buy through a lease ???
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Free in terms of if you have a tax bill to pay then you are legally able to claim tax relief based on a business purchase. So instead of paying the Tax man x amount of pounds you can offset some of this against business expenses of which a software programme specifically and solely for the purpose of your business is one?
If your unsure, please ask your accountant as they will verify that this is a legal expense for your business.
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does wcp or is there plans for showing overdue debts eg you tell it your round is monthly, 6 weekly or whatever then if you are late it will highlight this does it do the same for the debts eg when you have done the clean the customer then has x amount of days (to whatever you set it at) to pay if payment has not been recieved within time limit it is then highlighted like it would do a overdue job..this would would be great for me you would be able to look at the debts and see straight away who is overdue and needs chasing up.
paul
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Something a lot of potential buyers of these kind of softwares should ask is does it have a yearly fee. If it does not then how long are the updates and support going to last ? Its a bit like asking us to clean a customers windows once for a fee and then afterwards clean monthly free of charge.
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does wcp or is there plans for showing overdue debts eg you tell it your round is monthly, 6 weekly or whatever then if you are late it will highlight this does it do the same for the debts eg when you have done the clean the customer then has x amount of days (to whatever you set it at) to pay if payment has not been recieved within time limit it is then highlighted like it would do a overdue job..this would would be great for me you would be able to look at the debts and see straight away who is overdue and needs chasing up.
paul
It doesn't at present, and I'm not sure if there are any plans to add it. I'm sure Ian will answer at some point!
I think this would be a good feature too, along with being able to print "Polite Reminder" invoices for those that need one.
There are plans to add this kind of feature. It comes up the heading of 'Payments and Penelties' which is a section all be itself. You will be able to set penalties for late payments and also print/send reminders for those with outstanding payments. At the moment I am working on a Wall Planner style view of work, better management of multiple jobs at a single location and SMS integration. Once they are done then I will look into the next set of work including pre-raising invoices.
Thanks
Ian
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Something a lot of potential buyers of these kind of softwares should ask is does it have a yearly fee. If it does not then how long are the updates and support going to last ? Its a bit like asking us to clean a customers windows once for a fee and then afterwards clean monthly free of charge.
Just because you've paid a yearly fee doesn't mean support/updates will go on indefinately.
I bought George 2 years ago for £50, I never expected it to last forever, if support ceased tomorrow I'd have had a good run for my money, incidently, the program doesn't just stop working just because the support stops.
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Something a lot of potential buyers of these kind of softwares should ask is does it have a yearly fee. If it does not then how long are the updates and support going to last ? Its a bit like asking us to clean a customers windows once for a fee and then afterwards clean monthly free of charge.
Hi Steve,
This is why we have created the Gold support package for those companies that require that additional level of support. We will also be making some enterprise features available which may have a small cost assocaiated with them. Hopefully this will help the software to grow and maintain for a long time to come.
Thanks
Ian
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Hi Ian
Well I have a little idea for you, and would like to shire it with you and every one on here.
I have an I phone and would be great if I can use your soft ware on my I phone, in fact Apple has started to encourage anyone in the world that if you have an idea you can download it to their App store and for a small fee to them you can make £££££££££ in your pocket, because you will be able to sell your software in 60 country and growing.
With that sum of money (this time next year you can be a milliner mate) ;) :)
Now that’s an Idea. :)
Regards,
Bosh