[formb]

i like the retro way of doing it. I can remember all my work and the prices, at the end of the day i write down each job in the diary and put a "P"  next to it if they have paid. When i come to do that days work the next wonth i take my diary with me, see what houses dont have P next to them so i know who hasnt paid. Its far quicker than messing about with the computer when i get home, and i dont have to worry about loosing my data if my pc breaks down.

 

That must take a minute or 2

[Lee GLS]

not really, i have 6-7 in the same streets, so i onlky have to write down numbers, on the days when im doing the bigger houses, i only have to write down 8 houses, can write half down at lunch the other half when i get home, quicker than turning on the pc, loading the program up ect...

[formb]

not really, i have 6-7 in the same streets, so i onlky have to write down numbers, on the days when im doing the bigger houses, i only have to write down 8 houses, can write half down at lunch the other half when i get home, quicker than turning on the pc, loading the program up ect...

I seriously doubt that.

Each to their own I suppose.

[Paul Coleman]

All the talk of this on here this week I just dont understand???

I run multiple vans,staff,services and a large commercial and residential round all from exel spreadsheets for free.

Its so simple and does everything I need, so I dont see why more people dont do this.

Quite agree Lee.
I'm even more of a tightwad than you because I use MS Works.
Mind you, it cause a problem if my business was large because  spreadsheet linking isn't supported.

[Paul Coleman]

I am a sole trader.
I use one spreadsheet to record the work that I do with my expenditure on another part of the sheet (starting from an EX cell as easy to remember).  The expenditures are listed so that I can apportion some items (e.g. the van is my only vehicle so part private use).
I also have two databases.
On one of them I have my customer records with the date of the last clean (the date of the next clean is calculated into another field by a formula).  This database also shows the prices and who owes money.
I print any lists I need by setting the reports.  The reports part is the real engine room as this is where I set things up to manipulate the data to show me what I want to see  e.g.  who owes money I have it set for <address fields><amount outstanding>
To print a list of work due I have a report called nearlydue. NOW() .  It revolves around a field that I call countdown.  In countdown is a number which is calculated by NOW()-nextvisit.  To produce a list for the next three days the filter is set to only produce a list of records where countdown is >=-3.  For a week it would be >=-7.  It produces lists that are fine for me but would need tidying up if someone else was working from them.  In truth though, I don't really need a list as it's OK in my head mostly.  I just have a quick refresher look to see what's coming up and commit it to memory.
I also have a second database.  This is for invoiced work only where I keep the records for commercial work invoices.  I produce the invoices from a works word processor file by mailmerging from this second database.
It sounds complex but the hardest bit was setting it up in the first place.  Most of it I did myself.  A little bit of it was done with help from the nerdy end of the internet.  That's why I prefer software that is more widely used - because there are more places for support on the odd occasion it may be needed.
 

[dazmond]

i used to think like you lee but trust me!a round software program like george is so much better,easier and a lot more professional mate!try the free download!you wont regret it!


dazmond

[Lee GLS]

Why does it need to look professional? Who gets to see it apart from you? I think that some people think that having a price of software make them feel better than just having a window cleaning business, because that's all it is, window cleaning

[Smudger]

Paul, no offence   but

your post/explaination is the EXACT reason why i use WCPro  

Darran

[dazmond]

lee i meant the printed invoices for commercial custies/finance reports and end of year reports for my accountant.


dazmond

[Paul Coleman]

Paul, no offence   but

your post/explaination is the EXACT reason why i use WCPro  

Darran

None taken   .
I suppose that if you tried to explain the details of cleaning a window to someone who had never done it , it would sound very complicated.  Yet it is pretty simple really - especially when you've been doing it for a while.  The same with software manipulation.
If you were sitting beside me for maybe 15 - 20 minutes and I actually showed you how I do things, you would realise that the way I do things is quite easy.  Trust me.  If it needed a lot of brain power I wouldn't be doing it  

[Smudger]

i think excel is a brilliant bit of s/ware esp used with the other ms stuff,  years ago i had loads of stuff like
this for production and stock control - i could even write formulas ( sorry about spelling )  but just opted for
something that needed no brain power !
best decision as my partner now does all the office stuff and just turning the pc on can be a challenge 
( hope she don't read this thread or i'm a dead man..... )

Darran

[john tomkins]

i like the retro way of doing it. I can remember all my work and the prices, at the end of the day i write down each job in the diary and put a "P"  next to it if they have paid. When i come to do that days work the next wonth i take my diary with me, see what houses dont have P next to them so i know who hasnt paid. Its far quicker than messing about with the computer when i get home, and i dont have to worry about loosing my data if my pc breaks down.

Hey Lee how about is someone nicks ya van with the diary in it, you'd be stuffed then, at least with the PC I got multiple backups

why would i be stuffed?

Errrrmmm, coz you got your diary in it and no back up

[Lee GLS]

i like the retro way of doing it. I can remember all my work and the prices, at the end of the day i write down each job in the diary and put a "P"  next to it if they have paid. When i come to do that days work the next wonth i take my diary with me, see what houses dont have P next to them so i know who hasnt paid. Its far quicker than messing about with the computer when i get home, and i dont have to worry about loosing my data if my pc breaks down.

Hey Lee how about is someone nicks ya van with the diary in it, you'd be stuffed then, at least with the PC I got multiple backups

why would i be stuffed?

Errrrmmm, coz you got your diary in it and no back up

back up for what?

I know all my work and prices, i have a separate book for accounting which i always have up to date, worst case i may forget a couple of people who havent paid me. It hasn't been nicked in seven years, and the van never gets locked at work or at home (tell a lie i lock it when its in a car park when im getting lunch.)

[Clive McDonald]

I'm very impressed with your explanation lee, and you have a brilliantly ordered mind.

My round and business is much smaller than yours.

I use wcpro.

I take four worksheets and clipboards out with me each day.They relate to different areas.I switch and chop.I achieve max earnings every day.I do constantly have to figure routes and make new connections.

[dave0123]

I know all my customers... and i also know all my prices.. i even no about 95% of what people owe me what..

but i carnt keep track when every single customer is coming up to be due.. and what order etc

[Lee GLS]

I know all my customers... and i also know all my prices.. i even no about 95% of what people owe me what..

but i carnt keep track when every single customer is coming up to be due.. and what order etc

We have 4 set weeks and the work never moves from 1week to the next, I think it help though that we have 4different areas where the work is so it's easier to know what houses to do, the work is also done in the same order each time which helps keep track of it

[The Jester of Wibbly]

For me it is about saving time and having a good system in place.  I use george and £50 is a small price to pay for many years of use. 

I have a PDA, so all i do is tick off the jobs i do, tick off when payments made, then at the end of the day plug into my laptop to trasfer data.  At the end of the year, I click on a button than prints off my tax return figures I need. 

It must save me a hours of work a week. 

£50 quid would not take long to earn out there cleaning windows to pay for it, yet creating a complex spreadsheet I am sure would take longer.  (at least for me anyway). So doing the math, it makes sense for me.

[Crystal-clear]

Excel all the way its free and easy ,i wouldnt dare spend £100 or whatever it is on that software  and hopefully as i get more work etc ill still be using my spread sheets

[formb]

Excel all the way its free and easy ,i wouldnt dare spend £100 or whatever it is on that software  and hopefully as i get more work etc ill still be using my spread sheets

Excel free?

Bill must be felling generous these days.

[Lee GLS]

after reading this topic i did download the trial version of george. I have to say i thought it was rubbish, i know there are people on here who love it, but just to get 1 customer on it took me 10 mins, it looks like something that should be running on windows 3.1. if you want to go down the pc route, then just input all your customers on excel an print it off.