[david_claxton]

Hello,

I keep telling myself, get a database, make a database, database, database, database, but just don't know where to start. There are the Lotus' and Access' of this world but they strike me as a touch complex. Has anyone found a robust, easy to use database either free somewhere or that I could purchase to at last get the ball rolling. All that I really want to be able to do is enter addresses, names, contact numbers, date when work took place, what was cleaned, how much I charged and then use this info to merge with a word letter for example so that I keep in contact with my customers. I've got the letter sorted but would much rather use a database than manually enter addresses from my diary.

Would greatly appreciate advice on this.

Thanks,

Dave

[Bryan H]

Dave,

I use an Apple Mac which comes with a professional data-base as standard.  This can be used to produce invoice layouts of any style, also of course as a customer database with mailmerge facilities.

Having said that, I actually use a Mac compatible address book module for virtually all my customer records.  It is much quicker and simpler than a pukka database, & can be programmed easily to produce any combination of address labels or a telephone directory.

This seems a little more difficult with standard micro-soft on a PC and although I have this software, I have never managed to figure out how to do the same things as I can on the Mac.

You may need to purchase a proper data-base, but I'm sure the PC experts amongst us would know.

Bryan

[Dennis]

I use a simple database in Microsoft Word and use the Mail merge facility to personalize customer letters. The hardest bit is putting all the data in but keeping it up to date is easy! 

[martin19842]

hi there,

you can use excel to create a simple database format, and there is the ability to mail merge that to word.

another route would to use one of the ready templates in Access. 

What i would suggest would be to start with excel, becauswe you can bet that in a couple of weeks, you will want to put some more  info on it, with excel that is easily done.

if then in the futurre you wanted to step up to access you can migrate the data fro excel to access.

you are right access is very powerful, and if used properly could do the accounts for you, as in essence an accounts package is a database, its just how that data is used and manipulated by the program.

another direction may be to go down the pc based accounts route, as most accounts packages have the ability to track the info, in reports therefore giving you the info that you want.

regards

martin

[Ray]

We use a program called contact organiser which is easy to use and learn.

Look at this web site   www.pagecommunication.co.uk   

Ray

[Clean 'n' Tidy]

I agree with martin. If you are not computer whizz then excel would be the easiest way or the templates in access. The only problem with acces is that the templates are more suited for americian addresses.

Kim

[rioclean]

Try kazza.com go to software type in access or excel

[Martin Sambrook]

I tried to upload a Customer database that the wife created with Exell but this site wont let me upload exell attachments for some reason, but if you have exell its fairly easy to create your own

Martin

[easi-kleen]

I have got a rotary card index...

Am I a DINOSAUR??

Phil

[GW]

I know that we are not to just us this site to promote our products but, I am a carpet cleaner of 23 years and for the past 8 years I have been developing a software program for my business to use and in so doing I realized how many other service businesses could benefit.

It is not for sale as of yet, because we are looking for about 10 companies willing to test drive it and " kick the tires"  and let us know how it works for them. We have a 90 day free trial at castlebrooksoftware.com that you can download .

So please understand that the software doesn't have the Tutorial at the beginning finished, and reports and scheduling  but it is still a very powerful program if you take the time to " get into it" . Don't be afraid to get lost or to ask questions it's the best way to shorten the learning curve and begin to enjoy this wonderful program !!

If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact me immediately. we want you to succeed at learning this program !!!
www.castlebrooksoftware.com
danmarck82@bis.midco.net

[Nigel_W]

For anybody who uses Quickbooks for their accounts - there is an add on package called Customer Manager which I have been using for 6 months now.

Quickbooks is a fully integrated accounting package that is simple to use. It is one of the worlds most popular small business accounting packages. The Customer Manager software draws customer contact details and transactions from Quickbooks and allows you to use them for other purposes. In Customer Manager each customer record will show full contact details, transaction history, history of appointments, to do's, notes etc. Entering appointments and to do's for a client is very quick. You can then view your diary on screen or look at your to do list which is prioritsed by date due. You can also enter invoices and estimates into Quickbooks through Customer Manager. It is difficult to explain but what it gives you is a very seamless accounting, business management and marketing package. You never need to enter names and addresses more than once. It also integrates with Outlook and Microsoft Word so that you can email and write documents direct from Customer Manager. A record of these documents is then kept on the Clients history.

The "to do" feature is my favourite though. After every job is completed a "to do" is entered for that client. It might say "reminder in 6/12/18 months" in which case they will get a polite reminder card with a hand written note when it is due. Or it might be more specific e.g. call after party in October. What it means to me is that no client will be forgotten or lost without me realising. I run my business with no advertising or sales effort, relying on the return of exisiting clients and recommendation. This has been the best £130 I ever spent. If you are in the market for accounting and marketing software I strongly recommend that you look at it.
I think Quickbooks costs about £200 to £400 and Customer Manager is £130.


Nigel

[GW]

Is Customer Manager a Quickbooks product.??

[GW]

Dave, I have been a carpet cleaner for the past 23 years . In the process of trying to run my business I teamed up with a computer friend and we made a  customer database software
program over an eight year period. We are about to launch the program. It is awesome for running a service business and especially a carpet and upholstery cleaning company.

It has all that you asked for and more . The only thing is we wish to test it for the next few months and are looking for Beta Testers. That basically means we are looking for companies that are willing to give us constant feedback on the software for the privilege of having some input into the final product and also
a substantial discount off the retail price.

If this is of any interest please check out our 90 Day FREE TRIAL at www.castlebrooksoftware.com

any questions: castlebrook@bis.midco.net

Gordie

[GW]

We now have a new installer and many new features, give it another try. We are looking for a few interested companies to give this software a try www.castlebrooksoftware.com

Gordie

[mark dew]

Try kazza.com go to software type in access or excel

make sure you have an up to date antivirus if you download any programs from these file share setups.

[Ian Gourlay]

Gordie, from USA

As you resurrected this thread and have not posted since 2004 you are obviously using this Forum as a Free advertising media, for your product.


I have left the thread in tact for the time being as it might be of interest to others, but any further attempts to promote your product in the carpet Cleaning Section will be deleted.

What would have been nice if you ad assisted Carpet Cleaners with your knowledge of carpet cleaning in the past two years since you last posted.

[scott.]

dave

Try microsoft works database...easy peasy....and you should already have it.

[HolmansUKLTD]

Outlook is the easyist it does all the things you want plus you can mail merge all the names and addresses onto labels for mail shots, its simple and you should allready have it on your PC just go to outlook then contacts and start,.

NICK