Database/business software...

I would like to find out what makes a good database/business software,and how much should one pay.
It would have to do customer details,quotations,invoices,purchase orders,inform me at what stage the job is at from job issued to awaiting payment,job sheets,profit/ loss,merchants details,access based,front end and back end,and no anual payments of any kind.

Re : Database/business software

Try Desk Quote Professional
http://www.deskquote.co.uk

It works for us.

Re : Database/business software

Our Amphis Customer CRM does most of the above except for the profit and loss, though you can export customers and transactions in Sage format for your accountant to take care of.

it's always important to check the total cost of ownership of CRM software, many require monthly payments and support and upgrades cost extra. Amphis Customer costs £99 for a single user (£199 for 5 users) and that is all you pay - there are no monthly or yearly fees, no charge for support or upgrades.

You can download a free trial from http://www.amphis-software.com

Re : Database/business software

Wow, I've not seen Desk Quote before! I think I'll give it a try. Does anyone else have any personal testimonials for them?

Re : Database/business software

Frankly I think Sage accounts (or TAS or Quickbooks) would do just about everything you need bar the actual quotes.

You are going to need an accounting system anyway so why not start with that and see if you need more?

My advice on "a good database/ business software"?

Don't buy the functionality alone and beware of online recommendations in forums. What is mentioned may do what you want but is it reliable? What about support? What about upgrades? Will it expand with your business? Is it web-based? What about extra modules? How will it integrate with my accounting system? Will it go mobile?

So what to do? Speak to someone who has a similar business to yourself and see what worked and what didn't work for them. Ask your accountant (often a great source of software advice).

Certainly don't speak only to the sales people from the software firms.

There are so many pieces of software out there that on the surface do what you want (how do you think you got two instant recommendations?) that you could end up buying a piece of junk - no offence to my fellow posters whose software is doubtless fantastic.

I do actually work for a software company that does CRM products and have worked in this area for 15 years. Honestly though, I really couldn't recommend you invested in software with us unless you know a lot more about what you want and what your real requirements are.

Good luck in your search.
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Tony Johnston http://delivermyhr.com Deliver My HR

Re : Database/business software

You need to understand the difference between a database and an accounting system. There need be no connection at all between the two! A database simply stores data in a table or tables - that may or may not be to do with accounts!

Re : Database/business software

You explain this really well.
Database is a collection of related data.....
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http://www.alexbaxter.co.uk/

Re : Database/business software

Thanks

As a general point about software: a lot of software programs are more powerful than people realise, so most things that people need to do are offered by even basic software.

Help files are there to be read, but now that everything is digital and manuals are online not in physical print most people don't bother reading them and therefore find out how to make the most of the programs they have.

As a final point there are open source (= free) alternatives to most paid-for software these days and for most generalist purposes these are just as good.