VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Monk · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:29 am Post subject: Software to keep track..

This is kind of a gear question.

What do people use to keep track of gigs and payments? I understand that production companies don't pay when you're heading out the door.. (well one guy I work with does... but that's not the norm so far)

So what do you use to track payment from clients? Something simple that can handle invoicing as well?
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Quickbooks Pro

Lizden · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:22 am Post subject:

What Eddie said.
QB is great.
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KaraEdwards · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:27 am Post subject:

Quickbooks as well- AND I keep a hand written record in a notebook too.

I know, how 20th century of me...
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David Swinehart · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:25 am Post subject:

I use MacFreelance. It doesn't handle the bank deposits the way QB does, but it does create jobs/invoices, track payments received, and has a nifty little time clock built in that tracks how many hours you've logged for a customer or job. It also sync's to iCal, so scheduling a job or a payment due in MacFreelance automatically pops up on my calendar.

dunno if you're on a Mac, though... Shocked

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Moe Egan · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:48 am Post subject:

Another vote for Quick Books. I'm the Rainman when it comes to invoicing- it helps a LOT.
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TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:02 am Post subject:

I've used Quickbooks in the past, that is a very good application.

I started playing with Microsoft Office Accounting Express. It's free. A bit of a pain to set up initially, but works fine.
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Monk · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:10 am Post subject:

David

I am on a Mac. Quickbooks seems like overkill for keeping track of clients and billing, however I would want to create a database for emails and post card and also track when I contacted someone.

I'll check into MacFreelance, the price is fair, 44 bucks or so verses the Quickbooks which is up around 120.

However, if quickbooks makes it easy come tax time, that would be a tipping point.
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David Swinehart · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:37 am Post subject:

Indeed. If you mix any finances, QB may simplify things greatly and be worth the extra cash. At one point, there was free trial version of MacFreelance floating around, or I could burn a copyfor you to test drive if you want to try it out before spending any cash.
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David Swinehart
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Kinetic Sound Labs

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

QB has tax portability and also communicates with Turbo Tax.

Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

I have an "associate" named Vinnie who takes care of this for me.

Actually, I use the Kara Edwards Composition Book myself. I don't want my computer to know EVERYTHING!
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Monk · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

There's a free trial of Mac Freelance right on their site, so that makes it easy to play with.

Our accountant handles the taxes, I'll ask her what program she uses. If I can make her life easier, that would be great.

(she loves the shoebox full of receipts I hand her...)
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Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me...

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Moe Egan · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject:

I actually keep a paper trail too...AND I have all my contact info in a Rolodex...the old ways are good ways young padawan
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Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

I simply use an Excel spreadsheet. I create my own invoices using Word. Pretty simple. I do have Microsoft Small Business Accounting on my PC but have never tried using it. I'm not clear on what advantage it would give me over my simply system.
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Monk · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject:

OOOOO a Roladex!®

That would fit in nicely with my film noir theme.

It was a dark evening and the rent was past due when she walked into the room with legs that streached up to the penthouse. She wanted me to find out who killed Billy, her brother. I knew who done it, but I knew I could milk the meter for at least a week, so I took the job. Now I have a week to pin the blame on my own dirtywork....

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Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me...

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