Invoicing software (Mac)

[Charles Papert]

The time has come to replace my uber-long-in-the-tooth invoicing software (a database I built on Filemaker back in '95). I'd like to hear recommendations on modern invoice software for the Mac. will need decent rental inventory function for listing many items with dollar amounts to build quotes and invoices as well as labor billing. Slick tracking of past-due and reminder letters and all that a definite plus. Would be great to build the invoice at home before a job, then make modifications via iPhone app and send while still on set. Talk to me!

[Thomas English]

QuickBooks and even Quickbooks online.

 

Quickbooks is excellent. I went through the now unsupported Microsoft Accounting. Sage is rubbish and you, as a freelancer, probably just don't need that audit trail. Its way way complicated.

 

Quickbooks just works. You can modify invoices at a later date. Its really easy to find invoices when mystery amounts of money hit your account with no "source". With Quickbooks online the whole thing is done in the cloud so you could do it off any computer, ipad, anything you feel the need to do it off.

 

I don't work for quickbooks but if I could get a commission I would.

[Daniel Stilling DFF]

I use solely an iPhone app called "Invoice 2 go" and it works great.

It might not have all the advanced features you are seeking, but having it working in your pocket is great.

After i wrap a job, I go sit in my car and in less than 5 minutes I have emailed an invoice to the client. Worth taking a look...

[Robert Starling SOC]

I'm using QuickBooks online version now which is accessible from any computer. It also has an App for the iPhone that you can invoice with, PDF and send it out. It was pretty cool to invoice a client when he asked while we were standing on the runway shooting the Airforce Thunderbirds

 

Mint.com is another app to look at.

 

Robert

[Jon Beattie]

I'm been using 'Billings' for about 2 years. Its $50- pretty simple to use. It'll track all of your work as well as purchases. Make reports, track payments etc. You can make you own invoice right through it. They also just came out with an iphone app that syncs with 'Billings'. So you can add, change, create and send invoices right from your phone. I've been really happy with the ease of use and all the features they give you for $50-.

 

The reports were perfect for my accountant to sort out my taxes.

 

I've created "custom blueprints" for rental items, expenses and labor and can drop them into a job que and tweak the amounts. So its super fast in putting things together in on shot or as you go.

[Anders Holck Petersen]

Also used billings for a few years, before moving to a real booking system (Easyjob on Win7)

Very happy with the features especially the reminders and mac like interface.

I would have liked an integrated calendar to book appointments and gear, but just used iCal at the time.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I' ve been a beta tester for Quicken and Quickbooks Pro got about 4 years now and seen much improvements... I missed the online version so can't really speak on it. But the key to both is to check weather your bank will direct connect to them. At thus time QBP will not allow you to pay bills from the software. You will have to pay frombuoir banks billpay. Some credit cards do not direct connect either, so you will have to download and import (web connect) for those, bug beard the hell out of manual entry. Make sure you speak with the right department for your account when asking.... I had do many issues with my Wachovia Business account, as it would not play at all with QBP and the past 3 years of all manual entry

[Eric Schmiedl]

I've been quite happy using Freshbooks, a web-based invoicing service. It's got about 90% of what you're looking for, and some neat features like one-click to have the client sent a paper invoice. (no printing/licking stamps/etc) And having invoices & accounting accessible from the web is massively, hugely useful.

[Eric Schmiedl]

Re-reading your post, Freshbooks will do everything you asked for. It does have an inventory function for items, but that function is primarily meant for sales instead of rental -- you'll have to go through and check items back in to the system by hand if you want it to tell you how many of each item you have in stock.

[Joseph Stunzi]

I really can't recommend FreshBooks enough. Being online, it's easily accessible anywhere you are. It has an iPhone app. Web 2.0 architecture. Pretty easy to learn and use. It's not geared around gear rental exactly... but it certainly invoices and bills amazingly. Plus it integrates seamlessly into almost every point-of-sale system

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I just cant seem to get myself to allow for all my personal or business financials to be out on a single (duplicated) web server. I guess thats why I havent tried Intuits online versions of software.

 

But when it comes time for a strong financial software that does a lot more than just invoicing and about 90% of accountants are familiar with.... Quickbooks is it. I only with the Mac version was as robust as the Windows, but if you own a copy of Windoz and dont mind using a mimicked computer such as Parallel

[Markus Kuballa]

I recently started looking into Grand Total and so far it seems to be just what I need. I especially like the fact that it interacts with other programs that let me keep track of my business expenses. It also has an iphone app but i have to admit that the one from billings does a little more.

[Alan Rencher]

The time has come to replace my uber-long-in-the-tooth invoicing software (a database I built on Filemaker back in '95). I'd like to hear recommendations on modern invoice software for the Mac. will need decent rental inventory function for listing many items with dollar amounts to build quotes and invoices as well as labor billing. Slick tracking of past-due and reminder letters and all that a definite plus. Would be great to build the invoice at home before a job, then make modifications via iPhone app and send while still on set. Talk to me!

 

I've been using ExpressInvoice for a while now. It works pretty well for me. Not really robust, but a good light app.

[Eric Schmiedl]

[Freshbooks] integrates seamlessly into almost every point-of-sale system

 

How are you using a point-of-sale system in a Steadicam business?

I'm genuinely curious...

[Robert Starling SOC]

How are you using a point-of-sale system in a Steadicam business?

I'm genuinely curious...

 

He probably means credit card processing system. With Vegas being such a transient town I get quite a few payments via credit card or at least deposits / guarantees. Plus I have a lot of equipment rentals. It's usually easier for a corporation coming to town to pay by CC than get a check issued to a new vendor in short order. I don't have a swiper but I can run a card on my iPhone using a feature called Virtual Terminal in our PayPal Business account.

 

Robert