Sign Tracker users or other estimating/job scheduling software?

[FatCat]

Anyone here offer up their experience on Sign Tracker?

Been seeing a lot of grumbling about SignVox/ShopVox and I honestly feel that the price point is a little high for my small shop.

Looking at getting a estimating/scheduling/tracking software for our small company. Doesn't need to be anything super complex, in fact, simpler the better, but would be nice to be able to roll quotes over into Quickbooks and set up easy to understand pricing even for someone with little sign making experience. Currently we're using Quickbooks for all our invoicing, Trello is used as a job scheduling board and we sometimes use an old copy of GraphixCALC to quote some jobs, but most times I do it out on paper...

Just trying to find something that works and works well without breaking the bank.

Thanks!

 

[paul luszcz]

You're two thirds of the way there. All you need is a spreadsheet to consistently list and markup your jobs.

We've used Quickbooks since 1993 and wrote a spreadsheet so long ago we had to import it to Excel from Lotus 123. We use Basecamp to manage projects, which is very similar to Trello.

The spreadsheet you're missing is a way to add up all your costs, apply your overhead (based on any method you and your accountant choose; we base it on labor hours) and apply the markup of your choice.

You should know your costs. Include everything that goes into the job, from subcontractors to substrates, graphics, nuts and bolts, etc. Estimate the amount of time it will take to complete the job. Again, include everything, even driving to the sub to pick up goods. This is a grey area that should get better with time. Ideally, you should record your time to compare to, and update future estimates.

The next part is the hardest. How will apply your overhead? Overhead is every indirect cost; rent, trash, telephone, anything you can't directly attribute to a particular job. It's best to work this out with your accountant. Once you determine how to apply it, it's just math and the spreadsheet can handle this for you easily.

Once you have your complete cost, just choose a markup. Some decide what it will take to earn a certain amount, some decide what the market will bear, it's up to you.

We have tried every program out there, including one that cost $6000 and one that was $130/month. We have yet to find one that easily replaces the three programs we use now.

You already have two of them and you need to do the hard part (overhead calculations) to make any software work.

Work with your accountant and write the spreadsheet.

 

[SignVOX]

Check out shopVOX Express!

For all those who want only production management tool, checkout shopVOX Express!

http://www.shopvox.com/pricing/


At $10/user/Month you get a true workflow management system with online proofing, electronic job boards (4 different views) and the best thing you can import estimates/sales orders/invoices from Quick Books (Desktop and Online) or Xero, avoiding to re-enter all the line item details.

Also there is a 15 day no CC free trial, check it out.

This is the best solution for sign companies who want just production management solution integrated to QB/Xero.

Some screenshots of the job boards below:

(Production Control Dash Board)

(click on the images and open in a new tab/window to see larger images)

And list of different views of job boards below
List View

Card View

Calendar View

(Workflow view/ trello kind of view)

Order Board view

View of how QB/Xero transactions come into shopVOX Express from where you can create jobs to manage production

For $10/Month/user (no setup nor contracts) with 15 day trial, you can give it a shot.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us at sales@shopvox.com.