VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Bruce · Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 2:28 pm Post subject: Invoicing Software

It's been three years since we asked for experience with billing/invoicing/accounting type programs. Care to share your preferences?

Last time Freshbooks.com got many favorable mentions. Quickbooks.com is still used by many but it's a lot like the Pro Tools of accounting software... huge... more than most of us need to get a simple job done.

I also saw a couple of references to Billbooks.com which is cheaper than the other two with many of the same features.

Zoho looks unwieldy with multiple platforms needed ?

Anyway, what have you got these days and do you like it?

B
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Jack Daniel · Cinquecento Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 577 Location: SoCal

I just started using QB online this year. I actually have someone who helps me with the accounting as I Have Not a Head for Figures. I find it fascinating, from a distance; but the actual slog of entering and reconciling leaves me cold.
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Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

I really like QBO, too. One feature that's extremely helpful is after a bank deposit the program will detect the amount owed and client name on the check then automatically clear the payment in your books.

FinMac · Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:14 am Post subject: Billbooks and Isolta

Have been using Billbooks for years and have liked it very much.

However, they are changing their pricing, and now, instead of purchasing a certain number of invoices, you will be charged a monthly fee of 7.95 per month, which includes unlimited invoices. (As if I needed that feature). This works for 100 clients. If you have more clients you pay more.

My other invoicing program is Isolta, a company from Finland. They do "e-invoicing". So I just send the client an electronic invoice and they pay directly to my bank account Laugh

Their fees are reasonable
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Moe Egan · Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 5:15 am Post subject:

I still vote for Freshbooks. It's pricey compared to others, but for this creative with math anxiety and a hatred of all things numbers- it's worth it for me.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 3:24 pm Post subject:

I just switched from the now very pricey Freshbooks which I have been using since 2013 to Zoho. I am really liking it so far. I am at the $90 a year level since I only imported clients and invoices for 2019. I'm at about 40 clients so far this year and if I go over 50, the price will be a bit more, but not what Freshbooks wants.

I was able to download all of my data from Freshbooks, including details for each line of each invoice.

These line details cannot be imported into Zoho, but since I only imported invoices from 2019, it was't a terrible burden to cut and paste this info into the new invoices that were created.

If I need to go back further than 2019 to see details on what I charged a client for what service, then I have the spreadsheet to search for that.

And it integrates with a ton of payment gateways AND it has the 50 Cent PayPal fee option that the "new" Freshbooks got rid of.

********

Bruce, what do you mean by multiple platforms? I am on Windows 7 and that is all I need.
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 3:57 pm Post subject:

If you want a more functional Zoho it looks like you have to pay additional amounts for accounting, CRM, and other functions beyond invoicing. It looks pricey if you want it all.

B
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:09 pm Post subject:

I'm only using it for Invoicing. Freshbooks doesn't do those other things either.

I tried Zoho for CRM many years ago (free at the time) and it was far too much for my little business. And that was before the software was made more user friendly. The latest CRM I tried was Insightly. That is free. And while it has more than what I need, it seems to work pretty well.
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Lizden · Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:12 am Post subject:

Still using QuickBooks desktop for my business. Love it.
They force you to upgrade every 3 years now for $289 or you'll lose certain functionalities,
but I have been using it since 2005, so I have no intention of switching.
It does what I need and I am comfortable with it.

I also happen to be Treasurer for two 501(c)6 organizations:
For World-Voices Organization we switched to QuickBooks Online 3 years ago,
so that each Treasurer coming it would have access..
It's not as robust as QB Desktop, but it does the job very well.

For CineTech Media Pros we use WaveApps.
It's online as well, and FREE, but is very limited in it's capabilities.
For CineTech it's fine since we're a small Org,
but I would never suggest it for a larger business that does a lot of invoicing and transactions.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:55 am Post subject:

Liz, does Quickbooks have Invoicing? I can't remember! And you must have a brain for accounting!

I tried Quickbooks for a short time and used to use Quicken Home and Business for Invoicing, but it didn't have the features I wanted. I found that you need a different kind of brain for Quickbooks - I needed to have accountant friends undo mistakes when I made them...I much prefer the way Quicken works for keeping my bank accounts in order.

So, now with Zoho for Invoicing (saving a lot of money over Freshbooks), I think I am set.

I certainly fit the saying - there's no math in voiceover!
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Lizden · Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:00 am Post subject:

Hey Connie,

Yes, absolutely, QB does invoicing.
It's one of the reasons I have to upgrade every 3 years:
...they shut the "email invoices to clients" function off if you don't upgrade,
because it's one of the most used functionalities!

Again, I totally get that it's the "ProTools" of accounting software,
but I know it, so I have no desire to learn another program.

I am a Virgo so I'm obsessive about having numbers add up to the penny!
(And yes...I reconcile all my accounts every month) Laugh

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jasbart · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 9:48 am Post subject:

When I was still active I depended on Quicken Home and Business. I believe the last version I used was for 2010. Unfortunately Quicken opted to make it available for Windows only. For years I used Parallels specifically to allow windows to run on my MacBook and short of a looooong boot-up time it worked very well. I finally bought a $100 Acer teeny laptop (windows) specifically to run H&B 2010 only.

I just checked and Quicken still offers H&B for Windows only. And of course they’ve jumped on the subscription bandwagon, $99/year.

It was, and probably still is, a good program for record keeping, taxes and invoicing.

Jim
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craigsvoicetalent · Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 4:13 am Post subject:

Yep. Another vote for QuickBooks Self Employed Online. It is free if you use TurboTax every year and it is where I do most of my invoicing from. You can take pictures of receipts and then QuickBooks will match the entries if you add your business account. I really like the simplicity and ease of use.
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Moe Egan · Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:27 am Post subject:

Figured I'd put this on here, rather than start a new thread.

For anyone interested- Freshbooks is having a huge sale (60% off for six months)...just FYI. https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 10:15 am Post subject:

Guess people are leaving due to the increase in the cost...I did and I am very happy with Zoho Invoicing so far!
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