Quickbooks Custom templates

[Top of Ohio Taxidermy]

Hey all,

Looking for some business software help and or recommendations

I am looking into changing my current work order, receipts, bookeeping etc. over from my current format  (which is all based in Microsoft Excel on formats that I created) into something better.
Quickbooks, Studio12 Trophetracker or the likes?

Quickbooks:
Has anyone on here gone as far as creating custom templates that accept all the information we need in our business to take in a new piece of work?
The forms they have included in the software and the amount of customizing I can figure out does not come close to as many variables as we would need to enter all the information.

I have checked into Studio12 software and Trophetracker, but from what I can tell neither of them will allow you to manage the Job numbers in a format that you set up (they are driven by the software) and unless you want to live with a sequential job numbering system from now til the end of time, your stuck.
Also, Studio12 will not even allow me to import my existing Logo or anything. Very generic format for paperwork (IMO)

All that being said:
1) Has anyone made custom templates that fit our business for Quickbooks that would be willing to share or sell them?
2) Does anyone have recommendations on what they have done or what software they use other than those mentioned?
3) If any of the software packages will do what I want, can you clue me in on which one, and what I may have missed .

[Doug Bridges]

I have just switched to using Quickbooks for my shop. I switched from a custom software that I created using a database called Filemaker.

If you look at the data you need to use for a work order, I have found that I can use the 7 custom fields that are available in the customer/job area to populate the DNR requirements for me here in MI. The rest of the information on the customer is consistent with my custom database. The  rest of the information on the work order, change that to Job in QB, I put into the notes section. In my custom solution, I put everything from soup to nuts, but I found that after the grandiose newness wore off, I really only used the important information that I now have in the customer/job section of QB. The key thing is to get your price list into QB. Not hard to do, just takes a little work. I also have created a standard Invoice template that is my customer contract. Again, not a difficult task. I created specific shipper, quote, receipt and invoice templates too.

The fantastic part of using QB's is the financials. Taxes done in minutes. I can track hours and materials on all jobs if I want. Financials in mouse clicks. I think it's the best thing to use for a business.

The cons: you do have to learn to work the system. By that I mean, you need to work through a business flow of invoice, payments, receipts, deposits, reconciliation, etc. I am still tuning in, but I can say it's worth the time. You need to learn a certain level of financials to run a business and this helps.

[Aaron Stehling]

We use Quickbooks for all of our customer invoices, po's etc. I simply used a combo of the standard templates provided with the quickbooks system, and it works out fine. We run a variety of different priced and kinds of orders( retail, wholesale, corporate accounts etc) through the system, and over 1200 pieces every year....and manage three  business check registers through it. I would recommend it.

It is important to talk with a CPA as you set it up. We simply email the file once a month, and all of our taxes and general bookeeping are taken care of.

[Top of Ohio Taxidermy]

Thanks for the info.

I'm going to have to do more digging.

I started out trying to customise an Estimate template.
My thinking was I could use that to enter my information on incoming work.
However, I can only find very limited amounts of fields it will let me turn on or off, and no way to add more?
My current form has about 300 possible entries that cover everything from Species, type of mount, measurements, tag numbers harvest info, form numbers, eye info ear info, habitat etc. etc. etc.  (mostly in drop down menu's that populate the form)

Am I totally missing something, is there a way to tie all this together in there somewhere, or do I have unreasonable expectations?

If it matters I have Quickbooks Pro2009

Seems like you guys are on a level (or 2 or 3 lol) above me

Thanks again,
Bud

[Aaron Stehling]

Thanks for the info.

I'm going to have to do more digging.

I started out trying to customise an Estimate template.
My thinking was I could use that to enter my information on incoming work.
However, I can only find very limited amounts of fields it will let me turn on or off, and no way to add more?
My current form has about 300 possible entries that cover everything from Species, type of mount, measurements, tag numbers harvest info, form numbers, eye info ear info, habitat etc. etc. etc.  (mostly in drop down menu's that populate the form)

Am I totally missing something, is there a way to tie all this together in there somewhere, or do I have unreasonable expectations?

If it matters I have Quickbooks Pro2009

Seems like you guys are on a level (or 2 or 3 lol) above me

Thanks again,
Bud

I would upgrade to 2012.

Just use the invoice template for incoming work. You can input name, address, phone , email. You can also set them up as retail, wholesale, corporate, or otherwise when you enter them in as a client.

As far as species, type of mount, measurements, tag numbers....just enter all of that info on the invoice. You can type on the invoice ( without specified fields) as much as you want. This works great for us, since each order we do is so different.

If you upgrade to 2012, you can scan and attach tags, instructions, and whatever else you want right to the invoice. The files are stored locally on your computer.

[Doug Bridges]

I got to ask Bud. Do you consistently use 300+ fields for your workflow?

That sounds like something I set up in my original database. It was information constipation. I was entering more information that I needed and never used that information.
Let's face it, you need some basics and then the rest is, or should be, financial.

[Top of Ohio Taxidermy]

I could loose a bunch I'm sure.

I guess I really didn't state that correctly, not 300+ fields, more like 30 fields with rough guessing 300 variables (total) inside the drop down boxes within those fields that use drop downs.
Sorry, guess I really had you wondering on that one.  lol........

That would not be including the financials and the contact information of the customer.

Just the stuff I need to actually process the work, and track all the information required by the State.

Maybe it would be easier if I sent you a pdf of one of my printouts so you could see what I currently do, hell maybe I am overkilling this whole process.

Let me know if you want to mess with looking at it, or not.

Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate the help

[Doug Bridges]

Bring it.

From my DROID dammit!

[Doug Bridges]

Bud, check your email.

[West Wild Art]

Doug - do you happened to have a template that you can share with the rest ? thanks

[Doug Bridges]

I have a few templates. But they are set up for my system. What template are you looking for?

From my DROID dammit!

[West Wild Art]

Basic customer invoice you have one to share ., thx

westernwildlifeart@rangeweb.net

[Doug Bridges]

Ill get you one out in the morning once I get back to the shop.

[CHT]

I wou

Ill get you one out in the morning once I get back to the shop.

l'd like to see one also, I was just at best buy looking at quickbooks 2012