Management Software

FLRoofPro

Would be curious to hear what software most of you use and like. We are currently looking for a new software package to handle our operational management. Anyone using Dataform, AccuLynx, ServiceCEO or the likes? If so, how has it been working for you?

OUTLAW

The dataform guy is coming to talk to me tomorow. I'll let you what I think about it.

Right now our operations are run on a big dry eraese board.

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http://www.ClarkRoofingAndSiding.com

Grumpy

I'm really interested in your guys opinions because what we are doing is not working. I have been seeking out a digital means of scheduling and tracking crews but nothing of what I have seen has interested me enough to plunk down the big bucks and risk it.

These guys really need to be giving out free trials of their software if they want me to seriously consider a purchase of several thousand dollars.


I'll definetly be watching this thread!

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

OUTLAW

The dataform guy came today. 20 minutes late. His computer was slow downloading the files. Its on-line so you don't have any software. I looked at it for a few minutes and then asked how much. 7K with a 10% discount for NRCA memebers and a 30% discount for GAF Master Elites.

It might would be helpful for a larger company with multiple salesman. I'm 2-3 million ayear with 1 salesman--me. I am doing just fine with Quikbooks, a dry-erase board, and my file cabinet.

When his "demo" was going very slow, I asked how much. When he said 7k, I asked him to leave.

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http://www.ClarkRoofingAndSiding.com

Grumpy

I'm also not interestedin an online version of any software. I dunno it goes back to my history in the internet field and when dot coms where going out of business like wild fire. What happens if you go out of business with all myd ata and my company structure has become dependant on your company? naaaa not for me. Besides for 7k, I should get a multi user copy which is stored on my server and shared amongst various client users, just like our quickbooks multi-user which was only $500.

Sure quickbooks is for accounting, and not so much CRM, but they do have several add ons, none of which really seemed to do exactly what I wanted it to do.


You're doing 3 mil a year by yourself? Are you primarily commercial? If I were doing 1 mil by myself, alot of my problems would go away.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

OUTLAW

Its all residentail. With a very few exceptions. About 50/50 new construction/old work. The new pretty much runs without much management. The builders I work for just fax over POs. I have already bid all the models and options and done the take offs.

The old takes a lot more work, but the margins are much better. We do tear-offs, metal roofs, single-ply, replacement windows, siding and trim, gutters.

Last year was my first year doing old work, sold 1 million. I had a salesman, he sold 150k in 8 months, then I fired him. He always complained about what we charged, said the competition was beating him up bad. I tried to explain that they make less on a job than what he does. Some guys around here will take any job and just add $500 to the direct cost.

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http://www.ClarkRoofingAndSiding.com

Grumpy

Builders can't afford me, and I can't afford to wait 90 days to be paid... so we don't do much new work. I've got a plan to do some new commercial work but I don't know if when it's going to happen.

LOL that salesman sounds like most of the salesman that worked for me.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

OUTLAW

New commercial is very slow to pay. My builders pay schedule is turn in on the 1st and paid on the 10th. I've got net 60 with my supplier, so it ain't so bad. The margins are lower, but there is very little of my time involved. I try to keep my crews busy on the old work and sub out the new. If I need something to fill in for my guys, I put them on the new.

Commercial work has to be bid on every job. It takes alot of effort. The margins used to be pretty good, but atleast in my market, the margins are gone.

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http://www.ClarkRoofingAndSiding.com

FLRoofPro

So far, of all the demos and searching I've done, ServiceCEO seems to offer the most dynamic and flexible system. It has all needed to easily control the flow of business from point of contact to job completion. Truly an impressive product. It is server based vs. web based. Some of the web based services are offering some nice features, but they are more limited and don't seem fully developed. They are younger companies and over time could be a great option for smaller contractors who don't want to invest in a server to manage in-house. My concern is that if one of the online companies fold, all you have is a export of your data and nothing to run it in. I would like to see some staying power for several years before I could trust an online only option. Especially in this economy.

Grumpy

That's exactly what I'm saying. You'd become dependant upon another company for the data management of your own company. Not something I'd want.

Managing a server in hosue is not all that expensive. You don't need a super duper expensive computer to be a server, heck your old desk top stripped down and powered up could suffice in most cases.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing