Management Software

kimberlyh

I created my own database using Microsoft Access and two $50 Access Manuals (I recommend Access Bible).

With Microsoft Access there is no need to be versed in VB. In fact everything I learned was self taught with no former training.

You can fully customize it to your own business needs. Mine does everything from figuring profit and loss, proposals, inventory, work orders, invoicing... well you name it . Aside form A/P which I use Quickbooks for.

You can create tables for storing information, forms for collecting the data, and reports for using your data.

Originally I had a friend of mine write a simple program using AlphaPro in the early 90's. I fell in love with what he had created for me (cost about 2k ) and was so basic!

So I found Microsoft Office and played around with Access and within a couple of months of laying it all out and a bit of trial and error I finished it and have been using it since 1999.

I did not purchase the developers edition of Access so the program I wrote is not stand alone (meaning I must have Access installed to run it) but since I have no intention of selling it that isn't an issue. If you need the software to be shared amongst users you can go that route and it is capable of being shared on a server.

Can't stress enough how easy this is to do. It's perfect for small to mid-size business'. Microsoft Office is fairly cheap, two manuals @ $50 each, and a little brain power As far as needing to be experienced in this it is not necessary. I have had absolutely no formal training and not to age myself but when I graduated high school word processors were state of the art.

Here are a couple of screenshots from mine. It's not the main menu which also includes A/R, Proposals, Inventory and mailing labels for my Christmas Cards, among other options. Not sure what I was thinking back then with the sun picture . I plan to change that soon