Book Keeping.

[Michael_Lambert]

Well things are starting to really get off the ground, What i thought was just going to be a weekend warrior thing every now and again is starting to get pretty constant. This was one of my more busier winter seasons i have had and usually i just sit around all winter wishing i could use the camera and this year i was starting to wish i could put it down.

With that my previous way of doing my book keeping is not working out so well. My sales have tripled in the last year and i need to start thinking about something much more professional.

Up until now i have used a series of Excel files

- Excel Order Form
- Excel Invoice

Up until now i would create an order form when the customer had there shoot and they would check off what they want and how much ect.. I would do there shoot create there order and then print off a Invoice deliver it to the customer and stamp a copy of the invoice paid and toss it into my box. Same box i kept my receipts.

I started doing my taxes for this year and is thinking there has to be a easier way.

Problem with doing what i did my order forms have no number on them so its hard to link them to the invoice, i have mucked up and my invoice number never changed automatically so i have allot of duplicate invoices. I have been asked by customers for duplicate invoices but can't find them so i make a new one and then find them later.. lol

So i have been looking into Quickbooks, They make a Canadian version of it which would be nice with our GST and PST crapola.

Just wondering what everyone uses? Is there a easier program out there or something more generated towards photography?

Thanks in advance.

[Eric]

I use Quickbooks Simple Start Free edition for one of my other small businesses (photography is mainly a hobby) and it works really well. But I think once you have over 20 customers you have to upgrade, still not expensive though.

It gives you lots of record options. Profit and Loss statement, expenses, ect.

[Michael_Lambert]

Humm..

Yea i was playing with Quickbooks last night a friend lent me a copy however its got the 30 day restriction to register.. i found that there is alot in there i don't need but did like the way i can setup up customers and do the sales orders, invoices and show them paid out.

I would be looking at a Canadian version which it looks like they have "Easy Start" but does not show a free download like Simple start has.

[sevillafox]

Michael, I've done the same as you except each session has a unique order number. I use this on their portrait contract, order form, and invoice. With the invoice I add the year it was generated. So, if I had session #110 the invoice would be 110-09 etc. It works for now but I too am looking for a better way.

I have heard good things about this though: http://www.tkbusiness.com/blogsite/

[sfaust]

BlinkBid, Fotoquote, and Quickbooks. A perfect combination for my commercial work. Cover everything I need. There is some moving invoice amounts from BlinkBid by hand into QuickBooks, but its not that big of a deal.

[Alleh]

quickbooks

[Canonymous]

Quickbooks plus (QBi), downgraded from pro and it suits me fine.
Highly recommended for a photography business. You can also get the dummies guide which will get you going in no time.

[tim]

www.xero.com - I love it, online accounting software, it's very easy to use, but it's not the cheapest around. Worth the money in my opinion. It's more useful in the countries where they've got all the local taxes and things already built in (NZ, Australia, not sure where else), but it's usable anywhere with the international version.