On-Site Welding Billing/Invoicing Computer Advise.

[Acetylene]

I am just about ready to start taking on work for "On-Site Welding Services".

From past experience, I know organization is a must. Having all customers, material lists and payment info, together and correct is huge.

The nature of an "On-Site" service puts me out in the field much of the time and my truck becomes the main office.

I am thinking an iPad and portable printer will aid tremendously in account management and billing. It would also make the ordering and use of materials much easier. Through the iPad's ability to use a plug in credit card reader, payment and invoicing could be all done within minutes.

I am curious if any of you do this sort of thing?

What have you found to be the most convienient way to track the customers past activity, material use, outstanding accounts, etc...?

Would a laptop be better suited to this type of thing? The iPad allows Internet access anywhere which will come in handy for any design questions, settings, ideas and such.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[Asolis]

I am just about ready to start taking on work for "On-Site Welding Services".

From past experience, I know organization is a must. Having all customers, material lists and payment info, together and correct is huge.

The nature of an "On-Site" service puts me out in the field much of the time and my truck becomes the main office.

I am thinking an iPad and portable printer will aid tremendously in account management and billing. It would also make the ordering and use of materials much easier. Through the iPad's ability to use a plug in credit card reader, payment and invoicing could be all done within minutes.

I am curious if any of you do this sort of thing?

What have you found to be the most convienient way to track the customers past activity, material use, outstanding accounts, etc...?

Would a laptop be better suited to this type of thing? The iPad allows Internet access anywhere which will come in handy for any design questions, settings, ideas and such.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I myself have better use of a laptop just because I would never buy an ipad since my last iphone 3g (sorry apple, I dig android). I use quickbooks for invoices, I don't if it's available for ipad. I also use square reader for credit cards. Other programs I use microsoft excel, word, outlook, and occasionally Auto cad which is not necessary but I do a lot of custom stuff and it comes in handy. Hope this helps.

[weldbay]

You know what it looks like your puttinjg the cart before the horse, outfit your service veh to handle the jobs you might get, have a good watch and log your work. At your office log the info and track it with excel. Buy everything now and hope you make enoght to pay for it.

[rabidchimp]

I have no experience with the i-pad, as I've mainly used Windows stuff. Quickbooks is a good program, but as Asolis said, not sure if it can be run on the Apple platform. Sure, there are other programs out there, but Quickbooks will track everything you're after, and more. You can e-mail purchase orders, invoices, run reports, etc. Save you the hassle of hauling a printer around too. For billing purposes, you can run credit cards, etc via Quickbooks, and also sign up for their ACH (bank to bank funds transfer) with Quickbooks (made by Intuit) as well. The program also has a function to log time spent on jobs.
-Aaron

[RaptorDuner]

Most cellular providers have cellular modems available for the laptop. I think for business, I would go for the laptop. Nothing against the Apple products, I have an iPhone 4s and an iPad, but I don't like having the keyboard on the screen for the application stated.

[TozziWelding]

I still keep a pad of 2 part invoices in the truck for new customers, everyone else gets a bill mailed to them after I get home. I do take credit cards through my phone if the customer wants to pay then and there. I also take cash, guns, gold, or anything else of value.

[Dualie]

for on the spot invoices i still use carbon tags. Cheep reliable, and effective. Never needs batteries, dont care if they are dropped and very rugged for the Mobil environment

[Randall_H]

What about getting payed on the spot??????

I have a friend using this thing called Square-up

https://squareup.com

money is in the account next business day

[Asolis]

What about getting payed on the spot??????

I have a friend using this thing called Square-up

https://squareup.com

money is in the account next business day

That's what I use, I've had no problems what so ever. It's a big benefit for me since my bank is about 15 miles away from our shop.

[Acetylene]

You know what it looks like your puttinjg the cart before the horse, outfit your service veh to handle the jobs you might get, have a good watch and log your work.

Please dont take this the wrong way but I'm not a 17 year old kid borrowing my dads buzzbox to fix a neighbors mower deck. I have owned and operated a heavy truck and equipment repair business for years. I'm just branching out into other areas.

Why some guys feel the need to completely ignore the question asked, immediately assume whoever they are responding to is completely unprepared and then offer some useless comment which is almost always dead wrong or 180 degrees out from reality. Do you honestly believe I would buy an iPad or laptop or whatever, for a mobile service, before having the equipment to do mobile welding service in the first place?

I may be over reacting but I see this type of "I'm so damn smart" crap all over this forum. Annoying as hell. But thanks anyway.

[Gamble]

What about getting payed on the spot??????

I have a friend using this thing called Square-up

https://squareup.com

money is in the account next business day

I have this too. Although I haven't used it yet.

[Machine_Punk]

As much as I like the thought of a iPad, it doesn't seem to do business stuff very well. The last time I checked, it didn't even work with the standard MS Office applications. I think I'd go with a regular laptop in the truck and add a cellular modem onto your cell phone account. The average laptop is relatively inexpensive now ($400) and you have the keyboard and true 'multitasking/multi-window' capability.

I've seen folks use the card reader for their remote business and seems to work well. Perhaps the bank where you have your business account has some ideas or preferences for remote bill pay.