I am looking for a software package for a client of mine who is an Interior Designer/Contractor. She needs a program that will:

1. Maintain a database of all of her customer/client/vendor data (address, phone, fax, email, etc)
2. Track invoices/payments
3. Track contracts
4. Track change orders (to the contract)

I suggested Quickbooks Customer Manager to her, but she doesn't feel that that particular program would work for her as she hasn't had good experiences using Quickbooks. Any suggestions/recommendations that anyone has would be helpful.

Thank You!
Amy B. Emerick
Access Office Services

Well, I was using Relenta, but I'm not happy with them lately. Their email service is too slow - sometimes taking 30 minutes for messages to show up - so I'm switching to Outlook Business Manager and potentially to MS accounting as well.

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Amanda Moore
Virtual Assistant
VagabondetteVA Blog

QB Customer Manager should handle everything she needs. In my experience if you haven't had good experience with it, it is because you don't know how to use it.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

I agree with Rebecka that QB is good for the applications you listed. Maybe your client should hire a VA who knows QB so she can focus on her designing!

Let me throw my 2 cents in. I work with 2 designers and use QB Customer Manager for both. The CM is very customizable - adding fields, creating different lists, etc. You can link to Quickbooks so at a glance know outstanding balances, track orders etc.

You can create letters/envelopes and this is tracked in the CM so you can print out a list of clients whom you sent letters to. It is a very functional program.

Just my 2 cents.

Thank you for your responses! Since I originally posted this thread, my client is now on board with using Customer Manager.

Would you use Quickbooks Premier or Pro to link up with Customer Manager?

Thanks!
Amy B. Emerick
Access Office Services