Online billing/invoicing system required for small business (Help needed)

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Zeemels

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I’m wondering if someone here can help us out:

It was recommended to us that our small business look at an online billing/invoicing system.

We looked at several local and international online billing/invoicing systems: Ballpark, Cannybill, Winkbill, Bamboo invoice, Zoho, Easybill and Blinksale to name a few. And have shortlisted the following: Freshbooks (I rather like the idea of getting fresh with my books), SnapBill, EasyInvoice (both SnapBill and EasyInvoice seem to be aimed at the South African consumer), Curdbee (although the name is slightly off-putting) and Sage's Billing Boss... On a lighter note, we also had the misfortune of coming across 'Billy' the billing engine, but decided to give it a miss for obvious reasons.

We require a comprehensive online billing system that allows us to send and track invoices/quotes, manage clients, automates our recurring billing and it would be ideal to be able to bill credit cards and setup debit orders from within this system.

We feel that a locally developed billing system may cater more effectively for our needs, but cannot ignore the gargantuan reach of Freshbooks and similar internationally developed systems.

Do any of you have experience with the systems I am looking at? Can you recommend any of these based on our needs, or does anyone have any other suggestions?
 
@moklet thanks for the link. I will review the systems listed there. What has your experience with Billing boss been like?

@czc Bamboo invoice looks good, but we are looking for a hosted billing solution.

@SoftDux I run a small adventure travel booking agency - I'm not sure if WHMCS work for us?
 
Bamboo is really simple, and a cinch to configure on your webserver using your current webhost - I assume you have a web site. So it is a hosted solution. :)
 
@dshutts :) yes, that is true, but wouldn't we then have to worry about the security of our clients information, as apposed to a 'ready-hosted' solution where security is taken care of?
 
Dont waste your time. Just spend a grand and get Pastel Express. EDIT: You need a minimum of Pastel Partner - see highlighted quote in bold below.

I used Bamboo Invoice for PC Direct right in the beginning and ya it worked but it's not the best.

I've tried almost every opensource alternative there is but if you are REALLY serious about your business you will should spend and invest in it, and that's where pastel comes in..

Pastels not online, but do you 'really' need it to be online. Your business can't run without an internet connection anyway. You still need to email the invoices? So you can create the invoices on a PC, and email them when online, same thing as generating them online... still get's sent electronically...

EDIT 2: If you REAALLLLY want to be online, rent a hosted Windows server (dedicated) and run a 'pastel server' with remote printing.. that's as 'online' as you will get and still be FULLY comprehensive.

My advice, go pastel - you'll be thankful in the end.


You say comprehensive? The needs you stated below will NOT be serviced by any online system.

We require a comprehensive online billing system that allows us to send and track invoices/quotes, manage clients, automates our recurring billing and it would be ideal to be able to bill credit cards and setup debit orders from within this system.

2c's - over and out.
 
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I use Pastel MyBusiness Online.

I used to use CRMTiger, but recently moved over to Pastel MyBusiness Online (similar interface to CRMTiger), because it has the account foundation and is tax functionality that is specific to SA.

Cost : about R1500pa

PS: The advantage of the online version is that you don't need to purchase upgrades and your data is backed up (I'm not 100% sure of the backup policy & strategy)
 
@PC Direct Pastel was the obvious first choice and recommendation most people had given. I have had experience with it but found it to be a bit too much of an accounting system. The ideal solution would be a system which takes care of our billing requirements yet automatically tracks the accounting side of things. For the beginner Pastel was a bit intimidating.

@Oreomitch thanks for the tip. I will certainly take a look at MyBusiness Online. Yes the upgrades were a concern as were the backups and security of the data.
 
You mean complete feature that take care all the invoice and billing in our online business? I heard of joomla billing system. I do not have yet by my friend have it already.
 
We also went through this whole exercise and in the end we settled for Pastel Partner.
 
Hi Zeemels,

You mentioned something local? Have you considered ping accounts? Pretty clean & simple. Im sure i've seen accept credit cards somwhere in there...

www.pingaccounts.co.za
 
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