PCRT

[cyabro]

If you're worried about cost of job tracking software take a look at ServiceM8.
Not specifically for computer repair shops but would still work for you.
That is free for your first twenty jobs per month and then you only pay 50c per job after that.
So you're not busy then your job tracking software doesn't cost you anything.

 

[Mike McCall]

I would honestly cross that bridge when it gets there. If you got a product that you like and has been working for what you need, once you generate the revenue the $49 should be a no brainer. Finding that source of advertising that brings in those clients will help immensely with keeping your profits high and your overhead low.

Going from one CRM to another and having the migrate that data over seems like a royal PITA.

Agreed. If I'm busy and profitable $49mo. is insignificant, except when it could be $16.66mo. the first year, and $10.41mo. after that. It's being busy enough to be at a level requiring I go to a paid account, but not profitable enough to be able to afford it that concerns me. The answer of course is to make more money.

Actually, if I'm going to make a move it should be when I'm small and there's only a little data to move. Waiting until I get busy and then deciding to make such a move would be the real PITA.

 

[Mike McCall]

If you're worried about cost of job tracking software take a look at ServiceM8.
Not specifically for computer repair shops but would still work for you.
That is free for your first twenty jobs per month and then you only pay 50c per job after that.
So you're not busy then your job tracking software doesn't cost you anything.

Thanks, I'll have a look.

 

[glennd]

Thanks, I'll have a look.

I just had a quick look at this one. Tell me what you think.

 

[Bryce W]

would honestly cross that bridge when it gets there. If you got a product that you like and has been working for what you need, once you generate the revenue the $49 should be a no brainer.

His issue is the feast and famine. $45 is nothing when he has tons of work on, but hurts when he doesn't

At my current level I could manage things with some scratch paper and a generic invoice template. As this begins to move forward (and I have to believe it will), being unprepared internally isn't really acceptable either.

You said that issue was that the bleeding doesnt stop with SaaS during downtime, and that you could manage things with some scratch paper. That is two of your own points going against paid CRM. I know that you said that you didnt want to be unprepared when things get busy, but something like RepairShopr takes 30 mins to an hour to setup. Its much better to have to stop for an hour to set it up when needed, rather than bleed $45 every month in case you do need it.

 

[Krynn72]

I haven't looked into how the license works for repairshopr. Can you not drop back down to the free version once you go paid?

 

[drpcfix]

I haven't looked into how the license works for repairshopr. Can you not drop back down to the free version once you go paid?

You can - just email support and it'll be changed in a minute. Not many people do it for some reason, I think I've only seen one request like this.

One trick - once you upgrade, turn on Marketr - it'll get you a couple jobs, use that money to justify leaving it running.. If it can make you money, it's worth it. (we hear all the time that it does work)

 

[Mike McCall]

His issue is the feast and famine. $45 is nothing when he has tons of work on, but hurts when he doesn't

I don't mind paying for a product, and Repairshopr is a great product. I have no problem with the product. The issue is that while using the free version is sufficient for my current volume, there's a threshold where I'm required to move to a paid product. That threshold is 25 tickets/invoices a month. I don't track everything I do for my clients, though most would advise that I do. I do send a handful of recurring invoices out (manually) each month. My concern is once I break that threshold moving to a paid account is required whether I have the business to support it or not. Then, what I pay per year for Repairshopr over a year is substantially more than PCRT. Two issues that I'm looking at.

You said that issue was that the bleeding doesnt stop with SaaS during downtime, and that you could manage things with some scratch paper. That is two of your own points going against paid CRM. I know that you said that you didnt want to be unprepared when things get busy, but something like RepairShopr takes 30 mins to an hour to setup. Its much better to have to stop for an hour to set it up when needed, rather than bleed $45 every month in case you do need it.

I think you misunderstand, or I haven't framed this properly. I have no current plans of moving to a paid account with Repairshopr. At this moment, the free version is fine. The trigger is the threshold of 25 tickets/invoices in a month then requiring a paid account. At that point I will be more entrenched in whatever I'm using simply because I'm busy using it, making a change more difficult. Also, due to circumstances being what they are, the cost difference between Repairshopr and PCRT is substantial to me.

An example to illustrate:

Let's say I have 25 residential clients on my $9.95 plan.

25 x $9.95 = $248.75
Repairshopr <$49> = $199.75
RMM Costs <$125> = $74.75

25 x $9.95 = $248.75
PCRT <$16.66 / $10.41> = $232.09 / $238.34 ($200 1st. yr./12mo. = $16.66 - $125 2nd+ yrs./12mo. = $10.41mo.)
RMM Costs <125> = $107.09 / $113.34

Repairshopr - $588yr.
PCRT - $200 1st. yr. - $125 each subsequent yr. (for updates)

Just an example that obviously doesn't include any other business (or other costs), but it does make the point. I need to be prudent in the costs I can control. With SaaS the bleeding never stops, and the premise supposes that I'll have so much business I won't mind paying more.

I will be getting a few dollars (disability back pay) that I want to use wisely. I'm trying to use a little forethought and planning. There is a cost difference that matters to me and I need to take into account. I have no plans to start paying Repairshopr before I have to, but if it's more prudent for me to use PCRT (or something else) then I should be looking far enough down the road to see that and begin making plans for it.

 

[Bryce W]

I think you are misunderstanding me. In both of my posts here I am arguing against you getting a CRM. It sounds like you arent getting enough work to justify the time/management savings vs cost of the CRM. You said yourself you would be able to manage it all on a scrap piece of paper, so do that. Problem solved.

Again, I know you said "You dont want to be unprepared when things pick up", but it takes less than an hour to setup a CRM if you do get busy. Its hardly getting caught unprepared by not using a CRM currently.

If you do see a nice boom that you think will sustain you ongoing (like a bunch of Managed Service clients) which justifies the ongoing cost of a CRM. Then switch to the CRM. Until then, use the paper.

 

[Mike McCall]

I think you are misunderstanding me. In both of my posts here I am arguing against you getting a CRM. It sounds like you arent getting enough work to justify the time/management savings vs cost of the CRM. You said yourself you would be able to manage it all on a scrap piece of paper, so do that. Problem solved.

Again, I know you said "You dont want to be unprepared when things pick up", but it takes less than an hour to setup a CRM if you do get busy. Its hardly getting caught unprepared by not using a CRM currently.

If you do see a nice boom that you think will sustain you ongoing (like a bunch of Managed Service clients) which justifies the ongoing cost of a CRM. Then switch to the CRM. Until then, use the paper.

I see, and yes I did miss your point. In a strict sense you're absolutely correct. I could manage my client lists, sales, costs, invoices, purchases, etc. manually in a spreadsheet. Perhaps that is precisely what I should do. It seems appropriate to give that due consideration, and I will.

Perhaps I think it helps me look more professional to my customers and helps differentiate me from some guy on CL with a kitchen table and a $20 yard sign. But, if the shoe fits...

 

[acscva]

Sounds like you need to raise your rates!

 

[Mike McCall]

Sounds like you need to raise your rates!

Perhaps, though there was a lengthy discussion here regarding this price. In the end, $9.95 was as considered appropriate by most involved. Most of my clients are under contract at that price, though I do have a couple at higher prices who came on earlier. I spoke with a client just yesterday (who's a long time friend), and she said she thinks she should be paying more and suggested $14.95. I think it's a bad idea on a number of levels to try to raise prices while still under contract - even if it's their idea. I may need to raise my pricing, but I don't think it's my biggest hangup.

Everything I read about this suggests that price isn't really the deciding factor in most cases. It's a more touchy subject in the residential market, but over-all it seems to be about their seeing the need first, and then seeing the value in the product/service, with the "I'm your guy" call to action clinching the deal.

I seem to be stuck rearranging deck chairs instead of either fixing the leaks or getting off the boat.

 

[TenYardFight]

With SaaS the bleeding never stops

With SaaS the infrastructure is managed by someone else and the updates to the software are (should be) continuous.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Mike McCall]

With SaaS the infrastructure is managed by someone else and the updates to the software are (should be) continuous.

That's true, and due to their increased overhead I expect SaaS to cost a bit more. I have no issue with Repairshopr. It's a very good product. It's just that for me, the cost difference matters. It's true that with a self hosted product I have to bear the cost of the hosting, which is why I was looking for feedback on options, but even factoring those costs in PCRT is cheaper for me to run monthly and yearly.

As for whether it makes sense for me to run either product at all in my circumstances, I'm looking hard at that question. I'm not likely to make good use of a traditional CRM at this point. Sales funnels and such just isn't where my head is right now (though I don't dismiss the process), but I don't have a number of leads to keep track of. Both Repairshopr & PCRT offer much more than just that though, and it's those things that hold the real value for me.

@Bryce W made a good point and I need to carefully consider his input, as well as seek out the advice of professionals that can help me work through some things. The best thing I can do right now is admit that I'm overwhelmed, out of sorts, distracted, and in need of help from outside of myself. SSDI offers help for small business people in my circumstances. I have a world of decisions I don't have enough information to make, so my first task is to get that information.

 

[Mike McCall]

Sorry, but as I read about the subject of marketing this struck me as humorous:

"A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below says: "Yes. You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees W. longitude."

"You must be an engineer" says the balloonist.

"I am" replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well" says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but your information is useless, and the fact is I am still lost."

The man below says "You must be in marketing."

"I am" replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well", says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it is all my fault."

Anyway, I got a chuckle from it.

 

[glennd]

Sorry, but as I read about the subject of marketing this struck me as humorous:

"A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below says: "Yes. You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees W. longitude."

"You must be an engineer" says the balloonist.

"I am" replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well" says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but your information is useless, and the fact is I am still lost."

The man below says "You must be in marketing."

"I am" replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well", says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it is all my fault."

Anyway, I got a chuckle from it.

Tha sounds like most discussions i have with the mrs...

 

[PRODIGYTEKS]

It sounds like you are falling in love with the tools, or maybe see setting up the infrastructure as building the business. Both of which are an extremely easy trap to fall into. Set up the tools as needed, but you don't really need a full blown management suite to manage 6 invoices. The CRMs are designed to organize and save time, but if you arent getting the work you dont need to organize it as much or save time. They dont (directly) make money.

You are still looking for an offer that converts and nothing else really matters until you find that.



I can see that you have been trying, but you need to still keep focusing on the advertising and marketing and once you get some clients/money, build out the management/time saving infratructure.

Advertising is about time vs money. Some options require high time/effort but low money (Facebook, SEO). Some require money but low effort (Print advertising/Yelp). If you haven't got the money and not getting the clients, then focus on the high effort/time options.

To be honest, I would study SEO as your site is currently really un-optimized. I know you said that you arent good at SEO, but if you haven't got the work, you have the time to GET good.

I couldn't agree more with Bryce. We have had our share of bad advertising and debt because of it. However, you have to continue on to see what works or how to make something work for you. This is where Podcasts, Forums, Workshops, and Expos come in handy to hear like minded business owners speak from experience. Sometimes only one point from them may go a long way for your business