PCRT

[Mike McCall]

Been reading the forums pertaining to PCRT and have a few questions. I'm currently running Repairshopr (free) but at some point will have to start paying for it. It's in my best interest to run a lean as possible, so moving to $49mo. will definitely hurt. It seems that in nearly every instance as my revenue increases so do my costs moving any profitability farther down the road.

Repairshopr runs $49 a month, or $588 a year. PCRT runs $200 to run as long as I wish, $125 a year for the updates. Even I can do the math here. No slam against Repairshopr. I think it's great. It's just a lot more money.

PCRT was written to run on an Apache web server. I'm hesitant to run it on my web host, but I may not understand why doing so might be a good thing. I tend to prefer to have such information closely held internally rather than someplace else. That's just me. So, my questions are primarily related to what to run it on internally. I read where @bertie40 ran it on his Synology NAS, but moved it to his web host. I thought I saw someplace where someone ran it on his Mac Mini. I have both of those options. Apparently another option is to use Xampp, but I know nothing of that but perhaps someone here does. So, what are the options, and how hard is it to run/maintain?

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I moved from PCRT to RepairShopr. PCRT is ok, but it always seems in an "unfinished state" IMO it does not look professional and I did not want clients to see it. As you are familiar with RepairShopr, it's quite the opposite. As for your question, I ran it on my web host because the environment was already there and set up plus I had plenty of resources available on my plan. Also, this makes it easy to access from anywhere. You could certainly setup a website on any box you have laying around and get a static external IP and run it that way, but then you have to manage another device and with time being money I can almost guarantee it will cost you more to run it yourself and manage vs adding it to your web host.

 

[Mike McCall]

I agree that Repairshopr is a great product. My clients almost never see my internal software. I use Square for CC processing via my phone for connectivity when onsite. They get a receipt directly from Square via email if they wish, but I close the ticket, process the invoice and email the paid invoice once I'm back at the office. No one has ever wanted a printed receipt before I left. That ability may become important at some point, but hasn't been an issue so far. Because of that, I see this as an internal facing tool rather than client facing. Right now, cost control is important to me.

I don't have a burning desire to run a web server. However, if I can run it on my NAS I may still have external access, but will also have a means of redundant backups built in. If I can run it on my Mac, external access may not happen unless PCRT is the only thing on it and I can securely remote into it. Same thing if I was using Xampp on a Windows machine. Perhaps remoting into it as I might a client machine might be feasible, as that will be quire rare at this point. Just thinking out loud at this point.

 

[cypress]

How many tickets are you doing a month? Specific features you need in the next level tier on Repairshopr? I have the Free tier right now but that is because I process only about 5-10 a month. The add on I did get was the SMS feature which clients seemed to love. Unless more advanced features are needed for you like the Marketer, then I would say stick with what you go. Such a superior product.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

The ability to access either of the two remotely is great, for example, we store usernames, passwords, IP addresses, network configurations, etc. in RepairShopr and it's nice to be able to pull up that info onsite as needed so having either be web accessible would be ideal, however not having it web accessible does make the process of setting up PCRT internally easier. I have not installed it on a NAS before, but that sounds like it's probably the simplest if it's like an app rather than building an apache server, though there are tons of good WAMP, XAMP, LAMP tutorials or you could go with a turnkey linux option as well such as: https://www.turnkeylinux.org/lampstack

 

[Mike McCall]

How many tickets are you doing a month? Specific features you need in the next level tier on Repairshopr? I have the Free tier right now but that is because I process only about 5-10 a month. The add on I did get was the SMS feature which clients seemed to love. Unless more advanced features are needed for you like the Marketer, then I would say stick with what you go. Such a superior product.

I rarely have tickets, but I have about 6 invoices each month for managed clients who haven't paid for a full year. I know, so why think about changing? Because I still believe that there's a way to get this albatross off the ground. FB hasn't generated a nickle, Yelp is a waste, print advertising costs money I don't have, and I'm a crappy web/seo designer. I live in a nice part of town just a couple doors away from the city park. Lots of foot traffic and various happenings in the park every year. I just ordered a 18" x 27" yard sign in the hope of trying to generate some business from foot traffic. One of the problems shops like mine face is that with every increase in business there's also an increase in cost. Those increased costs destroy any profitability until I reach a point where my volume consistently far exceeds those costs. If I have a month or two where I need to write more than 25 tickets/invoices, but then slump back down for whatever reason, I'm still on the hook for the $49 a month, which I wouldn't be able to pay. I won't do that. Features are only part of this.

 

[overburnz]

I use computer repair shop software, it's not online, but it does have a online database component. It's free as far as 5 tickets per week and 1 user, or 19.95uk pounds (i believe).
It's a great tool for me, try that one

 

[Mike McCall]

The ability to access either of the two remotely is great, for example, we store usernames, passwords, IP addresses, network configurations, etc. in RepairShopr and it's nice to be able to pull up that info onsite as needed so having either be web accessible would be ideal, however not having it web accessible does make the process of setting up PCRT internally easier. I have not installed it on a NAS before, but that sounds like it's probably the simplest if it's like an app rather than building an apache server, though there are tons of good WAMP, XAMP, LAMP tutorials or you could go with a turnkey linux option as well such as: https://www.turnkeylinux.org/lampstack

If I decide to go this way, it may be that the best implementation is on my web host. I'm not ruling it out completely. I'm just looking for internal options and how I might accomplish that first.

 

[Mike McCall]

I use computer repair shop software, it's not online, but it does have a online database component. It's free as far as 5 tickets per week and 1 user, or 19.95uk pounds (i believe).
It's a great tool for me, try that one

I did look at that, but again it's a subscription that on this side of the pond still costs more each year than PCRT.

 

[overburnz]

yes, but it's free up to 5 tickets, if you do more than that probably you'll need to buy a subscription, but you need to consider wich one is you best option for your service and pocket

 

[Mike McCall]

yes, but it's free up to 5 tickets, if you do more than that probably you'll need to buy a subscription, but you need to consider wich one is you best option for your service and pocket

True, but under the free offering all paperwork the client sees carries their watermark. Repairshopr doesn't do that.

 

[overburnz]

true... but i have yet a bigger problem than that, EVERY single software is in english and NONE in portuguese... so i have to translate the software i choose be it repairshopr, pcrt ou crs.... lol so the watermark is big deal but it's, for me, the best one i've used so far, you also have the opensorce repairslab, its a litte simplistic but all free and no watermarks

 

[Mike McCall]

true... but i have yet a bigger problem than that, EVERY single software is in english and NONE in portuguese... so i have to translate the software i choose be it repairshopr, pcrt ou crs.... lol so the watermark is big deal but it's, for me, the best one i've used so far, you also have the opensorce repairslab, its a litte simplistic but all free and no watermarks

Ha, good point! We tend to take those conveniences for granted I guess.

I don't mind spending money on a good product. It's just that with any SaaS the bleeding never stops, and the more I increase the more their fees increase as well. I prefer the old business model in many ways.

 

[Rayspcsolutions]

Mike,

I am using PCRT on webhost and it has been great.

The developer has done some nice gui udpdates as of late and added some nice features. The one I like the most is the mobile access where the display is configured for phones and tablets and really works well for onsite service, and you can use your phones camera to take pictures and add them to the WO/device. Also integrates D7 and UVK reports, where it will pull in the certain specs of the machine and fill in the fields in PCRT.

The install and updates can be a little tedious sometimes but if you have a basic understanding webserver file structure permissions etc you should be fine. You will have to modify a .php in a couple of folders to add your specific database info and turning on/off features etc. When updates come out, they are emailed to you and you have to upload the files yourself to the server. All this is well documented in each update package. I think I started at v1.35 and now at V2 , I have never had a upgrade fail when I followed the upgrade directions to the "T". But if you miss a step it can cause issues, happened to me once. As a precaution I download a copy of the installed PCRT directory from my webhost prior to any updates and download a copy of the database just in case. Most major updates will also have you run a database update script.

Have you played around with demo? He also has some pretty good video tutorials, I don't know if he gives that link out unless you purchase.

 

[Mike McCall]

Mike,

I am using PCRT on webhost and it has been great.

The developer has done some nice gui udpdates as of late and added some nice features. The one I like the most is the mobile access where the display is configured for phones and tablets and really works well for onsite service, and you can use your phones camera to take pictures and add them to the WO/device. Also integrates D7 and UVK reports, where it will pull in the certain specs of the machine and fill in the fields in PCRT.

The install and updates can be a little tedious sometimes but if you have a basic understanding webserver file structure permissions etc you should be fine. You will have to modify a .php in a couple of folders to add your specific database info and turning on/off features etc. When updates come out, they are emailed to you and you have to upload the files yourself to the server. All this is well documented in each update package. I think I started at v1.35 and now at V2 , I have never had a upgrade fail when I followed the upgrade directions to the "T". But if you miss a step it can cause issues, happened to me once. As a precaution I download a copy of the installed PCRT directory from my webhost prior to any updates and download a copy of the database just in case. Most major updates will also have you run a database update script.

Have you played around with demo? He also has some pretty good video tutorials, I don't know if he gives that link out unless you purchase.

I've looked at the screenshots and read what's on the website. Luke has been very responsive in answering my questions, even knowing that my purchase may still be a couple of months out. I read about the D7 integration but didn't know about UVK. I use D7II, but I suppose it would integrate just fine.

As long as the installation/update process doesn't get too unwieldy I can manage. I'm not a code monkey at all! The biggest attractions for me are the cost containment and potential internal hosting. If it's better and easier to use my current web host instead, I can live with that. It's not a deal killer. Controlling my costs does matter to me. More business and more clients will certainly help, but with every increase in business comes an increase in fees that largely consumes what I bring in.

I'm ready to start a demo, and Luke seems to be alright with my purchase being a couple months out so no harm there.

EDIT: I know nothing of videos so he must hold them back for purchasers. I'm fine with that.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

When I was looking into PCRT you could request a demo and videos, I would ask Luke about it.

 

[Mike McCall]

I've just received the links, videos included.

 

[Bryce W]

I rarely have tickets, but I have about 6 invoices each month for managed clients who haven't paid for a full year.

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.

FB hasn't generated a nickle, Yelp is a waste, print advertising costs money I don't have, and I'm a crappy web/seo designer. I live in a nice part of town just a couple doors away from the city park. Lots of foot traffic and various happenings in the park every year. I just ordered a 18" x 27" yard sign in the hope of trying to generate some business from foot traffic.

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.

 

[Mike McCall]

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.

Perhaps a bit, but not as much as it might seem. 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. Using the free Repairshopr works just fine for my current level, and I've been up front about this change not happening for a few months at this point. With Repairshopr once I reach 25 tickets/invoices in a month the free version becomes inadequate, and I'll be forced to buy a $49mo. subscription. Given how growth has been painfully slow thus far, I don't want to get caught with another $50 bill I'm struggling to pay for. I've had good months where the additional bill would be fine, but they've been followed by several months of drought. It's those months I'm concerned about. It wouldn't take much for me to breach the 25 ticket/invoice threshold and start the clock, as it were.

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

Agreed, and I'll spend some time with the link. Thanks.

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.

Yeah, I suck at this. It's clearly a major weakness in my skill set. I am starting work on SEO and am using Googly Analytics, but it's a slow (painful) process for me. A dumb yard sign may prove to be more productive than anything else I've done so far. But that's the point. I have to find what works. It may well be that investing in SEO is absolutely critical for me, it may also not mean so much in this market. Another local tech's website is blocked by the MaxFocus web filter as suspicious, it's awful in form & function, yet he remains busy apparently without any of that, as do the other techs in the surrounding area. So, if they're not heavily invested in SEO, yet remain busy, there's something they're doing other than SEO that's producing results. That's what I need to find out. I get how SEO can reap benefits especially in larger markets, but in these micro markets other things may be more effective. It seems prudent to work on SEO while also exploring every other possibility as well.

 

[cypress]

Perhaps a bit, but not as much as it might seem. 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. Using the free Repairshopr works just fine for my current level, and I've been up front about this change not happening for a few months at this point. With Repairshopr once I reach 25 tickets/invoices in a month the free version becomes inadequate, and I'll be forced to buy a $49mo. subscription. Given how growth has been painfully slow thus far, I don't want to get caught with another $50 bill I'm struggling to pay for. I've had good months where the additional bill would be fine, but they've been followed by several months of drought. It's those months I'm concerned about. It wouldn't take much for me to breach the 25 ticket/invoice threshold and start the clock, as it were.

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.