Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

service monster and stuff like that. CRM

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

The closest I come to CRM is a mix of House Call, Mail Chimp and Vista print. There is a lot to this. Part of the two months of "down time" is to see what can help streamline a few things.

CRM Beginners Guide

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have used them for over 20 years and tried a bunch. I have been using MHelp Desk for 18 months now and I am happy. It has a ton of functions and is extremely customizable. I know a lot of guys in the business use the Customer Factior. It is only 35 bucks a month and is is nice.

i will warn anyone looking for a CRM, that it is only as good as the info you put into it and how much you use it. I have an admin person who spends at least 2-3 hours a day inputting info and sending out info. If you have employees like techs and sales guys they need to be trained and use it properly or else the whole thing gets F'ed up.

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

We are using CF.

tjteed · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We use cust factor. They now have an app that techs can use from cell phone.

Bryan P · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I used Breezeworks last year because it was only 19.99. I actually really like it now that they worked out some bugs. My criteria is that it offers estimates, takes square payments, and syncs with QuickBooks online. I like the scheduling feature and it sends emails to the customer reminding them of the appointment. I'm sure there are others that do all of that and more, but I picked it for the price and it kept me organized. I can turn it off when I dont' need it and because it is synced with QuickBooks I dont lose any customer info.

-- Edited by Bryan P on Wednesday 4th of January 2017 06:28:33 PM

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

It kinda seems seems more people use Customer Factor? Hey Bryan P. I got a sik ass Honda, now, like that too!

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Main reason why I want a CRM is to remind people when it is time to get their gutters done. It sounds like alot of work. I could delegate it off me.Eventually.

Pinky · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Bryan P wrote:
I used Breezeworks last year because it was only 19.99. I actually really like it now that they worked out some bugs. My criteria is that it offers estimates, takes square payments, and syncs with QuickBooks online. I like the scheduling feature and it sends emails to the customer reminding them of the appointment. I'm sure there are others that do all of that and more, but I picked it for the price and it kept me organized. I can turn it off when I dont' need it and because it is synced with QuickBooks I dont lose any customer info.

-- Edited by Bryan P on Wednesday 4th of January 2017 06:28:33 PM

Can you put pictures in the estimates?

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Pinky wrote:
Bryan P wrote:
I used Breezeworks last year because it was only 19.99. I actually really like it now that they worked out some bugs. My criteria is that it offers estimates, takes square payments, and syncs with QuickBooks online. I like the scheduling feature and it sends emails to the customer reminding them of the appointment. I'm sure there are others that do all of that and more, but I picked it for the price and it kept me organized. I can turn it off when I dont' need it and because it is synced with QuickBooks I dont lose any customer info.

-- Edited by Bryan P on Wednesday 4th of January 2017 06:28:33 PM
Can you put pictures in the estimates?

Breezworks is 16.00 for one user and 24.00 plus 10.00 per user per month. I just looked at their site. Hopefully Bryan has the answer.

I'm using HouseCall at 35.00 mo for start up and it allows attachments. The only problem with all of these is once you get everything in and start using one, it's really hard to switch without having to enter everything in all over again. Find one you think you will like and can learn, see if it has what you need and will need as you grow.

Bryan P · Approved Exterior Cleaner

No you can't put photos in the estimate in Breezeworks.

tjteed · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Reach out to Ray at www.AttractWeb.com He does my website and he is now developing custom apps. He has great service. I think his app might work for for services that offers regular services a few times a year

Brandon Vaughn · Approved Exterior Cleaner

+1 for MHelpDesk. That's what we use

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Service Monster seem to be catching on. Also Send Jim. Any thoughts on those??

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

gutterdog wrote:
Service Monster seem to be catching on. Also Send Jim. Any thoughts on those??

What does this mean?

"Also Send Jim. Any thoughts on those??"

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

BlueRidge wrote:
gutterdog wrote:
Service Monster seem to be catching on. Also Send Jim. Any thoughts on those??
What does this mean?
"Also Send Jim. Any thoughts on those??"

"Service Monster" and "Send Jim" are 2 CRM's that I've looked at a little bit.

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Send Jim is not a CRM. It is old Streetbidder platform, used to send postcards and stuff. We use it.

-- Edited by John Aloisio on Tuesday 14th of February 2017 03:28:05 PM

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

John Aloisio wrote:
Send Jim is not a CRM. It is old Streetbidder platform, used to send postcards and stuff. We use it.

-- Edited by John Aloisio on Tuesday 14th of February 2017 03:28:05 PM

Oh, OK. I havent looked much yet. Constant Contact is offered at a discount through my hosting. Is that worth looking into?

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I use constant contact And it is easy to use and worth the money.

Jacob Hittler · Member

I'll revive this thread.

I found a free version of a CRM that might work for those guys who are operators and just starting out that don't want to spend money monthly yet on something more sophisticated.

www.Yardbook.com

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jacob Hittler wrote:
I'll revive this thread.

I found a free version of a CRM that might work for those guys who are operators and just starting out that don't want to spend money monthly yet on something more sophisticated.

www.Yardbook.com

We've been looking at this in the office. It looks pretty good so far.

Bryan P · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I still use Breezeworks, but I no longer use it for invoicing. My new bookkeeper scolded me because the "sync" kinda messed up my quickbooks. I use the CRM for estimates and scheduling, but I invoice and receive payments in Quickbooks Online. It's working well.

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Bryan P wrote:
I still use Breezeworks, but I no longer use it for invoicing. My new bookkeeper scolded me because the "sync" kinda messed up my quickbooks. I use the CRM for estimates and scheduling, but I invoice and receive payments in Quickbooks Online. It's working well.

I have been back and forth with these systems. I tried Jobber for a while, it was good but needed some small changes that would have made a big difference. They don't seem to care. I went back the HCP because a few things work better and the app is real easy for the guys in the field.

We have found that even though these CRM's "work with" QB, it can really make a mess so nothing is tied to QB.

As far as Send Jim/Radius Bomb. We signed up last year too late to give it good try. We will be using the 5 around with some follow up.

Zach Maynard · Approved Exterior Cleaner

The Customer Factor, they have added tons of features! They will soon be adding a review feature, employees can use the time clock. auto email campaigns etc. Super cheap too.

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Were on the Customer Factor..

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I played with a couple online cloud things, not a total CRM. I went with Speed Invoice. I carry a tablet everywhere now.

Jim Prom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks for the input John, are you still using them?

gutterdog · Approved Exterior Cleaner

CRM's, computers, tablets.... Here is a pic of what we have done. Some guys like putting their tablet on a stand in the truck, and some don't. I haven't played with this yet, just now starting.

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We finally switched to Customer Factor. We have used House Call Pro and Jobber for years now. Both lack some important and needed features and any mention falls on deaf ears. CF seems to have everything we need, easy to get to on the phone and a much better price tag that the others.