Apple/Mac automotive invoice programs

[softailgarage]

I'm trying to find an automotive shop invoice program for a friends muffler shop. I've found plenty for Windows based computers, however he's running a Mac and not much is coming up. Not being an Apple guy myself, I'm kinda treading in unfamilier territory. Does anyone use or know of a decent Apple based program? BTW Mitchell 1 is Windows ONLY.

 

[justanengineer]

Youre missing the best part of running a Mac, that they will run Windows faster than a Windows only box. Run Bootcamp or other Windows emulator.

 

[softailgarage]

I dont have any experience with emulators and the shop owner isn't exactly bill gates (thus I get to do his computer repair/set up, etc.) I'll do some reading, but it has to be a set up he can run without calling me over all the time.

 

[jd_1138]

Like Justanengineer said, Boot Camp will let you run it on a Mac, but your friend will need to buy a Windows license or maybe buy a used copy of Windows off ebay that has a COA -- that may work?

Unless he's a total Mac Head, it might be cheaper/less hassle to simply buy a used Windows machine -- something about 3-4 years old for about $100. A desktop computer would be tougher and stand up the abuse in a shop environment than a laptop. I sure would prefer typing up receipts with a regular keyboard rather than a laptop keyboard. And if coffee is spilled on it, no biggie, they are $10. Or an external keyboard can be plugged into the laptop.

 

[softailgarage]

I agree, too bad he just bought the Mac. I'll try to convince him to pick up a cheapy, it would definitley make my life easier as there is a ton of FREE invoice programs for Windows.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Set it to boot automatically into windows once that's set up. After a short period of time, He'll be used to it and get work done. It's not like he meant to have a Mac; he was just going with what his wife and daughter said.

 

[softailgarage]

WOW, you just nailed it! The wife had to have the Mac, it matches the one she does the bookkeeping on!

 

[rray37375]

Boot Camp only allows you to run EITHER Windows OR Mac OSX. It does not allow you to run both simultaneously. Get either Parallels or VM Ware and you can run Windows applications while running Mac OSX. Check with a local Mac value added reseller and they may have a solution for you. While it may be difficult to find at first, just about any application on Windows has a similar application on the Mac.

I run my house and my business using Macintosh, with some of the Macs in my house approaching ten years kid. They still run and do useful work.

 

[jd_1138]

I think you should use the online invoicing platform http://www.fetchflow.com/support/question/How-do-I-schedule-recurring-invoices.html which is absolutely free. You can make your own excel invoice which you can export in any format and can use it manually for invoicing.

The OP might be setting up something more like a business accounting system where once an invoice is paid, printed and finalized then the #'s on it go into bookkeeping accounts for use by the bookkeeper/accountant? Does Fetchflow do that too?

Now that I think of it, an online bookkeeping system would also probably allow invoicing and bookkeeping, and it would be platform agnostic. Perhaps something like Quicken or something else.

 

[Chaznsc]

I'm trying to find an automotive shop invoice program for a friends muffler shop. I've found plenty for Windows based computers, however he's running a Mac and not much is coming up. Not being an Apple guy myself, I'm kinda treading in unfamilier territory. Does anyone use or know of a decent Apple based program? BTW Mitchell 1 is Windows ONLY.

Quickbooks online.......