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Using QuickBooks Pro Desktop As Your Shop Software


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I've used 3 different shop management programs over the years, including Mitchell.  Around 2000, I started using QuickBooks in lieu of my shop management program.  For a couple of years, I ran both programs in parallel because I didn't know QB very well.  I slowly learned that I could tailor QB to the way I ran our shop, not the other way around.  I discovered that I could design my own estimates, repair orders, reports, chart of accounts, not to mention accounting.  It was a revelation to me.

I'm speaking of QuickBooks Pro Desktop, not the online version.  To me, the online version is a very "lite" version of QB Desktop.  The more I used it, the more I learned I could do with it.   I've attached a sample estimate I designed.  To be clear, we are a transmission specialty repair shop, not GR.  No more monthly fees or having somebody holding your data hostage.  While there IS A HUGE learning curve, but I found it's well worth it.  

QuickBooks is the gold standard when it comes to small business accounting.  Although my wife is an accountant, we still had a CPA.  We could simply email a copy or our books to the CPA and he loved it.  Actually, he gave us a discounted price because we were less hassle.  As far as I'm concerned, QB is the best shop software.  For the first year, I paid a small fee for customer support.  After that, I just took the ball and ran.

Drew Clarke Estimate_Redacted.pdf

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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