Any Open Source Repair Software?

[WillieB]

hey all! I'm wondering if anyone knwos of any open source repair software? I'm a fan of wordpress as open source, gimp, open office so on I was hoping to find something to help manage a small shop with invoicing - similar to the big names but open source....anyone know of anything? 

[bantar]

None that I've heard of.  If you are running a business, for sure you need an accounting program.  Quickbooks will let you do invoices.    See this topic: 

I'd pull my hair out if I had to use QBs for invoicing.  With a low car count, it would work fine.   Once you add volume, it's not optimal.  My SMS makes my life so much easier and is easily worth the cost.   When I first started, I didn't appreciate the value, but I do now.  I only knew that I needed one.

[WillieB]

Thanks for the info sir. I like quickbooks, lost without it really. Can you recommend anything that sits on my website to give customers an online invoice? I suppose hoping for a cheap wordpress plugin or similar would probably be a long shot! 

[bantar]

You are asking for advanced features of paid SMS.  Lots of feature innovations are out there.  You'd probably like them.

I'd say embrace the free paper model or raise your rates to buy a modern SMS.   

I print paper invoices, myself.

I don't see people wanting to interact with your website to get their invoices anyway. If you are going paperless, email the invoice to me.   Don't make me login to your website to get my invoices.  

[WillieB]

That makes sense, I guess it is asking for a lot. I haven't actually been on the customer side of a digital vehicle inspection or paperless invoice, do most of them operate through email/text? 

I had another shop about a decade ago with my buddy and it was all paper back then mostly quick books or maybe excel if I remember right. There weren't many DVIs or online invoices available that I remember. I didn't handle the bulk of the paperwork I was working on cars, now I'm planning on doing both. Probably wasn't paying attention to it back then, now there's 100 different sms to choose from.

I'd really like to accept cards online is my main goal. The easier it is for a customer to pay the better, is my thinking.  $400 a month from some of these places for an sms is a big jump from $10 in paper, $50 worth of ink and a $15 QB subscription. The same $400/month would go a long way towards a bigger shop, AC, another lift.

Does anyone get value from $4800/year in software? 

[bantar]

1 hour ago, WillieB said:

Does anyone get value from $4800/year in software? 

$400/month is a mere 2.66 hours of billable time.   If you are operating alone, then think of the software as a very low cost assistant.  If this software can free you up to make more billable hours, you come out ahead.   Trying to do billing in QB's would take much more of your time.   When it comes time to balance your parts purchases, having all of this done within the SMS is a huge time saver.   Being able to go back to older invoices to review parts and labor and findings is invaluable.   The ability to order parts online is wonderful.    Your goal should be easy to use, and helps you save time.   Time is what you sell.  Protect it at all costs!  

Find a modern SMS with built-in Digital Inspections, even if you don't use it at first.   DVI means that they'll have multiple methods of communicating with your customer as DVI requires robust communications.  Pay the going rate, don't go for cut-rate offerings.   If the software company does not make money, then they can't update their software and provide you with support.   You want them to be healthy.

With a Credit Card terminal, your customers can give you a credit card over the phone.   However, whether text to pay or over the phone, these are the riskier models of payment.  Pay at the terminal is the safest for you.   They pay when they pick up the car.  It's normal. 

[WillieB]

I guess online payment might be overkill. I’m definitely interested in a DVI system. I might be closer to $100/month budget then $400. Good to know it’s worth it though. I’m just starting off, I don’t have much of a customer base established yet.

What do you think of the industry specific website offerings vs someone more generic but local? I’ve used Wordpress before, I’m confident I can make something for my business. I’m not sure what the value of a top dollar website is vs diy? vs industry specific? 

I appreciate your insight, thanks.

[bantar]

Start with Quickbooks until you run out of time managing it.   Then when you switch, you'll get some time back. 

As for website, you need one to at least prove you exist   Build it yourself if you want, but without significant effort on keyword optimization, you'll not rank high on searches.  So, you need to find another way to be known.  My methods of being known are my sign on the street, advertising and word of mouth.   I don't spend any money on my own website for SEO optimization.  This is a big money battle.   I do spend money on other local websites that get 1st page rankings, well above mine, but this is just another form of advertising.   Make sure that you sign up for Google Local and be sure that all of your NAP information across your website, google maps, apple maps, etc is identical in every way .   NAP i s Name, Address and Phone Number.

[WillieB]

Thanks for the answer, I agree SEO is really important. If you were on a limited budget would you put $400/month into SEO and marketing? or into an SMS? I probably can't afford both at the moment. 

[bantar]

SEO won't get you known.   It takes forever to show progress.  I'd focus on marketing...  flyers, business cards, attractive pole or building signage, advertising, radio.  Become known.   You need to be known.  Even marketing takes time to really work, but it should show signs (sales) earlier.

[WillieB]

I stumbled across RepairGorilla.com says it's open source I'm going to install it this weekend. 

[WillieB]

RepairGorilla seems to have everything I'm looking for, its pretty basic but does the job. Invoicing online with online payments, pdf printable versions, waivers, repair approvals and DVI, not sure what else I could want at the price they charge (free)