Client Contact/Records Software

Valerie Warner · 09-21-2002, 10:56 AM

I am in need of setting up a bookkeeping system to keep my contacts, client records etc. I know there are a couple systems mentioned through the years but currently what software program is being used with the most success?

Maybe I'm just not using the search engine on this Forum correctly.

Thanks!

Cynthia Daniel · 09-23-2002, 05:29 PM

Val,

There really hasn't been anything previously posted on this topic, so you wouldn't find anything with the search.

As far as I know, there isn't anything that combines good contact management along with bookkeeping.

Personally, I use QuickBooks for bookkeeping and Act for client contact management. However, I'm not sure I see a need for QuickBooks unless invoicing is something one does frequently and in some volume. To track the finances of a few clients a month, I would personally just use Quicken.

Act is an extremely powerful tool for contact management, including keeping running notes, setting reminders, setting up various contact categories and much more.

Valerie Warner · 09-27-2002, 07:13 PM

Cynthia,

Thanks so much. I remember your article in an artist's magazine years ago regarding the ACT program. That was a good article, I just wondered if it still applied. I really don't need it for invoicing of money, just contact info, their interests, what people bought and where, show info, what painting is where, why, when to pick it up, stuff.

Do you think it sounds like ACT would fit these needs? I may have to combine the use of a spreadsheet in a program like Excel too, huh?

Thanks for your time.

Cynthia Daniel · 09-28-2002, 12:40 AM

You can track all those things with ACT I would say. There are the basic fields for name, address, phones, etc. then there are fields that are user fields that you can define them to have whatever meaning and label you want. Once you've defined the fields, you can also do searches on them. And, you can have unlimited notes.

There's also http://www.artsystems.com but I have no experience with their software and don't know the cost.

And, there's http://workingartist.com. You can download a trial version. I tried it once and it was okay, though not the most sophisticated. I think Karin Wells downloaded the trial and gave it a whirl once. Karin?