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#1 2005-03-21 5:40 pm
looking for a Pro's suggestion...
okay... here's the facts.
When I've done budgets and invoices in the past, it was the quick and dirty way... in a Word Doc. *insert crazy face here* Let's just say that Ive gotten away with murder up to this point. Since my client base continues to include Universal (Geffen and interscope) and Sony (Columbia), I dare to send another invoice or budget layout that looks anything like the paperwork of my humble past.
What programs would you suggest I look into for Production Budgeting and Invoice templates.
Thank you in advance, MacFamily!!!
B. Kyle
... peace!
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#2 2005-03-21 8:04 pm
- grumbleboy
- Spendthrift
- From: The Land of Pleasant Living
- Registered: 2000-07-25
- Posts: 908
- Website
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
Heh--I thought I was the only one who used word docs for invoicing. I don't even bother to drop a logo in them. I have QuickBooks somewhere and I've talked to people who like it, but I haven't gone through the trouble of setting it up yet. Especially pathetic considering my wife is an accountant.
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#3 2005-03-22 3:36 am
- beaverfever
- Learned, Impartial, and Very Relaxed
- From: Toronto
- Registered: 2003-01-16
- Posts: 1032
- Website
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
grumbleboy wrote:
Heh--I thought I was the only one who used word docs for invoicing.
hehe - I'm a real pro - way back when i did my invoices in Quark Xpress. I haven't done freelance in ages though, so I'm out of the loop now. I don't know much about invoicing either 
You may begin arguing Warnock's Dilemma now.
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#4 2005-03-22 5:48 am
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
I made the step from simple text to Quark about 5 years ago. Although this last year I only did on freelance job and I used Thundrbird (invoice was the body copy of the email) to send it out.
-Ed
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#5 2005-03-22 6:31 am
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
I use a template that I created in InDesign. I've tried various time management/invoicing shareware tools and I've found them more of a pain than they are worth. MacBusiness is my current choice - but I gave up on the invoicing part. I just copy and paste the calculations into InDesign. Perhaps something like MYOB would do the trick?
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#6 2005-03-22 12:06 pm
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
destalk wrote:
I use a template that I created in InDesign. I've tried various time management/invoicing shareware tools and I've found them more of a pain than they are worth. MacBusiness is my current choice - but I gave up on the invoicing part. I just copy and paste the calculations into InDesign. Perhaps something like MYOB would do the trick?
This is what I do also, lets me have a real nice design and layout. It is a bit of a pain when I have multiple items and I have to calculate totals and tax, but nothing that I can't handle.
Out of curiosity, what do you do for the labels?
K
emotion entertainment inc.
emotionDV.com - FCP/FCX for the masses
FundMyFilm.ca - A Means to "The End"
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#7 2005-03-22 12:50 pm
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
"the bible is cooler than i thought.... most of the main characters get stoned!!!"
"let's get back to the good ol' days when the "opiate of the masses" was still actually opium." -me
"kids don't beat me. i beat kids." -HJS
the above post is proudly antihammer
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#8 2005-03-22 1:48 pm
- Mercury52
- Card Guy
- From: NY
- Registered: 2004-08-24
- Posts: 788
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
Movie Magic Budgeting and Scheduling if you need to do budget breakdowns. Handy software for people who do that type of stuff.
Why isn't anything raisin-flavored?
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#10 2005-03-23 2:17 am
- Aqua OS X
- Shark Sandwich
- From: Oakland, CA
- Registered: 2000-06-05
- Posts: 12669
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
CurtisS wrote:
I created a nice report template in Filemaker that ties to my customer list. Works great!
I second that. The most professional way to manage clients is to use a database. You can customize a database to hold all sorts of weird info and to automatically spit out invoices with addressed envelopes, project contracts, etc.
I'd also advise filemaker. Pick up a how-to book and you'll be up and running within a day.
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#11 2005-03-23 10:15 am
- JF
- Member
- Registered: 2000-07-27
- Posts: 1183
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
FileMaker all the way. It's totally easy, and you can automate the generation of PDF or other output, faxing, printing, or whatever way you choose to deliver the invoices. Formatting options are robust, and with about 30 minutes of formatting work, you can make a totally professional invoice. My guitar shop would be out of business without FileMaker--I use it to manage a customer database numbering in the tens of thousands, and more important, to automate everything I do, from order downloads to backorder emails. You'll likely find yourself incorporating more and more of your workflow into FileMaker once you start--it is an addiction.
J
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#12 2005-03-24 2:27 pm
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
... emotionDV,
>>Out of curiosity, what do you do for the labels?
I get hired by the label to Direct various video projects (music videos and DVD's) for recording artists. I work with Jill Scott, The Roots, Tye Tribbett (to name a few). My current project, due for release on May 24th, is a DVD for Kanye West and Common that is going to be shipped in the packaging with Common's new album "BE". It will be my 3rd companion DVD for Universal. I've been getting by on the shabby invoices long enough. LOL
You guys are a BIIIIG help!!! I have to thank ya for your input... BIG TIME. Thanx!
B.Kyle
... peace!
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#13 2005-03-30 12:59 pm
Re: looking for a Pro's suggestion...
Just saw this site and thought of this post: http://www.iggsoftware.com/ibiz/index.html
I've not used this software, but it seems like a good bang for the buck.
Invoice templates are here: http://www.iggsoftware.com/ibiz/templates.html
Tucker
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