Sterling Effort

Using Software to Simplify the Running of Your Engineering Business

September 27, 2012 by Guest Post in Business with 4 Comments

Managing the day-to-day tasks of your engineering business can be a challenge. Between communicating with suppliers, getting new clients and managing your finances, it may seem as though you are swimming in a sea of tasks. Using popular apps is a great way to effortlessly manage your small business without going insane.

Basic Money Management
There are a few ways that you can efficiently manage your company’s finances. Accounting software makes it easy to see all of your accounts at a glance, instantly managing multiple accounts. You can create transactions for your operating budget or develop a special account for events. With accounting software and apps, you never have to worry about where your funds are going. Apps like Mint, Quickbooks and Pocket Money make it easy for you to upload receipts, manage transactions and input invoices.

Time Management
Keeping an accurate record of exactly what your projects cost is essential to your small business financial management. Accurately bill your clients with time management software and apps that count every second. Record time and expenses for your projects, bill your clients at your hourly rate and keep track of project-related expenses. Apps like Harvest and Freshbooks make it easy for you to efficiently manage time in your engineering business.

Project Management
There are many working parts when it comes to managing a project. From conception to completion, there are several elements that must be considered when creating and developing a new project. With project management software you can:

  • Easily organise your accounts into individual contacts
  • View essential elements of your project easily
  • Schedule client meetings
  • Assess whether your project is on schedule and track the budget

Project management apps like Basecamp, Wrike and ActiveCollab are great for managing your engineering projects.

Not only are these apps time savers, they are also space savers. With apps that allow you to virtually collaborate on projects, your teams can work from anywhere in the world. Share files, make changes and create meetings with a click of the mouse. Project management software makes it easy for you to work with your entire team without needing extra space in your office.

Contract Management
In the past, organising contracts was a hassle. Between creating the contract, printing it out, mailing it to the client and receiving the signed copy, acquiring a contract was a tedious process. Once they were received, they had to be stored on-site, requiring huge filing cabinets and office space. Contract management software and apps have all but eliminated these hassles.

Contract management will allow you to easily create and send contracts that can be sent electronically. Sites like Contractlogix.com offer complete solutions for businesses both small and large. Stop being buried under thick stacks of paper and folders. Never again will you have to chase down the mail truck to get your client contracts. Contract management software makes it easy for you to create and send contracts easily.

Handling the day-to-day tasks of running your engineering business can be a time drain. Simplify your work apps that get the job done.

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4 Comments

  1. ermineSeptember 28, 2012 at 9:45 amReply

    D’you know an any good UK small scale accounting packages? I used to use Quicken for a multimedia company I ran and plan to use it for a community interest company next year. However, it is an orphaned legacy product in the UK.

    GnuCash was just too horrible in usability ans visuals, and I can’t relate to cloud apps – the accounting part is a key element and making myself a hostage to fortune in terms of price rises or service providers leaving the market isn’t something I want to do.

    • JaySeptember 28, 2012 at 12:05 pmReply

      You could Try Gnucash or Ace Money although I haven’t tried any of these myself. I used to use quicken until my file corrupted and I basically haven’t been bothered to get something else sorted since then. Bad move on my part really because I currently have no track of spending etc.

      Also there is a UK developed one called Accountz… Again, no knowledge of this one either i’m afraid.

      Jay

  2. ermineSeptember 29, 2012 at 10:37 amReply

    Thanks – Accountz looks interesting as VAT will be needed. Gnucash is really hard-core geektastic. I just couldn’t do that to people!

    > I currently have no track of spending etc.

    shame, shame ;)

    • AshSeptember 29, 2012 at 11:03 amReply

      Ha indeed! No self respecting PF blogger should admit to that Jay. Sort your life out! :p

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