Which version?

[soupy]

I own a lawn care company. Which version is best, I currently use Quickbooks Pro 2000 and need to upgrade so my invoice/scheduling program can integrate with QuickBooks. I have to go 2003 or newer, but what I really need to know is what version would be best for a prescription based service?

Also, does Intuit offer any type of Scheduling program that works with QuickBooks? I need the scheduler to keep track of service visits then when they are marked complete to add them to an invoice to be printed. My current program does this. All I have to do is generate invoice and it will add all service charges since last generated invoice.

I just downloaded the customer manager software and if I can find a scheduler to work, I can get rid of my current software. As of now I am thinking the customer manager will keep track of all communications with customer, and QuickBooks Pro will keep accounting and possibly billing (if I ditch the other program). If not then I will be forced to use the 3rd program for scheduling and billing purposes.

[gibbo]

Just a thought. Does your current software do the job well, except for the fact that you then have to enter invoices into QuickBooks. If so, (and I assume they do not have a way to integrate directly), can it export the information either to a csv file or to Excel? It may be possible to continue using the current software and to produce entries into QuickBooks.

[Joey]

In answer to your original question, I would suggest using the Pro or higher version of the 2006 version as soon as it comes out in December. You've held off this long already and if you purchase 2005 now, it's already a year old in terms of support and especially if you're going to have payroll. Intuit only supports the last three years' versions so it will drop the 2003 version in April 2006.
Below is the link for the QuickBooks Solutions Marketplace. You can locate other programs that will work with the QuickBooks program. See if you can find what you're looking for there.

http://marketplace.intuit.com/

[soupy]

Thanks for the replies.. The current software works, but I was just wondering if there was a built in scheduler a version of QuickBooks that I did not know of.

My current software is specific to my industry and it does have a QuickBooks link. It use to transfer data using IIF files (a huge headache), but they finally upgraded and are using a more stable method (so they say). The only problem is I have to upgrade to a newer version of QB for this new method to work. As I was looking around I seen the customer manager and thought maybe it could take the place of my current software and I would feel better as to how data was sync with QB. But unfortunately it only has an appointment book and not a scheduler.

I will stick with what I have. I was hoping to ditch the 3rd party software, but until Intuit comes up with a scheduler, I'm stuck.