Well they *(%# me off for the last time. I use to be able to not require there updates since I was fine with the older model I hade. NOW they Locked me out of my program without updating. spend 3k and you have to keep buying into there crap this cloud based software is a scam. What estimating company has a one time cost?
Done with Mccromick terrible
- Thread starter AC\DC
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ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Same with almost all software anymore. Glad I saved my old Excel.
curt swartz
Senior Member
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
In the "old" days new versions of software often had new features that users wanted so were willing to pay for upgrades. Now most people are fine with the older version so don't upgrade. In order to keep the $$$ coming in the software companies decided to require annual subscriptions if you want to keep the software working.
I have used Quickbooks including the payroll service for 25+ years. I purchased the software with 1 year of payroll service. at the end of the year Intuit would charge a substantial fee for the next year of payroll service but did not require a software update every year. Usually only every few years did they require the update. After the first year I figured out I could buy the newest version of the software from Amazon, Costco, etc. that includes 1 year of payroll for about half of what intuit wanted to charge just for the payroll. The only issue is I had to call Intuit support to transfer the payroll service but the savings was worth the call. Now I'm stuck paying Intuit the full price for software and payroll every year.
I have used Quickbooks including the payroll service for 25+ years. I purchased the software with 1 year of payroll service. at the end of the year Intuit would charge a substantial fee for the next year of payroll service but did not require a software update every year. Usually only every few years did they require the update. After the first year I figured out I could buy the newest version of the software from Amazon, Costco, etc. that includes 1 year of payroll for about half of what intuit wanted to charge just for the payroll. The only issue is I had to call Intuit support to transfer the payroll service but the savings was worth the call. Now I'm stuck paying Intuit the full price for software and payroll every year.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
My last access to any of the QB data still on my PC ends in a month. I believe it was about one year after subscription expired. I can only access a bit of it now.
mtnelect
HVAC & Electrical Contractor
- Location
- Southern California
- Occupation
- Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
For me, it's always included in "Overhead Expenses", the customer pays for it all. I also have QuickBooks for everything, including a custom "Flat Rate Book" made over the years. Then once a year apply global percentage increase to keep up with inflation.
curt swartz
Senior Member
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Its still an expense you are incurring. You could charge the customer the same price if you didn't pay for annual upgrades of your software and put the money in your pocket.
letgomywago
Senior Member
- Location
- Washington state and Oregon coast
- Occupation
- residential electrician
They still have labor unit books it's slower to do it that way though.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
My grandma used to pay this guy to come buy once a month and spray for bugs. She also had this lady that would come by and clean the house every week. She would go to the same hairdresser once a week and get a curl up and dye. They all got paid by check. A check was a piece of paper that you would use to pay people instead of cash. Cash was a piece of paper, or more correctly multiple pieces of paper, that you would carry in your wallet or purse.
mtnelect
HVAC & Electrical Contractor
- Location
- Southern California
- Occupation
- Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
? Trying to correlate that to estimating software?
letgomywago
Senior Member
- Location
- Washington state and Oregon coast
- Occupation
- residential electrician
He's justifying subscription services in general. Your complaint is that it's a recent push to do subscription versions of old non subscription software which I do agree is a different type of comparison.
Eddie702
Licensed Electrician
- Location
- Western Massachusetts
- Occupation
- Electrician
Thanks for reminding me. I just got my 2024 bill. $176. I can remember when it was 40 or 45 dollars
curt swartz
Senior Member
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I just received my notice today stating I could renew at the old rate before 01/21/2024 but when I logged in I'm already paid through 07/31/2024.
Last renewal was $388.00 for a 3-M 11" X 5.5". Doesn't show what new rate will be.
ramsy
NoFixNoPay Electric
- Location
- LA basin, CA
- Occupation
- Service Electrician
In 1990's college, I started toying with functions on a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet, and eventually figured out how to save ledger records to a CSV file. Modern open-source spreadsheets can print reports & statements from that exported CSV file, which works great for my bookkeeping & taxes, but never needed estimating or payroll for a one-man show.
My 2022 version of the bookkeeping spreadsheet was shared with a Lotus 1-2-3 for Linux community.
123 Example Spreadsheet & Graphs · taviso 123elf · Discussion #111
Is this good place to share accounting spreadsheet developed on 123, and tested on 123elf ? Lots of graph examples, 123 macro / functions, & methods of external file access.
github.com
ramsy
NoFixNoPay Electric
- Location
- LA basin, CA
- Occupation
- Service Electrician
Here is one review of bookkeeping software in the wild, not all Open Source, that attempt Payroll & Bookkeeping.
The 10 Best Accounting Software for Linux
If you run a business, a farm, or a firm, you have to manage your finances using accounting software. Most people take care of finances by hiring an accountant or manage their finances using accounting software. There are several excellent open-source accounting software out there.
www.fosslinux.com
Unfortunately security issues are more mystery for private software, and cloud based things like SQL-Ledger geared for commercial businesses, unless disclosed by Terms Of Service, as done by Microsoft, Apple, & Google clouds.
Plenty of excellent software & cloud-based programs exist without Open Source code, but Linux distributions try to maintain App stores that remove nefarious proprietary programs, not otherwise subject to open source peer review.
After Taviso's 123elf found a way to resurrect Lotus 1-2-3, a System76 Mini got mounted on back of my monitor to share work with Windows. While the LibreOffice suite requires community-forum help to figure out advanced functions, there is good company with enterprise IT preferring Open Source for cost & security of joining whistle blowers to examine & improve Open Source code in public domains.
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