This section of the forum is for discussing the business and finance issues of the t-shirt industry. Which business structure to use (sole proprietor, LLC, S Corp, etc), how to handle billing, where to register your business and get the proper licensing, etc.
I was at Office Depot yesterday looking for a program that I can do all my record keeping with, because I am getting tired of Access.
I saw he quickbooks sections and looked over a few of them and saw one for manufacturing and wholesale with a price tag of 400 dollars(us). Then I saw a quickbooks pro for 200 dollars. they both looke dpretty good but I dont know if the 400 dollar one is worth the extra cash and or if the pro will have everything i need. I like the fact that you can build BOM's (bills of material) for items so is will take out the blank stock and put it in finished product inventory as well as any other parts that go with the item. It does all the other record keeping things too but didnt see a real big difference in the two. Does anyone use this version? What version of quickbokks are you guys/gals using?
They have a 60 day money back guarantee, if I dotn like it I can return it and get full refund... maybe I shall try that. I jus tdont want to deal with the hassle of a return and waiting for a refund if it isnt right away. What do you think?
Are you going to be 'building' new items by combining existing inventory items or are you just going to be buying/selling things as they come in?
I'm using the manufacturing and wholesale edition. It does not understand the simple concept that a particular item like a shirt comes in different sizes and colors. (Apparently the $$$$$ Point of Sale version does?) I ended up building a superset of inventory items that consists of a code of shirt type, color and size. I created tables in access, then ran a report that created the superset of all combinations, exported it to Excel, then used a custom import into Quickbooks. I also built a superset of services by design and color combinations. I can then enter my purchase orders in a way that when I receive them, they automatically update the unfinished inventory.
Since I'm an embroiderer, I then needed some way to create products that are the combination of design and color along with garment type, color and size. To do this, I basically build a new 'inventory assembly' that consists of the service (design and color combo) and inventory part (garment type, color and size).
When I actually create a garment, I go into Quickbooks and 'build' an assembly with the above info.
It's cumbersome, but it seems to be working so far, I just started using it in January.
I spent several days reading the Quickbooks forums, if there is a better way to do something like this, I haven't found it.
Are you going to be 'building' new items by combining existing inventory items or are you just going to be buying/selling things as they come in?
I'm using the manufacturing and wholesale edition. It does not understand the simple concept that a particular item like a shirt comes in different sizes and colors. (Apparently the $$$$$ Point of Sale version does?) I ended up building a superset of inventory items that consists of a code of shirt type, color and size. I created tables in access, then ran a report that created the superset of all combinations, exported it to Excel, then used a custom import into Quickbooks. I also built a superset of services by design and color combinations. I can then enter my purchase orders in a way that when I receive them, they automatically update the unfinished inventory.
Since I'm an embroiderer, I then needed some way to create products that are the combination of design and color along with garment type, color and size. To do this, I basically build a new 'inventory assembly' that consists of the service (design and color combo) and inventory part (garment type, color and size).
When I actually create a garment, I go into Quickbooks and 'build' an assembly with the above info.
It's cumbersome, but it seems to be working so far, I just started using it in January.
I spent several days reading the Quickbooks forums, if there is a better way to do something like this, I haven't found it.
I am going to combine existing inventory then sell.
I have part numbers for all my different items so i just wanted it to take out the BOM when I sold each item. Maybe I am trying to make it harder than it needs to be. But it seems like you have to do a lot of work with access to make it work anyways. Is that right?
I wish I could use the program i use here at work for manufacturing, sales and record keeping.
Are you going to be 'building' new items by combining existing inventory items or are you just going to be buying/selling things as they come in?
I'm using the manufacturing and wholesale edition. It does not understand the simple concept that a particular item like a shirt comes in different sizes and colors. (Apparently the $$$$$ Point of Sale version does?) I ended up building a superset of inventory items that consists of a code of shirt type, color and size. I created tables in access, then ran a report that created the superset of all combinations, exported it to Excel, then used a custom import into Quickbooks. I also built a superset of services by design and color combinations. I can then enter my purchase orders in a way that when I receive them, they automatically update the unfinished inventory.
Since I'm an embroiderer, I then needed some way to create products that are the combination of design and color along with garment type, color and size. To do this, I basically build a new 'inventory assembly' that consists of the service (design and color combo) and inventory part (garment type, color and size).
When I actually create a garment, I go into Quickbooks and 'build' an assembly with the above info.
It's cumbersome, but it seems to be working so far, I just started using it in January.
I spent several days reading the Quickbooks forums, if there is a better way to do something like this, I haven't found it.
That sounds very complicated, but probably needed. How do you find time to do the embroidery?
Quickbooks is for the mom and pop business. Pro is a little more advanced. I would doublecheck the Costco Pro, it might be just the update. My wife uses Quickbooks 2007, and Accountants addition for her business and she says if you can get the Pro cheeper than the regular, buy the Pro. Make sure they are the full version and not any update.
You can also set up your inventory directly in Quickbooks rather than in acess then to excel then back into Quickbooks. Do an inventory account of Small t shirts then a sub account of colors. Then do an account of M tshirts with a sub account of colors--so on a nd so forth.
Last edited by WWinstin; April 22nd, 2008 at 03:56 PM.
That sounds very complicated, but probably needed. How do you find time to do the embroidery?
I have time to do the embroidery now because I spent about 2 weeks getting Quickbooks set up the way I needed to at the start. If I had to do all that now, I'd probably have just stayed with Access.
Good thing I did it when I did! We just picked up an entire organizations team warmups and spirit-wear. We're gonna be busy for the next couple of months
What qucikbooks version do you use? 
I jus tdont want to deal with the hassle of a return and waiting for a refund if it isnt right away. What do you think?
