one of my clients used Zervant for free invoicing until today when it seems the access to sending most of his invoicing has been blocked, which appears to relate to them pushing him down the subscription route! The issue has been raised with their tech team, but a response is awaited. The fact that they keep changing their plans and adding restrictions is not helping the desire to stay, regardless!
He is now looking for new software, preferably free (I know, you get what you pay for!!).
He invoices about 60 regular invoices a month, some recurring amounts, plus about another 20 or so during the month on an ad hoc basis. All in the service industry, will require a 3-4 lines for different services. VAT registered Limited company.
All my other clients tend to use their accounting software, although with this one he would prefer separation.
Any recommendations please folks? I know its been covered before, but a lot has changed in the market generally since it was last mentioned methinks!
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
I don't have any specific suggestions, but a couple of points might be worth clarifying. Having done a quick search and found Zervant, it appears to be cloudy - does he need to run online, or would he be happy with an actual piece of software running on his computer? It allows invoices to be emailed directly to customers or downloaded (as PDF files). Does he use its email facility, or does he use the download option and do something with them manually (such as printing and posting them or, eg, attaching them to an email manually with other data/info/items)?
It has a customer database - which is logical, but in some cases it's possible to manage without; does he use it, or does he manage without? (Eg keying customer details into each invoice as necessary - although recurring invoices should obviously carry forward the same customer details etc from one to the next). Similarly, does he make use of the product database? What about estimating and quoting?
Knowing exactly what he uses of Zervant, and how, might help narrow down the possibilities (if anyone can think of any).
__________________
Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
Hi Vince Sorry got sidetracked at the appalling lack of a real response from Zervant, which just popped up into my email stack as I logged on to here.
The **** response Thanks for getting in touch. As of our pricing update on 23rd September 2019, its no longer possible to invoice more than your 10 most recently added customers on the Zervant Free plan. We understand that some of our pricing update changes may be inconvenient, but we are working hard to continue to offer our software for free. However, in doing so, we must commit ourselves to a sustainable business model that guarantees that we have the economic opportunity to continue to offer our customers a well-rounded, functioning product. We strongly believe in helping entrepreneurs succeed with our software. However, we also hope that our customers appreciate the time- and effort-savings enabled by our software, and that they are willing to pay a small price for the wide range of functions we provide.
What? This is the first Ive heard. Had I received the notice I wouldve had one weeks notice before I next logged in!!!! Bloody ridiculous and appalling service. Anyway I digress. To, hopefully, answer soem of your Qs.
- It doesnt need to be cloudy
- invoice directly - preferable. In zervant it doesnt save with customer info just an invoice number and amount,.
- downloadable - preferable, as well as emailable. Ive learnt the hard way in the past. If you dont download them, when you move invoicing software you lose them. This was an issue with zervant early doors when client moved from s/trader to limited so a separate email was required to re-set their access. Bonkers I know, but fortunately I just downloaded the lot and saved them in dropbox for my client.
- Manual process - no print/post. If needed to be added to an email later (eg I do for credit control, I just grab them from the downloaded version in dropbox)
- Customer database in invoicing software not used. Got one myself.
- No need for product database, no need for estimating/quoting. Just pure invoicing - all services.
It has been suggested I look at Sliq ($63 per year). Also Quickfile (free for 1000 nominal ledge count per annum - would be ok as only for invoicing). Or I could sell him a QuickBooks plan at a discount (shame we are part way through the financial year else I would just do his books onthat - tempting, but costly for him in my time to move it all from sage). No not invoicing from sage!
Thanks for your comments.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Might be worth looking at Pandle's free option and just use it as an invoicing program. Only drawback is if you have an additional login you have to switch to the paid option which is £5 + VAT a month. (£2.50 if you pay for it and rebill him)
I have been using zervant temporarily for my CIS bod before I found the original sliq download, and he received an email on 23/8 about the pricing changes.
__________________
John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
Hi John
Thanks - will take a proper look. Just tried to email them to ensure there is no restriction on the number of invoices on their free version. Only needs one login so thats all good.
Zervant have tried to say they emailed me on 23/08 and 9/09 but I keep on top of my emails and the spam box and all Ive had is their junk marketing ones - I keep them all!!!!!!!!! Bloody nerve/piece of carp.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Hi Joanne I've been using Adminsoft free software and few of our customers were happy with that so far. That is not a cloud software . It is free and their support team seems to be quite responsive . There is a one-off donation welcomed but I never had a chance to support them which is a shame really. It does not look user-friendly but it gets you there where it should . Hope that may help.
