Mac Accounting/Client Software - Client Tracking, Billing Hours, Invoicing?

January 13, 2005 9:44 AM

[FreelanceFilter] My wife is about to launch her freelance design (web, print, flash, branding) business. Never having done this, and being Mac-people, we were looking for a recommendation on a good accounting/client software package. Something that would allow client tracking, billing hours and invoicing would be helpful. What are you guys using?
posted by TeamBilly to Computers & Internet (13 answers total)

iBiz and iBank by iggsoftware are very nice for just this sort of thing.
posted by annathea at 9:48 AM on January 13, 2005

If you were a PC person, I'd wholeheartedly recommend QuickBooks. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if they've got a Mac version, or if you have software that allows you to run PC software on your Mac.
posted by icey at 9:50 AM on January 13, 2005

Response by poster: Actually, we're both, and I thought of QuickBooks. But I wondered if there was something tailored specifically to freelancers.
posted by TeamBilly at 9:52 AM on January 13, 2005

FWIW, I am a freelancer, and it does everything I need (tracking of hours, invoicing, banking, followups for billings, etc)
posted by icey at 9:53 AM on January 13, 2005

There is a Mac version of QuickBooks.
posted by modofo at 10:00 AM on January 13, 2005

There is a Mac version of QuickBooks.
Here's the link for QuickBooks Pro 2005 for the Macintosh. ($300 list price)
posted by WestCoaster at 10:42 AM on January 13, 2005

I have used Studiometry, and it's a good app that will probably cover what you're looking for, in terms of invoicing and tracking clients, projects and time. I never delved deeply into its accounting facilities, though, but the webpage implies that it has some kind of accounting side to it.
posted by chrismear at 10:46 AM on January 13, 2005

For what it's worth, I think Quickbooks is awful.

I've never used iWork/iBiz, but I have heard good things.
posted by jragon at 12:45 PM on January 13, 2005

I am a designer and I use timefox (by functionfox) for tracking my time. It is web based so I can enter time from the road, and I like the reports it lets me generate. It is very convenient to use, which is good because if it was harder to use I would not record my time accurately.

I use quickbooks for the rest of the accounting stuff.
posted by alball at 12:54 PM on January 13, 2005

I've goofed around with iBiz (ex iWork). I like it pretty well, but there are a few oddball aspects to my work situation that would involve an inordinate amount of wrasslin' to make it work. But she should look at it--nice setup and cheap.
posted by adamrice at 2:47 PM on January 13, 2005

I see it's been said a bunch, I'm all for Quickbooks too. I also run my own freelance illustration biz as well. If I can be of any assistance about getting her feet off the ground, please let me know. (email me at [e-mail])
posted by Hands of Manos at 3:53 PM on January 13, 2005

MYOB has AccountEdge (and the introductory FirstEdge for one- or two-person businesses).

I bought FirstEdge based on good reviews, but I, errr, haven't actually used it much.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:32 PM on January 13, 2005

I'll second MYOB. I use it for exactly the purposes you state and I'm in a design studio. Email is in my profile if you want more info.
posted by tellurian at 11:09 PM on January 17, 2005