Question for hot dog cart/truck folks...

My question is this, do any of you use any computer programs to track your sales and like?? And if so, which do you use and what does each program offer that makes it the right one for you???? I am interested in keeping a very above board informative biz. So i would like to hear from the more experienced. Oh and speaking of more experienced.... At what point in the morn. do you decide if you go or don't go when weather is iffy??? I made a very bad call today and have been beating myself up most of the day!!

I to am interested in this question. How far do the successful business people go to make sure they are making the money they think they are? Do you ever do inventory, and cost out the menu, know how much to pay in taxes, keep track of product mixes, or know exactly how many of what you sold. Hope not to many stupid questions at once.

quote:

Originally posted by ShellysDawgHouse

My question is this, do any of you use any computer programs to track your sales and like??

I use NextPOS, Shelly. I don't think it will work for you, unless you are using a cash register. It tracks my sales by any parameters you might want. It also makes closing the register a breeze.

no i don't use a register. but thanks. As a matter of fact i was in such a rush this morn. I actually put my money box on my truck and drove off. Got to my spot and set up and went to look for the box and it was NOT where i put it and i panicked and then remembered putting somewhere i NEVER (until today) put the box. and i had NO money to start, i lost 100.00 bucks and the money box my mom used 30yrs ago, oh and the notebook i keep with my days in it!!!! Now can anyone else beat that STUPID!!!STUPID MOVE??? What a bummer.

quote:

Originally posted by ShellysDawgHouse

no i don't use a register. but thanks. As a matter of fact i was in such a rush this morn. I actually put my money box on my truck and drove off. Got to my spot and set up and went to look for the box and it was NOT where i put it and i panicked and then remembered putting somewhere i NEVER (until today) put the box. and i had NO money to start, i lost 100.00 bucks and the money box my mom used 30yrs ago, oh and the notebook i keep with my days in it!!!! Now can anyone else beat that STUPID!!!STUPID MOVE??? What a bummer.

In my taxi service, I had a driver that would not turn his cash in on a nightly basis.

That is until the day he left the cash bag on the roof of his car at a gas station and drove off. He got back to the station about 2 minutes later after remembering and the cash bag was still there right on the ground where it fell.... Empty of course.

He had to pay back over $750. He then realized it was easier to turn the $ in nightly.

Shelly

Have you ever used microsoft excel??

You can set up your own spread sheet, and track everything you need.

I have one set up for my BBQ biz, I set it up and now can easily see what I have spent - What I am taking in. It definately makes taxes easier.

CajunKing,
thank the Gods that i went to the bank ystday and although i am NOT happy i lost anything, the 100.00 was ALOT better then what it could have been!!! I usually make the same moves every single day. I NEVER do that i go directly to my truck and put it in and lock the doors. I cannot believe what i did!! I can tell ya this, it will NEVER happen again!!! as i said the book and the box are more important at this pt.
Oh and i will try excel. (I think i have that. Not too computer smart. )

Excel can be great cause you can create anything you want and add on, although the down fall is you have to know the basics of excel and know everything you want for your business while you are running your business, every formula has to be correct and if you mess up, you end up with hours of trouble shooting to correct and reprogram. There are great small business software packages out there that are already created for business.
MYOB Accounting http://www.myob-us.com/products/

Quickbooks http://quickbooks.intuit.com/

Peachtree Accounting http://www.peachtree.com/PeachtreeAccountingLine/First/
They are a old software company and have a variety of software for business accounting. I put the link for the basic software. If you click on products your going to find a large variety. They also have a side by side comparison.

I found Peachtree to be a pain, but it's been a good 10 years since I've played with it. Quickbooks is a fairly simple yet powerful program. They'll send you a free cd (well they used to), to let you play before you buy. MYOB I've never toyed with, yet have heard a lot of people using it from reading other forums, and they seemed fairly happy with it.

Shelly:
i use Excel and find it very handy. what U need to do is break all u'r food costs down, under one catagory, paper products, condiments, ice and propane, truck fuel. It is simple, u can then use the systrem to upgrade u'r daily costs vs cash flow and u have it made.
genewj

I used quick books for my taxi/courier service & I do use it for BBQ. (great for invoicing)

I still use my excel spreadsheets. excel you can usually find on most computers preloaded so there is no extra cost

Thanks all i will try

Hi Shelly, There is a FREE POS program on the web, Type into your browser, Free POS program, The guy's name is Dale Harris. I use it in my Gift Business and it can be used for restraunts, and have parking capablity. that's for people who run tabs, so you can do other sales right away.
You need a computor & printer. If you cannot find the program I'll get the URL. Sorry about the loss. I had a young girl helping me, One day I caught her stealing $60.00 from my till. She denied it and I let her go. No loss after that. Later Cowboy Bob in PA

The best thing I found to use was a solidly-made cigar box. No paper, no ink, no snoopy people asking to see your tapes. As for keeping track of inventory, I found the point and count method fairly reliable. We are talking vending carts and vans here, aren't we?

Dale Harriss' Free Software

http://pages.prodigy.net/daleharris/
RJF

kensandyeggo,
Yes we are talking carts/vans. I used a nice little metal box my mom used 30 yrs ago, if you read the post u would see i left it on my truck and drove away. GONE. and the little box i kept everything in GONE. As far as the program goes, why would i NOT want to know actually what i am making? and no matter what uncle sam is gonna get his. give to him now or give it to him later. So my post were NOT out there, unreasonable, stupid or whatever. Valid, very valid.

Richard,
Thank you for your help.

We're talking a Business. Quickest way to lose a business is to be casual with it. RJF

agreed. Richard. It is a business and needs to be treated as such. whether it is out of a store, cart, van whatever, it is a biz.

O.K., O.K. I'm sorry!! I wasn't saying anyone was stupid for Pete's sake.

ok you are forgiven.

quote:

Originally posted by kensandyeggo

O.K., O.K. I'm sorry!! I wasn't saying anyone was stupid for Pete's sake.

I never took it that way either, just soaking in your valuable input! Thanks!!

Something I thought I would add on Harriss' POS software. He wrote it for himself when he was doing locksmith work. It is written to run on DOS which is the oldest operating system for small computers. You can get the least expensive computer to run it as a cash register. He is constantly updating it and has add a section to print orders to the back kitchen on a small network. He has a whole forum devoted to this free program. RJF