Does anyone have a suggestion for a designers control panel? Something to handle the basic trouble tickets, invoices, etc.?

Can you elabarate what you meant by "desginers control panel"?

Do you mean a "web designers control panel" like for a customer to login and view/create tickets and maintain billing? If so, I have never heard of one, and it sounds like it could be a useful product.

Check out PHPCollab, there are plenty out there.

I've heard some good reviews of BillingOrchard (http://www.billingorchard.com/), though some might not like the fact that it's hosted by a third party.

It handles billing & has an addon (with added fees.. extra $10/month I think) for trouble-tickets.

Ryan

PHPCollab is kind of what I was looking for. It basically can manage a design team, and is easy to install.