Hi all,

just wondering how you guys manage your clients.

I got fed up of using access to manage my clients so I decided to make an online database using php/mySQL. This way, I can invoice/bill my clients automatically and have a transaction history etc.

Only 50% finished, but the main part is working. Will post a demo once its stable for the newbies out there that are still using pen and paper :D

You should include a new program out on the market, ModernBill:

www.modernbill.com

Ok guys,

managed to get a stable demo of my client manager up and running. Its programmed in php/MySQL, so once I've finished it, it will be very easy to customize.

Please note, this is only a demo version. It is FAR from complete. That is why I'm allowing access to this demo version so that I can get comments and suggestions on what to add and how to improve it, so any feedback is much appreciated.

You can access the Client Manager here (No login required at the moment): http://www.taysoft.com/demo/

Your clients can login to their Account Manager here: http://www.taysoft.com/demo/clients/

I've also added a demo signup script here: http://www.taysoft.com/demo/order.php

I've still to finalize the layout, so I apologize if it looks a bit untidy :D

Once you've given it a try, please offer some feedback so I can improve it. I am working on adding a support ticket system to it just now, but the main part (client database) is working.

Thanks in advance :)

This is almost identical to the system we created, but in its infancy. Like you, we originally had an "invoice client" button. You'll find that once you get 50+ clients...this is very tedious and time consuming. What we have now is a date range finder...and we can invoice all clients that fall within that date range automatically.

Good luck! If you want to see our version, let me know.

PS: You DO have the order form automatically add your customers to your database, right? Just wondering, because I saw the "add client" button.

--Tina

Oh, you should have them sorted by date too. The ones that are due now (or soon) being at the top.

--Tina

...and another thing. :) It's an extremely bad idea to store passwords online, in a database. Especially if they are totally unencrypted...like the demo ones are.

We don't even keep user passwords on file ANYWHERE.

--Tina

I'm actually thinking of adding an automactic invoice once the client reaches the invoice date so I don't have to click anything.

I was wondering, in your last post, you recommended not to store any of your clients passwords. If so, how do your clients login to their account manager to see their details?

What do you recommend I do? add encryption?

Edit: Oh, just to add. When someone places an order through the order form, yes their details get added automatically. It then shows up as a pending client when you access the client manager.

We authenticate our "Members Login" through this page:

http://www.affordablehost.com/members.html

It checks the servers to see if there is actually a hosting account for that user (checks against the mySQL database login information - as each hosting account has a mySQL database setup). If it finds one that matches, it logs them into the customer record for that domain/user.

Make sense?

--Tina

OK, what I'm going to change so far:

- automatic invoicing
- custom invoicing
- sort transaction dates in descending order
- more secure password management :D

Anything else?

Thanks :)

I'm just wondering...I don't know anything about scripting or MySQL databases or anything. I need a script made for me or someone can point me in the right direction to a really really easy script to install. Here's what I want:

Ability for client to submit trouble ticket on our site
Ability for all employees to read/answer trouble ticket online
Store history of clients' trouble tickets
And have a database in general of clients with Name, Phone, etc.

Can anyone do that, or point me in a direction. Does anyone have any idea as to how much this would cost?

Mines is FAR from complete, so, unless you're willing to wait :stickout

Seriously though, there are quite a lot of management programs/scripts out there, you just have to look.

They range from free up to ubersmith :D

inoverse:

Free - http://www.perldesk.com/

Cheap - http://www.phpsupportdesk.com/

Full featured - http://www.deskpro.com/

- John

Ok, I will be integrating CPanel commands into it as well so clients can add/modify pop accounts, forwarders etc.

I haven't used Plesk before though. Is anyone able to help me with this?

Thanks :)

OK, I've added/modified the following to the client manager since my last post:

- Search Client by ID/Username/Domain
- Statistics showing number of clients and total income
- Sorted the transactions to show in descending order by date
- Added edit email function to allow you to, well, edit the emails sent to your clients :D
- Added send message function, allowing you to email someone or mass mail all your clients.

I've still to add the support system to it though.

Please let me know what else I've missed out :D

P.S For all those people that have given my demo a try (I get around 25 unique hits to it per day), please offer some feedback. This is the reason I'm making this post and letting people try it out - so I can get feedback and improve it :D

Oh! Sort by actual name as well. You'd be surprised how many people ask for a list of all their accounts.

--Tina

How do you mean? An option in the view clients section to search for all accounts with the same name?

Yeah, like in mine - if I type a person's name...it pulls up a list of all the accounts for that person.

--Tina

hehe, you've not given me access to your admin section yet (hint hint) :stickout

nah, seriously though, it sounds a really good idea, will add it 2moro. I've also managed to get the scripts off a colleauge to integrate it with WHM for auto setup :D

So, thats CPanel, WHM, PayPal support and maybe WorldPay if i decide to signup :D

Anything else to add? If you suggest other cc gateways or cp's, don't suppose you could give me some help as I've never any others apart from the above.

Thanks Tina :cool:

Ok guys, i've finished the support system and added login for admins and support admins.

This is a full support ticket system with admin ticket assignment etc

Please take a look at the software and tell me if there is anything else I need to add.

If there isn't, I will add password encryption for security and add cpanel support for the clients and some other bits and pieces to tidy it up then finalize it for release.

If I have the time, I might add whm support in time for the release, if not, i'll make it an update as well as integration with paypal, 2checkout, revecom and worldpay.

Had a little think about prices. How does the following sound?

Basic: $20 - Supplied as is with no support. Includes 1 years free updates.

Standard: $30 - Includes initial setup support and 1 years free updates.

Full: $40 - Includes initial setup support, any additional support queries and free updates for the first year.

Optional Extras:
1 Years support - $20
1 Years updates - $20

Too expensive? Too cheap? Please let me know, and how much you think I should charge :D

Access Details:

Client Manager: http://phpmanager.taysoft.com/demo/
user: admin
pass: admin

Account manager (for your clients): http://phpmanager.taysoft.com/demo/clients/

user/pass: create an account then login as the client.

Please note: The account manager has still got some work to be done such as cpanel commands etc, so it is limited in functionality at the moment, but will be fully functional on release.

Thanks :D

Edit: Forgot to add. I also have created a signup script that automatically adds the client details to your database, waiting for your activation. This will be linked in with WHM.