mookaloid
|
| posted on 24/5/14 at 05:44 PM |
|
|
mobile computing question
I have a friend who is setting up a mobile tyre fitting business.
He wants to be able to produce proper printed VAT invoices and take card payments all from his van.
He has a 240v inverter so can power a printer and a laptop.
Ideally he would like to be able to enter the sale details into the computer, on some sort of accounts package, print the invoice and/or receipt and
having done that, have the accounts automatically upload so that his accountant can have permanent cloud access to what is going on.
we are not sure if it is better to have a Card machine or web payments on the laptop for card payments.
I am not certain how to overcome issues with poor mobile internet for card machines etc.
Any suggestions as to hardware - (a suitable rugged printer etc) or software/accounts solutions would be greatly appreciated
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
|
|
|
|
|
prawnabie
|
| posted on 24/5/14 at 08:16 PM |
|
|
It might be worth him talking to a snap on or mac tools/britool agent to see what they use.
|
|
|
stevebubs
|
| posted on 24/5/14 at 10:46 PM |
|
|
There's a variety of Mobile Card Payment machines out there for the payment side...most rely on GPRS...you'd be hard pressed to find a
mobile signal *without* GPRS at least in the UK, now - I think...
for the rest, Excel + Google Drive would be a cheap option..?
[Edited on 24/5/14 by stevebubs]
|
|
|
craig1410
|
| posted on 25/5/14 at 11:29 AM |
|
|
If I was your friend I would use a handwritten duplicate book for invoice/receipts and this little gadget for Chip & Pin payments.
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/HC065ZM/A/payleven-chip-and-pin-bluetooth-card-reader
As long as you have WiFi or cellular data (eg. via his mobile) available, this will work and with fewer moving parts. You might want to think about a
backup payment method in case of no mobile signal.
At the end of each day he could enter the invoice details into a spreadsheet and reconcile against a report from the chip and pin terminal. Then
just staple together the paperwork and archive it for future auditing purposes.
No point making the process of taking money any more complex than it needs to be. Using printers is always a weak link in my experience.
C.
|
|
|
mookaloid
|
| posted on 25/5/14 at 12:09 PM |
|
|
I found this https://www.izettle.com/gb does this look ok to you guys?
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
|
|
|
stevebubs
|
| posted on 25/5/14 at 04:30 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by craig1410
If I was your friend I would use a handwritten duplicate book for invoice/receipts and this little gadget for Chip & Pin payments.
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/HC065ZM/A/payleven-chip-and-pin-bluetooth-card-reader
As long as you have WiFi or cellular data (eg. via his mobile) available, this will work and with fewer moving parts. You might want to think about a
backup payment method in case of no mobile signal.
Or buy it from anywhere but Apple and get the same thing for market rate instead of RRP - i.e. 10-20% less.... 
quote:
At the end of each day he could enter the invoice details into a spreadsheet and reconcile against a report from the chip and pin terminal. Then
just staple together the paperwork and archive it for future auditing purposes.
No point making the process of taking money any more complex than it needs to be. Using printers is always a weak link in my experience.
Fully agree there - KISS...
|
|
|
craig1410
|
| posted on 25/5/14 at 04:41 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
Or buy it from anywhere but Apple and get the same thing for market rate instead of RRP - i.e. 10-20% less....
I only mentioned Apple because originally they had an exclusive deal to bring the payleven system to the UK. Back then it was £99 for the unit and
even that was a bargain at the time. Now it's just £59 I wouldn't even bother wasting time looking elsewhere as you might save a few quid
if you're lucky. If you then require any support or a warranty claim then those few quid won't seem so important as getting your business
payments system back on track asap. Apple certainly have more experience of supporting the unit than anyone due to the initial exclusivity and I think
they use a similar device in the stores themselves.
However, if you want to save £0.96 you can get it from screwfix.com for £58.99 and I've seen it on online shops which I've never heard of
for as low as £49.99.
Cheers,
Craig.
|
|
|
blakep82
|
| posted on 25/5/14 at 04:42 PM |
|
|
Thermal reciept printer for invoices? Thats what autoglass had in his van, a long reciept, but does the job
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
|
|
|
