New iPad Express Invoice App

Now available in the iTunes store is the brand new iPad version of Express Invoice, providing a new portable and easy invoicing solution for business people on the go. Create and send invoices, quotes and estimates, automate recurring invoices and payment past due reminders, plus access up-to-the-minute statements and reports all from the convenience of your iPad.

Sales and business people who are always on the move and spend more time with customers than at their desk won't want to miss out on the convenience of the express invoice iPad app. And for a more comprehensive solution including support for multiple users, multiple businesses and remote access, be sure to check out the desktop versions of this popular invoicing software.

W is for Web Access

NCH Software ABCs Series

Web Access is a feature of freedom. Using the web access feature on many of our business software programs including Express Invoice invoicing software, Express Accounts bookkeeping software or Inventoria inventory management software allows businesses to provide multiple users with access to the program's data and features. Users can log in remotely from other computers or mobile devices with internet access. So you can update inventory levels from the warehouse or send an invoice while on road. So you don't need to be chained to your desk to get things done, a freedom many small business owners can appreciate.

Web access isn't limited to business products; with DesktopNow you can also set up easy access to your home PC computer so you can have access to all your files, plus desktop viewing and control, when you are away from home. So you don't have to worry about forgetting a file on a flash drive, if you don't have something you need you can simply log into your computer from wherever you are to upload or download files from your home machine. Peace of mind coming in the shape of a small software program.

<<< Previous: V is for Video

Next: X is for eXpress >>>

Ring Up the Sale

Managing the checkout process for your customers and your business has never been easier thanks to Copper point of sale software. Copper works like a cash register. You just add your products and prices into Copper and you're ready to start selling. When a customer purchases your products, just select them from the item list, and Copper automatically adds the appropriate sales tax, totals the sale, and generates a receipt for your customer.

From accepting multiple types of payments on one transaction to handling coupons, refunds and exchanges, Copper streamlines the entire checkout process, making it easy and convenient for you and your customers.

Coupons

If you use coupons in your promotions, add those to Copper and when a customer presents a coupon, select that during the transaction and the total is adjusted. The value of the coupon can be either a set amount or a percentage of the sale. "The problem the users have is realizing they can use a coupon to create a discount. They keep saying they want to apply some percentage discount to the total sale, and they can actually easily do this just by making an X% coupon. I�m not sure why they can�t make that connection"

Refunds

For those times when a customer returns an item for a refund, Copper has an easy way to process that refund. You can refund individual items or the entire transaction.

Reports

To help keep track of your sales, Copper provides a variety of reports that will show you the transactions for a given period, how much each of your salespeople have sold, the total taxes you've collected and more.

So if you're a retailer who needs an easy-to-use, but powerful tool to help you manage the customer checkout process, be sure to try Copper point of sale software.

New Business Card Templates for CardWorks

If you are looking for an easy option for creating business cards for yourself or your company, your options just grew. We just added several new free business cards templates that you can download and use with CardWorks Business Card Software, which is also completely free. Combined with the ability to change the color scheme of any template within the CardWorks program, the range of possibilities these templates provide is multiplied, making it easy to find that perfect business card design you've been looking for. Check out all of the additional free business card templates to see what might be right for you.

Software to Grow With Your Business, Made Easier

One of the great things about our suite of software applications is that you can pick and choose individual applications so you only buy the programs that you need. If you only need something to help you with invoicing, you can purchase Express Invoice and not need to wade through a complete accounting package just for sending bills to your clients. This is great for small companies that frequently have help from outside with their accounting, and it isn't until you are doing more of the bookkeeping in-house that you'll want a full blown accounting system.

As your business grows and you are getting ready to make the transition to an accounting system, you will be pleased to know that we are striving to make this upgrade easier for you. Now when you install Express Accounts, it will search for Express Invoice on your machine and give you the option of importing the invoices and using the balances from Express Invoice as the opening or beginning balances for your Checking and Accounts Receivable in Express Accounts. Imagine how much time that will save you in setting up your accounts.

Organize your Bookkeeping

It may not be tax season but that is no reason to let your business bookkeeping fall behind or into disarray. Express Accounts has an intuitive design that allows you to start managing your finances within minutes, so you can save time organizing your incoming and outgoing cash flow. Track more than just transactions, store client and vendor information, manage inventory levels and more with this easy and robust accounting software.

Throughout the year, track the performance of your business and watch your business grow. The task bar displays a current overview of your company's financial status and quick access to more than 20 essential accounting reports.

Express Accounts makes staying on top of your business accounting easier, which will save you headaches when tax times does roll around again, and your accountant will thank you for keeping everything organized.

FlexiServer in the Spotlight

Check out the June issue of Smart Computing, a US magazine covering smart computing and consumer electronics in plain English. One of the software programs they chose to spotlight in this issue is our very own FlexiServer Productivity and Attendance Software: a "no more time-cards" business solution that tracks employee check-in and out times, whether they are working in the office or from home.

Dictation Software On the Go: Four Ways to Save Time

If dictations are a major part of your practice or business, you know how it feels to be tied down to devices and software set up on a limited number of computers. We've anticipated the times you can't use your regular dictation setup, or when you're looking to add flexibility to the ways you can make dictations. No matter where you are, or what kind of device/computer/laptop you are or aren't carrying with you, we have dictation solutions for you to make your medical, law, or business dictations and send to your transcriptionist securely.

Pocket Dictate

This iPhone app gives you ultimate freedom to make dictations away from the office. Record into your phone, then send directly to your transcription service or typist.
Download Pocket Dictate free

Express Dictate

If you already have a dictation device, make sure you're familiar with the Express Dictate Dock feature to load dictations you record away from your desk. Express Dictate also makes it easy to send dictations to your transcriptionist and monitor the status of dictation jobs.
Download Express Dictate

Web Dictate

This program allows you to make your dictations over a web application and disburse them to any typist immediately. That means it doesn't matter where you are, as long as you have a microphone and a computer with web access, you can make and send dictations.
Download Web Dictate

Dial Dictate

When computers are out of reach for creating and sending dictations, this dictation program is a great solution. You can phone in your dictations from any phone or cell phone, and have it sent to your typist for transcription.
Download Dial Dictate

For more on the go solutions see business software on the go to learn how the web access feature in our business software programs can help you keep your business running smoothly no matter where you are.

B is for Business

NCH Software ABCs Series

NCH Software has a wide range of business solutions, and just like our other software categories, each program is focused on doing a specific task in an easy and efficient manner. The individual programs can be combined, making it easy for a small business to grow into other applications at their own pace, and customize a software solution for the unique needs of their business. Along with our software utilities for file management and other essential software tools, these core business products will help you keep track of how your business is doing and keep things running smoothly at a cost-effective price.

• Express Invoice invoicing software
  
• Express Accounts accounting software
  
• Inventoria inventory management software
  
• Flexi Server productivity and attendance software
  
• HourGuard time sheet tracking software
  
• Reflect customer relationship management software
  
• Copper point of sale software system
  
• CardWorks business card software
  

<<< Previous: A is for Audio

Next: C is for Converting >>>

Run Your Business from Anywhere

Small business owners frequently wear different hats, run errands and are pulled in a million directions. That is one of the many reasons why we built the web access feature into our business software applications. We know you aren�t always at your desk when you need to update your records and accounts, check your inventory levels, or check the status of a client�s account. Here�s an overview of a few of our business programs that include the web access feature:

• Inventoria stock control software�update stock levels as you buy or sell product from the road, or from any of your warehouse locations.
  
• Express Invoice invoicing software�send invoices or print customer receipts from tradeshows, or anywhere else your business takes you.
  
• Express Accounts accounting software�the value of seeing your business performance no matter where you are is invaluable
  

By setting up the web interface for any of these programs, you make it possible for other staff members to log into the system, and you can also log in and update information from your mobile phone or any remote computer. This means if you are at a meeting with a client you can make an invoice, and if you are at your warehouse you can update your inventory. To help make sure you take full advantage of this ability to access your data on the go, we created a video tutorial on setting up the Inventoria web access for easy access to your business inventory information wherever and whenever you need it. You can also view tutorials for setting up web access for Express Invoice and Express Accounts.

Reflect Mac Customer Relationship Management Software

You're not seeing double�there is twice the convenience for business with our ever-expanding range of business software that is available for both PC and Mac platforms. This week the list of Mac business applications grew with the release of Reflect CRM Software for OS X.

With Reflect customer database software, your business can move past just making transactions by storing and organizing client information. Consolidating valuable customer data gives businesses more complete insight into their clients and customers, helping front-line employees make faster, better informed decisions and build stronger relationships with customers for increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Top Smart Rated Inventory Software

Inventoria Stock Manager - Inventory Software. Features, reviews, ratings.Inventory control is an important aspect of many businesses, so you want to make sure that you have all the necessary tools at your disposal to stay on top of your inventory. We know how important tracking stock levels and reporting can be, which is why we are so pleased that our Inventoria inventory software has just been listed as a top inventory program by the reviewers at findthebest.com.

Already this year Inventoria was named a top inventory software by TopTenReviews. We are grateful for both of these positive reviews and all of the businesses out there that have trusted NCH Software to help them manage their inventory. With all these positive ratings, we look forward to the new businesses to add to that list in the new year.

Business Software On the Go: Web Access

Do you feel tied down to your business? You shouldn�t; try taking it with you! Many of NCH Software�s business solutions have a web access feature that lets you check your business info and run your business no matter where you are. You can check sales data, create invoices, manage stock and keep your business running smoothly whether you are in your office, at any of your business locations, or on the road with these cost-effective business programs:

Express Invoice

Create and send invoices, print receipts for �quick sales,� and view client contact info and statements while you travel. Download Express Invoice and watch this tutorial about setting up the web access feature.

Express Accounts

Manage every financial aspect of your business, including sales and purchases, accounts receivable and accounts payable, access reports, and reconcile your accounts. Download Express Accounts and set up the web access feature. Also be sure to check out our essential guide to bookkeeping.

Inventoria

A great solution for a single or multiple locations, Inventoria�s web access feature lets you order stock, receive stock, manage stock, and view reports. Download Inventoria and watch this tutorial about setting up the web access feature.

And for those days you are in the office, check out our other Business Software for everything from customer relationship management to employee time management software.

Show Personality With Your Business Cards & Win Business

Guest Post by Adam of SoloPress

Business cards are not only for the self contrived egomaniacs in the business environment, they are a much smoother and more efficient way of handing out your personal details without subjecting the target to having to disconnect from your attention whilst punching in your details on their phone.

The business card should represent who you are and give the recipient a fair understanding of what it was that made you stand out over the other people they may have picked up business cards from. If you are looking to stand out above the crowd then there are certain fundamentals that you should be meeting.

Be Creative and Original

Too many times an individual comes to us with a business card design straight out of word art or styled in Comic Sans, this may be all well and good if you are only trying to promote to parents or the elderly, but you can do a lot more even in the very limited space of a business card to make an impression about who you are and what you do. Having a polished design gives an added impression of credibility that will affect how people feel about you and your business.

So take the time to create a design, or invest in someone to carry out the task of designing you a business card, the money you will pay for a business card design will be steep, but when you consider that a good business card design can last you a lifetime, win you contacts, contracts and repeat business, the initial investment will recoup the costs in no time.

If you need a little bit of guidance or don't have the budget for a graphic designer try using CardWorks Free Business Card Software to customize a business card design to fit your business. You can achieve a very professional result with a software program to help you along the way.

Be Memorable Yourself

Often overlooked at a big networking event is aligning your business cards with the image you are portraying of yourself. One of the best ideas I have experienced in my years of business card printing is one customer who wanted his contact details in the shape of a black tie, when I questioned him as to the choice of his design, he enlightened me that he always wears a white shirt and black tie to all his networking events and business meetings. I doubted his tactic at first, but to this day I can remember his name, and would almost certainly be able to guess what he’ll be wearing if I meet him again.

You need to have a clear idea of how you wish to represent yourself before you start putting designs down. Brain storm words and attributes you would like to have people think about you, pick your favourite few and brainstorm the ideas from there and in no time at all you will have a rough idea of what you want your business card to look like.

Andy is an entrepreneur and has a lot of experience with business printers, flyer printing and leaflet printing, in design but in distribution and the strategy surrounding it. Comment below for any tactics you have found to work in flyer distribution.

The End of Accounting Nightmares

Guest post by John Chellan of ISOBE Soft Pvt. Ltd.

I am a small software business owner with lots of experience in software development, but little real knowledge of accounting. Sure, I have done my taxes online, but had never balanced a balance sheet or did any type of journal entry work. Honestly, I�d rather not think about accounting, and just spend my time being more productive developing software and meeting clients.

But at the end of every month, I knew it was inevitable that all those transactions needed to be somehow entered into Excel and create some kind of crude income statement. That was all I could do, and that is all I knew how to do. In the back of my mind, I realized there is was lot more information in those numbers, and I needed either a professional accountant or software to get to that data. So I called a few accountants. Ouch, they were expensive! Next, I tried the trial versions of the two most popular, very expensive accounting programs and I couldn�t figure out what to do�and trust me I spent days trying to figure out what I was doing. Then I tried some free programs off the internet, and they were just silly with no good reports and user interfaces that looked like they came out of the Stone Age of programming. Almost at the verge of going back to Excel, I ran across Express Accounts.

I was skeptical at first and didn�t expect anything different from what I had seen from the trials of the other software. Well let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, Express Accounts was easy to install and quick, too. The interface was broken down in such a manner that one only needs to understand how the sales and purchase process works, and how to enter in expenses. The interface is quite user friendly and intuitive. The wealth of reports was the big thing that really impressed me about the software. Setting up the electronic invoicing and purchase ordering system was also very easy.

I have been using this software for 6 months now, looking for something to go wrong. The reality is, the more I use it, the more I become accustomed to its wealth of functionality. I really think this is one of the best cost-saving tools for small businesses that can�t afford to put up a professional accounting staff and need to streamline the accounting process and produce business data on the fly. Express Accounts has made the end of the month a stress free time, and now I spend my nights dreaming of growing my business.

John Chellan founded ISOBE in 2009. ISOBE started as a humble English language training center in Tamil Nadu and by 2010 had evolved into an educational consultant for colleges, schools and business. In 2011, ISOBE became ISOBE Soft Pvt. Ltd; and began to develop its own home grown software for small to large businesses.

Retail Update: Hopping the pond to the UK

NCH Software continues to expand our presence in retail stores worldwide. Most recently, with the help of Channel Assist, you can now find several NCH Software products on the shelves of retailers like Dixons PC World in the United Kingdom. The UK is already one of our largest online markets, and we know that being in retail stores will only strengthen our presence there. Software titles available include Golden Records, Express Invoice and essential software suites of our audio software and business software products.

Express Accounts: New Look Gives Users a Better Experience

Some of you may have noticed that Express Accounts accounting software has a different look these days. Earlier this year, we optimized the interface workflow after considering research we conducted about the features our customers use most within the program. What resulted was a "tabbed" interface�by clicking category tabs at the top of the main interface, the user can pull up tasks related to that category, such as Sales, Purchases, Banking and Reports.

The updated interface gives users the option to ignore functionality they don�t use without giving up precious screen space, but also provides quick access to the full range of features for businesses that require a more robust accounting system. The category tab solution also allowed us to stick with the basic interface structure Express Accounts has had for some time now, one that has proven to be easy to navigate, work with, and simple enough to understand quickly. Seasoned Express Accounts users will still find links to their tasks in the left-hand Explorer Bar, within the center control panel, on the toolbar, and within the program�s menus, no matter which category tab they are on.

Here are a few other new characteristics worth highlighting:

• The Home tab saves users from clicking through tabs in search of common tasks they would rather have quick access to. Express Accounts always opens to the Home tab.
• Account overviews are provided in the lower left section of each tab, giving the user a quick reference to how their business is doing without running reports.
• Accounts payable: One of Express Account�s strengths has always been in tracking payments due to your business by your customers. Now you can track your own accounts payable by entering them as they come in and paying them when they are due.
• Improved help documentation gives users new to bookkeeping and accounting a solid introduction to the program. To access the Help, press F1 from within the program, or click the Help button from any window to find the help topic specific to the task you are working on.

We are very excited about the changes in Express Accounts, but we�re not finished yet. Currently, our development team is working on adding more inventory tracking capability into the program, mirroring the features available within target="_blank"Inventoria inventory management software. For all of you who have asked for complete integration between these two powerful programs, keep a lookout over the next six months for this exciting feature update.

Learn more about Express Accounts or sign up for the NCH Software newsletter to stay informed of version updates, new software features, and receive special offers.

Mac Business Software

If you're a "Mac" and a business owner you've probably been excited to see us expanding our range of business software for the Mac with the recent Mac releases of Copper Point of Sale Software and Inventoria Inventory Management Software. Our business team has been busy porting our popular business software to the Mac so that businesses have more quality and economical software solutions available to them no matter which operating system they choose to use.

The really great news is that there is more to come. We are continuing to work on Mac versions of our business products that don't have them yet, so be sure to take a look at our full range of business software to see how you can design a system to best suit the needs of your business, and keep your eyes peeled for still more Mac programs in the future.

And for more advice on business software solutions that could help your business see:

• Accounting and Invoicing Software
  
• VoIP Telephone System Software
  
• Phone System Enhancements to Help You Sound Professional
  
• How Telephone On-Hold Messaging Can Help Your Business
  
• Other Software to Help Make Business Run Smoother
  

Inventory Management from a Mac or PC

A new addition to our Mac business software is Inventoria inventory management software. Inventoria has already proven itself to be a useful application for helping businesses manage and track their stock as evidenced in the Salem Health Case Study on Inventory Software Freeing Up Time for Other Tasks, and by being named a top inventory software program by TopTenReviews. Now the flexible and efficient tools Inventoria provides are available to businesses no matter which operating system they prefer.

Other business software available for both Windows and Mac platforms include Express Accounts accounting software and Express Invoice invoicing software, providing all the utilities businesses need to design a customized software solution to tailor fit their individual needs.

Express Invoice Super Options: New Invoice Customization

Our goal in developing an invoicing program has always been to produce professional documents that any business can use. To obtain a professional looking invoice we know it's important to do the following:

• keep the clutter to a minimum
  
• line up edges and blocks of text to keep the invoice looking clean
  
• be organized
  
• above all, value simplicity over flashy elements
  

One of the most requested features for Express Invoice is for complete customization of the final look of the invoice. One way to go about this would be to let the customer drag and drop the various pieces they need onto a template and generate the invoice from their vision, but we strongly feel that by giving more options we would violate the criteria laid out above. So, we compromised. While we want your business's invoices to stand out from the crowd, we don't want you to get carried away with colors, clip art, borders, fonts and kittens (you'd be surprised at what we've seen out there).

On the Invoice tab of the program Options, you will now find a button for more invoice options, giving you the choice to add certain design elements and invoice options such as including a remittance slip, shading every other line behind the items list, or whether to show the discount column on the invoice. The options make Express Invoice even more versatile than before, making it a perfect fit for an small business, freelancer, or contractor needing an invoicing solution.

Need more small business solutions, such as accounting software, employee management software, or an automatic telephone attendant? Be sure to check out our other business software, all of which comes with a full, free 14-day trial.