Accounting / Inventory software

[PMR]

Hi all,

I own a production brewery and we're growing tired of the lack of sophistication of our accounting software. We're currently using Quickbooks for Mac and it isn't working well for us. We want the ability to have a software package account for raw materials, beer in progress (in oak barrels and fermenters), finished beer, and be able to track between multiple warehouses. We want our brewer to use it to track batches, our distribution manager to enter sales orders, our inventory manager to enter purchase orders and to enter the receipt of inventory, and have it so they only have access to the information they need. We also have a homebrew shop and tasting room and it would be great if it was integrated into some sort of POS system.

We're looking to upgrade to Quickbooks Premier for Manufacturing, and then add on Fishbowl for inventory management. Do any breweries have experience with this package? Are there any software packages that you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Patrick

[Mad-Brewer]

We use Quickbooks too, but it doesn't like manufacturing actions. So we are installing a program called Number Cruncher. It also handles POS in the US version. I like what i have seen of Number Cruncher, but it will be a month before I give a final verdict.

[PMR]

Thanks Mad Brewer! I appreciate the reply.

Number Cruncher looks quite similar to Fishbowl but priced a little bit better. I'm definitely interested in what you think of it after a month.

Cheers,
Patrick

[Mad-Brewer]

We spent most of the past week getting "All Orders" by Number Cruncher designed and loaded. I like it a lot. It does great costing and tracking, and I can use it as a POS too. We have three users so we can work on out going invoices, incoming production, and POS sales at the same time. Let me know if you want to talk directly about it.

[matt]

We started using Quick Books 2008 for Manufacturing, U.K. version.

This handles inventory, Invoicing, production, brewing scheduling and more.
You can put you recipes into it and when you have orders, it lets you know if you have enough stock on hand and raw material to produce more.

Draw backs.... A lot of work putting all the information in and setting up. For us, no multi-currency. (Euro, Pound, Kroner).

As far as now, Quick Books seems to be the best option as far as price goes and functions.

[GlacierBrewing]

We spent most of the past week getting "All Orders" by Number Cruncher designed and loaded. I like it a lot. It does great costing and tracking, and I can use it as a POS too. We have three users so we can work on out going invoices, incoming production, and POS sales at the same time. Let me know if you want to talk directly about it.

Hi Mad Brewer,
I tried to get All Orders up and running on my computer, but kept getting error message after error message. Took awhile. Did you have to "custom install" this program or did it just slip right in from the downloaded install file?
Prost!
dave

[ScottV]

Fish Bowl

Does anyone have any advice on which of the two programs integrates best with quickbooks and the brewing process? I am looking to purchase a program soon and would love some feed back.

[flavorfav]

Inventory

Can anubody give me an update on Number Cruncher or Fishbowl for Quick Books ? What's evreybody like best ?
Thanks
Favio Garcia
28 North Custom Beer Company
Ashburn Va

[Mad-Brewer]

I certainly like Number Cruncher's All Orders. The more we work with it, the more we like it. I have found the staff very helpful too. Did the error messages ever get sorted (Glacier?)

[GlacierBrewing]

I certainly like Number Cruncher's All Orders. The more we work with it, the more we like it. I have found the staff very helpful too. Did the error messages ever get sorted (Glacier?)

Mad Brewer,
sorry to say that I gave up on that project and (until some better program comes along) I went back to QuickBooks and my spreadsheets. I know, I don't like any more than you do!
Prost!
dave

[Mad-Brewer]

I think it is worth looking at again at some point. Maybe you could chat with my assistant (who uses this program daily). I would be happy to connect you, or we could chat on the phone and I can give you my 2 cents on what it does for me.

Cheers

[beermkr]

We used MYOB at AleWerks and it was pretty accurate. Tracked inventory and reduced as needed when a batch was brewed. I also handled all sales and invoicing plus the bank accounts.

I little tedious sometimes and only as good as what you put into it.

R/