Billing software/ ideas for contract pilots.
06-11-2014, 11:54 AM
#1
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: Corporate
Posts: 29
Billing software/ ideas for contract pilots.
I did a little digging on the forums and online and couldn't find any great info on billing out as a contract pilot.
How do you guys bill out and track expenses?
Is there any software (low cost or free), or Excel templet that you guys recommend or use? Right now I'm using a simple templet I made in Excel that is professional and works, but there isn't a way to track expenses for the year or by category. Also, if there are any ipad/ iphone apps worth looking at I'd be interest to try them out. I've messed around with a couple, but nothing impressive so far.
Any suggestions or help is appreciated.
Cheers
How do you guys bill out and track expenses?
Is there any software (low cost or free), or Excel templet that you guys recommend or use? Right now I'm using a simple templet I made in Excel that is professional and works, but there isn't a way to track expenses for the year or by category. Also, if there are any ipad/ iphone apps worth looking at I'd be interest to try them out. I've messed around with a couple, but nothing impressive so far.
Any suggestions or help is appreciated.
Cheers
06-12-2014, 05:09 AM
#2
Flying Farmer
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Turbo-props' and John Deere's
Posts: 3,160
I just use excel for my invoices, and export it to make a PDF so it can't be altered. It's pretty simple, and does its job.
I hardly track my individual expenses flying because it's a side job and I rarely cover anything myself. For my "real" job of farming, we use quicken to track everything and I have a lot of categories i break expenses into, including personal and things for the family we can get deductions/credits on.
A lot of people like quick books, but we have taken the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" approach because quicken has been enough for us, and it's easy to use.
I hardly track my individual expenses flying because it's a side job and I rarely cover anything myself. For my "real" job of farming, we use quicken to track everything and I have a lot of categories i break expenses into, including personal and things for the family we can get deductions/credits on.
A lot of people like quick books, but we have taken the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" approach because quicken has been enough for us, and it's easy to use.
06-12-2014, 05:39 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 468
I'm sure there's some sort of app or software but I'm not aware. The company I worked for used a standardized form that all pilots were required to submit that tracked days worked/hours (days) billed and any expenses that were not already covered by the company. Seeing as it was a small company with only a dozen or so invoices it worked and most people were contract so their rates varied as well.
06-12-2014, 08:06 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Admiral
Posts: 726
I use QuickBooks for my business, which is probably overkill for your purposes. Luckily I had some previous practical experience with the program. Otherwise it can be slightly daunting if you're not accustomed to accounting practices.
06-13-2014, 07:44 PM
#7
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: Corporate
Posts: 29
Fellas, I appreciate the input. I've been using excel, but wondered what other people use/ do. QuickBooks is a little much for the small amount I bill out, but I'd like something to do simple tracking. I'll be checking out wave accounting.
Cheers
Cheers
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