I am in the process of setting up my small Rod Building Business and need some help.

It is apparent that without proper organization this business could drive a person to wish they knew more cuss words.


Does anyone know where I can find business forms for Rod Building (Spec Sheet, Work Ticket, Work In Progress, Pick Ticket, etc)?
If someone has developed software for this purpose I would certainly be interested in taking a look. But, just a good set of excel sheets would be helpful.

Thanks,
George Kerr

I may be mistaken but I've hear a number of rod builders say the use the program Quickbooks to help track inventory, sales, invoices ect... This may not be a bad choice although it is more expensive then simple excel sheets. I use the program at my current job and I have to vouch for it, we would be lost without it.

Good luck,

Jon Meyers
Loon State

Thanks Jon. Do you have a Rod Spec sheet that you use?

There are one or two on the photo page I believe.

Here are some from Mike Barkley

[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]



And one from Tom Kirkman

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I know nothing about this company, but you might check them out.

[www.vmtsoft.com]

The price for the software seems very reasonable, considering that you are getting exactly what you want.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2013 04:04PM by roger wilson.

Hi, George,

I posted an Excel spreadsheet in the library a while back.
Listed as "Rod Building Data Sheet".

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT

I'm not finding it for some reason, John...I'd post a link if I could.

Do you mind putting the link up? Thanks.

Hello George

Mine is almost the same as John's.





.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

George, You can do all of this without investing in expensive software programs unless you are making so many rods you are unable to keep up with the bookkeeping. There is nothing complex about this process. Undoubtedly, the computer you are using came with some type of word-processing program. I bought Microsoft Office for my Mac. I use Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel for all my work. In the beginning you can use the table function in Microsoft Word to set up your Spec Sheet for each rod you build. What you want to put on the sheet is up to you. You certainly need the customers name, the rod type he wants you to build, the various components you will use to build the rod, the number of each of these components, the price of the components and any discount you choose to offer your customer on these components. You can then determine the total cost of the rod including components, shipping charges if you have to special order materials, the federal excise tax, and your own profit.

In addition I keep a box for the interview I have with the customer in the beginning so that I remember what he wants, how the rod is going to be used,and any other infer that he provided during the interview.

I also tell a customer that he/she will have to pay me for the components upfront before I build the rod. I inform him/her that when the rod is finished he/she can pay me for my services. In this way if the customer doesn't want the rod, I can resell the rod on consignment to get my "salary" paid.

I'm also sure that many rod builders on this forum are willing to show you examples of their spec sheets. This process is not rocket science and once you get a spec sheet designed to your liking. you can save it as a template in your Microsoft Office template folder so that you have a spec sheet ready at anytime you build a rod. You can as your business expands make a spec sheet for each type of rod you build (fly-rod, surf, rod trolling rod, etc.). I hope this helps.

Mike Blomme

If you start making and selling enough rods that you need all this stuff, please come back here and tell us all how you managed to do it! The rod building business can be tough!

Jay, thanks for the spec sheets. This is what I needed.

Hi Roger. This looks interesting. Thanks.

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know nothing about this company, but you might
> check them out.
>
> [www.vmtsoft.com]
>
> The price for the software seems very reasonable,
> considering that you are getting exactly what you
> want.

Run! I have it. Struggled for a couple years with it. Now we bought Quickbooks Mfg & Wholesale. Still just using Excel while I figure QB out.

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

Chuck,
On the surface, it looks good. What did you find with the software that didn't work for you?

Just wondering.

Roger

Hi Jay,
Your second link (CUSTOMER BUILD NOTES) starts with item #2, which indicates that the first page is missing. Any idea what is on page 1?

Thanks,
George

Looks like the third link is page 1.

Roger, I just checked - you can download the demo here: [www.vmtsoft.com]

Try that and you will see. It is very clunky and has lots of features I did not need. We ended up only using the inventory. It was written for a very early version of windows. It does not support copy & paste with mouse clicks - you need to use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V. Lots of limits on what you can do.

To get support you have to call the guy. I changed PCs twice while using it and had to call him to get it running on the new machines. If he goes away you're in trouble, and he was hard to contact.

It might be worth $29.95, but certainly not $149. I got it on a special for $99 and I felt cheated. The demo did what I needed and the full product added little.

It might work for some, just not for me.

Quickbooks looks like it will do anything - I just need Jim Gamble to take a vacation up here and give me lessons!

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

If you want to spend a little time and thought
figure what you need to know if YOU are ordering a custom rod
Sit down and put this info on a pad
Take a look at all the ones suggested here
Take some from this and some from that

Make up your own sheets you will need at least two different sheets
Customer info contact info what he wants

Then when you know what you are building
A parts list
Prices
And a total for all the work

Even after you make the sheets you will probable make changes as are necessary


Also
If you have a good idea of what you NEED for a rod build Tell the customer before you get into a LOT of useless emails and or phone calls

If he or she still wants the build - then go for it - After A Deposit -- Been there

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2013 05:05PM by bill boettcher.

This is something that might make a good Expo seminar topic. Maybe.

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