We Need Your Opinion
on our up and coming online project management application
What is it ?
This application will be a complete project management solution for everyone from the freelance designer to mid-size design or marketing agencies.
It’s web based meaning there’s no software installation necessary. It’s hosted on our servers so you can rest assured your data is secure, with daily backups and restores.
Packed with features
- Customer account management
- User-friendly project management system
- Client extranet
- Wireless access capability
- Setup employee availability schedules
- Real-time communication with your web site/ real-time online quotes
- Set your own rates for easy access during the project creation process
- Monthly calendar with project summaries
- Set payment preferences for each account
- Store customer’s comments in an easy-to-view Incident Log
- Pull transaction logs and project history reports
- Advanced accounting with export to Quickbooks
- Real-time credit card processing
- And Much More…
It will be a must have tool for a freelance designer to mid-size design or marketing agencies.
Screenshots
Our Questions to You
Would you as a freelance artist be willing to pay around a $189 initial cost and $29-$49 per month for support maintenance, etc?
The support & maintenance fee will include: day-to-day support, maintenance of the system (e.g. daily backups & restores) and all future updates (e.g. addition of new features and modules, improvements to existing modules, etc.).
Or would you prefer no upfront cost and a monthly fee based on how many users or projects you can manage at one time?
This would consist of a base model maybe allowing 3 projects, next step allowing 6, next step allowing 9, and maybe a top level with an unlimited amount.
What features do you find most important in a project management application?
For instance: Real time online quotes, Wireless access capability, Email & eFax invoices via the Internet, Advanced accounting & reporting, Color-coded project management grid, Monthly calendar with project summaries, Pull transaction logs and project history reports, Set discount rate for each account or project, Multi-Language Support, etc…
Are you currently using a Project Managment Solution?
For Example: SideJobTrack, Basecamp, Campfire, Backpack, Zoho Projects, Projectplace, Easy Projects .NET, eProject, etc…
If you have any questions regarding features, development, etc…Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send us an email using the contact form above.
October 25th, 2006 at 3:55 pm
Sounds like a nice solution, what stage of the development are you guys currently in?
October 25th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Thanks, currently we are in the planning and development stages. What’s your take on the pricing structure? Does it sound like something you would be interested in?
October 25th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
It does, if the application is good then in my eyes it would be worth it to spend an upfront fee of no more than $200. I also like the idea that it’s hosted by your guys as well. Is there going to be a trial or demo put up?
October 25th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
We haven’t decided as of yet whether we’re going to do say a 14 day trial or just an online demo.
October 25th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
I’m interested! I would love to try it out.
October 25th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
At the moment we don’t have a demo available however we’ll notify you as soon as we do.
October 31st, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Hi Chris, I’ve tested tons of pm softwares and have found that the free trial is the best way for the customer to be able to check out the product (as compared to an online demo). I’d recommend that you do both the free trial and the demo as each approach lends itself better to the two different target audiences. Personally I’d want to try out the free trial when it becomes available. I’d even be willing to beta test whatever you have now and provide some feedback.Any rough estimate on when the product will be ready?
October 31st, 2006 at 7:09 pm
Laura,
Thanks for the feedback. At the moment we’re currently developing the UI wireframes. We most likely won’t have anything to beta test for a few months. I can notify you when we do get to that point though. We’ll definitely be looking for testers.
If all goes well we should have some screens to put up by the end of this week.
November 1st, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Thanks Chris. There is defnitely room in the market for a good product! Keep me posted.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
Ok, screenshots are up.
Let us know what you think all comments are welcome.
November 9th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
While I could really use a product like this, I think the fees are a bit hefty, particularly if you’re looking for a mass market appeal. A ‘tiered’ system might prove to be successful–whereby you offer varying features for varying price structures.
A lot of web applications do well by offering some free version of their service (say with limitations on how many projects it can hold, ala Basecamp). This is a great way to entice someone to give it a try.
Freelancers come in a variety of billing ranges. Some are just starting out and probably can’t justify even $5/month. For others, while they may have the cash flow to pay for your outlay and monthly fee, there would have to be a real proven value to them to justify that business expense.
November 9th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Reese thanks for the feedback.
We’re leaning towards a tiered structure with varying levels of how many projects you can have going on at one time. This way like you said it is more accessible for everyone from the small to the large. Also we’re contemplating introducing a free version that would allow for (1) project to be managed at a time, or a 30 day trial period.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Chris
November 11th, 2006 at 9:19 am
I would also like to voice my support for a tiered payment structure. Startup fees are the bane of small design firms and freelancers, and that’s almost certainly going to be your target demographic (the big boys generally have their own management/billing systems in place).
I can only speak for myself as a freelancer, but my take is this: Three project slots at a low monthly fee would be a fantastic investment which I wouldn’t think twice about, but investing over $200 between the startup costs and the first month of service would certainly give me pause. I’d be more inclined to just get a nice $10 day planner and spend the rest on Veer merch or something.
I’ll be keeping my eye on this project to see how it progresses, and if the price point and the feature set is right, I’ll be more than happy to put my money into this.
November 11th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Steven thanks for the great feedback. This is exactly what we’re looking for.
We’ll keep you posted.
November 12th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
Can you develop a download version? to install it on a Intranet or something like that
November 12th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
I am on Firefox Mac, and your site is forcing me to view the bottom of the page, I cannot scroll up either.
November 12th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
Allan,
That’s very odd, I’ve tested the site in Firefox on a Mac in OS X and it worked fine on my end. What OS are you running?
November 12th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
Adolfo,
At the moment we currently don’t have any plans to release a downloadable version, however if the demand is large enough we might consider taking this into consideration.
November 12th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
I think you guys should start a mailing list, just so the people interested will get updated
!
November 13th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Saad,
Hi. I’ve added a little paragraph at the top of the contact form area, sorry I should have made it a little clearer. If anyone would like to be notified of updates or on the release please use the contact form up above.
November 15th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
I would justify $200 if it were a downloadable app that I could host on my own site. I currently pay $25/mo for my 37signals apps, and have a few other webapps that I use to do business accounting, etc, but I wouldn’t pay an initial $200 + $50/mo when there are free/cheaper alternatives.
November 15th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Ashley,
Thanks for the feedback.
We’re pretty much decided that it’s going to be just a monthly fee with no initial cost. This way we can compete with the other guys like 37signals but we’ll have a much more comprehensive product
.
I’m glad you stated your using on app for project managment and others to take care of accounting etc…That’s exactly why we’re creating this.
Thanks again!
Chris
November 17th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
nice site
November 17th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Thanks
November 24th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Nice Apps…
Features :
* Multi Currency Support
* Convert to PDF quotation/estimate/invoice
* Easy to use
* Free
November 25th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Viking,
Thanks for the suggestions. We will have multi currency support as well as being able to export PDFs for invoices, quotes & reports.
As always the ease of use is at the front of the list, nothing worse than to have a product you get frustrated with within 2 minutes of trying to use it.
December 2nd, 2006 at 8:09 pm
I am very interested in testing the beta, trial, demo, or whatever you have planned for a pre-release! I’ll be sure to give you great feedback on how to improve.
By looking at your screenshots, I really like the direction this is headed. One thing that particularly stood out to me was your ‘quotes’ section. I haven’t seen this in any of the main PM’s out there (basecamp, activecollab, etc). This is a nice touch, to be able to track clients you may not have even started working for yet, but have just sent out quotes. I know that I come into the trouble of keeping track of who wants a project from me, but I haven’t dedicated to yet.
Please keep me on your list of beta testers, I’ll contact you via that form you meantioned as well..
December 5th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Chad,
Thank you for your feedback and email. I’ll keep you informed.
December 19th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
Any update on this? Please email a demo link!
December 19th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
Chad,
We still are in the development stages, if you would like me to notify you when we start BETA testing let me know.
August 28th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Looks like a really nice project. I think the pricing stucture is reasonable, but like Steven said, the startup costs would probably make me think twice before ordering. I’d definitely try it (if you offer a free trial or online demo) and write about it when you launch it.
Really looking forward to it.
Let me know if you need any BETA testers, I’d definitely be interested.
Jon