Feedback on an invoicing app (invoys.co)

[Daveyon]

After a failed attempt with another app, I've moved on to something I may stand a chance with. It's an invoicing app. Create quotes, discuss, then turn them into invoices.

Would like you register with an email you have access to. Go through the under-60-seconds onboarding process. Add a contact, it could be yourself but you'd need to open emails sent to that contact in a different browser as the sessions will clash. Generate a quote, set it as published and use the discussion section to "chat". Follow the process and tell me what you think. I appreciate your time.

Who is this for? Anyone who wants to send a quote. It's a work in progress but it's stable.

https://invoys.co

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

If your going in as far as recording quotes then you really need a professional system we use sage

Looking for an app is not the objective for a business but to find an effective invoicing /accounts system and the obsession with Apps in the modern world often clouds the main task .This is now reflective in the investment world where younger people are more attracted to the way the App runs than the actual investment return

 

[fisicx]

I’m not really sure why anyone would need an app when there are so many better and comprehensive tools available.

You don’t have any pricing or contact details on the site. There doesn’t appear to be a support option.

Why do I need a chat thing?

Many of my enquiries come via email. I can reply to them with the estimate. Having to use an app just slows things down.

And maybe you need to understand the difference between an estimate and quote. Most trades will give you an estimate.

 

[Daveyon]

It's not a finished product. I get feedback before completing the home/marketing page and I use actual screenshots for my marketing elements.

The app targets those who keep everything in one place: email can get messy, that's for the discussion.

The app does quotations, not estimations. You cant turn an estimate into an invoice

 

[ThatDevAaron]

Shoot me a PM @Daveyon with your frontend portfolio =)

 

[fisicx]

The app targets those who keep everything in one place: email can get messy

When you did your market research who did you talk to?

Pretty much all tradespeople use email, texts and messengers. Who are these people who keep everything in one place? Any why would a potential customer want to download an app just get a quote?

Anyway, I signed up and tried to create a quote and got an internal server error…

Where is the area on the form to add the quote information? How can I list each item? How do I add images? Where do I add the costs?

 

[Daveyon]

When you did your market research who did you talk to?

Few except trades people.

Any why would a potential customer want to download an app just get a quote?

There's no mentioning of downloading an app? Where? You dont need to.

Where is the area on the form to add the quote information? How can I list each item? How do I add images? Where do I add the costs?

You havent got that far to create a quote as I saw the error you mentioned. All my tests required you to have a business logo etc so I've fix that. No need to for a business logo. The beauty if that, when you publish a quote, we send an email to the contact to view the quote online. That unique link takes them straight to the quote. No password needed etc. I would not download an app just to view a quote either.

 

[fisicx]

Your business idea suffers from the same problems many similar idea also have: you don’t have a defined target customer.

Identify which niche are likely to want to use your quote system and then create a marketing strategy that will peel them away from their current system.

The actual quote generator is less important than your marketing.

As an aside, I found it fiddly and not intuitive to use. And despite me selecting GBP during set up all quotes are in dollars.

 

[Daveyon]

And despite me selecting GBP during set up all quotes are in dollars.

I cannot replicate that issue. I have also tried with a new account and cannot replicate. Maybe during the crash something went wrong? Go to preferences -> admin area -> update business name and address to update the currency or what's the account name and I'll have a look?

 

[fisicx]

I’m using my phone. Can’t even find a ‘preferences’ option.

What about my other questions? Who is your target? How are you going to market to them?

 

[Daveyon]

I’m using my phone. Can’t even find a ‘preferences’ option

Top-right icon/logo. Click it, it's a dropdown. Based on that, I need to ensure users know what to do.

Who is your target?

Any small business or sole traders.

How are you going to market to them?

Havent started but when I do, I'll first target Facebook then share with my contacts on LinkedIn. Before I spend any money, I need to fix 97% of bugs first.

 

[fisicx]

Any small business or sole traders.

You need a much smaller target. Go niche and focus on one group.

Almost every small business and sole trader needing to raise quotes already has a system to do so. Prising them away from that system will need a lot more than promoting on Facebook.

What do you offer that all the existing quote generators don’t already provide? Forget the chat thing. That’s not how people communicate.

 

[Mark T Jones]

To pick up on @fisicx point, this business is all about marketing - starting with market research.

The less defined your target market, the quicker you will p!ss through your budget with no return.

 

[fisicx]

It says on the site I can create beautiful quotes. Where is the template generator? The ones I create using LibreOffice are much nicer than your default.

And where do I add the company/vat info?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

@Daveyon well done for showing that entrepreneurial spirit, but, as mentioned, you seem to miss out a lot of the research.

Why would someone want an invoicing app to then have to enter the same details into accounting software? Why not just use accounting software?

Also, how is your system different from others? You need to look beyond the actual app and define the service and benefit you deliver.

 

[Daveyon]

Why would someone want an invoicing app to then have to enter the same details into accounting software?

Thanks. Not everyone has or used accounting softwares. I've switched focus for the quote to invoice approach. If you do use an accounting software, there will be a one-click option which sends to Xero or Quickbooks. I'm familiar with the Xero integration so I'd start there first, but not yet.

At this stage I think I should scrap the feedback and wait until I have a 100% working app with all features. The app is a work in progress. There will a template generator where someone/business can have a PDF-looking like their company branding. All I ask for is feedback on what's already there.

 

[Daveyon]

...And where do I add the company/vat info?

Click top-right icon -> Admin area -> Update business name and address

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

You should pay attention to all this feedback prior to a full launch as this is what will help you shape a better product for your customers
You are not doing this to impress us and win a few points The ideas and criticisms on here will help with its development

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If you do use an accounting software, there will be a one-click option which sends to Xero or Quickbooks

But why would they need your software? They already handle quotes & invoices!

What you are doing is introducing another layer of admin and cost to the user.

 

[Daveyon]

You should pay attention to all this feedback prior to a full launch as this is what will help you shape a better product for your customers
You are not doing this to impress us and win a few points The ideas and criticisms on here will help with its development

Oh yes! Eyes are wide opened. I did fixed few bug found by fisicx. The marketing part is also important. I know that part is crucial as I've wasted a lot of money already on failed projects.

 

[Daveyon]

But why would they need your software?

I do have a USP though that feature is not yet visible but I can say my app will help you get paid faster. The aim is for you to get paid faster.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

The aim is for you to get paid faster.

How? By having a payment (card or bank transfer) link on the invoice?

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

How? By having a payment (card or bank transfer) link on the invoice?

A lot of the accounting platforms claim this

 

[fisicx]

I do have a USP though that feature is not yet visible but I can say my app will help you get paid faster.

How?

Payment is only faster if the payee pulls their finger out and makes the payment.

And it’s not an app. An app is something you install on a phone or tablet.

 

[DontAsk]

I do have a USP though that feature is not yet visible but I can say my app will help you get paid faster. The aim is for you to get paid faster.

I've seen this claim before. It's as baseless now as it has always been.

No app is going to make people pay any faster who habitually do not pay until the last minute, e.g., many large companies are notorious for having multi-week, or month, payment terms.

 

[NCC1701]

@Daveyon well done for showing that entrepreneurial spirit, but, as mentioned, you seem to miss out a lot of the research.

Why would someone want an invoicing app to then have to enter the same details into accounting software? Why not just use accounting software?

Also, how is your system different from others? You need to look beyond the actual app and define the service and benefit you deliver.

Managing invoices and quotes is not strictly part of the bookkeeping workflow. Many small business separate them when they have an accountant. When you invoice gets paid then its becomes part of the bookkeeping process. I use a free bookkeeping app that my accountant recommended. She not particularly fussed that invoices are in the same system, but that I have a record of them to check against when reconciling against the bank statement.

many apps like the one I use Envoyce, just creates the invoice and allows me to dispatch via Whatsapp (which suits my customers).

This notion that we need invoicing as part of our overall accounts package is nonsense

 

[NCC1701]

Oh yes! Eyes are wide opened. I did fixed few bug found by fisicx. The marketing part is also important. I know that part is crucial as I've wasted a lot of money already on failed projects.

Hang in there. Writing any app is difficult enough but marketing it to people is a whole other issue.

 

[NCC1701]

I do have a USP though that feature is not yet visible but I can say my app will help you get paid faster. The aim is for you to get paid faster.

I think the claim "getting paid faster" is one that many of the market leading invoicing businesses espouse. It's total fiction of course. The correlation between the convenience of paying a bill and actually wanting to pay it are blurry at best.

If you are doing business with a larger business, you'll be paid thru their payroll system (which will want your UK Bank details) as they won't pay you by card at all.

Perhaps if you are dealing primarily with domestic customers, the it could be beneficial, Many business I know offer a discount to get paid vie their bank instead of expensive payment links.

Its a bit of smoke and mirrors my friend which prop's up businesses pretending to be invoicing apps when they are really payment providers getting a margin.

,,,but you know this.

 

[NCC1701]

This is a bit of a touchy subject for me and that's why I've replied quite a bit on this post. What I don't want to do is disrespect the OP for creating the app in the first place. Its a difficult task.

I think the whole invoicing market is a bit shark infested. Invoicing apps offering free tiers to their apps to lure unsuspecting trades to expensive subscriptions. Its clear companies are doing this as the avg CPC on google ads for "Free Invoicing App" is over $40.

 

[antropy]

https://invoys.co

This site can’t be reached​

invoys.co’s server IP address could not be found

Anyway, as others have said, what good is an invoicing app that is separate from proper accounting software?

Paul.

 

[NCC1701]

Anyway, as others have said, what good is an invoicing app that is separate from proper accounting software?

Paul.

Accounting is not invoicing. The accounting part is only a consideration if someone pays you. The gov want to know what you've been up to. They couldn't give a fig how many invoices you've sent out.

But you have a point and if you are an established business with a regular income stream then it probably does make sense to look for integration, especially one your accountant knows about.

When you are starting out minimising your outgoings is paramount. That's when free platforms offer the best value.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

That's when free platforms offer the best value.

And potentially a false economy.

 

[fisicx]

When you are starting out minimising your outgoings is paramount. That's when free platforms offer the best value.

All depends on your business. But if just starting out you don’t even need an invoicing app. Creating invoices takes seconds using LibreOffice.

 

[DontAsk]

All depends on your business. But if just starting out you don’t even need an invoicing app. Creating invoices takes seconds using LibreOffice.

I use Excel. I created dropdowns to select the product, enter the quantity and the total price and VAT are calculated and populated. Export to .pdf for record keeping and printing.

 

[antropy]

Accounting is not invoicing. The accounting part is only a consideration if someone pays you. The gov want to know what you've been up to. They couldn't give a fig how many invoices you've sent out.

This tells me that you know absolutely nothing about accounting or invoicing.

Paul.

 

[NCC1701]

Man, you guys are so negative.
All I can here is wrong wrong wrong to the OP. Presumably done for his own good.
There is nothing to learn on this site I'm owt.

 

[fisicx]

Man, you guys are so negative.
All I can here is wrong wrong wrong to the OP. Presumably done for his own good.
There is nothing to learn on this site I'm owt.

Not quite sure what you mean. The OP has long gone and their website no longer exists.

All you seem to be doing is promoting some invoicing system makes members suspect you either own or are associated with.

 

[antropy]

Man, you guys are so negative.
All I can here is wrong wrong wrong to the OP. Presumably done for his own good.
There is nothing to learn on this site I'm owt.

Some people who are new to business are sometimes in positive thinking la la land and often confuse realism with negativity. I'm stating facts that you would do well to take on board.

Paul.