Cheap body shop estimating software? Free from Monthly Fee's?

Yeah we get that one alot and experienced the frustration of looking for one.  When our body shop was transitioning from hand written vs computer generated we found we were stuck in the middle between moving from hand written to using a cheap program that could automate a lot of the math and hand writing parts.

The main problem was:  The high monthly's with name name brand CCC one (pathways), Web-est, ABFsystems, Crash Writer, Mitchell and the others.

The competition is getting tough and the prices are coming down but, there still was not an answer for us, so we developed our own cheap body shop estimating system using Microsoft Excel(TM), developed specifically to fill the cap between hand written and expensive data base driven.

The workbook we developed helped us tremendously by allowing us to print a customer info sheet, look over the car with a paper copy and make abbreviations that we understood, enter that in the computer and use long descriptions that your customer will now understand, enter the labor hours as judgment items and all the math is done automatically and the information filters from page to page allowing you to track parts, make customer notes, print RO's and even a profit summary to make sure you made a profit or if you didn't, let you know how much money you lost on the repair.

We found it to be a cost effective and downright cheap body shop, collision shop, custom shop automotive repair estimating system solution.

Store.BodyShopEstimatingTools.com

But whatever you do, don't take our word for it, view the demo video to get the basics.  Its available as an instant download too and comes with a cool body shop labor rate calculator that you enter your shops overhead and financial goals, it will tell you how much your body shop should be charging for as a labor rate.  Giving you a competitive advantage over other repair shops.

So here it is, the solution for small to mid sized, even shade tree or back yard shops to write estimates, storing the information, printing using any windows computer with or without the Internet.

We hope you appreciate it as much as we did, please take the time to review it also, we treasure feedback and use it to improve the product.  Registered customer get the Free updates after we implement the requests.

We have reviewed this item before but felt it worth repeating.

Enjoy!

More information and to download instantly

New Direction for the Blog

We have a new direction for the Blog, we are dedicating it to general questions and answer's for all kinds of car help, product reviews, tipa and other body shop related information:

Most Common Questions We Answer

• I'm shopping for a used car, is (the cars your shopping around for) a reliable car?  How about the resale value, parts cost etc.
• I'm hearing a knocking noise in the exhaust, what is it so I don't get ripped off at the mechanic shop.  I don't want to get there and they tell me I need a new expensive whatever when its actually something more simple and cheaper.
• How much will it cost to do custom paint and a body kit on my...
• Is Duraflex a good body kit?
• Is Veilside selling the Fortune kit in the USA for the RX7 anymore?
• How much to body shops charge for paint these days?

We answer question 2 ways:  On the Blog as we have time for free or immediately using the Live Person(TM) app when we are online.

Ask your question anywhere on the Blog or contact us via Live Person(TM) we are here to get you the estimating, body, mechanical information you need.

Been a while huh?

After several attempts at ignoring this blog, the spam issues we've been having and the time consuming aspect of it.  Looks like were back.  No reason we cant poke at it on a monthly basis.  Stay tuned ;)

Anybody else getting spammed by Walt Disney and National Geographic?

Since when has spamming gone mainstream?  Geez we get spammed and we unsubscribe from these idiots at least once a month.  Is the economy so bad, major corporations like Disney and National Geographic are stooping to spamming.  Truly they have lost all credibility in our eyes.

Anybody else getting spammed by these guys?

Buying Collision and Body Shop Estimating Software $29.95?

Body Shop estimating software, data base driven types like:  CCC Pathways, Web-Est, Crash-Writer, Mitchell etc.  Using these can be premature for low volume back yard body shops.  Take it from us, starting a body shop with little or no money is not easy and you have to watch every nickle and avoid monthly's at all cost.

Monthly's will cripple your efforts during the dry months, some will even say free download!  but they still come with a monthly fee (eventually).

Locating a viable alternative can be an exhausting endeavor, we designed a workbook using simple spread sheet layout that can carry you through the lean times.  When your shops volume increases to a point you can handle large monthly payments, you will be ready to make the transition to Collision Estimating Software.

Ours is available as an instant download and we make a labor rate calculator for only $10.00, combine the 2 and you're in a good position.

We found it simple to use, easy to manage and your customers will love the look of their computer printed estimate.  The spread sheet workbook can be run from any computer with Excel installed (recommended) but can be used with any spreadsheet application if you have a little experience (or know someone) to modify the file for your use.  My teenage son can do it...

Point and click data base collision estimating software is extremely helpful when generating collision repair body shop estimates but is certainly a luxury for smaller shops.

Our workbook will provide a valuable tool until your shop is doing enough volume to justify a more expensive alternative.  Can be modified by anyone with moderate spreadsheet experience or we can do it for you.

Buy online and download instantly download here> Only $19.95 once and no monthly payments... <.  See demo video on website.

Update:  We have been busy building Auto Body Excel Estimating Software Alternative for use with OpenOffice.org.  OpenOffice is a free download, saving you money on the  purchase of Microsoft Excel to get started.  If you already have Excel, we have the new version 3.0, if you have or want to use OpenOffice, we have Auto Body Excel 4.0.  Many new features to make it even more useful.

Also:   A new dedicated support website with many tutorials, postin more tutorials consistently.  View the support website at www.BodyShopEstimatingTools.com

Website Redesign...

We are redesigning the website again.  The redesign will make it easier to navigate and speed up page loads.  Be sure to bookmark it if you want to learn how to do custom paint and body work.  www.raceclubbodyshop.com

We have completed the redesign of our Auto Body Excel Estimating workbook.  This workbook is a great alternative to expensive collision estimating software like CCC Pathways,  Mitchell, Web est and more.  No monthly fees, lower purchase price and no locking because of late payments.

The video demonstrates how to use it, its a great tool for low volume shops looking to partially automate the estimating process.

Access our website for more information or to purchase securely online.

Redesigned Estimate Sheets

We will be redesigning the Excel Estimating workbook.  Adding functionality and more features.  Making these available on the website in March of this year.  For more information, see our website.

Wire Mesh for Body Kit Update

You may have found our wire mesh kit listing on our products page for 69.95.  We will be covering this product in our how section of the main website www.store.raceclubbodyshop.com

Bringing back How To's

We will be bringing back the how to section of the website.  Look for among other things:

• How to Install and mold in Body Kits
• How to Lambo doors
• Basic Body Work
• Painting Tips
• How to prep your project and get the cleanest paint without a 50,000 dollar paint booth.

If you have any experience at all, you will learn prep is 90% of the quality you get from a paint job.  Most of the trash content you get in your paint will come from the car itself.  We will give you tips on cleaning the surface to avoid that trash.  Stay Tuned...

Evaluating new chrome car wraps

Looks like this new product will be a cost effective alternative to chrome paint.  We are accepting customer who wish to evaluate this product along with us.  For details see our website for information and video.

Rent Shop Space by the Hour

Use the lift that is modified to accept the lowest of cars.  Use the shop to do anything you need, pay as you go by the hour.  919-655-5620

New Website for the Shop

Yes it's true, another redesign in the works.  It seems Microsoft no longer supports FrontPage and hosting companies are starting to do away with their unstable extensions.  So as we learn our new software and redesign the site yet again, we will post the link when it goes live.

Have to be careful Google doesn't "sand box" us and we loose position for 2 months.  So we wont be removing the old website right away, we will be running the new one side by side and will be going thoruhg the tedious task of redirecting deleted pages as google indexex the new ones.

Live Pricing Information, Tech support, Installation Questions and generalized information.

How much does it cost?  How do I install a body kit?  How to install lambo doors?

Ask your question live.  Get immediate or emailed responses to your questions.  Live person standing by to answer pricing inquiries, installation questions, questions about kit quality, mesh installation and any other body kit or custom repair questions.

If you doing your body kit installation yourself, you may need tech support.  We can help guide you through the install or answer questions like:

• How much to install a body kit?
• Is the kit I just ordered a good one?
• How do I fit it?
• How much would the paint cost to paint my car?
• What grit sand paper should I use to wet sand before painting?
• How to blend a panel for color match?
• How to install lambos?
• How much do lambos cost for my car?
• Veilside Fortune build information?
• How do I repair a crack in fiberglass?
• What adhesive can I use for fiberglass?
• How to prep a car for paint?

Any pricing information we give you can be used as an estimate at our shop also.  We provide this service to help you with your project.

Chat Live for only .50 cents a minute click here now

The Race Club DIY Tuner Shop to Reach 500 Members soon...

We created this group to slowly but surely build a potential member base and to locate administrators for the project.  It seems we will be approching 500 members soon.  When we get to 1000 members we will begin the admin area of the website and put the project together.

Anyone wishing to participate can get dibs now or wait.  We will discuss membership guidelines etc as we progress.

enjoying the new iPhone?

Very much. Had I known it would actually help me be more productive by allowing me to stay in touch better with customers, I would have put the expense higher on my to do list.

We can monitor the live chat room on the website and all of our shops other social media outlets from one Mobil location. We also take progress pics and email them to customers in seconds.

The iPhone has shown itself to be an amazing too. Hopefully this post through iPhone to Google and finally arriving at our blog will be successful. It was the last media base we were trying to cover. All our social media outlets can now be monitored with the iPhone. Thanks Apple...