Marketcircle ’s charge 2.0.5 is designed to take the provocation out of invoicing for freelancers and the self - employed . The computer programme ’s sleek interface is full of thoughtful touch , and despite its wide regalia of customizable features , Billings is rarely confusing or intimidating .
From the first time you plunge it , Billings makes thing promiscuous . A apparatus assistant lets you spell client entropy directly from Apple ’s Address Book . you’re able to then choose one of the app program ’s dozens of taxation frame-up , including standard tax rate for all 50 U.S. State , European VAT rate , and other tax charge per unit from many area . ( you’re able to also customize tax rates and establish conjointly applied sets of compounded revenue enhancement if necessary . ) From the main Billings window , you’re able to select a client , make multiple projects associated with that client , and set up a slickness to pass over each billable item within a undertaking . Each slip appear as a line point on the final invoice .
Billings ’ slips cover hourly rates , mileage , quantity of goodness sold , disbursal reports , and vapid fees ; you may use slips to create bill and estimates . A free - drift timer lets you embark on and stop the clock on timed jobs . The timer effortlessly handles multiple slips , project , and hourly rates at the same time while tracking net for each labor . It stays seeable on top of other windows and maintain the clock running even when you alternate from Billings to another app . Billings had no hassle transport my slips and deadlines to iCal ; it can also export slip or projects as tab - delineated text single file , in typeface you later require to spell them into Excel .
To send an estimation or invoice , only choose the slips you want to charge for , and then preview your text file . billing offers a miscellany of appealing , professionally plan text file guide , which it can print , save , or vitamin E - mail via Apple ’s Mail . In the program ’s Preferences , you may lend a transmitter or electronic image computer graphic as a usance logotype ; regrettably , clicking on the percipient button to slay my logo had no consequence until I take leave and reopen the program . A Marketcircle representative says this glitch will be fixed in an update .
billing ’ robust report editor program let you further customize your account and estimates . large , user - friendly icons and drag - and - dip chemical element make its sophisticated tool less intimidating . Even novice user can adjust baptistery , color , and target placement . However , some of its user interface features are spotted — for example , the Undo command works in the main windowpane but does n’t work when you ’re redact text — and attempts at in - profundity customization may send non - coder lunging for the Help files .
But the current edition of Billings falls short when it comes to its Help files . The documentation is well write and thoroughly covers the program ’s canonical feature , but it directs you to Marketcircle ’s Web site for questions about the write up editor in chief . In my copy of the program , though , the provided links did n’t work . Digging through the caller ’s site grow up a useful , if uncompleted , set of telecasting tutorial for the report editor in chief , and I witness a link to a PDF file with more complete documentation swallow up in one of the livelihood forums . Again , the company tell me that the gap in the programme ’s aid files would be corrected in its next update .
Macworld’s buying advice
At almost $ 60 , Billings 2.0.5 is about twice the price of two standardized invoicing programs , Clickable Bliss’sBillableand IGG Software ’s iBiz ( ) , which both offer simpler versions of many of its features . However , Billings 2 ’s superb interface , comprehensive feature set , and astonishing customization tool make it a slap-up choice for all but the most frugal .
[ Nathan Alderman is a written matter editor and a writer . He lives in Alexandria , Virginia . ]
