Yes... this will come up as "anonymous coward"... but c'mon man. I've got to tell you, as I do consulting for a local POS integrator, you don't want to start ANOTHER project. Take a look at what's out there, and sink the cash. They support it, so you can then run your business... instead of your pos system running you... into the ground financially. The headache that is involved in creating such a system is YEARS, not months. Break down, and implement something that uses a real sql server, and get done with it.
I'm also a developer, and there is no way that I'd build a complete POS system from scratch for any client, unless they've got plenty of funding, and even then I'd be skeptical about it. I'd take the pre-packaged software, and customize it to meet their needs. You don't want to face PCI compliance standards, worry about customer information being stolen accidentally, try to figure out the logic for commissions, ordering, etc. It's just a huge nightmare.
For payment processors, take a look at Mercury. I've dealt with them, and they're 99.99% flawless in comparison with other credit card processors. For a POS system, take a look at Microsoft RMS. I know it's a flamewar that will be started, but it's a great system all-in-all.
email is richard (a) nerdzonline.net if you want to discuss this at all. Thanks.
I think that I too meet everyone in this post eye to eye....
I worked at a very small consulting firm (3 employees, including the owner). During my year spent working for the company, my responibilities included not only developing for the owner, but doing other things like mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, general building/property maintenance, etc. Unfortunately, I don't feel as if what I did was quite appreciated at all. For a measly $8.50/hr, I was expected to do all this shit above, as well as answer phones like some damn personal assistant for the owner! There were days that a client needed to speak to the owner about billing, and we couldn't put them through because the son of a bitch was too lazy to deal with the issue, but would bitch because they weren't paying their bills!
Then, I got the chance every day to sit on the phone with the owner for 2+ hrs. per day hearing what had to be done, and how fucking stupid and unknowledgable I was. Never once, did I get credit where credit was due to me! I busted my ass of 50 hrs/week at work, and another 50-60 at home on MY TIME to get things done and to constantly improve myself for this company. Unfortunately, I had to leave and leave a good friend behind in the company to continute to work there. I've spoken with him since then and tried to get him out, but don't feel as if he wants out yet. He seems to be enjoying the atmosphere of working alone.
After doing all of this shit for about 11 months, I couldn't take it anymore. I wound up balling every night because of the deep slump I was in because I felt as if I was a failure. Now, I've gotten straightened out and hopefully, after finishing my degree this next year, will get back in the game as a consultant instead of some other ass-hole's lacky.
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Yes... this will come up as "anonymous coward"... but c'mon man. I've got to tell you, as I do consulting for a local POS integrator, you don't want to start ANOTHER project. Take a look at what's out there, and sink the cash. They support it, so you can then run your business... instead of your pos system running you... into the ground financially. The headache that is involved in creating such a system is YEARS, not months. Break down, and implement something that uses a real sql server, and get done with it.
I'm also a developer, and there is no way that I'd build a complete POS system from scratch for any client, unless they've got plenty of funding, and even then I'd be skeptical about it. I'd take the pre-packaged software, and customize it to meet their needs. You don't want to face PCI compliance standards, worry about customer information being stolen accidentally, try to figure out the logic for commissions, ordering, etc. It's just a huge nightmare.
For payment processors, take a look at Mercury. I've dealt with them, and they're 99.99% flawless in comparison with other credit card processors.
For a POS system, take a look at Microsoft RMS. I know it's a flamewar that will be started, but it's a great system all-in-all.
email is richard (a) nerdzonline.net if you want to discuss this at all. Thanks.
I think that I too meet everyone in this post eye to eye....
/. post!
I worked at a very small consulting firm (3 employees, including the owner). During my year spent working for the company, my responibilities included not only developing for the owner, but doing other things like mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, general building/property maintenance, etc. Unfortunately, I don't feel as if what I did was quite appreciated at all. For a measly $8.50/hr, I was expected to do all this shit above, as well as answer phones like some damn personal assistant for the owner! There were days that a client needed to speak to the owner about billing, and we couldn't put them through because the son of a bitch was too lazy to deal with the issue, but would bitch because they weren't paying their bills!
Then, I got the chance every day to sit on the phone with the owner for 2+ hrs. per day hearing what had to be done, and how fucking stupid and unknowledgable I was. Never once, did I get credit where credit was due to me! I busted my ass of 50 hrs/week at work, and another 50-60 at home on MY TIME to get things done and to constantly improve myself for this company. Unfortunately, I had to leave and leave a good friend behind in the company to continute to work there. I've spoken with him since then and tried to get him out, but don't feel as if he wants out yet. He seems to be enjoying the atmosphere of working alone.
After doing all of this shit for about 11 months, I couldn't take it anymore. I wound up balling every night because of the deep slump I was in because I felt as if I was a failure. Now, I've gotten straightened out and hopefully, after finishing my degree this next year, will get back in the game as a consultant instead of some other ass-hole's lacky.
Oh well, that's my 2-cents on the latest