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I need a Database Recommendation

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by cori.mail

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I am involved in the startup of a new business and they are going to require a database for accounts receiveable, customer information, salesman tracking and commissions for a start. Since it is a small business at this point, we probably need access on no more than 5 computers. I am familiar with Access which I hate and filemaker have a copy of filemaker. Is there a recommendation out there as to what would be the best and easiest to build and use?

I appreciate any imput I can get. Thanks

9 replies

by firemaster

Just looking at the price advantage, php with a SQL database would be the best root. Licensing ASP is costly, while php & mySQL are both free, easy to use & learn, with a base root of html. You can find more on php, it is a free language, free to borrow, free to share. Don't just take ny word for it, get more opinions. Good luck.
-Mike

by ddaniell

PHP and MySQL may be a good choice, but now you're talking about basically setting up an Intranet. It might be a good idea to go with PHP and MySQL from the start though. Especially if you're ever going to need salesmen in the field to have access to sales data.

by harris56

PostGRE sql, like MySQL is an open source database. It has many advantages over MySQL, and its disadvantages too

mysql is faster, has better integration with linux and php, and its use is widespread

postgre sql has a more standard implementation of SQL compared to MySQL... many of sql's standards features such as views, sequences, and other objects are not available in mysql.. but they are in postgre sql... so this may have a better advantage to develop a solution that would be easier to emmigrate from in the future if your firm ever decides to use a more powerful database such as Oracle or SQL Server

by rasherman

Why not just buy shrink-wrapped solutions like QuickBooks, MYOB, Peachtree Account, Great Plains Software etc? It is likely cheaper than building from scratch. They have 5 user packs. They likely have all the basics for managing a business and you can probably write custom reports for the rest of your needs.

by bucky kaufman (mcsd)

Shrink-wrapped bookkeeping applications are all well and fine - build or buy, whichever. But if they don't store the data on a back-end database, they're storing it in some limited-access store and use their proprietary engine.

If you're in a small company, and you don't think that company will grow, and you want your system to fail if it does grow beyond a certain point - then using a shrink-wrapped software (preferably something that doesn't import or export well) is what you're looking for. :)

If you're starting a brand new network, where there was nothing before, you have the luxury of selecting which database back-end to use without too many consequences to consider. The important thing to remember is what resources are available to you. Choosing whichever one the kids coming out of the local schools are using makes hiring new staff go well. Choosing one that vendors use, but competitors don't is good.

Those are business decisions.

by joshayoung

Cori -

i'm assuming you've already determined a course of action for building a database to accomodate your needs. I am a business process and information project management specialist who spent over ten years with big "five" accounting firms learning to apply nearly all popular database and ERP type applications. I am now an independent consultant with my own practice and a small support staff - I leverage most of my work to dedicated third party developers for which I am the general contractor (a la a real estate development project.) the description of your need sounds relatively easy to quantify and to provide a solution given your short and long-range objectives. I would be happy to help via a return email or perhaps we could begin a relationship that might benefit your emerging business. I am based in LA but travel extensively. my text/numeric/operator asst pager is 800.494.3205 and my email address is joshayoung@yahoo.com if you wish to discuss. In either event, i wishyou the best on your enterprise ~ it is an exciting time and one that brings with it the most incredible joy and anxiety!

- Josh Young
Hermosa Beach, CA

by nlarsen

an affordable, Web based database from Intuit. Go to quickbase.com for more details.

by blarman

There is a small-mid-level database called Advantage by Extended Systems which is similar to Access, yet more robust. The pricing is very reasonable and I had a database up and running - including install - in less than 10 minutes.

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