DocketManager alternative
The modern DocketManager alternative for print & sign shops
DocketManager is a well-regarded, printer-built MIS with integrated web-to-print — popular with small commercial printers, especially in Canada. It's a strong system for docket-driven print work. Sign and wide-format shops tend to find the fit looser: pricing revolves around print products rather than substrates-by-the-square-foot, and the workflow is docket lists rather than a visual floor board. PrinterFlo is the sign-side counterpart — sq-ft materials pricing, a drag-and-drop board, approvals, payments and automations.
Bring your customers and past invoices with you: export them as CSV, drop them into Settings → Import, and PrinterFlo matches the columns for you. Pricing gets set up in the options library, and we'll do that with you, free.
PrinterFlo vs DocketManager
| DocketManager | PrinterFlo | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Commercial/docket printing | Sign, wide-format & print shops |
| Pricing | Print product configuration | Substrate/vinyl/laminate by the sq ft, tiers, setup fees, live margin |
| Production | Docket lists | Drag-and-drop board with custom stages + automations |
| Customer flow | Web-to-print storefront | No-login approval + deposit payment link per job |
| Time to value | Weeks of setup | Same day |
Switching from DocketManager
The part everyone worries about, in three steps.
- 01
Export from DocketManager
Most systems let you export your customer list as a CSV or Excel file, and many export invoice or order history too. Price lists are hit and miss: some systems export them, many don't. Whatever DocketManager lets you export is yours to take.
- 02
Import it here
Settings → Import: drop the files in and check the columns PrinterFlo matched. Customers come in as customers, products with flat or per square foot prices, and past invoices, orders and payments as read-only history on each customer. Old invoice PDFs can go on too. Pricing formulas, matrices and tiers don't import. They get rebuilt in the options library, and we'll do that with you, free.
- 03
Bring the jobs you're still working on
Export your open orders from DocketManager too and drop them under Open orders. Each one becomes a live order on your board, its jobs in the column its status matches, with anything already paid counted on its balance. You tick which statuses come over, nothing emails your customers, and one click undoes the import.
Or don't do it yourself — send us the export.
We'll map and load your customers and products for you, check the prices came across right, and hand it back ready to quote from. No charge, and you don't have to be a customer first.
Where DocketManager fits
Small commercial print shops (especially docket/job-ticket driven) that want MIS + web-to-print in one.
Why shops switch to PrinterFlo
- → Print-product oriented — signage materials pricing isn't first-class.
- → Docket/list workflow rather than a visual production board.
- → Setup and configuration take real time.
- → No stage automations.
DocketManager alternative — FAQ
Is PrinterFlo a good DocketManager alternative?
For sign and wide-format work, yes — pricing and production are built around signage. If your revenue is docket-driven commercial printing with a storefront, DocketManager remains a strong fit.
Run your shop on PrinterFlo
A clean production board, fast quoting with a built-in sign calculator, and one-click customer approvals — built for how sign & print shops actually work.
Try it free. No card needed.