How To Use Quickbooks For Personal Finance
Quickbooks is the most popular type of business accounting software on the market with thousands of small, medium and large-sized companies placing their trust in it. It’s broad range of features and clean yet sophisticated interface allow people with little-to-no accounting experience to perform all of their bushiness’s accounting needs. In addition, however, Quickbooks can also be used to manage personal finances. If you are looking for a way to keep track of your personal finances, keep reading to learn how Quickbooks can do the job for you.
Some people might be thrown off by Quickbooks’ labeling. If you’ve ever come across this software in a store or online, it’s usually described as “business” accounting software; therefore, common sense would leave you to believe that it’s a poor choice for personal accounting. The truth, however, is that Quickbooks can be used for either business or personal finance managing. Just because it’s labeled as business accounting software doesn’t mean you can’t use it for personal finances as well.
When you are ready to start your personal finance accounting, fire up Quickbooks on your personal computer. The process of using the software for your personal accounting needs is pretty much the same as business accounting, only with a few minor differences. Once Quickbooks has loaded, use the built-in setup Wizard to walk you through the rest of the steps. If you have a checking account, savings account or any other bank account, you use the setup Wizard to connect this information to your Quickbooks. Alternatively, you can also enter this information in by hand if you aren’t comfortable connecting your financial accounts to Quickbooks. Either way is perfectly acceptable, but using the setup wizard will save you both time and energy.
Next, click on the “Vendor Center” tab at the top of your Quickbooks account and select “New Vendor.” This may be somewhat confusing at first, but vendors in a personal finance account are any bills that you must pay. For instance, your rent, electric bill, cable bill, car payment and even groceries can be labeled as a vendor. It’s important to note, however, that you’ll need to create a new vendor for each type of bill.
With your vendors set up, you can now add transactions to account for any payments you’ve sent out. The key thing to remember is that each transaction needs to have a specific vendor associated with it. Continue doing this throughout the month and you’ll be able to better keep up with your personal finances thanks to Quickbooks.
Quickbooks Time Tracking
Time Tracking is a highly useful add-on feature to Quickbooks that allows you to track employee work time. If you have employees who are paid by hourly wage and not salary or commission, then you’ll need to keep track of their time; otherwise, it’s a guessing game that will end up costing you in the long run. The good news is that Quickbooks Time Tracking is designed specifically for this reason. Once you’ve enrolled in this program, you can integrate it into your Quickbooks account for fast and easy employee time management.
First and foremost, you might be wondering if Time Tracking is truly necessary. After all, there are tends of thousands of businesses who use Quickbooks without this feature. While you can certainly perform accounting operations without it, using Time Tracking is resourceful for contractors and similar small businesses who need to report their work time. For the price, adding this feature onto your Quickbooks account will prove to be well worth the initial investment.
Once you’ve signed up for Time Tracking, you will then need to log in to your account and click the “Preferences” button under “Edit.” You will then be prompted with a question asking if you wish to turn on the Time Tracking feature. Select yes and continue through the setup process.
You should now be at the main Quickbooks screen with all of your tabs off to the left-hand side. Click on “Payroll and Employee” and then select “Company Preferences.” If you look closely, you should see a box that says “use time data to create paychecks.” Assuming you wish to use the Time Tracking feature, click on this box and continue to the next screen.
With this feature activated, your Quickbooks account will now automatically account for employees’ time data. Before it’s able to do this accurately, however, you must go into each individual employee account to manually update their information. Edit each individual employee in your Quickbooks account and choose whether you want to use an automatic timesheet or enter the data by hand.
Using the Quickbooks Time Tracking feature isn’t difficult, but it does require a few minutes to set up. Follow the steps outlined here to get this feature up and going on your Quickbooks accounts. Once it’s activates and working, Time Tracking will automatically account for employees’ time, which in turn will make accounting ten times easier on you.
How To Set Up and Use Quickbooks Remote Access
Ever wish you could access and work on your Quickbooks account from different different devices? Well, thanks to Quickbooks Remote Access, now you can. This is a huge benefit for people who are constantly traveling and don’t always have access to their primary computer. Using a secure login, you can access and make changes to your Quickbooks account from any compatible computer or device from anywhere in the world. If this is something you are interested in, keep reading to learn more about setting up and using Quickbooks Remote Access.
Does My Quickbooks Come With Remote Access
There are some versions of Quickbooks that come with Remove Access at no additional charge. If your version does not have this feature, however, you can add it for the low price of $3.95/month, which is a small price to pay for the ability to use Quickbooks from multiple devices. So, which versions have Remote Access built in? Currently, Quickbooks Pro, Quickbooks Premier and Quickbooks Enterprise all come with this highly useful feature at no additional cost.
Setting Up Quickbooks Remote Access
When you are ready to get started, go ahead and launch your Quickbooks application. Depending on the specific version of Quickbooks you are running, you will either need to select “Accountant” followed by “Remote Access” or “File” followed by “Remote Access.” From here, you simply need to follow the directions on choosing a name, password, etc. When you are done, you should now be able to access all Quickbooks-related programs.
It’s important to note that both you and the client computer must have an active internet connection in order for Quickbooks Remote Access to work. If only one of these computers has an internet connection, there’s simply no way for the connection to occur. If you haven’t done so already, check to make sure there’s an active internet connection with both computers. You can then attempt to log into the client computer using the web address previously mentioned. Once you’ve entered in the login information, it will send a request to the client computer. Once the request is granted, you’ll then be able to access and modify files within the Quickbooks account.
Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding on setting up and using Quickbooks Remote Access. It’s a highly useful feature that many people seem to overlook. However, nearly everyone can benefit from Quickbooks Remote Access, so make sure it’s setup on your account.
Common Errors Made In Quickbooks
Quickbooks is the world’s most popular business account software, and for good reason — it’s loaded with features, come with an easy-to-use interface, and there are several versions available to fit anyone’s accounting needs. Whether you are a small, medium or large-sized business, chances are you’ll find Quickbooks makes accounting quick and easy. If you intend on using Quickbooks, though, you’ll want to avoid making some of the following mistakes.
Mistake #1 – Not Reconciling Accounts
Arguably, the single most common Quickbooks mistake people make is not reconciling their financial accounts. Instead, they simply look at the end balance to see how much money their accounts contain. While it may be accurate nine out of ten times, there’s always a chance the final balance is wrong. The only way to determine the accuracy of your accounts’ final balance is to go through and reconcile each one. Basically, this is a process similar to balancing a checkbook, as you’ll look at each deposit and withdraw to see if the final balance matches up
Mistake #2 – Not Setting Bank Account With Cash Entries
Let’s face it, not all of your financial transactions will be done through checks. There will likely be times when cash is used for the purchase of goods related to your business. The good news is that Quickbooks is designed to handle cash entries with ease. The bad news, however, is that some people make the mistake of not appointing a bank account with the entry. Even though it’s a cash entry, you still need to specify which bank account it’s for; otherwise, your final balances will get thrown off. Try to get into the habit of reconciling your accounts at least once every other week to reduce the impact of any incorrect transactions.
Mistake #3 – Not Backing Up Your Accounts
When it comes to accounting, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Unless you are using Quickbooks Online, all of your financial account data and information is probably being stored on your computer. While this is perfectly fine, you should also back it up elsewhere just in case something happens to your computer. Even a small USB flash drive will typically provide enough storage space to backup your Quickbooks accounts. Alternatively, you can use a removable hard drive, CD, DVD or a remote storage service. The bottom line is that you need all of your Quickbooks account information backed up somewhere other than your computer.
What Is Cloud Computing?
In recent years, cloud computing has become more and more popular by both businesses and individuals. It offers several unique benefits that simply aren’t found in traditional local computing. Even with this newfound popularity, however, many people are left in the dark as to what cloud computing actually is. If you are still trying to wrap your head around the technology of cloud computing, keep reading and we’ll break it down for you.
Cloud Computing – The Basics
Cloud computing refers to a type of network-based technology where hardware and software are stored and accessed at a remote location. This definition can undoubtedly be confusing to some, so let me give you an example — say you fire up your home computer, open up your internet browser and log in to a web-based accounting program like Quickbooks Online. Since the hardware and software being used for the calculations are stored remotely, this would be considered a form of cloud computing.
The most notable characteristic of cloud computing is the fact that data is stored and accessed from a remote location. If you can access a program from you computer without using the internet or local networking technology, chances are it’s not using cloud technology. The “cloud” refers to a remote location that can be accessed through multiple devices.
Advantage of Using Cloud Computing
There are several unique advantages of cloud computing that can’t be ignored. For starters, it allows you to perform computing work or tasks from anywhere in the world. When you are hundreds of miles away from home on a business trip, you can log in to your cloud computing server to access your files and programs. There’s no need to haul your massive home desktop PC around with you since all of your files are stored at a remove location.
Another advantage of cloud computing is the fact that all of your data is backed up in case of a crash or system failure. Let’s face it, I think we’ve all lost important data at one point or another. Having your data stored remotely at a cloud location offers a valuable backup in case of such a disaster. If your local desktop PC crashes, just log in to your cloud server and download it again.
The truth is that these are just a few of the many reasons why so many people rely on cloud computing. As technology improves, we’ll likely be seeing more programs and services take the route of cloud computing.
How To Get Most Out of Quickbooks
As a business owner, Quickbooks is hands down one of the most valuable pieces of software you’ll come across. It’s designed to make business accounting, no matter how big or small, a breeze thanks to its clean, easy-to-use interface. As a newcomer, though, you might overlook some of the essential features offered by Quickbooks. To ensure you get the most out of your Quickbooks experience, keep reading for some essential tips and tricks.
Before we start, it’s important to note that there are several different types of Quickbooks software available. The most basic is the online version, which runs for $39.95/month, while the most advanced type is Quickbooks Enterprise Solution, which is available starting at $999.95. Of course, there are also different versions that somewhere in between. Contrary to what some people may believe, the most expensive type of Quickbooks isn’t always necessary. Do some research first to determine which type has the features you need for your business accounting.
Reconciliations
Arguably, the single most important feature offered by Quickbooks is reconciliations. I guess you compare this to balancing your checkbook, as you are going over all of your transactions to ensure the end result is correct. If you entered in a wrong number for a transaction or deposit, the end result for your reconciliation will be different. The good news is that it’s designed to catch these errors and show you exactly where the problem occurred. You can then go back through and fix it once you’ve identified the erroneous entry.
When you perform reconciliations on your Quickbooks account, it’s best to start with the smaller bank accounts first and then work your way up to the larger ones. Getting the smaller ones out of the way will clear up some of the interface, making it easier for you to see what you are working with.
Use Journal Entries
A commonly overlooked feature offered by Quickbooks are journal entries. Although they aren’t necessary for basic business accounting, creating journal entries is a quick and easy way to note where a specific payment came from if there’s already an option for it. In the past, most accountants used journal entries to perform nearly all of their accounting tasks. Now, though, they are sparingly used. The truth is that you should really only use them when there’s source available for a check or payment. In this case, create a journal entry and enter the information of the client.
Understanding Journal Entries And Their Purpose In Quickbooks
Whether you run a small, medium or large sized company, there’s no better choice for accounting software than Quickbooks. It’s designed with a focus on simplicity so that anyone can perform their own accounting. However, it still has tons of unique features to handle any type of accounting job. One of these features, known as “journal entries,” is necessary in certain situations to achieve an accurate outcome with all of your payments and expenses aligned.
What Are Journal Entries Used For?
First and foremost, let’s take a closer look at what Quickbooks journal entries are used for, as some people are clueless regarding this feature. Based on the name alone, you might assume journal entries are used for making notes about accounts or transactions. Well, this is partially correct. Basically, journal entries are used to document and record financial transactions when there’s not already a designated form setup for them.
Journal entries are also used to move money to and from different Quickbooks accounts. However, under no circumstances should you use them to move money between different bank accounts, as this would likely throw your entire Quickbooks account off balance. Stick with the basics and only create journal entries when money is being moved between transactions and Quickbooks accounts.
Creating a Journal Entry
The good news is that creating a journal entry is a fairly easy and straightforward process that should only take a couple minutes to perform. Once the software is up and running, click the “Company” tab at the top of the page and then select “Make General Journal Entries.” From here, you’ll need to follow the directions and enter in any requested information. These are all basic things like the date, account, debit or credit transaction, memo and class. When you are finished, click “Save & Close” to exit the interface and return back to the main screen. You will now have this journal entry saved directly into your Quickbooks account.
Sorry if you were expecting more, but that’s all it takes to create a journal entry in Quickbooks! Just remember to always double check your account numbers and the amount for the transaction before clicking the save button. While you can always go back and edit journal entries later, it’s better to get things right the first time. The couple extra minutes it takes to double check your journal entry could save you from having to go back over it in the future.
How To Create Invoives With Quickbooks
Nearly every type of business will find themselves in a position where they are required to send out an invoice at one point or another. Some businesses send out customer invoices on a daily basis, while others may only do it once a week or less. No matter what line of work your business performs, chances are you’ll need to send out invoices periodically. Instead of doing it by hand, you should should consider using Intuit Quickbooks to perform the job for you. It’s a simple and effective tool to create high-quality, professional invoices in no time at all. Keep reading and we’ll walk you through the process for creating invoices with Quickbooks.
Steps To Creating an Invoice
When you are ready to get started, fire up your Quickbooks account and click the “invoice” tab at the top of the screen. From here, you’ll need to select a template from the drop-down menu. This is done to keep your invoices uniform and looking the same; otherwise, different customers may receive different looking invoices. Once you’ve located the preferred template, click it and move on the next steps.
After selecting the invoice tab and template, you should now be promoted with a field asking you for the customer’s name. If they are a new customer, you’ll have to enter the name in manually. However, return customers will have their names pop up as you type it into the field. Either enter the new customer’s name into the box or select it from the given names and continue to the next step.
You should now be promoted with a box asking your for the type of invoice you wish to create. You’ll have the option of choosing product, service or professional. Choose the one that best fits the invoice and continue answering the given questions. Some of the information you’ll be required to enter include the number of invoices, amount, rate, etc. Double check all of these entries to ensure they are correct. You don’t want to end up sending an invoice to a customer for the wrong amount.
Before printing the invoice, you’ll be asked to enter an optional message to the customer. This isn’t required, but it’s helpful if you need to address certain issues to the customer regarding the invoice or price. Once you’ve entered in this information, go ahead and click the print button. Congratulations, you’ve just created your own invoice using Quickbooks!
Comparing Quickbooks Pro vs Quickbooks Premier
Because of it’s ease of use, Quickbooks has become one of the most popular types of accounting software on the market. It makes handling all of your company payroll and accounting a breeze, even if you have no previous experience in dealing with these issues. Two of the most popular types of Quickbooks are the “Pro” and “Premier” products, both of which offer their own unique advantages. If you are interested in using either one of these products, keep reading for a more detailed comparison.
Quickbooks Pro
The first product we’ll talk about here is Quickbooks Pro, which starts at $249.95. As the name suggests, this is a product version intended for medium to large sized businesses who require more than just the basic features. If you are running a small business, you might be able to get away with using the online version of Quickbooks Plus, which is just $39.95/month. It’s a much cheaper solution, but it doesn’t come with all the features and abilities of Quickbooks Plus.
So, what kind of features does Quickbooks Pro offer? In short, it allows you to manage employee payrolls, track sales, print and pay bills, track expenses, create invoices, send emails, use the Quickbooks Search to easily find past invoices and documentation, handle receivables, invoice multiple customers at once, scan and deposit checks from the comfort of your computer, track time, and much more…
Quickbooks Premier
A more complete version of Quickbooks is the Premier package, which starts at $399.95 for the desktop version. As you can see, it’s a substantial increase in price from the previous version. Is Quickbooks Premier worth the price? There’s no easy answer to this question, as it really depends on your specific accounting needs. Quickbooks Premier comes with all of the same features as Quickbooks Pro but with some additional items. Let’s take a look at what the extras are with this all-inclusive Quickbooks package.
One of the greatest advantages to using Quickbooks Premier is the ability to use their Inventory Center. This neat little tool allows you to easily locate inventory tasks from a single user interface. Quickbooks Premier also has the business plan feature included. Using this tool, you can plan out your business endeavor and even forecast your upcoming sales and expenses. While there’s no way of telling exactly how much money your business will spend in the future, the tools offered with Quickbooks Premier will estimate your future spending based on based amounts.
Quickbooks Reconciliation Tips and Tricks
Bank and financial reconciliations are an important part of managing a Quickbooks account. Whether you operate a small, medium or large-sized business, you’ll need to perform reconciliations to ensure all the transactions are correct and everything is setup properly. No matter how hard you try to prevent it, accidents and typos are bound to happen. The good news, however, is the reconciliations are designed to find and fix these common problems. Keep reading and we’ll go over some simple tips and tricks for reconciling your Quickbooks account.
First, let’s go over what exactly reconciliations are used for, as some people are hearing this term now for the first time. In short, it’s a process similar to balancing a checkbook. You’ll check the balance on your Quickbooks account to the balance on your bank statement to see if they match. If they match, you know everything is correct and entered in properly. On the other hand, a mismatching balance is a sign that something isn’t right, and you must go back to find out what’s causing the two numbers to be off.
Tip #1 – Using The Reconciliation Feature
If you’ve never reconciled a bank account through Quickbooks before, you might be surprised at just how easy the process is. Before you start, though, you’ll need to have access to your most recent bank statement. Next, launch your Quickbooks account and click the “Banking” tab at the top left corner of the page. From here, you can select “Reconcile” to start the process. It’s literally that easy to start the reconciliation process of a bank account through Quickbooks.
Tip #2 – Check Balances First
The very first thing you should do after starting the bank account reconciliation process is to compare your balances. Check the balance on your Quickbooks account to see if it matches with the balance on your bank statement. Hopefully, it matches up and you can close out of the process. If it doesn’t, however, you’ll need to find out what transaction is causing the problem. Checking the balances first will make the reconciliation process ten times easier.
Tip #3 – Save The Larger Accounts For Last
When you reconcile accounts through Quickbooks, it’s usually best to start with the smaller ones and gradually work your way to the larger accounts. Doing so will get some of the easier accounts out of the way first, allowing you to focus your time and energy on the harder accounts. Of course, some people may have their own preferred method, but I’ve found this is generally helpful when reconciling bank accounts through Quickbooks.