Help! Quickbooks Keeps Aborting After Inactivity
Quickbooks remains the world’s most popular and widely used accounting software for small businesses, and for good reason: it’s versatile, easy to use, loaded with features, and backed by Intuit’s first-class support. But even Quickbooks is prone to errors from time to time, with some users reporting that the software keeps aborting after long periods of inactivity. So, what’s causing this problem and how do you fix it?
If you see see the “Abort” message displayed on Quickbooks, you will typically be forced to shut it down and restart the program. This error usually occurs after 20 minutes or so of inactivity.
There are a couple possible causes of this problem, one of which is a conflict with the Windows power settings. Depending on which version of Windows your PC is running, you should be able to modify the power settings via Start > Control Panel > Power Management. After accessing the power management settings, disable all management features that are associated with the hard drive. Once you are finished, save the changes and restart your computer. Hopefully, this will solve the problem, allowing you to continue using Quickbooks without encountering the abort error.
As noted on Intuit’s official website, users can often fix the abort error message in Quickbooks by using the File Doctor tool. After downloading the File Doctor tool, double click the .exe file to install it. This should create a shortcut icon on your desktop. Double click this icon to launch the tool. Now, wait for the tool to scan your Quickbooks installation, at which point it should reveal whether or not any problems have been detected. If the File Doctor detects a problem, you’ll have the option to either repair the file, restore a back up copy of your company file, recovery your data with Auto Data Recovery, or send your company file to Intuit’s Data Recovery Team.
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How to Print all Invoices in Quickbooks
Looking to print all of your invoices using the Quickbooks accounting software? If you are reading this post, I’m assuming the answer is yes. If you just recently launched your small business, you may not have many invoices, in which case you can print them individually. But if your business has been operational for any prolonged length of time, this isn’t a viable option.
Thankfully, there’s a simple way to print multiple invoices using Quickbooks. But before you proceed, you should first check to make sure that all of your invoices are “flagged” for batch printing. Without the invoices being flagged, you won’t be able to print them in batches.
To print multiple invoices, log into your Quickbooks account, click on the + sign > Invoice > complete the form > and click Save. Sorry if you were expecting more, but that’s all it takes to print multiple invoices using Quickbooks!
Of course, some users may wish to email their invoices or sales transactions, in which case you should click the Transactions menu in the upper left menu, followed by Sales. Next, select Type of transaction, Status and Delivery Method in the Filter column. Make a check next to each transaction that you would like to email. In the Batch Actions drop-down menu, choose Send Transaction to email them. If you wish to print them instead, however, you can select the Print Transactions option.
It’s important to note that all transactions will show up under the Sales Transaction section of your Quickbooks software. When emailing the transaction, you can check to see if it needs editing to include the email address on the actual transaction. This is done by double clicking the invoice form the Sales Transaction menu, at which point you can enter next text or modify existing text to reflect the recipient’s email address. When you are finished, click Save and Close to complete the process and return back to the Sales Transaction menu.
Note: you can also email an invoice or sales transactions to multiple recipients. Just separate the recipient’s address with a comma.
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Intuit Reports Strong Q1, Thanks to Quickbooks Online
While Intuit’s reported a first quarter loss of $29 million, the popular accounting software maker is going strong, thanks in part to its Quickbooks Online service.
As noted by Intuit President and CEO Brad Smith, Intuit has continued with “strong momentum” throughout the year, exceeding its projected number of subscribers and financial targets for Q1.
“We started the fiscal year the same way we ended the last, with strong momentum across our businesses as our intense focus on our global cloud strategy takes shape,” said Brad Smith, Intuit’s president and chief executive officer. “We exceeded our subscriber and financial targets in the first quarter and have raised our earnings per share guidance for the fiscal year based on these initial strong results and our acceleration of share repurchases in the quarter.”
Of course, one of the reasons why Intuit is doing so well is because of Quickbooks Online. Quickbooks Online is the company’s signature cloud-based accounting software. Unlike the desktop versions of Quickbooks, Quickbooks Online lives up to its namesake by being completely hosted on the cloud. This means users can access the software anywhere, anytime — assuming they have access to an Internet-connected computer or compatible device.
To put the popularity of Quickbooks Online into perspective, Intuit reported a 57% growth in its subscriber base through the first quarter. This means that more than 1.16 million people are now subscribed to the online accounting service. Other interesting findings released by Intuit indicate its small business revenue increased by 5%, and its payroll customers increased by 17% through the first quarter.
But just because it’s popular doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s best the choice. Quickbooks Online is undoubtedly convenient and easy to use. The problem, however, is that it lacks many of the key features and functions found in the desktop version of Quickbooks. So, how are you supposed to take advantage of the accounting power of Quickbooks while still being able to access it online? The answer is Hosted Quickbooks.
Hosted Quickbooks is essentially the desktop version of the software that’s hosted online by an authorized third party. This means users can enjoy all of the features of the desktop version while still being able to access it online.
What do you think of Quickbooks Online? Let us know in the comments section below!
Quickbooks Tip: How to Lock a Previous Year
Intuit’s Quickbooks remains the world’s most popular and widely used accounting software for small business owners. It’s fast, versatile, easy to use, and it’s loaded with features. But if you’re looking for an option to “lock” a previous year, you may not find one, and here’s why.
Normally, accountants and small business owners lock their accounting at the end of the year (or beginning of the following year). This is done to prevent the accidental alteration of existing transactions or the addition of new transaction. If you accidentally add a new transaction to the previous year, it will throw off your entire balance, forcing you to go back and identify/fix the problem. Quickbooks, however, takes a different approach by eliminating the need for locking end-of-year transactions.
Any data that you enter into Quickbooks is there to stay. Some people may find this to be confusing, as you are unable to lock a previous year. However, the vast majority of users (myself included) find this to be helpful since you can go back to fix dependencies or other problems at any time, regardless of whether or not the year has passed.
There are some problems associated with Quickbooks’ stance on keeping financial transactions logged, one of which is the potential for an accountant to modify transactions after the company has already filed their taxes. Even small changes could result in major discrepancies — something that you probably want to avoid after filing your taxes. So, how do you prevent this from happening in your Quickbooks account?
The easiest solution is to use the software’s Set CLosing Date and Password commands. After logging into your Quickbooks account, choose Edit > Preferences > Accounting > Company Preferences. Next, click on the option titled “Set date/password,” at which point you can specify the date for which you would like to close off the transactions. You must also specify a password for this “lock date.” Changes can still be made to the locked date period, although the user must enter the password specified here.
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What is Hosted Quickbooks and Why Should I Choose It?
Thinking about investing in the Quickbooks accounting software? If you are reading this, I’m going to assume the answer is yes. Quickbooks has become the world’s most popular accounting software for small business owners and professional accounts alike, and for good reason: it’s fast, versatile, and loaded with helpful features. But one of the decisions you’ll have to make is whether to choose desktop Quickbooks, Quickbooks Online, or Hosted Quickbooks.
Hosted Quickbooks Defined
Hosted Quickbooks is essentially the Desktop version that’s “hosted” by an authorized third-party or vendor. Many people assume that Quickbooks Online is the best choice, but this isn’t necessarily true. Desktop Quickbooks offers more features and a higher level of functionality, making it the preferred choice among business owners.
The problem with the standard version of Desktop Quickbooks, however, is that it’s restricted to a local machine (e.g. your computer). If you frequently travel and accidentally leave your laptop at home, you won’t be able to access your account. Thankfully, problems such as these are easily avoided with Hosted Quickbooks.
Access Quickbooks Anywhere, Anytime
With Hosted Quickbooks, you can access your account anywhere, anytime — as long as you have access to the Internet. All of your data is stored on a secure server that’s managed by an authorized third-party through Intuit’s Hosting Program. So whether you in the office or hundreds of miles away on vacation, you can access all of your financial records from any Internet-connected computer or device.
Automatic Backups
Another benefit of using Hosted Quickbooks is the simple fact that all of your data is backed up to the cloud automatically. Assuming you use the standard, non-hosted version of Quickbooks, you could place your business at serious risk in the event that your primary computer or storage device is stolen. Hosted Quickbooks, however, protects against data loss by automatically backing up your data to the cloud.
Enhanced Support
Need another reason to choose Hosted Quickbooks? With other versions of the popular accounting software, you are typically restricted to receiving Intuit’s support. This isn’t necessarily bad, but you can receive an even greater level of support by choosing Hosted Quickbooks. Doing so will allow you to reach out to either Intuit or the hosting company in the event that you need technical support.
How to Add Logo to a Quickbooks Invoice
As a business owner, you probably want to display your brand material on any and all documents possible. Whether it’s your business card, website, social media accounts, or billing invoices, it’s important to display your brand material, such as your logo for instance. Thankfully, Quickbooks offers a quick and easy way to integrate your brand logo onto invoices. Here’s how you do it.
To add your logo to an invoice template, log into your Quickbooks account and open the Basic Customization window. Next, select the “Use Logo” checkbox under the Basic Customization window. Assuming this is your first time using a custom logo, you’ll have the option to select one. Browse through your files and choose your brand’s logo. It’s recommended that you use a square-shaped logo for best results, as Quickbooks uses this native format. Even if you don’t use a square logo, though, Quickbooks will automatically reshape and resize it accordingly.
After selecting your logo, click the Open button to return back to the Basic Customization window and preview your logo. If you wish to see how it looks in person, you can click the Print Preview button. When you are happy with your logo, click OK to save the changes and close your session. Sorry if you were expecting more, but that’s all it takes to set up a logo on your Quickbooks invoices!
Of course, some users may wish to reposition their logo. By default, Quickbooks includes logos on the upper left corner of invoices and forms. You can change this position, however, in just a few basic steps. To do this, open the Layout Designer, select your logo in the upper left corner, and then drag and drop it to the desired location. Depending on the current layout of your invoice, you may have to move and adjust some of the existing elements to make room for the logo. When you are finished click OK to complete the changes and you are done.
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Intuit Launches Quicken 2016: What You Should Know
It wasn’t long ago when Quicken was the preferred choice of accounting software among small business owners and professional accountants. It offered an easy-to-use, versatile, and fast interface to accommodate the needs of all users. But the popularity for Quicken gradually died off as users switched to Quickbooks. Well, it appears that Intuit has revived its Quicken software, as the company recently launched a new Quicken 2016 product.
Quicken was originally launched more than three decades ago, a time when accountants — most, at least — were using paper files to keep track of their clients’ finances and spending habits. As such, this paved the way for new, more efficient solutions, such as Intuit’s Quickbooks line of software.
As noted by USA Today, Quicken 2016 remains relatively the same in terms of features and mechanics when compared to its predecessors. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s the same product with a different name. Intuit has enhanced the experience for users, streamlining common processes so they are easier and less time-consuming to perform.
When announcing Quicken 2016, Eric Dunn said the software has new features for PC and Mac users which remove some of the otherwise confusing and complex problems associated with paying bills.
“We’re working harder and smarter than ever to delight customers,” said Eric Dunn, senior vice president and general manager of Quicken. “Quicken 2016 affirms our commitment to listening to our customers and helping them achieve financial success at every life stage. Our new features for Mac and Windows users help remove some of the complexity around managing and paying bills. Looking ahead, our goal is to add capability and enhancements to Quicken products that extend the ability for users to easily manage their money across devices.”
Here are some of the additions that you can expect to see in Quicken 2016:
- Mobile app companion for Apple and Android devices.
- Manage complex financials and tax planning.
- Manage bills from the Quicken register.
- Set up alerts to receive reminders for bills, low balanced, etc.
- Track budgets for monthly or seasonal expenses.
- Creates savings goals to cut back on unnecessary expenses.
- And more…
What are your thoughts on Quicken 2016? Let us know in the comments section below!
How to Make Adjusting Journal Entries in Quickbooks
Journal entries are a key component of the Quickbooks ecosystem. While most users are familiar with them, you may not know about adjusted journal entries.
What is an Adjusted Journal Entry?
An adjusted journal entry, in the most basic definition, is a journal entry that’s made after an event has taken place For instance, an accountant may have to go back and make adjustments for sales payable on interest or penalties. Because the entry has already been made, a new “adjusted entry” must be created.
Keep in mind that the use of adjusted journal entries varies depending on the specific version of Quickbooks that you are using. Most versions of Quickbooks will feature have a checkbox for “Adjusting Entry,” which can be ticked to create a new adjusted journal entry. With Quickbooks Pro and Premier editions, however, this option isn’t there by default, unless the specified transaction was marked previously as an adjusted entry in a version of Quickbooks that supports this feature.
Making an Adjusted Journal Entry
To make an adjusted journal entry, you’ll need to open the accountant menu and then click Make General Journal Entries. Next, fill in the information about the entry, including the date of transaction, entry number, etc. When you are finished, click the “Adjusting Entry” checkbox — do not skip this step; otherwise, you will create a standard journal entry instead of an adjusted entry.
When creating an adjusted journal entry, you’ll see a detail area. Here, you should enter the first account that’s associated with the transaction, debit, credit, memo, name or class. Keep entering the distribution lines until the transaction goes to a $0 balance, at which point you can save the entry. Sorry if you were expecting more, but that’s all it takes to make an adjusted journal entry in Quickbooks!
How to View Adjusted Journal Entries
Want to view your newly created adjusted journal entry? You can do so in just a few easy steps. Once you’ve created the adjusted journal entry, go to Reports > Accounts & Taxes > Adjusting Journal Entries. Now search for the date range associated with the new entry, click refresh, and it should be revealed. From here, you can also choose to print the adjusted journal entry.
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How to Change the Location of Your Quickbooks Company File
Looking to move your Quickbooks company file to a new location? If you are reading this, then I’m assuming the answer is yes. Unfortunately, there’s no clear option that allows users to move their company file. Just because it’s not clearly listed, however, doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. With a little bit of work, you can move your company file to a new location. Here’s how.
Before we start, it’s important to note that whenever you move, copy or rename a company file in Quickbooks, you should also move, copy or rename the associated log file. Failure to do so will result in mismatching log files, and when this happens, it will automatically disable syncing for your company file. Sync Manager will then prompt you to re-enable this feature and re-upload your company file. To prevent this type of headache from occurring, it’s recommended that you move the log file at the same time when you move your company file to a new location.
To move a company file to a new location, you can simply copy and paste it in the new destination using Windows file explorer. Now, return back to the location of the original file and locate the log file. As stated above, you must move the log file at the same time as the company file or syncing will be disabled, which can lead to a whole new world of headaches. Once you’ve located the log file, either cut or copy and then paste it in the same location as the company file. The log file will have the same name as the company file. Rather than using the standard company file extension, however, it will have a .tlg extension.
Now check the original location of your company file to see if it contains a folder named yourcompany_Logs. If you see this folder, copy and move it to the same location as your company file. Sorry if you were expecting more, but that’s all it takes to move a Quickbooks company file to a new location!
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How to Connect Your Bank Account to Quickbooks
Quickbooks allows users to connect their bank account(s) in just a few easy steps. What’s the purpose of doing this you ask? Well, with your bank account connected to Quickbooks, you can automatically download a list of all of your transactions. Instead of manually entering each and every transaction into Quickbooks, for instance, you can simply download the transactions from your bank account. Today we’re going to walk you through the process of connecting a bank account to Quickbooks.
To connect a bank account to Quickbooks, fire up your Quickbooks software and choose “Connect an Account” under the “Bank Accounts” menu on the Homepage. You will then see a new screen asking you for information associated with your bank account. Don’t worry, it’s completely safe and secure to enter your banking information in Quickbooks. In the “Import transactions from your bank or credit card” field, enter the URL of your online banking account. To the right of this field, you’ll need to enter the username and password associated with this account.
Assuming you entered the correct login URL, username and password for your online banking account, Quickbooks will reveal a list all of the accounts associated with the bank. If you only have a single account, you’ll see a single account listed. But if you have several banking accounts, you will see all of them listed. Select the account that you wish to use in conjunction with Quickbooks and specify whether it is a checking, savings, money market, credit card, or trust account.
Once connected, you will see all of the accounts you have at this bank. Choose the account you use for your business and tell QuickBooks what kind of accounts they are. Quickbooks will then pull all of the transactions that were made from the account within the past 90 days.
On the next page, click Category or Match column to begin sorting the transactions made from the past 90 days. If you wish to place a transaction in a separate window, you can do so by opening the transaction menu and selecting the appropriate one. For new transactions, simply click “Add” on the right-side of the page to add the new transaction.
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