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Are you still using Quickbooks with the default settings? While these settings are perfectly fine for most users, chances are you could save time by modifying them to fit your unique needs. Quickbooks has a section designed specifically for this reason, and adjusting these ‘preferences’ may offer several benefits. But where exactly are these preference settings located? And which ones should you change? To learn the answers to these questions and more, keep reading.

To set your preferences, fire up Quickbooks and log in as the administrator or a user with admin privileges. Next, click the ‘Edit’ menu at the top of your screen followed by ‘Preferences.’ You should now see a list of various categories on the left-hand portion of your screen. Each of these categories are directly related to your preferences, so choose the one that you wish to change. For instance, click the ‘Jobs and Estimates’ tab if you wish to change the preferences for your Jobs and Estimates.

After selecting a preference category, you’ll see an area next to the category tab. Note: any changes you enter here will only affect sessions from and not other users. Assuming you are logged in as the administrator (which we recommended earlier), you can adjust preferences for all users by selecting the ‘Company Preference’ tab. When you are finished making changes to your preferences, click the ‘Ok’ button to confirm and save.

How To Allow Add-On Software Through Preferences

By default, Quickbooks blocks the use of add-on software as a security measure. However, you can turn this feature on through the preferences window. To allow the use of add-on Quickbooks software,  open your Quickbooks company file as the administrator and create a new user dedicated specifically for the add-on software. You can name it something like ‘add-on software user’ or ‘add-on preference user’ to memorize it more easily.

Next, select the ‘Edit’ menu followed by ‘Preferences.’ Choose the ‘Integrated Applications’ option from the menu followed by the ‘Company Preferences’ button. You should now see an option titled ‘Don’t allow any application to access this company file’ with a box next to it. If you want to allow the use of add-on Quickbooks software, make sure this box is not checked and click ‘Ok’ to save. You can now exit out of your Quickbooks session or go back to performing your accounting work; with this option turned off, Quickbooks will now communicate with add-on software.

Have you noticed a ‘6000 Error’ message when running Quickbooks? Although it’s somewhat rare, this error may prevent users from performing some key tasks in their Quickbooks account. For instance, Error 6000 usually occurs when someone attempts to open, backup, or restore a company file. Rather than performing the operation, Quickbooks reveals an Error 6000 message on screen. It’s a troubling scenario that leaves many users scratching their head for answers. In this post, we’re going to reveal a simple solution to the Quickbooks Error 6000.

Note: before following the steps listed below, you should first attempt to fix the 6000 Error by configuring a single machine to host your Quickbooks company file. Assuming you have Quickbooks installed on multiple computers, this error may occur when two or more computers are hosting the same company file. You can still use Quickbooks on multiple computers, but make sure the company file is hosted only on a single computer.

Run The Quickbooks File Doctor

If the Error 6000 problem persists, you should download and run Quickbooks File Doctor. This tool is completely free to use, and it’s designed to fix a wide range of problems. Simply visit http://http-download.intuit.com/http.intuit/QBFD/qbfd.exe to download File Doctor to your computer. Depending on your operating system, it may prompt you with a message asking if you’d like to save or open the file. Choose the save option to download File Doctor to your specified location. Of course, you should only download File Doctor on the computer that’s displaying the 6000 error.

Once File Doctor has finished downloading to your computer, locate the file on your hard drive and open it. File Doctor comes with a built-in installation utility program. After choosing to open the file, it will begin the installation process. The tool is relatively small and should take less than a minute to install. When File Doctor has finished installing, check your desktop for a new icon. Open the File Doctor icon to run the program.

File Doctor and Error 6000

There are a few additional steps you’ll need to take in order to fix the error 6000 message with File Doctor. Choose the ‘Advanced Settings’ option in File Doctor and make sure the middle option — QuickBooks is hosted on this computer (network connectivity only) — is selected. Next, browse for your company file and click the ‘Check Connectivity’ button. File Doctor will now run its diagnostics tool to identify and fix common errors, including the 6000 Error.

Still struggling to choose between Quickbooks Online Simple Start, Quickbooks Online Essentials, and Quickbooks Online Plus? There are several key advantages to choosing Quickbooks Online (either of the three previously mentioned) over the desktop version, one of which is the simple fact that you can access your account from any internet-enabled computer, along with certain devices. However, there are some major differences between each of the online versions that users need to be aware of. Here, we’re going to reveal some of the unique features of each version to help you make the best choice for your business.

Note: all versions of Quickbooks Online are free to try for 30 days. In the highly unlikely event that you aren’t completely satisfied, simply cancel your account within the 30-day time frame to avoid being billed. Going for a ‘test drive’ with Quickbooks Online is oftentimes the most effective way to determine which version is best suited for your professional accounting needs.

Price Comparison

Let’s first go over the pricing differences between Quickbooks Online versions. As previously stated, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial to ‘test’ out Simple Start, Online Essentials or Online Plus. There’s no catch or hidden terms; just cancel your account within a month if you aren’t happy. With that said, here’s the current pricing for Quickbooks Online:

• Quickbooks Online Simple Start – $12.95/month
• Quickbooks Online Essentials – $26.95/month
• Quickbooks Online Plus – $39.95/month

Considering all of the features packed into Quickbooks Online Plus, you’re really getting a whole lot of bang for your buck with this version. At just $39.95/month, it’s still competitively priced when compared to similar business accounting software, making it an excellent choice for companies of all sizes. Of course, small S-Corp or individual LLC businesses may get by just fine with Simple Start, saving a little money in the process. This is why it’s important to go through all of the features offered in each version before making a decision.

Notable Differences Between Quickbooks Online Versions:

• Automatic invoice scheduling is only offered in Quickbooks Online Essentials and Quickbooks Online Plus.
• Purchase orders is limited to Online Plus.
• Manage and pay bills from vendors is limited to Online Essentials and Online Plus.
• Schedule payments is limited to Online Essentials and Online Plus.
• Industry Trends is limited to Online Essentials and Online Plus.
• Simple Start is limited to a single user, while 3 people can use Online Essentials simultaneously and 5 people can use Online Plus simultaneously.

One helpful tip to streamline your accounting is to create group items. While they aren’t technically required, there are several key benefits to using group items; they offer better tracking of similar items, reduce the amount of detail in customer invoices (most customers prefer basic invoices), and they allow for faster data entry. Unfortunately, however, most users completely overlook the group items, entering each invoice item individually. In this post, we’re going to break down the process of grouping multiple items together in a quick and easy step-by-step guide.

Creating a Group Item

While you are logged into your Quickbooks account, click the ‘List’ menu followed by ‘Go.’ This will open up a new menu with all of your current lists. Next, proceed to create a new item (like you would normally would) by clicking the ‘Item’ button at the bottom of your list.

From the available drop-down list, click ‘Type’ and then ‘Group.’ You’ll then be given the opportunity to name your new item group. You can choose a name that’s related to your product, or you choose a number. I recommend naming your group items with a relevant, easy-to-remember name that’s associated with your product/service. The name of your group item is entirely up to you, but choosing a relevant name rather than numbers will make things easier for you in the long run.

After choosing a name for your group item, you’ll be asked to enter a description. This is equally if not more important than the name since your customers will see the description printed on their sales invoices. Note: if you would like to display a list of your customer’s itemized products on their invoice, check the box next to ‘Print items.’ Leaving this box unchecked will prevent your invoices and sales forms from displaying itemized customer information.

The next step is to designate the items you wish to group. Go through the item column and select any that you want to add to the group. It’s important to note that groups are limited to 20 items. If you have more than 20 items that you wish to group, you’ll have to repeat these steps to create a second group.

Last but not least, in the ‘quantity’ field, enter the amount you want Quickbooks to use for each individual item. By default, this number is one; however, you can change it to 2, 5, 10, 100 or any other amount to fit your needs.

General ledger reports offer a quick and easy way for business owners and accountants to identify all Quickbooks transactions within a given time frame. Unlike the standard built-in Quickbooks account manager, using the general ledger allows users to modify and amend their transactions. Once the report is complete, you can go scroll through the transactions recorded for the given time period and modify those with discrepancies or errors. For a step-by-step walkthrough on how to run a general ledger report, keep reading.

Steps To Running a General Ledger Report:

1. Log in to your Quickbooks account.
2. Click on the ‘Report’ option from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose ‘ Accounting and Taxes’ from the available options.
4. Click ‘General Ledger Report’
5. Select ‘Next’ to run the report.

Why Is My General Ledger Report Showing a Positive Balance With One Account Filtered?

One of the most common problems Quickbooks users experience when running general ledger reports is their report showing a positive balance when only a single account is filtered. Some users automatically assume this problem is due to a bug or error, but there’s actually a reason for this issue — when you run a general ledger report with all accounts selected, Quickbooks creates split details for each transaction. When you run this same general ledger report with a single account filtered, however, it excludes transactions associated with the filtered account; thus, creating a positive balance.

The good news is that you can fix this issue in just a few simple steps. Go ahead and create a general ledger report using the steps listed above. Once the report is complete, click on the ‘Customize Report’ option, followed by the ‘Filters’ tab. Next, enter in the amount in the ‘Filter’ field (amount you wish to filter). You should now see a dialog box with several new options, one of which is ‘Include Split Detail?’ Make sure this option is checked and click ‘OK’ to run the report again.

Following these steps should balance the filtered account appropriate, creating a negative balance in your general ledger report.

Other General Ledger Report Tips:

• Refresh your general ledger reports by using the ‘Refresh’ button.
• Save a general ledger report for later use and/or reference by clicking the ‘Memorize’ button at the top of the report.
• General ledger reports can be printed with the ‘Print’ button.
• General ledger reports can be exported in XML or PDF format.

Quickbooks File Doctor is free add-on utility program designed to fix a broad range of common errors. If you’re currently experiencing error messages when using Quickbooks, you should first attempt to use this tool before resorting to account restorations or other, more in-depth solutions. While errors are few and far between, certain incompatibilities and bugs may trigger error messages. Thankfully, however, File Doctor is designed to solve most of these problems in fast, easy and effective manner without losing your vital data. To learn more about how to download, install and use Quickbooks File Doctor, keep reading.

What Does File Doctor Fix?

• Corrupted files
• Data corruption
• Network errors
• 6000 series errors

Download File Doctor

It’s important to note that File Doctor is a separate add-on that Quickbooks users must download. You can find the official free download available at http-download.intuit.com/http.intuit/QBFD/qbfd.exe. Simply click on the link previously mentioned and choose the ‘Save’ option to save File Doctor to your hard drive. Since the files are compressed, it should only take a few minutes to download. Wait for the files to download before locating them on your computer and launching the self-install file.

Note: File Doctor is available for all versions of Quickbooks. Whether you’re using Online, Plus, Enterprise or any other version, you can download File Doctor by following the link mentioned above.

Using File Doctor

Once you’ve downloaded and installed File Doctor to your computer, you can then use it to fix a variety of Quickbooks network and file-related errors. Assuming you ran the self-installation file mentioned above, you should have a new icon for the File Doctor program on your computer. Click on this icon to automatically open and run the File Doctor utility tool. Alternatively, you can also access File Doctor by clicking Start — Programs — Quickbooks — Quickbooks File Doctor. If the self-installer didn’t place a shortcut icon on your desktop, find the program in your start menu, right click and choose “Send To Desktop” to create one.

After launching the File Doctor utility program, browse through your hard drive to locate your company’s Quickbooks file and select ‘Open.’ Next, select the ‘Diagnose File’ option to scan it with the File Doctor utility program. Before the program runs, you’ll be prompted to enter your Quickbooks password. Go ahead and enter your pass and select ‘Next.’ File Doctor will then scan and automatically fix certain errors. Upon completion, it will display a report of the errors found and whether or not they were fixed.

Offered exclusively with Quickbooks Enterprise, Advanced Inventory is a highly convenient add-on that’s designed to save you time by automatically tracking and accounting for inventory. While most businesses probably already have some form of product tracking system in place, Advanced Inventory integrates directly into your Quickbooks account to streamline the process; thus, saving you time and energy in the long run. Whether you run a brick-and-mortar retail store or a large distribution factory, you should consider using Advanced Inventory. To learn more about this add-on and whether or not it’s right for you, keep reading.

Benefits of Using Advanced Inventory

• Allows for bar code scanning.
• Integrates directly into your Quickbooks account.
• Use either serial numbers or lot numbers to manage product inventory.
• Track inventory across multiple destinations.
• Free to download and usefor Quickbooks Enterprise users.

Note: if you currently have Quickbooks Pro or Premier installed, you’ll need to upgrade to Enterprise in order to take advantage of Advanced Inventory. It’s one of the many features that’s offered exclusively with Quickbooks Enterprise.

How To Set Up Quickbooks Advanced Inventory

Assuming you are running Quickbooks Enterprise, setting up Advanced Inventory is a quick and easy process that should only take 5-10 minutes. Start by logging into your Quickbooks account as the administrator (or user with admin privileges). Next, choose ‘Edit’ from the main menu followed by ‘Preferences.’ You should now see a list of new options appear on your screen. Scroll through the available options until you find ‘Items and Inventory;’ click on it and proceed to the next step.

After selecting ‘Items and Inventory,’ choose  the ‘Company Preferences’ tab from the drop-down box. This will bring up a new dialog window with several different options, one of which is ‘Inventory and Purchase Orders.’ Make sure this box is set to active before clicking through to the next step. On this same window, you should also see an option for ‘Advanced Inventory.’ By default, this option is turned off; however, you can active it by clicking the on/off toggle box. Congratulations, you should now have Advanced Inventory fully functional and integrated into your Quickbooks account!

Tips For Using Advanced Inventory

• Make sure you have at least 2.5 GB of hard drive space available.
• Decide whether you want to track inventory using serial or lot numbers.
• If the Advanced Inventory option is grayed out, you will need to sync your account to enable it.

Quickbooks Bill Pay offers a fast, safe and convenient way for companies to pay their bills straight from their Quickbooks account. While users can always print their check payments and physically mail each one to their respective client, a smarter solution is to use Bill Pay. Quickbooks has made several improvements and tweaks to this feature over the years, streamlining the bill paying process for its users. To learn more about Quickbooks Bill Pay, including the steps to setting it up, keep reading.

Why Choose Quickbooks Bill Pay

• Full secure — rest assured knowing that your bill payments are safe and secure.
• Automatically adds the bill pay entry into your Quickbooks account.
• Send payments to any individual or company based in the U.S.
• Reduce your time spent paying bills.
• Save money on stamps and paper.
• Consolidate multiple invoices into a single payment (assuming it’s for the same client).
• Add details about the transaction in a ‘credit memo.’

Setting Up Quickbooks Bill Pay

It’s important to note that Bill Pay is an additional feature that users must add on to their Quickbooks account; however, you can take advantage of Intuit’s current 30-day free trial (under 20 transactions) to see if it’s right for you. If you send multiple payments each week, signing up for Bill Pay is a smart decision that will save you time and energy in the long run. Once the free trial is up, you’ll have to pay  $15.95 for 20 payments and $6.95 per additional 10 payment set. Considering all of the benefits (listed above), this is a small price to pay that most businesses will find well worth it.

After signing up for Quickbooks, go into the ‘Banking’ portion of your account and click on ‘Online Banking.’ Next, choose the option labeled ‘Set Up Account For Online Services.’ Scroll through the available options and select the bank account you wish to use with Quickbooks Bill Pay. Note: you’ll need to go back and add it if it’s currently not there. Before proceeding, select ‘Quickbooks Bill Pay’ next to ‘Financial Institutions’ and click on the ‘Next’ button.

A new window will appear prompting you for a username and password. This isn’t your actual Quickbooks username and password, but rather the username and password used during the creation of your Bill Pay account. Go ahead and enter this information and you’ll have full access to the Bill Pay Center, including options to write checks and pay bills online.

Struggling to save sales receipts in your Quickbooks account without having a Customer:Job attached? In some of the older versions of Quickbooks, users could add sales receipts without having this information attached. In Quickbooks 8 and newer, however, you’ll likely receive an error when attempting to save sales receipts without a Customer:Job. It’s downright frustrating when you receive an error message each time you perform a basic operation like saving receipts, but the good news is that you can solve this problem in just a few easy steps. To learn more about saving sales receipts without a Customer:Job, keep reading.

Assuming you are attempting to save a sales receipt without a Customer:Job in Quickbooks 8 or newer, there’s a good chance you will see the following error message: “Warning: Sales receipts that are paid by credit card via Intuit Merchant Service must be associated with a customer. From the Customer:Job drop-down list, choose a customer, or you can enter a new one.”

Option #1) Add a Customer:Job To Your Sales Receipts

There are a couple of different solutions available to solve this problem, one of which is to attach the respective customer to each and every sales receipt you add to your Quickbooks account. Yes, this is somewhat time-consuming, and oftentimes unnecessary in certain situations, but having a Customer:Job element added to your sales receipts will prevent this error dialog box from popping up on your screen. However, taking the time to add this information to your sales receipts will provide for a more thorough accounting; thus, reducing the chance of errors in the future.

Option #2) Add a ‘fake’ Customer:Job To Your Sales Receipts

A second option available is to create a ‘fake’ Customer:Job and amend it to all of your sales receipts. Rather than using the actual customer, you can simply add a fake one to bypass this error. And best of all, you can continue using the same ‘fake’ Customer:Job for each of yours ales receipts; there’s no need to go back and create a new customer for each new sales receipt.

To create a fake Customer:Job, open the respective sales receipt and type “Sales Receipt Customer” in the Customer:Job field. Note: you can choose any name you would like for your fake Customer:Job name, Sales Receipt Customer is just an example. Next, click on the “Quick Add” button to add the Customer:Job to the sales receipt, and voila, you’re finished!

Quickbooks offers a convenient tool which allows users to access their files and data remotely from any computer with an active internet connection. Known as remote access, it allows Windows-based Quickbooks users to access their account from anywhere in the world– assuming the computer has an active internet connection. This tool is especially helpful for individuals who are constantly traveling and away from their home and/or office. For some important tips on how to use Quickbooks remote access, keep reading.

Note: Quickbooks remote access is currently available only for Windows-based computers (sorry Mac users!).

How Much Does Remote Access Cost?

Remote access is a feature that users must add to their account if they wish to use it. Like most of the add-on the featured offered in Quickbooks, however, the pricing options are flexible and it’s not going to place a heavy financial burden on most users. So, how much does remote access cost? The cheapest option is available for just $3.95/month, offering users remote access to all of their Quickbooks related data and files. This option should be more than enough for most typical Quickbooks users.

The second remote access option offered by Quickbooks costs $7.95/month, offering complete access to all file and software. So, which option should you choose? It really depends on your accounting and business needs. $3.95/month option is perfectly fine for most normal users, but the upgraded $7.95/month offers a greater level of depth and versatility since there are no restrictions on which files users can access with it.

Wait! Remote Access Might Be Included

Before you go signing up for remote access, you should first check to see if it’s included in your original Quickbooks purchase. QuickBooks Premier or Enterprise purchase offer it free for 12 months, at which point users will have the option to continue using remote access for either $3.95 or $7.95/month. Quickbooks Pro also comes packaged with a free trial of remote access, but it’s slightly shorter at 6 months instead of 12. Check to see if your current version of Quickbooks comes with a free trial of remote access before you spend additional money on this feature.

Remote Access Tips

• Access remote access by clicking “File,” followed by “Remote Access.”
• You can print files and documents to your local printer from a remote location.
• Data is completely secure, so rest assured knowing that your sensitive data is safe.