Quick Books Ref

QuickBooks | Startup and Quick Reference Guide
Installation Setup Key Concepts Essential Tasks New Features
Copyright
Copyright 2007 Intuit Inc. All rights reserved. First printing, September 2006 STATEMENTS IN THIS DOCUMENT REGARDING THIRD-PARTY STANDARDS OR SOFTWARE ARE BASED ON INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE BY THIRD PARTIES. INTUIT AND ITS AFFILIATES ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF SUCH INFORMATION AND HAVE NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED SUCH INFORMATION. THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Trademarks and Patents

Intuit, the Intuit logo, QuickBooks, QuickBase, Quicken, TurboTax, ProSeries, Lacerte, EasyStep, and QuickZoom, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other parties trademarks or service marks are the property of their respective owners and should be treated as such. Features and services within QuickBooks products may be the subject matter of pending and issued U.S. patents assigned to Intuit Inc
Other Attributions
The Regex Library contained in QuickBooks software is copyright 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997 Henry Spencer. All rights reserved. The Regex Library software is not subject to any license of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company or of the Regents of the University of California. This product includes software developed by the Apache Software Foundation (www.apache.org). 1999-2006 Apache Software Foundation. All rights reserved.
Important
Terms, conditions, features, service offerings, prices, and hours referenced in this document are subject to change without notice. We at Intuit are committed to bringing you great online services through QuickBooks. Occasionally, we may decide to update our selection and change our service offerings, so please check www.quickbooks.com for the latest information, including pricing and availability, on our products and services.
My QuickBooks License Number: _______________________________________________ My QuickBooks Product Number: _______________________________________________
Contents
1 | elcome W Welcome How to Use This Guide 2 | nstalling and Setting Up QuickBooks I 1 2 2 3
Whats in this chapter 4 Hardware and software requirements 5 Processor, memory, and disk space for QuickBooks on Windows XP 5 Processor, memory, and disk space for QuickBooks on Windows Vista 5 Additional hardware and software 5 Integration/compatibility requirements 5 Firewall and antivirus software compatibility 6 Multi-user installation requirements 6 Network setup 7 Installing QuickBooks 8 New user installation 9 Existing user (upgrader) installation 10 Troubleshooting installation problems 13 Registering QuickBooks 15 Getting the latest updates to QuickBooks 16 16 Converting data from other applications Quicken 16 QuickPayroll to QuickBooks Payroll 17 Excel 17 QuickBooks Pro for Macintosh 17 Peachtree 17 QuickBooks Online Edition 18 Microsoft Office Accounting 18 Setting Up Your Company in QuickBooks 19 Create your company file 19 Completing your company setup 21 Next steps 25 3 | earning QuickBooks L Getting Around QuickBooks Using the Home page to move around in QuickBooks Finding your data in the QuickBooks Centers Displaying multiple windows or one window Adding icons to the icon bar Getting Answers to Your Questions Free help and support Paid support Using in-product Help 27 28 28 29 31 31 32 32 32 33
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Check out the QuickBooks Learning Center Using the QuickBooks Coach Working with a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor QuickBooks Basics How to work with QuickBooks lists Writing checks versus paying bills 4 | ssential Tasks E Setting Up Your Business Changing QuickBooks to work the way you do Adding an Account Adding Customers Adding Vendors Adding Items Entering an opening balance for sales tax liability (what you owe) Setting up your Payroll Setting up Employees Money In Creating an Estimate Creating an Invoice Entering Sales Receipts Receiving a Payment Making a Deposit Money Out Paying Bills Writing Checks Issuing Credits or Refunds Paying Employees Managing Your Business Using Reports to see how your business is doing Memorizing a report for reuse Additional Services and Solutions QuickBooks Solutions Marketplace 5 | ew Features N Whats New in QuickBooks 2008 QuickBooks Pro Edition QuickBooks Premier Edition Accountant Edition features 6 | requently Asked Questions F Index Keyboard Shortcuts
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1 | elcome W
Welcome
Welcome to QuickBooks. Whether youve been running your business for years or are just starting out, having an organized, efficient way to manage your business can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration. Use this Startup and Quick Reference Guide to get up and running as fast as possible. In this guide, youll learn about: How to install QuickBooks and set up your company file Important QuickBooks terms and concepts How to get around in QuickBooks Where to look for help when you have questions How to perform common tasks New features for QuickBooks 2008
Note: Since this guide covers multiple editions of QuickBooks, the name QuickBooks is used to refer to any of these editions. When information in this guide applies to a specific edition of QuickBooks, the specific edition name will be used.
How to Use This Guide

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Verify that your computer meets QuickBooks system requirements Install QuickBooks Update your company file (upgraders) Convert data from other applications Create and set up your company file Learn how to get help if you have questions Learn about essential QuickBooks tasks Learn about new features in this version of QuickBooks
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2 | nstalling and I Setting Up QuickBooks
Installing and Setting Up QuickBooks

Note: If you want to convert data from Quicken, follow the installation instructions on page 8 and then refer to Converting data from other applications on page 16.
Whats in this chapter

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Hardware and software requirements
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Installation overview
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New user installation and setup
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10
Existing user (upgrader) installation and setup
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13 15 16 16 19
Troubleshooting installation problems Registering QuickBooks Getting the latest updates to QuickBooks Converting data from other applications Setting up your company in QuickBooks
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Installing QuickBooks
Hardware and software requirements

Processor, memory, and disk space for QuickBooks on Windows XP
At least 1.8GHz processor (2.0GHz recommended) At least 256MB of RAM (512MB recommended) for a single user At least 512MB of RAM for multiple, concurrent users 1 GB of disk space (additional space required for data files)
Processor, memory, and disk space for QuickBooks on Windows Vista

At least 2.0GHz processor At least 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended) 1 GB of disk space (additional space required for data files)
Additional hardware and software

Windows Vista, Windows XP (SP2 or later required), Windows 2003 Server, or Windows Server 2008 (database only; not client) operating system 4x CD-ROM drive Optimized for 1024x768; supports 800x600 using Small Fonts in your Windows Control Panel Display settings
Integration/compatibility requirements
QuickBooks is compatible with these products, which are sold separately. If you plan to use features that integrate with Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel (such as for preparing letters or for importing and exporting QuickBooks data and reports), you need Microsoft Word 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007 or Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007. (More RAM enhances the use of these features.) If you want to synchronize with contact management software, you need Microsoft Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007. Contact synchronization with Outlook requires QuickBooks Contact Sync for Outlook (downloadable for free from www.quickbooks.com/contact_sync). Compatible with QuickBooks Customer Manager v2.0 and later and QuickBooks Client Manager v2.0 and later. Compatible with QuickBooks Point of Sale 4.0 and later. Business Planner functionality requires Adobe Reader 5.0 and later. QuickBooks Payroll subscriptions and online features/services require Internet access with at least a 56 Kbps connection speed (DSL or cable modem recommended).
Firewall and antivirus software compatibility

If you use firewall or antivirus software, QuickBooks 2008 has been tested with the following products. Microsoft Windows XP Firewall (all editions) Microsoft Windows Vista Firewall (all editions) Symantec Norton AntiVirus, Internet Security Suite McAfee Anti-Virus Trend PC-Cillin Zone Labs ZoneAlarm In some cases it might be necessary to adjust settings in these products to ensure the best possible performance with QuickBooks. For more information about firewall configuration, search for firewall settings in the in-product Help. Using firewall software on a network If firewall software is running while you install QuickBooks, a prompt will ask if you want to allow QuickBooks components to have access to the network. For QuickBooks to operate properly (especially in a multi-user environment) these components (FileManagement.exe, QBDBMgrN.exe, QBGDSPlugin.exe, and QBW32.exe) must be allowed to access the network. Different firewall software applications use different languages when prompting you. Be sure to choose an option that does not block connections to QuickBooks components. Also, some firewall and antivirus software can affect QuickBooks performance. If you experience performance issues you think are related to your firewall software, refer to the firewall documentation or contact your firewall vendor for assistance. For more information about firewall configuration, search for firewall settings in the in-product Help.
Multi-user installation requirements

QuickBooks enables you to have up to five users access QuickBooks files on a network at the same time. In a multi-user environment, QuickBooks (or the QuickBooks Server) must be installed on the computer on which the company file is stored. Each user must have a QuickBooks license and must: Have a valid License Number and Product Number. For a 3-User Value-Pack, use the numbers from the Value Pack. Install the same version year of QuickBooks. For example, all users must have QuickBooks 2008. Have read/write access and create/delete rights to the directory where the company file is stored. To enable other users to work in the company file, the company file must be stored on a computer on your network, and you need to complete some additional installation and setup steps on the computer where the company file is stored.
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Note: The number of users who can access the company file at the same time is determined by the number of licenses you purchase, up to a maximum of 5 users accessing the file at the same time.
Network setup
For network hosting setup To run QuickBooks in a network hosting environment, you must have Windows 2000, XP , or Microsoft Vista installed. In a network hosting environment, each computer has its own full version of QuickBooks installed; however, the QuickBooks company file is located on only one computer, which must be turned on and available on the network. Networks set up for hosting files do not use a dedicated file server, so a single, dedicated computer is not required to share files. Thus, all the networked computers have the option to share their resources. For example, you might run your small business by using QuickBooks on two computers yours and one thats used by an employee. In this case, you still need to set up a simple network to share your company file. Otherwise, youll need to make a backup of your company file to move it or e-mail it between the two computers.
Note: Windows XP users must have at least Standard user rights and Windows 2000 users must have Power Users Group rights to write to the registry keys and be able to run QuickBooks.
For dedicated server setup To run QuickBooks in a network environment with a dedicated server, you must have Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2003 Server, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition (not recommended) or Microsoft Vista. Networks with a dedicated server have at least one computer (the server) dedicated to sharing files, printers, or other resources. You only store your company file on the server; you do not run QuickBooks on this computer. During installation you will choose to install the Database Server version of QuickBooks. To run a dedicated server, you should be running Microsoft Windows 2000 or later operating system. See Additional hardware and software on page 5 for Windows Service Pack recommendations.
This section explains how to install QuickBooks on a computer and how to begin using the program after installation. During installation, you will be asked some basic questions. For example, at the beginning of the installation process, you must specify whether youre installing QuickBooks for one user or for more than one user. Each choice you make determines the next set of choices. The decision tree in Figure 1 shows the options offered during installation and how your choices affect the installation process. The notes on either side of the tree explain why you would choose a particular option. QuickBooks installation choices
Choose One user if you are the only person who will use QuickBooks. For example, at your home and/or office.
One user
More than one user
Choose More than one user if multiple users will use QuickBooks at your site and will access the same company file. Choose Database server Only to install only the QuickBooks database (not the QuickBooks) application). No one will run QuickBooks on this computer. Choose Do not allow access to other users to prevent QuickBooks users on other computers from accessing company files on this computer.
Choose Full QuickBooks with Database if you will run QuickBooks on this computer. Choose Allow access to other users to allow QuickBooks users on other computers to access company files on this computer.
Full QuickBooks with Database
Database server only
Allow access to other users
Do not allow access to other users
Figure 1. Questions you will need to answer during the installation interview After you insert the QuickBooks CD, the installer will guide you through the installation process. The following pages include step-by-step instructions to help you through the installation process. New QuickBooks users should refer to the New user installation section on page 9; owners of a previous version of QuickBooks should refer to the Existing user (upgrader) installation section on page 10.
Note: If you previously installed QuickBooks from a trial CD, download, or some other mechanism, you might have chosen to receive a Reinstall Pack. The Reinstall Pack includes a QuickBooks CD and this documentation. You do not need to reinstall QuickBooks unless you are moving QuickBooks to another computer or replacing the installation on your current computer. Keep the reinstallation disk as a backup for later use.
New user installation

You are a new user if you are installing QuickBooks for the first time. If you are upgrading from a previous version of QuickBooks (not from another accounting tool), refer to Existing user (upgrader) installation on page 10. To install and start QuickBooks: Shut down all running programs, including antivirus programs. Insert the QuickBooks CD in your computers CD-ROM drive. Follow the onscreen instructions. For help deciding which installation options to choose, refer to the diagram on page 8. To start QuickBooks, double-click the QuickBooks icon on the desktop or click the Windows Start button and then click QuickBooks from the Programs group. Next steps Create your QuickBooks company file For detailed information about creating your company file and setting up your company in QuickBooks, see Setting Up Your Company in QuickBooks on page 19. Set up QuickBooks for multiple users If youve purchased multiple copies of QuickBooks or a 3-User Value Pack, multiple users can simultaneously access QuickBooks files over a network. Refer to page 6 for system requirements to run QuickBooks in a multi-user environment. After you install QuickBooks on each computer on your network and set up your company file, you need to perform these additional tasks: Set up user names and passwords for each user. You will need to assign one user to be the Administrator who defines all other users access. Refer to the in-product Help for instructions on setting up user names and passwords. Share the folder that contains your QuickBooks company file across your network. You can press F2 while in QuickBooks to locate your company file. See your operating systems documentation to learn more about sharing folders.
Did You Know?

Back up your previous accounting system If you have an existing business, make sure that youve backed up your financial records from your previous accounting system. The IRS requires you to keep this information for 10 years. You should also keep any software and hardware that your previous accounting system used, or have printouts of all the information and accounting reports. Troubleshoot error messages If you receive an error message during installation, and restarting your system does not resolve the problem, you can search for information about the error message at: www.quickbooks.com/ installation.
Register each copy of QuickBooks, as described in Registering QuickBooks on page 15. Turn on multi-user mode for each computer on your network. o to the File menu and click Switch to Multi-user Mode. G Click Yes. You may need to expand the number of people who work on QuickBooks in the future. Each additional user must have his or her own license. For more information, see How do I purchase additional user licenses so I can add users to my QuickBooks? on page 106.
Existing user (upgrader) installation

You are an upgrader if you are upgrading from a previous version of QuickBooks (not from another accounting tool). If you are installing QuickBooks for the first time, refer to New user installation on page 9. If you own a previous version of QuickBooks and are upgrading to QuickBooks 2008, you must first install the new program and then update your company file. To install QuickBooks: Shut down all running programs, including antivirus programs. Insert the QuickBooks CD in your computers CD-ROM drive. Follow the onscreen instructions. For help deciding which installation options to choose, refer to the diagram on page 8. After installation, the File Management Tool might instruct you to move your company files or to perform some additional installation modifications. Follow the onscreen instructions. To start QuickBooks, double-click the QuickBooks icon on the desktop or click the Windows Start button and then click QuickBooks from the Programs group. Next steps Update your QuickBooks company file For instructions to update your company file, see To update your QuickBooks file on page 11. Set up QuickBooks for multiple users: If youve purchased multiple copies of QuickBooks or a 3-User Value Pack, multiple users can simultaneously access QuickBooks files over a network. Refer to page 6 for system requirements to run QuickBooks in a multi-user environment. After you install QuickBooks on each computer on your network and set up your company file, you need to perform these additional tasks: Set up user names and passwords for each user. You will need to assign one user to be the Administrator who defines all other users access. Refer to the in-product Help for instructions on setting up user names and passwords.
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Installing QuickBooks Share the folder that contains your QuickBooks company file across your network. You can press F2 while in QuickBooks to see the location of your company file. See your operating systems documentation to learn more about sharing folders. Register each copy of QuickBooks, as described in Registering QuickBooks on page 15. Turn on multi-user mode for each computer on your network. o to the File menu and click Switch to Multi-user G Mode. Click Yes. You may need to expand the number of people who work on QuickBooks in the future. Each additional user must have his or her own license. For more information, see How do I purchase additional user licenses so I can add users to my QuickBooks? on page 106. Refer to page 6 for system requirements to run QuickBooks in a multi-user environment. Updating your QuickBooks company file This section describes how to update a company file created in a previous version of QuickBooks for Windows. Before you can update your company data, you must install the new version of QuickBooks as described in Installing QuickBooks on page 8. Back up your data before opening it in a new version of QuickBooks. You can back up to your hard drive or to a backup disk. Caution Once you update an existing company file to QuickBooks 2008, you cannot read or use that file in an older version of QuickBooks software. To update your QuickBooks file: In QuickBooks 2008, open your company data file (that is, the company file you used with your previous version of QuickBooks). Did You Know?
Installing from a server If your QuickBooks CD is mounted on a server or a shared CD-ROM drive, you can install from the CD, but you cannot install from the CD to a remote computer. Choosing where to store your company file in a multi-user environment Choose a location for your company file where all the computers that need to use QuickBooks can access the file. You might want to put the company file on the computer of the person who most frequently uses QuickBooks. This enables that person to have the fastest access to the company file. Improving performance in multi-user mode To improve QuickBooks performance in multi-user mode, consider these tips: Store company files on the fastest or most powerful computer, preferably a dedicated server. Run reports during off hours. Refresh reports only when youre ready to use or print them. Avoid keeping unnecessary QuickBooks windows or other applications open.
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If the Move Company File utility opens, we suggest that you move the file from the Program Files folder to the Quickbooks recommended location.
Note: The Windows Program Files folder is no longer a recommended location for storing company files.
If prompted, enter the Adminstrator password. When prompted, select the I understand that my company file will be updated to this new version of QuickBooks checkbox and then click Update Now. If the backup message is not displayed, choose the option to open an existing company file, enter a file name and location, and then click Open.
When prompted to back up your data, click OK. In the Save Copy or Backup window, follow the onscreen instructions to back up your company file. Important: Failing to back up your file might result in lost data if you encounter a problem during the update process. Do not overwrite existing backups with this upgrade backup.
When prompted to confirm that you want to update your file, click Yes. If an update problem occurs If you attempted to update your file and the update failed, you must perform steps in your older version of QuickBooks to fix the problem. If you removed your older version of QuickBooks, reinstall it to a new directory. Do not install the older version in the directory where you installed QuickBooks 2008. To fix a failed QuickBooks file update: Start the older version of QuickBooks and then perform steps 2-5 using the older version. Restore your company backup using the older version of QuickBooks. Go to the File menu, click Open or Restore Company, and then follow the onscreen instructions. Go to the Window menu and click Close All. Go to the File menu, click Utilities, and then click Rebuild Data. Caution The Rebuild Utility forces you to create another backup. Use a new CD or file name (for example pre-update2008.qbb). Do not overwrite any existing backups. After the Rebuild is complete (which might take a long time depending on the size of your company file), exit the older version of QuickBooks. If you reinstalled your older version of QuickBooks over your QuickBooks 2008 installation, you must reinstall QuickBooks 2008 (as described in Installing
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Installing QuickBooks QuickBooks on page 8) before proceeding to the next step. Start QuickBooks 2008. Go to the File menu and click Open or Restore Company. Select the appropriate directory and file name of the company data you just rebuilt and click OK. The update should take place normally. If you still experience update problems, visit www.quickbooks.com/support. Why are passwords important? Passwords limit access to your company file. To open a password-protected file, each person must enter his or her user name and a unique, case-sensitive password. Defining users and passwords helps prevent unwanted people from accessing your companys confidential data. We strongly recommend that you password-protect the Admin user. Otherwise, anyone who can access the company file will have full access rights. By defining users and their access rights, you not only control who can open your company file, but also what data they can view and tasks they can perform.
Record your password in a safe place Be sure to write down and save your administrator password in a secure place. Passwords not only protect your company data, but are also required to access your company file if you upgrade your version of QuickBooks. If you forget your password, see What should I do if I forget my password on page 107 for information. Passwords are case sensitive Keep in mind that passwords are case sensitive in QuickBooks 2004 and later. When adding or editing a user password, check the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys. If you mistype the password, you will not be able to access the company data. Product Information window The Product Information window lists information about your software, including the number of entries you have in your lists, the size of your company file, which version of QuickBooks you are running, and the location of your company file. To open the Product Information window, press F2 on your keyboard.
Did You Know?
Troubleshooting installation problems

What should I do if I have trouble installing QuickBooks? Verify that your system meets the minimum system requirements, listed on page 5. Restart your computer. Close all open programs, including antivirus programs. Go to the Windows Task Manager (Task List), click the Applications tab, and close all open programs. Try installing QuickBooks again. If you need further installation assistance, visit www.quickbooks.com/installation. What should I do if I cant find my Registration Number? QuickBooks no longer uses registration numbers. The only numbers youll need are your Product and License
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numbers found on a sticker with your QuickBooks CD or by clicking About QuickBooks from the Help menu.
Note: If you purchased QuickBooks online and downloaded the software (that is, if you dont have the QuickBooks CD), the Product and License numbers are included in your confirmation e-mail.
What should I do if I cant find my License Number or Product Number? Look for the sticker on your QuickBooks CD sleeve. If you cannot find the QuickBooks CD sleeve but have QuickBooks installed on another computer, you can find your License Number and Product Number as follows: Start QuickBooks on the other computer and open a company file. Go to the Help menu and click About QuickBooks. Write down the numbers that appear on this screen. Use these numbers for the new installation. If you are still unable to obtain your License Number and Product Number, you can request new numbers online: In your Internet browser window, enter the URL: www.quickbooks.com/keycode. Complete the onscreen request form. Why doesnt my old administrator password work after I upgrade? QuickBooks 2004 and later releases support case-sensitive passwords. If you believe you are entering the correct password, but are still getting the message, The password you typed is incorrect, try the following: Attempt to log on by entering the login name of Admin and then click OK without typing a password. Enter your password with Caps Lock or Num Lock turned on or off. Enter password variations, using mixed upper- and lower-case characters. Enter the password with a space before or after the actual password. Type the password in a text editor to confirm that your keyboard is functioning properly. Restore a pre-update backup of your file that does not have the case-sensitive password. When you restore this file, you can set your new administrator password at the end of the update process. If you are still unable to access your file, refer to the Password Recovery Web site: www.quickbooks.com/removepassword (additional fees might apply). Can I install different versions of QuickBooks on the same computer? Yes. You can install multiple versions of QuickBooks (for example QuickBooks 2008 and QuickBooks 2006) on the same computer. However, you cannot run two instances of QuickBooks on the same computer at the same time.
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Installing QuickBooks Can I revert to an earlier version of QuickBooks? Yes. Uninstall the version of QuickBooks that you dont want and then reinstall the earlier version of QuickBooks. Remember that you will not be able to open company files that you have updated to QuickBooks 2008 in earlier versions of QuickBooks. You can, however, restore your pre-update backup if you choose to go back to a prior version of QuickBooks. Can I install QuickBooks on more than one computer? You can install QuickBooks on a main computer and one additional computer as long as you are the only person using QuickBooks on both computers. For example, if you bought one copy of QuickBooks for your office, you can install it on your home PC or laptop as well. This does not violate the software license agreement as long as you are the only person using QuickBooks on both computers. However, if multiple users will be accessing QuickBooks on multiple computers, then you must purchase an additional licensed copy for each user. What if I do not have Internet Explorer on my computer? To use QuickBooks, you must have Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later installed. If you do not have any version of Microsoft Internet Explorer on your system, you can download the latest version (Internet Explorer 7) from www.microsoft.com/ie7.
Note: Installing Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 will not affect the settings or preferences of other browsers on your system.
What should I do if I get an error message during installation? If you receive an error message during installation and restarting your system does not resolve the problem, go to the QuickBooks Support Web site (www.quickbooks.com/installation) to find solutions for common errors. What should I do if I get an error message when updating my company file? If you receive an error message when updating your company file from a earlier version of QuickBooks, refer to the information in If an update problem occurs on page 12. You can also visit the QuickBooks Frequently Asked Questions web page and search the Knowledge Base for information about error messages.
Registering QuickBooks
You can use QuickBooks for 30 days without registering. After 30 days, you must register QuickBooks. Registration entitles you to many benefits including access to your 30 days of free QuickBooks 2008 support1 for questions submitted online and the ability to use online features.
1. 30 consecutive days of QuickBooks 2008 support included from first-time registration. Questions must be submitted online to receive free support via e-mail or phone (at Intuits discretion). A support fee will be charged to handle requests that originate from a call rather than a web request. Internet access required. Offer valid 90 days from software purchase; U.S. only. Additional terms and conditions apply. 15
Go to the Help menu and click Register QuickBooks. If web registration is not successful, you can register by phone. The toll-free QuickBooks registration line is available from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (eastern time), 7 days a week. If you add additional users to your license, you can update your license information by going to the Help menu, clicking Manage My License, and then clicking Sync License Data Online.
Note: If you choose to install QuickBooks on a second computer, or if you need to move your installation to another computer, you will need to re-register QuickBooks.
Getting the latest updates to QuickBooks

From time to time, Intuit provides updates to QuickBooks that can be downloaded from the Internet. These updates might include new features, services, maintenance fixes, or new Help information. You can choose to update QuickBooks automatically or manually. For a complete description of and instructions for the different update options, including how to share updates in a multi-user environment, refer to the in-product Help.
Converting data from other applications

If you are converting financial data from another application (such as Quicken or Excel), refer to the instructions below for the appropriate application.
Quicken
Detailed instructions about converting Quicken files to QuickBooks files are provided in the QuickBooks in-product Help. Converting files is not difficult, but does require you to prepare the file properly.
Note: You cannot create a new QuickBooks company file and then import your Quicken data into it.
To view the file preparation and conversion instructions: Start QuickBooks. Go to the Help menu and click QuickBooks Help. Click the Search tab in the Help window. Click in the Search field and enter converting Quicken data. Click Converting Quicken Data to QuickBooks (overview) for information about preparing your Quicken data, or click Converting your Quicken data to QuickBooks (procedure) for step-by-step instructions.
Note: If your Quicken file is ready to be converted, you can convert it. Go to the File menu, click Utilities, click Convert, and then click From Quicken.
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QuickPayroll to QuickBooks Payroll

To convert from QuickPayroll to a QuickBooks payroll subscription (additional fees apply), go to the Help menu, click QuickBooks Help, and then click the Search tab. In the Search field, enter QuickPayroll and click Ask. From the results, click If youve been using QuickPayroll for payroll and follow the instructions.
Excel
Detailed instructions about importing Excel (.xls) and .csv data into your QuickBooks company file are provided in the QuickBooks in-product Help. Importing data from Excel and .csv files is not difficult, but does require you to prepare the file properly. To view the file preparation and conversion instructions: Start QuickBooks. Go to the Help menu and click QuickBooks Help. Click the Search tab in the Help window. Click in the Search field and enter importing Excel data. Click About importing data from an Excel or CSV file.
Note: If your Excel file is ready to be converted, you can convert it. Go to the File menu, click Utilities, click Import, and then click Excel Files.
QuickBooks Pro for Macintosh

Open your browser and enter www.quickbooks.com/support. Choose the version of QuickBooks that you are installing. Then, in the Search field, enter converting from Macintosh, click Go, and follow the instructions.
Peachtree
To convert a Peachtree file (version 2001 through 2008) in QuickBooks, you need to download and run a separate conversion tool.
Note: QuickBooks must be installed on your computer before you run the conversion tool.
To convert and open your Peachtree file to QuickBooks: Go to the File menu, click Utilities, click Convert, and then click From Peachtree. Complete the short form and click Submit. Click Download. When the tool finishes downloading, you will be prompted to run the tool. Check the Launch QuickBooks Conversion Tool and click Finish. Or, you can run the tool later by going to the folder where you installed the tool and double-clicking QBConversionTool.exe. Follow the onscreen instructions.
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QuickBooks Online Edition

You can convert your QuickBooks Online Edition company file so it can be used in desktop editions of QuickBooks (except for the Nonprofit and Retail editions). QuickBooks desktop edition must be installed on your computer.
Note: We recommend that you do not move data repeatedly between the two applications, as data might not transfer correctly if converted multiple times.
To convert your Online Edition company file: Log on to your Online Edition company. Go to the Help menu and click QuickBooks Help. In the Help index, enter exporting data. Select Exporting to QuickBooks desktop edition. Click Start the Export Interview. You can export either lists and balances or lists and transactions. Click What are the pros and cons of each choice to learn about how your data will be converted. Click Export Lists & Balances or Export Lists & Transactions. In some cases, Intuit Technical Support must initiate the file transfer. Follow the e-mail instructions. When your file is ready, youll receive a Thing To Do on the Home page and an e-mail. Click the Download and export Thing to Do and follow the onscreen instructions. The converted company file will open in the QuickBooks desktop edition.
Microsoft Office Accounting

To convert a Microsoft Office Accounting file (version 2001 through 2008) in QuickBooks, you need to download and run a separate conversion tool.
Note: QuickBooks must be installed on your computer before you run the conversion tool.
To convert and open your Microsoft Office Accounting file to QuickBooks: Go to the File menu, click Utilities, click Convert, and then click From Microsoft Office Accounting. Complete the short form and click Submit. Click Download. When the tool finishes downloading, you will be prompted to run the tool. Check the Launch QuickBooks Conversion Tool and click Finish. Or, you can run the tool later by going to the folder where you installed the tool and double-clicking QBConversionTool.exe. Follow the onscreen instructions.
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Setting Up Your Company in QuickBooks

The first thing you need to do in QuickBooks is create a company file for your business. Setting up your company file properly is the most important thing you can do to have QuickBooks help you manage your business efficiently. Creating a company file is easy with the EasyStep Interview and should take you about 15 minutes to complete. Then, depending on the complexity of your business, completing your company setup can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. The amount of time varies based on how much detail you add about your accounts, customers, vendors, employees, products, and services, as well as the number of historical transactions you want to enter. When you set up your company file, QuickBooks will prompt you for details about your company. Before you begin the setup process, gather the information shown in the Getting Started Checklist on page 20. Some of this information youll need to complete the EasyStep Interview; other information you will need as you begin to use QuickBooks.
Did You Know?

Company file The company file is the data file that QuickBooks uses to store and manage all the information and financial transactions for your business. QuickBooks company files have the extension .qbw. Historical transactions A list of all business transactions as of a specific date. In QuickBooks, you can have many different types of historical transactions, including: Estimates Invoices Sales receipts Customer payments Credit memos Purchase orders Item receipts Bills Payments to vendors Credits with vendors Journal entries Payroll transactions E-mailing a company file The QuickBooks portable company file (*.qbm) is a compact version of your company file. You can use the portable company file to move the company file to another computer or to e-mail the company file to another person, such as your accountant. To learn more about the portable company file, refer to the in-product Help.
Create your company file

After you have gathered the company information listed in the Getting Started Checklist on the next page, you can set up your business using the QuickBooks EasyStep Interview. (Not all of the information in the checklist is required for the EasyStep interview; however, you will need this information as you use QuickBooks to run your business.) The EasyStep Interview walks you through the setup procedure and helps you tailor QuickBooks for your business.
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Getting Started Checklist

Company name and address Youll need both the legal and casual name for your company. The legal company name is the name you use when filing taxes for your business. The casual company name is the name that you want to appear on invoices, statements, reports, etc. (This is your Doing Business As name.) The nine-digit number issued to you by the IRS. The Federal Tax ID number is also called a EIN (Employer Identification Number). If you dont have a Federal Tax ID number, you can either obtain one by submitting Form SS-4 (call 1-800-TAX-FORM to get this form), or you can use your Social Security number (if you are a sole proprietorship and you do not pay wages to employees or file pension and excise tax returns). If you charge sales tax, you will eventually need to know the sales tax rate you charge, how much sales tax you owe as of your start date, and the name and address of the agency (for example, California Franchise Tax Board) to which you pay your sales tax. QuickBooks uses a start date as the point at which you begin entering your business transactions. You must enter all historical transactions between your start date and today to ensure complete accounting records for your business. Many business owners base their accounting records on their fiscal year, so that they can see transactions for the entire year. If this is not important to you, you can choose a different starting point, such as today or the first of the month, quarter, or year. Youll need the bank statement for each of your bank accounts with a closing date thats before your start date. The closing balance on this statement will be your opening balance for the bank account you create in QuickBooks, and then youll enter all the open transactions, and all the new transactions from the start date forward.Eventually, you will need to have your latest bank statement balances and any outstanding checks, deposits, withdrawals, or charges for all of the accounts you want to set up and manage in QuickBooks, including credit cards, bank accounts, lines of credit, and loans. Eventually, you will need to enter detailed information about your customers, vendors, and employees, as well as the products and services you sell, the products that you hold in inventory, and any additional assets. If you are using Payroll, you should gather the following information about your employees: company information; rate of pay, benefits, and miscellaneous additions and deductions; withholdings; tax information; employee information; year-to-date history; liability payment information; and direct deposit information.
Federal Tax ID Number
Sales tax information
Start date
Bank statements, credit card accounts, and outstanding checks
Optional information Payroll
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Installing QuickBooks To create your company file: Start QuickBooks by double-clicking the QuickBooks icon on the desktop or clicking the Windows Start button and then clicking QuickBooks from the Programs group. Click Create a new company file, or go to the File menu and click New Company. The Welcome screen for the EasyStep Interview opens. Click Start Interview.
Note: We recommend that you do not skip the interview process. The more information you enter with the EasyStep Interview, the more accurate your company file will be when you begin to use QuickBooks for your business. However, if you are an experienced QuickBooks user and prefer to create your company file manually, you can skip the EasyStep Interview by clicking Skip Interview on the EasyStep Interview Welcome screen. You will be prompted to enter some basic company information and to save the company file.
Key Terms
Assets Company assets are the things that your company owns. QuickBooks distinguishes between two types of assets: Current assets: Assets that you are likely to convert to cash within one year (such as the cash you have on hand, the money in your checking and savings accounts, and the money your customers owe you). Fixed assets: Assets that you do not expect to convert to cash within one year. A fixed asset is usually something you use to run your business (such as a truck, cash register, or computer).
Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the interview.
Completing your company setup

After youve created your company file, you can begin using QuickBooks to run your business. But before you do, we recommend that you review the information in this section to make sure your company file is properly set up and that your data is complete. This section describes some additional tasks you might need to do as you begin using QuickBooks. Depending on how much information you entered during the EasyStep Interview, some of these tasks might not apply to you. Enter your company information Do this task if you did not enter this information in the EasyStep Interview. To enter the contact and legal information for your company, go to the Company menu and click Company Information. To learn more about each of the fields and where the information you enter will be used in QuickBooks, click the Help button.
Did You Know?

Confirming your opening balance when transferring data to QuickBooks If you used an accounting program before using QuickBooks and you are now transferring data from that program to QuickBooks, make sure that the opening balance for your new bank account in QuickBooks is based on your bank statement and not the bank balance from your previous accounting software. The balance of the bank account from your previous accounting software will include transactions that the bank has not cleared. 21
Review your Chart of Accounts If you used the EasyStep Interview, a chart of accounts based on your type of business was set up for you. Review the chart of accounts to be sure it accurately reflects the accounts you need to run your business. You can change account names and edit, delete, or add accounts as necessary. For example, you will need to add any business-related bank, credit card, or loan accounts. To view your Chart of Accounts, go to the Lists menu and click Chart of Accounts. Numbering your accounts Some businesses prefer to organize their accounts by number. Adding numbers can help you identify the type of accounts, thereby speeding up your account selection on various forms. You might want to develop and follow a consistent account naming and numbering convention. For example: 10000-19999 - Assets 20000-29999 - Liabilities 30000-39999 - Equity 40000-49999 - Income 50000-59999 - Cost of Goods Sold 60000-69999 - Expenses (or Operating Expenses) 70000-79999 - Other Income (not related to daily activity) 80000-89999 - Other Expenses (not related to daily activity) If you want to use numbers to identify your accounts, you need to turn on this preference in QuickBooks, as follows. Go to the Edit menu and click Preferences. In the Preferences window, click Accounting in the list on the left. Click Company Preferences. Select the Use account numbers checkbox. Click OK. Create your customer, vendor, and items lists To bill customers and pay your bills with QuickBooks, you must update your customer, vendor, and item lists so that they accurately reflect your business. Instructions for setting up these lists are provided in Chapter 4: Adding Customers on page 53 Adding Vendors on page 55 Adding Items on page 57 You can choose to enter this information all at once, or you can enter it as you work, using the Quick Add feature, described on page 40.
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Installing QuickBooks Enter historical transactions If your start date is before todays date, youll need to enter past transactions from the start date to today. This ensures that your QuickBooks records are completely up-to-date and your reports will be accurate. Enter historical transactions in chronological order. For example, QuickBooks wont know how to credit a customer payment unless youve previously recorded the invoice to that customer. The most efficient way to enter historical transactions is in the account register.
Note: Entering historical transactions is especially important if customers dont pay you at the time they receive goods or services. If you dont enter historical transactions early on, its hard to track and collect late customer payments.
Intuit recommends that you enter your transactions in this order (verify with accountant): Invoices youve sent out since your start date Purchase orders youve issued since your start date that you havent received in full Cash or checks youve received since your start date Bills youve received since your start date Bills youve paid since your start date Deposits youve made to any of your accounts since your start date Any other checks youve written (for things other than bills) since your start date Employee year-to-date information paid from January 1 through your start date Payroll liabilities owed at the time of your start date (for manual payroll and tracking payroll transactions only)
Note: If you dont have time to enter all your historical transactions right away, dont worry. You dont need to enter all your past transactions before you start using QuickBooks for new transactions. Enter new transactions as they occur. Then catch up with historical transactions when you can. Remember, though, that your account balances will be incorrect (and your reports may be wrong) until you enter all the past transactions. Note: If you subscribe to a QuickBooks payroll service, you will be asked to add year-to-date payroll information during payroll setup. If you do not provide this information, your payroll tax information may not be accurate.
Complete your bank account information After youve entered your historical transactions, your account registers will contain entries reflecting bills youve paid, checks and paychecks youve written, and deposits youve received. To make your account registers complete, you must also enter these transactions: Checks or other charges that happened before your start date but didnt appear on statements before your start date (i.e., didnt clear) Other checks you wrote after your start date that were not for bills or accounts payable (for example, credit card payments)
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Deposits you made after your start date that were not customer deposits Deposits you made before your start date but that didnt appear on statements before your start date Bank charges and fees Interest paid on your account Refer to the in-product Help for step-by-step instructions on how to enter these transactions to make your account registers accurate. Synchronizing with Microsoft Outlook If you use Microsoft Outlook 98, 2000, 2002, or 2003, you can synchronize your contact manager with QuickBooks and transfer all your customer and vendor information (including address and phone) to QuickBooks.
Note: Intuit recommends synchronizing your customer and vendor information before you enter any customers or vendors manually.
To synchronize your customer and/or vendor information: Go to the Company menu, click Utilities, and then click Synchronize Contacts.
Note: If you are synchronizing for the first time, we recommend that you back up both the data in your contact manager and your QuickBooks company file before you synchronize. Note: If you do not already have the QuickBooks Contact Synchronization tool installed on your computer, you will be prompted to download and install it.
Follow the onscreen instructions. You might be asked to resolve conflicts between your QuickBooks and contact manager data, assign uncategorized names to QuickBooks lists, or create alternative entries for duplicate names. If you need assistance with any of these tasks, click Help. When the Confirm Changes screen appears, review the list of changes and click Accept to apply the changes. Enter any optional adjustments After youve created your company file, you might need to make a few adjustments as of your start date. Depending on your company, you might need to: Enter any sales tax liabilities Adjust the Uncategorized Income and Uncategorized Expense accounts (for accrual basis only) Adjust for current income and expenses if your start date is not at the beginning of the fiscal year Refer to the in-product Help for step-by-step instructions on how to enter these optional adjustments. If you are unsure whether you need to enter these optional adjustments, check with your accountant.
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Installing QuickBooks Backing up your company file The QuickBooks backup file is a compressed version of your QuickBooks company file that contains all transactions through the date the company backup was made. A backup file provides insurance against accidental data loss and can be used to restore your data. QuickBooks backups have a .qbb extension and cannot be opened directly. QuickBooks provides several backup options for securing your data: Standard backup Portable Company File To use one of the backup options, go to the File menu and click Save Copy or Backup. To restore your backup, go to the File menu and click Open or Restore Company. To learn more about backing up your company file, refer to the in-product Help.
Next steps
After youve installed QuickBooks and set up your company file as described in this chapter, you should: Learn how to use QuickBooks and get answers to your questions (see Chapter 3). Learn how to perform basic QuickBooks tasks (see Chapter 4). Learn about new QuickBooks features (see Chapter 5).
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3 | earning L QuickBooks
Getting Around QuickBooks

The QuickBooks work area, shown in Figure 2, is designed to enable you to complete tasks quickly. QuickBooks provides several ways for you to work; choose the method that works best for you.
The menu bar provides easy access to all QuickBooks tasks, features, and reporting functions. The navigation bar on the toolbar provides one-click access to QuickBooks Centers and the Home page. Flow chart icons include informative tooltips to help you learn QuickBooks and pick the correct task. The QuickBooks Coach guides you through the steps in your business work ows. With coach tips on, spotlights show you the steps in your work ows, and tips display when you mouse over the spotlighted form icons. The Home page offers quick access to tasks and information related to major QuickBooks areas. Refer to the in-product Help for detailed instructions about how to perform tasks in QuickBooks. The customizable icon bar on the toolbar provides oneclick access to the QuickBooks features that you use most.
Figure 2. The QuickBooks work area
Using the Home page to move around in QuickBooks

When you open a company file in QuickBooks, the Home page is displayed automatically. The QuickBooks Home page provides a big picture of how all your essential business tasks fit together. Tasks are organized into logical categories (Customers, Vendors, Employees, Company, and Banking) with workflow arrows to help you learn how tasks relate to each other and to help you decide what to do next.
Note: The workflow arrows indicate a logical progression of business tasks in QuickBooks. However, these arrows do not restrict you from doing tasks in a different order, or an order that works better for your business needs.
To start a task, simply click the icon for the task you want to do. For example, to create an invoice, click the Invoices icon. To return to the Home page, click the Home button on the navigation bar.
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Learning QuickBooks The Home page also provides a quick glance about the state of your business. You can see your current account balances, updated automatically as you do work in QuickBooks, in the Account Balances list. The Home page you see has been customized to display only those tasks and features that you use, based on the questions you answer in the EasyStep Interview. Functions you dont need wont clutter your workspace. However, to add these functions later, you can turn them on in preferences. Go to the Edit menu and click Preferences. Click the Desktop View option and then click the Company Preferences tab. If youre a new business owner or new to QuickBooks, the QuickBooks Coach will walk you through the business flows you see on your Home page. The QuickBooks Coach uses spotlights and tips to explain each step in your workflow. Turn coach tips on and then mouse over and click the Coach icons ( ) to see tips and spotlights. Did You Know?
Customizing the desktop You can modify the way that the QuickBooks desktop behaves and looks to suit your working style. To modify the QuickBooks desktop, go to the Edit menu and click Preferences. Customizing the icon bar You can add, rearrange, and remove shortcuts from the icon bar to suit your needs. To modify the icon bar, go to the View menu and then click the Customize Icon Bar. Too many windows open? If your QuickBooks work area becomes too cluttered with windows that you have open, you can close them all at once instead of closing them one at a time. To close all open windows, go to the Window menu and click Close All. When you close your company file at the end of the day, its good practice to close all windows that you have open. The next time you open your company file, QuickBooks will open all the windows that you had open when you closed your company file. If you forget to close open windows when you exit QuickBooks, hold down the Alt key while opening your company file. QuickBooks will open your company file with no windows open in your work area. 29
Finding your data in the QuickBooks Centers

QuickBooks includes Customer, Vendor, and Employee Centers where you can view and manage all of your customer, vendor, and employee information and transactions. You can go to one of the QuickBooks Centers by clicking the appropriate button in the navigation bar (on the left side of the toolbar).
Customer Center The Customer Center, shown in Figure 3, is a lens into all your customer information. Without having to sift through multiple screens, you can view a list of all your customers and see pertinent information for each of them. Click on a customers name and youll immediately see all the activity youve had with them as well as their pertinent contact information (phone number, fax number, and payment terms). You can use the Customer Center to find out how much money a specific customer owes you or to view a list of all your customers with open balances. You can also look at all your customer transactions (estimates, sales orders, invoices, credit memos, refunds, etc.) across all of your customer in the Transactions list rather than having to run separate reports.
Easily access your customers contact information and any notes on that customer.
Run quick reports that pertain to this customer.
Easily add customers and jobs. Create new transactions (estimates, invoices, sales orders). Click a customer in the Customers & Jobs list to view useful data. Use the Transactions tab to find, sort, and filter all your transactions across all of your customers. View all of your past transactions with this customer, or filter this list to display only one type of transaction, like overdue invoices.
Figure 3. View and manage customers, vendors, and employees with the QuickBooks Centers Vendor Center The Vendor Center gives you a complete picture of where your money is going. From one screen, you can see all your vendors and exactly what you owe them. Simply click a vendors name to view your entire history with that vendor. You no longer need to run separate reports to see exactly how much business youre doing with each individual vendor. And, you can sort your bills by due date so you can stay on top of your finances. If you need to talk to a vendor, click their name and youll see all their contact information. If a vendor calls you to follow up on a late payment, you can quickly look up the bill and see when you paid it and what the check number was. Employee Center From the Employee Center, you can see exactly what youre paying each employee. Simply click an employees name to view that persons payroll history. And if you need to get in touch with an employee, their contact information is right in front of you.
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Learning QuickBooks Payroll Center If you subscribe to one of the QuickBooks Payroll services (additional fees apply), the Employee Center includes a Payroll Center. Use the Payroll Center to manage your payroll and payroll compliance.1 The Payroll Center is the hub for managing all payroll activities. The Payroll Center reminds you of important payroll dates so you pay your employees, pay your payroll liabilities, and file forms on time. To check out the Payroll Center, click the Employee Center icon on the navigation bar and then click the Payroll tab.
Displaying multiple windows or one window

QuickBooks is preset to show multiple windows at a time. By doing so, you can easily navigate between tasks as well as compare data in multiple windows. When you open a window, it opens to a preset size and location. You can resize and move each window as you see fit. Depending on how you size or arrange the windows, some windows might not be visible. Use the Window menu to view a list of the open windows. Simply click the window name in the list to bring it to the front. Alternatively, you can open the Open Window List to have the list of open windows always visible on the left side of the QuickBooks application window. If you prefer to view only one window at a time, go to the View menu and click One Window.
Adding icons to the icon bar

For quick access to the areas of QuickBooks you use most, you can customize the icon bar by adding many of the features and reports that you use most frequently.
View Lists Accountant Company Custom
Open Window List Navigation Bar Icon Bar Customize Icon Bar... Add Chart of Accounts to Icon Bar...
You can add, rearrange, or remove shortcuts from the icon bar in the Customize Icon Bar window. To add a shortcut to a QuickBooks window, open the window and then go to the View menu and click the Add to Icon Bar option.
Note: Some QuickBooks windows cannot be added to the icon bar.
1. Add-on services require subscription, EIN, and Internet access for certain features, including tax table updates and direct deposit. 31
Getting Answers to Your Questions

QuickBooks provides a variety of tools and resources to help you find answers to questions you might have when using the software Available resources include:
Free help and support

Use Help in the product for step-by-step instructions on using QuickBooks. Find the latest information in our online QuickBooks Support Knowledgebase at www.quickbooks.com/support. Learn how to do common tasks by watching interactive, in-product tutorials (see page 36). Connect with other users and experts in the QuickBooks User Community. Ask questions and share advice at www.quickbooksgroup.com. Free support from QuickBooks experts is available for questions submitted online at www.quickbooks.com/contactme in certain circumstances listed below. Well usually respond in 30 minutes or less.2 Free QuickBooks support is provided for 30 days from registration to help you get up and running quickly and smoothly. Questions must be submitted online.3 Installation, upgrade and error message assistance is available free for 12 months after initial registration for questions submitted online. For more information, visit www.quickbooks.com/customercare.4
Paid support
For issues not covered by free support described above, help is available for a fee with a QuickBooks Support Plan or on a per-call basis (One-time Support). To learn more or to purchase a support plan or per-call support, visit www.quickbooks.com/support or call 1-888-320-7276 weekdays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Pacific Time. Use a local Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor(see page 37 for details). Find the ideal training solution (fees apply) to help you learn and customize QuickBooks for your business at www.quickbooks.com/training. Terms and conditions of support, features, pricing and availability are subject to change at any time without notice.
2. ay vary occasionally due to system and server maintenance, company events, observed U.S. holiM days, and events beyond our control. 3. 0 consecutive days of QuickBooks 2008 support included from first-time registration. Questions must 3 be submitted online to receive free support via e-mail or phone (at Intuits discretion). A support fee will be charged to handle requests that originate from a call rather than a web request. Internet access required. Offer valid 90 days from software purchase; U.S. only. Additional terms and conditions apply. . ee details and terms and conditions of Installation, Upgrade, and Error Message Assistance at S www.quickbooks.com/customercare. Questions must be submitted online to receive free support via e-mail or phone (at Intuits discretion). A support fee will be charged to handle requests that originate from a call rather than a web request. Internet access required. 32
Learning QuickBooks
Using in-product Help

QuickBooks in-product Help provides background information and instructions for doing QuickBooks tasks. You can access the Help content and features in several ways. To use in-product Help, go to the Help menu and click QuickBooks Help.
When you open Help, the Help Viewer displays to the right of the QuickBooks window. In the Search tab, enter a description of the help you want, and click the search arrow. Links to topics that are relevant to the currently displayed window are listed in the Relevant Topics tab. Click any relevant topic link to view the Help topic.
Use the Forward or Back buttons to see topics youve already viewed. Click Print Topic if you prefer to have a paper copy.
Let us know if the help topic answered your question and what we can do to improve Help.
Viewing Help for a window you have open If you are unsure how to use a particular QuickBooks window, press the F1 key on your keyboard. To get help. (You can also click the Help button in the window, if one is present.) These Help topics provide answers to questions such as: What can I use this form for? What does this button do? What kind of information is displayed in this column? What happens when I select this option? How do I complete the task?
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Information youll find in the Relevant Topics tab Each time you open a new QuickBooks window, the links in the Relevant Topics tab change so that they apply to the active window.
Relevant Help topics will explain how to use the window, and can include: Tutorials that show you how to complete tasks Business process overviews Step-by-step instructions Planning and best practice suggestions Troubleshooting information If you dont see the information you need in the Relevant Topics tab, try using the Search tab to find the topic. Using Help Search to find information QuickBooks in-product Help is quite extensive. If you dont see your issue in the Relevant Topics list, you can use Search to find answers to your questions quickly: Click the Search tab. In the Search field, type a short phrase (containing a noun and verb) that describes the information you want. For example, add a customer or How do I add a customer? Click the search arrow. Search will return a maximum of 15 topics based on the words you entered. (If you dont see the information you want, follow the tips below for using search effectively.)
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Learning QuickBooks Tip: Using Search Effectively Be as specific as possible. For example, if you want to know how to add a customer, entering just customer will return topics ranging from adding a customer to deleting a customer to the Customers list and more. Instead, enter add customer or How do I add a new customer. Enter a shorter search phrase or question. For example, How do I add customers will return better results than How do I add new customers and vendors. Try using different words and phrases. For example, if youre looking for something about installing a QuickBooks update, try entering update QuickBooks. Dont use abbreviationsuse the full word instead. If you still cant find the answer in the topics returned by search, try the Additional Self-Help Tools. Did You Know?
Using the sample company files QuickBooks includes several sample company files that you can practice with to enter pretend data, run reports, and explore QuickBooks features. To open a sample company file, go to the File menu, click Open or Restore Company, and then click a sample company file from the list.
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Check out the QuickBooks Learning Center

As you begin using QuickBooks, one of the first things youll see is the QuickBooks Learning Center. After you view the Coach Tutorial, youll be in the Learning Center. The Learning Center provides interactive tutorials to help you learn how to use QuickBooks and complete common business tasks. After you complete a tutorial, a checkmark is displayed next to its title. After watching the video tutorials, you can follow the step-by-step instructions available in the in-product Help. To open the QuickBooks Learning Center, go to the Help menu and click Learning Center Tutorials or click the tutorial button in the QuickBooks Coach.
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Learning QuickBooks
Using the QuickBooks Coach

You can explore the Home page with the QuickBooks Coach to learn more about your business workflows. In the QuickBooks Coach window, click Start Working to turn explore mode on. Then mouse over and click the Coach icons ( ) to see: Details about your workflows Spotlights that show you the steps in a flow, with tips to complete each step Bold numbers, highlighted lines, and arrows show you the order in which to do your work
Working with a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

Want hands-on help setting up or customizing QuickBooks for your business? Youll get the most out of QuickBooks by working with a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor who can customize the software based on your unique business needs. Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors are typically CPAs, bookkeepers, small business advisors, QuickBooks consultants or accountants. Theyve been tested and certified in QuickBooks by Intuit. ProAdvisors can save you time and money by getting your QuickBooks set up right the first time, to avoid fixing mistakes down the road. ProAdvisors can set up customized reports so you can easily understand the health of your business. They also offer ongoing support and training to help you master QuickBooks. Visit www.findaproadvisor.com/go to learn more and to find a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor near you.
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QuickBooks Basics
To take full advantage of QuickBooks, there are some important concepts you need to understand.
How to work with QuickBooks lists

Lists are one of the important building blocks that make QuickBooks so powerful and efficient. QuickBooks uses list information to fill out most QuickBooks forms. For example, to create an invoice, you choose the customer name from your Customers & Jobs list. QuickBooks automatically enters the customer information on the form for you. This saves you time and prevents typing errors. You can also change the information directly on the form as needed. Lists are easy to set up in QuickBooks, but do require careful planning. Depending on the type of list you want to use, you can get to the list in one of two ways: QuickBooks Centers: Your Customers & Jobs, Vendors, and Employees lists are available in the Customer, Vendor, and Employee Center, respectively. Click the appropriate QuickBooks Center button on the navigation bar to go to a QuickBooks Center. List windows: Other lists, such as the Chart of Accounts and Item List, appear in separate windows. To view one of these lists, click the Lists menu and then click the list you want. To enter information in these lists, use the menu button at the bottom of the list to add, edit, or delete list items. The menu also provides access to common features associated with the list.
The more detail you enter for each list item, the more information QuickBooks can use to pre-populate forms, track financial data, and display useful reports about your business. Another advantage of lists is that common tasks like adding list entries, editing list information, and deleting list entries are performed the same way. Figure 4 illustrates how QuickBooks uses list information across multiple windows and tasks to simplify data entry and to give you a complete picture of how your business is doing.
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Learning QuickBooks
New Customer
Customer Name Chris Baker 1,000.00 Additional Info as of 12/15/2007 Payment Info Price Level Custom Fields Contract # B-Day Spouses Name How do I determine the opening balance? Job Info OK Cancel Next Help Customer is inactice
1
1. Use the Customer Center to view customer data. Click New Customer & Job to add a customer to your list.
Opening Balance Address Info
Categorizing and Defaults Type Commercial Terms Net 30 Rep Preffered Send Method Mail
Commercial
Sales Tax Information Tax Item Tax Code San Tomas Resale Number
Define Fields
Tax
Go to Client Manager
2. Enter customer information in the New Customer window. 3. The information for the new customer appears in the Customers & Jobs list.
Create Invoices
Previous Customer:Job Baker, Chris Next Spelling History Journal Time/Costs... Template Progress Customize
Rock Castle Invoice DATE 07/14/2004 INVOICE# 92
Invoice
BILL TO Baker, Chris 415 W. Desert Bloom Bayshore, CA 94326
4
QUANTITY 8
SHIP TO
TERMS Net 30 ITEM Concrete Slab DESCRIPTION Foundation slab - prep and pouring RATE 75.00
DUE DATE 08/13/2004
AMOUNT Tax 600.00 Non
4. Pick a customer name from the list and choose to create an invoice from the New Transactions menu. The customer information is entered automatically.
Customer Thank you for your Message business. To be printed To be e-mailed Memo Let QuickBooks help you get paid online by credit card. Customer Tax Code Tax
Tax San Tomas
(7.75%) Total
0.00 600.00 0.00 600.00
Apply Credits
Payments Applied Balance Due
Save & Close
Save & New
Clear
5. All invoices for this customer are listed in the Transaction Details area.
6. To view a list of invoices for all your customers, use the Transactions tab.
Figure . How QuickBooks reuses list information to make your life easier
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Entering list information as you work There are two basic methods you can use to enter list information in QuickBooks. You can enter account, customer, vendor, product, and service information before you enter transactions in QuickBooks, or you can enter this information on the fly as you use the product. If you prefer to enter information as you use QuickBooks to perform your daily tasks, QuickBooks prompts you to immediately set up any entry it does not know about. For example, if you try to create an invoice for a customer named John Dowden and you have not entered information about John Dowden into QuickBooks, QuickBooks will prompt you:
Customer:Job Not Found
John Dowden is not in the Customer:Job list. To automatically add John Dowden to the Customer:Job list, click Quick Add. You can enter more detailed information later. To enter the detailed information now, click Set Up (usually not required).
Quick Add
Set Up
Cancel
Clicking Quick Add creates a new customer list entry for John Dowden in the Customers & Jobs list and adds all the information you enter about the customer on the invoice form (billing address, payment terms, taxable status). Clicking Set Up takes you to another window where you can enter information not covered by the invoice. For example, you could click Set Up to enter John Dowdens phone number, fax number, and credit limit.
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Learning QuickBooks
Writing checks versus paying bills

In QuickBooks, you can manage your bills and payments in two ways: Write checks to pay bills now. Use the Write Checks window and assign the amounts to appropriate expense accounts. This method is recommended when you dont receive a bill, such as when you go to the store and write a check and then you need to record that expense in QuickBooks. You can also use Write Checks to pay a bill as soon as you receive it, as long as you dont need to track the bill. Enter bills when you receive them and pay them later. Use the Enter Bills window to enter bills when you receive them. Then use the Pay Bills window to pay bills when they are due. You can set up QuickBooks to remind you to pay bills when they are due. Using this method, you keep your money in your business for as long as possible. You might still use a check to pay the bill, but this method enables you to track how much money you owe. And at any time, you can run reports to analyze unpaid bills for information such as which vendors you owe money.
Note: Do not simply write a check in the Write Checks window to pay bills that you entered in the Enter Bills window or the accounts payable registers.
Did You Know?

What happens when I record a bill payment? If you paid by: Check. QuickBooks prepares one check for each vendor and records the checks in the check register with BILLPMT in the Type field. Credit card. QuickBooks records a charge for each vendor in your credit card register. Cash. QuickBooks records a payment for each vendor in your cash account register. Online banking payment. QuickBooks prepares one online banking payment instruction for each vendor and records the payments in the check register with BILLPMT in the Type field. In each scenario, QuickBooks records the payment to each vendor in the accounts payable register. The amount you paid appears in the Payment column.
Figure 5 illustrates the difference between writing checks versus entering and paying bills.
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Receive bill from vendor

BILL
Customer: Your Company Address: 1234 Garcia Ave. Mountain View, CA 94043
Payment Due to Gallion Masonry

Date 07/14/2004 Bill Due 08/13/2004 Amount Due 1,550.00
Write checks now
Enter bills now, pay when due Enter Bills

Enter Bills
Previous Next Credit Find History Journal
Write Checks
Write Checks - Checking
Previous Bank Account Next Checking Print Find WRITEJournal CHECKS Ending Balance 7,178.06 No. 302 Date 07/14/2004 Pay to the Order of Gallion Masonry $ 1,550.00
Discount Date Terms Memo Net 30
ENTER BILLS
Bill Received
Bill
Bill
Vendor Gallion Masonry Date 07/14/2004 Bill Due 08/13/2004 Amount Due 1,550.00 Ref. No.
One thousand five hundred fifty and 00/100* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dollars Gallion Masonry 189 Old Bayshore Rd Bayshore CA 94326
Address
Memo Expenses $1,550.00 Items Amount 1,550.00 $0.00 Online Payment Memo To be printed Customer:Job Baker, Chris
Expenses
$1,550.00
Items Amount
$0.00 Memo 1,550.00 Customer:Job
Account Job Expenses: Job Materials
Clear Splits
Recalculate
Save & Close
Save & New
Clear
Clear Splits
Recalculate
Save & Close
Save & New
Clear
Pay Bills
Pay Bills
Select Bills to be Paid Show Bills Due on or before 07/24/2007 Show all bills Ref. No. Sort Bills By Disc. Date Due Date Amt. Due 13,000.00 6,500.00 Disc. Used Credits Used 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Amt. To Pay 0.00 6,500.00
Pay Vendor
No. 302 Date 07/14/2004 Pay to the Order of Gallion Masonry $ 1,550.00 One thousand five hundred fifty and 00/100* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dollars Gallion Masonry 189 Old Bayshore Rd Bayshore CA 94326
Date Due Vendor 05/31/2007 Kershaw Compu... 05/31/2007 Kershaw Compu...
Address
Totals Discount & Credit Information for Highlighted Bill Vendor Kershaw Computer Se... Terms Sugg. Discount Bill Ref. No. Go to Bill Payment Account Set Discount Payment Method Check
19,500.00
0.00
0.00
6,500.00
Memo
Net 30 Number of Credits 0.00 Total Credits Available

Set Credits Payment Date To be printed Assign check no. 07/14/2004
0 0.00
Print checks or make an online payment
Checking
Ending Balance
Clear Selections
678.06
Pay & Close
Pay & New
Clear
Figure 5. Writing checks versus entering and paying bills
42
4 | ssential Tasks E
QuickBooks Essential Tasks Learning how to do essential QuickBooks tasks

The table to the right lists the essential tasks that most people use to run their company in QuickBooks. This chapter describes how to perform each of these tasks and offers important usage tips. The tasks are written assuming that you want to set up all the information for your business (for example, customer, vendor, and account information) before you begin creating invoices, receiving payments, or paying your bills. However, you might prefer to enter information as you need it. For example, you might create an invoice for a new customer and use Quick Add (described on page 40) to enter the customer information on the fly. Either method works fine. You choose the method that works best for you.
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Essential Tasks Setting Up Your Business

Preferences: Changing QuickBooks to work the way you do Adding an account Adding customers Adding vendors Adding items Setting up sales tax Setting up your payroll Setting up employees page 46 page 48 page 52 page 54 page 56 page 60 page 68 page 72
Money In
Creating an estimate Creating an invoice Entering sales receipts Receiving a payment Making a deposit page 74 page 76 page 78 page 80 page 82
Money Out
Paying bills Writing checks Issuing credits and refunds Paying employees page 84 page 86 page 88 page 90
Managing Your Business

Using reports Additional services and resources page 92 page 96
45
Setting Up Your Business | Preferences

Preferences: Modify QuickBooks for the way you work
Set personal and company preferences for each QuickBooks area. Click General to set general QuickBooks preferences.
2
Choose a group from the preference list to set behavior for other QuickBooks areas.
46
Setting Up Your Business
Changing QuickBooks to work the way you do

You can modify QuickBooks in many ways to suit the needs of your business and your personal style of working. From the QuickBooks Preferences window, you can define preferences in over a dozen different categories. For example, you can configure general preferences such as whether or not QuickBooks prompts you before editing or deleting a transaction, or which date QuickBooks uses for new transactions. Or, you can configure accountingspecific preferences such as how QuickBooks displays accounts and subaccounts. To view and set preference options: Go to the Edit menu and click Preferences. In the Preferences window, change any of the general QuickBooks preferences. These preferences determine how QuickBooks behaves. To display the preferences for another area of QuickBooks, click the appropriate category in the list on the left. For example, to set preferences for reporting functions, click Reports & Graphs. On the My Preferences tab for the particular feature area, enter the changes and settings you want. These settings affect only your QuickBooks sessions, not those of other users. Do one of the following: Click OK to close the Preferences window and save your changes. Click another feature area in the scroll box to enter other preferences. Click Yes when prompted to save your changes. Click OK.
Did You Know?

Company preferences Company preferences are global preferences that affect all users of the company file. Only the QuickBooks Administrator can set up or modify company preferences. My Preferences You can customize your workflow by setting personal QuickBooks preferences, such as using the Enter key instead of the Tab key to move between fields.
4
Setting Up Your Business | Adding an Account

Chart of Accounts
The Chart of Accounts list shows the balance of each balance sheet account for your business. Rearrange your accounts by clicking and dragging the diamond, located to the left of an account, to a new position.
Chart of Accounts
x
Type Bank Bank Bank Bank Accounts Receivable Other Current Asset Other Current Asset Other Current Asset Other Current Asset Other Current Asset Fixed Asset Fixed Asset Fixed Asset Fixed Asset Fixed Asset Fixed Asset Other Asset Accounts Payable Credit Card Credit Card Credit Card Credit Card Credit Card Other Current Liability Other Current Liability Other Current Liability Long Term Liability Long Term Liability Long Term Liability Long Term Liability Equity Equity
Include inactive Include inactive
Name Checkinging Account Savings Cash Expenditures Barter Account Accounts Receivable Tools & Equipment Employee Loans Inventory Asset Retainage Undeposited Funds Land Buildings Trucks New Edit Delete Make Account Inactive Show Inactive Accounts Hierarchical View Flat View Customize Columns... Import from Excel... Use Find Transactions in... Print List... Re-sort List
Balance Total 7,178.06 13,868.42 0.00 0.00 76,610.00 5,000.00 0.00 23,102.54 2,461.80 36,982.34 90,000.00 325,000.00 78,352.91 28,501.00 7,325.00 -121,887.78 1,041.85 50,239.38 70.00 45.00 25.00 0.00 5,071.02 0.00 3,302.06 5,353.52 19,932.65 3,911.32 3,440.83 50,162.38 403,590.82 19,000.00
Ctrl+N Ctrl+E Ctrl+D
FPO
Click the Account button to create new accounts or perform tasks with existing accounts.
Ctrl+U
Ctrl+P
Activities Reports
Account
Add New Account

QuickBooks supports 16 different types of accounts. Click here to make the account a subaccount of another account. Click here to view and select additional accounts you can create (when available. Click here to enter an opening balance for the account (for balance sheet accounts). Set up QuickBooks to automatically remind you when to enter checks for an account.
3
48
Adding an Account
When you set up your company file, QuickBooks sets up certain accounts for you automatically. However, as your business grows or changes, you might need to add new accounts to your chart of accounts to better organize your finances. Or, you might need an account that was not provided during setup. For example, you might want to create expense accounts to track office supply purchases separately from advertising costs. To add an account: Go to the Lists menu and click Chart of Accounts. Click the Account button and then click New. In the Add New Account: Select Account Type window, select the type of account you want to create and then click Continue.
Note: Refer to pages 50 and 51 for a description of the different types of income, expense, and balance sheet accounts.
Key Terms
Accounts There are two types of accountsbalance sheet accounts, such as checking and savings, and income and expense accounts, which are used to group transactions for reporting purposes. (Income and expense accounts are the same as categories in Quicken.) Refer to pages 50 and 51 for a description of the different QuickBooks accounts. Chart of Accounts A complete list of your business accounts and their balances. You use a chart of accounts to track how much money your company has, how much money it owes, how much money is coming in, and how much is going out.
Enter the accounts name in the Account Name field. This name will appear on your company financial statements. If you want to make this account a subaccount of another account, select the Subaccount of checkbox. From the drop-down list, click the account that will be the higher-level account for this subaccount. (Optional) Enter a short description, note, bank account number, or credit card number, depending on the type of account you are adding. For income and expense accounts. From the Tax-Line Mapping drop-down list, click the appropriate tax line or <Not tax-related>. For balance sheet accounts. Enter an opening balance based on the accounts balance as of your QuickBooks start date. Generally, you should enter any balance sheet balances as of the day before your start date. That way its all exactly correct at the opening of your start date. If youre putting money into the account with a transaction, do not use the opening balance field, since this will create an additional transaction. If youre not sure of the balance, you can leave the field blank and enter the information later. Click OK when finished. Click Save & Close or Save & New to add another account.
Did You Know?

The IRS recommends opening a business checking account as one of the first things you do when starting a new business. Intuit highly recommends associating your income and expense accounts with the appropriate tax lines for your tax forms. Consult with your accountant if you need more information about which tax forms to use and to which tax lines to map each account. 49
Why Use Subaccounts?

When you need more detail about whats going on in an account, you can divide the account into one or more subaccounts. Subaccounts let you track several related types of income or expenses independently yet keep them all under the umbrella of a single parent account. Subaccounts appear indented immediately below their parent account in your chart of accounts. If you create subaccounts, its best not to post anything to the parent account For example, if your business has substantial advertising expenses, you might decide to divide your Advertising expense account into several subaccounts, such as Newspaper Ads, Signs, Yellow Pages Listing, and Direct Mailings.
What type of account should I use?

There are two main types of accounts in the QuickBooks chart of accounts: Income and expense accounts Balance sheet accounts Income and Expense Accounts Income and expense accounts track the sources of your income and the purpose of each expense. When you record transactions in one of your balance sheet accounts, you usually assign the amount of the transaction to one or more income or expense accounts. For example, not only do you record that you took money out of your checking account, but you keep track of what you spent the money on (utilities or office supplies).
Account type
Income Other income
Purpose
Categorizes money earned from normal business operations, such as product sales, service sales, and discounts to customers. Categorizes money your business earns that is unrelated to normal business operations, such as dividend income, interest income, and insurance reimbursements. Categorizes money spent in the course of normal business operations, such as advertising and promotion, office supplies, insurance, legal fees, charitable contributions, and rent. Categorizes money your business spends that is unrelated to normal business operations, such as corporation taxes and penalties, interest, and legal settlements Tracks the direct costs to purchase or produce the items that your business sells, such as cost of materials, cost of labor, subcontractors, and shipping.
Expense
Other expense
Cost of goods sold
Note: QuickBooks does not display balances for income and expense accounts in the Chart of Accounts. To see these balances, go to the Reports menu, click Report Center, and then click the Company & Financial category. You can also select the income or expense account in the chart of accounts and click QuickReport.
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Balance Sheet Accounts QuickBooks provides 10 types of balance sheet accounts to choose from as you create and add to your Chart of Accounts. Use the type of account that best describes the type of data you are tracking.
Account type
Purpose
Tracks money you have in your cash accounts. Create one for each cash account, such as petty cash, checking, savings, and money market. (When you create a new bank account, leave the opening balance at zero. Its opening balance will be created automatically when you transfer funds from another account.) Tracks money your customers owe you on unpaid invoices. Most businesses require only the A/R account that QuickBooks automatically creates after you create your first invoice. Tracks the value of things that you can convert to cash or use up within one year, such as prepaid expenses, employee cash advances, inventory, and loans from your business. Tracks the value of significant items (consult your tax professional for a minimum dollar amount) that have a useful life of more than one year, such as buildings, land, machinery and equipment, and vehicles. Tracks the value of things that are neither Fixed Assets nor Other Current Assets, such as Goodwill, long-term notes receivable, security deposits paid, and land. Tracks money you owe to vendors for purchases made on credit. Most businesses require only the A/P account that QuickBooks automatically creates after you create your first invoice. Tracks credit card purchases, bills, and payments. Create one for each credit card your business uses. Tracks money your business owes and expects to pay within one year, such as sales tax, security deposits/retainers from customers, and payroll taxes. Tracks money your business owes and expects to pay back over more than one year, such as mortgages, long-term loans, and notes payable. Tracks money invested in, or money taken out of, the business by owners or shareholders. Payroll and reimbursable expenses should not be included.
Bank
Accounts receivable (A/R) Other current asset
Fixed asset
Other asset Accounts payable (AP) Credit card Other current liability Long-term liability Equity
51
Setting Up Your Business | Adding Customers

Customer Center
Click New Customer & Job to add new customers to the list. View the amount of money each customer owes you in the Balance Total column. Click a customers name in the list to view the contact information and notes for that customer. See all transactions for this customer in the transaction list, which can be sorted and ltered. Click to view useful reports about each customer.
2
New Customer
New Customer
Customer Name Opening Balance Andrew Reback 1,000.00 Additional Info as of 12/15/2007 Payment Info Price Level Custom Fields Contract # B-Day Spouses Name How do I determine the opening balance? Job Info OK Cancel Next Help Customer is inactice
Enter the customers name, address, and contact information on the Address Info tab.
Address Info
Categorizing and Defaults Type Commercial Terms Net 30 Rep
Commercial
Use the Additional Info and Payment Info tabs to set up customer payment terms and sales tax information.
Preferred Send Method
Mail
Sales Tax Information Tax Item Tax Code San Tomas Resale Number
Define Fields
Click De ne Fields to create any custom elds that you need for your customers.
Tax
Go to Client Manager
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Adding Customers
Customers are the lifeline of your business. By entering detailed information in QuickBooks about the people and companies to whom you sell your products and services, you can personalize their bills, send invoices easily, and quickly view the status of their accounts. You can add new customers at any time. Tip Typing in customer data for hundreds of customers can be a tedious task. If you use Microsoft Outlook, you can import your existing customer information into QuickBooks instead of entering it manually. Refer to the QuickBooks in-product Help for instructions on how to prepare your customer data file for importing into QuickBooks. When you are ready to synchronize your customers, refer to the instructions on page 24. To add a customer: Click the Customer Center icon at the top of the QuickBooks window. Click New Customer & Job and then click New Customer. On the Address Info tab, enter all the data that you have about the customer, including their name, Bill to and Ship to addresses, and additional contact information. Complete the Additional Info and Payment Info tabs, as appropriate. If you want to add additional fields to the form, click Define Fields to customize the form. Click OK or Next (if you want to enter another customer). Tip You can also add customers as you perform your everyday tasks. For example, if you enter the name of a new customer when filling out an invoice, QuickBooks will prompt you to enter information about this customer. You can choose from two quick setup options: Quick AddAdds just the name to the list. You must add the details later. Set UpEnables you to enter additional information (such as a phone number, fax number, and alternate contact) to the list you choose.
Key Term
Customers Customers are the people or businesses to whom you sell your products or servicesthat is, the people who pay you for what you do. Some businesses might refer to a customer as a client or member.
Did You Know?
Adding jobs If you are performing more than one job for a customer, you can track the jobs individually by adding new jobs under the customers name in the Customers & Jobs list. That way, you can create reports that show the income and expenses for each job. To add a job, click New Customer & Job and then click Add Job. Importing customers If you need to add several customers to your QuickBooks company file, consider using the Import/ Export functions to enter multiple customers at one time. For more information, see QuickBooks Help for importing lists.
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Setting Up Your Business | Adding Vendors

Vendor Center
Click New Vendor to add new vendors to the list. Click a vendors name in the list to view the contact information and notes for that vendor. View the amount of money you owe each vendor in the Balance Total column.
2
See all transactions for this vendor in the transaction list, which can be sorted and ltered. Click to view useful reports about each vendor.
New Vendor: Additional Info

New Vendor
x
Pang Building Supplies 2,500.00 Additional Info Billing Rate Level Custom Fields Discount Available as of 12/15/2007 How do I determine the opening balance? OK Cancel
Enter the vendors name, address, and contact information on the Address Info tab. Use the Additional Info tab to enter vendor-speci c information, including the vendor type. Click Define Fields to create any custom elds that you need for your vendors.
Vendor Name Opening Balance
Address Info Account No.
Next Help Vendor is inactive
Categorizing and Defaults Type Materials Terms Due on receipt Credit Limit
10,000.00
Tax ID Vendor eligible for 1099 Define Fields
54
Adding Vendors
QuickBooks uses the vendor list to hold information about the people and companies you buy goods and services from to run your business; for example, this list could include the phone company, your office supplies vendor, and your tax board. You can add new vendors at any time. Tip Typing in vendor data for hundreds of vendors can be a tedious task. If you use Microsoft Outlook, you can import your existing vendor information into QuickBooks instead of entering it manually. Refer to the QuickBooks in-product Help for instructions on how to prepare your vendor data file for importing into QuickBooks. When you are ready to synchronize your vendors, refer to the instructions on page 24. To add a vendor: Click the Vendor Center icon at the top of the QuickBooks window. Click New Vendor. On the Address Info tab, enter all the data that you have about the vendor, including their name, address, and additional contact information. If you owe this vendor money as of your companys start date, enter the amount in the Opening Balance field. Click the Additional Info tab and complete the form. If you want to add additional fields to the form, click Define Fields to customize the form. Click OK or Next (if you want to enter another vendor). Tip You can also add vendors as you perform your everyday tasks. For example, if you enter the name of a new vendor when paying a bill, QuickBooks will prompt you to enter information about this vendor. You can choose from two quick setup options: Quick AddAdds just the name to the list. You must add the details later. Set UpEnables you to enter additional information (such as a phone number, fax number, and alternate contact) to the list you choose.
Key Term
Vendors Vendors are any businesses or people from whom you buy or rent goods or services for your businessoffice supplies, phone or computer services, or products that you sell. The tax agencies that you pay are also your vendors. Nearly everyone you pay other than employees are vendors.
Did You Know?

Importing vendors If you need to add several vendors to your QuickBooks company file, consider importing all your vendors at the same time. Refer to the in-product Help for instructions on how to Import lists.
55
Setting Up Your Business | Adding Items

Item List
Item List
Name Description Foundation slab - prep and pouring Floor Plans Framing labor Installation labor Removal labor Repair work Subcontracted services Install carpeting Install drywall Heating & Air Conditioning Duct Work Ctrl+N Ctrl+E Ctrl+D
x
Type Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Service Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory Part Inventory A... Account Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Mileage... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... Constru... On Hand On Sales Order Price 0.00 0.00 0.00 55.00 35.00 0.00 0.365 35.00 35.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,799.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 38.00 0.00 120.00 72.00 0.00
Subitems are indented under the parent item.
Blueprint changes Concrete Slab Floor Plans Framing Installation Labor Mileage Removal Repairs Subs Carpet Drywall Duct Work
New Edit Delete
For inventory parts, the On Hand column shows how many of each item you have in stock.
Make Item Inactive Install tile or counter Show Inactive Items Hierarchical View Flat View Light pine kitchen cabinet wall unit Customize Columns... standard interior door frame Import from Excel... standard interior brass hinge Standard Doorknobs Use Ctrl+U Locking interior doorknobs Find in Transactions... Print List... Re-sort List Exterior wood door Ctrl+P Interior wood door complete Interior door
Activities Reports
Click the Item button to add new items or perform activities on existing items.
0 104 8 2 0 460 103 110 0 3 32 4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Item
Include inactive Include inactive
New Item
New Item
x
Use for services you charge for or purchase, like specialized labor, consulting hours, or professional fees. Subitem of Labor OK Cancel Next
Choose the type of item you want to create from the Type drop-down list. Click the Custom Fields button to set up and ll in custom elds that you need for your items. Enter the amount you want to charge for the item here.
Type
Service
Item Name/Number Paving
Custom Fields Spelling
This service is performed by a subcontractor, owner, or partner Description Rate Account Tax Code Item is inactive
How can I set rates by customers or employees?
Associate the item with an account here. Choose the appropriate tax code here.
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Adding Items
In QuickBooks, an item is anything that your company buys, sells, or resells to run your business. Items are your products, services, and things such as shipping and handling charges, discounts, and sales tax. When you choose an item from the Item list, QuickBooks fills in a description of the line item and calculates its amount for you. QuickBooks provides 12 different types of items, described in the table on page 58. Some items, such as service or inventory part items, help you record the services and products your business sells. Other items, such as the subtotal or discount item, are used to perform calculations on the amounts in a sale. To add an item: Go to the Lists menu and click Item List. Click Item at the bottom of the list and then click New. Click the Type drop-down arrow and choose the type of item you want to create (see table on page 58). Enter an item name as you want it to appear on purchase and sales forms. Enter the description that you want to appear on sales forms when you use the payment item. In the Rate field, enter the amount you want to charge for the item or leave as zero, if the rate varies. In the Account field, choose the account that is associated with this item. (In most cases, you will assign the item to an income account.) In the Tax Code list, select the appropriate sales tax code or create a new one. If you do not see the Tax Code list, you must turn the tax preference on in the Sales Tax area under Edit | Preferences. Click OK or Next (if you want to enter another item).
Key Term
Items An item is anything that might appear as a line item on an invoice, including subtotals, discounts, and sales tax, as well as the products and/or services that you sell. You enter items on your invoices and sales receipts. For example, a writing consultant might set up one item for editing services with an hourly rate, and another item for writing services with a different hourly rate. On an invoice, the items would be entered with the number of hours worked as the quantity. While providing a quick means of data entry, items also handle the behind-thescenes accounting. When you create an item you link it to an account. When the item is used on a form it posts an entry to that account and another to the appropriate accounts receivable, accounts payable, checking, or other account.
5
Which Item Type Should I Choose?

QuickBooks provides 12 different types of items to help you fill out sales and purchase forms quickly.
Item Type
Service Inventory part Inventory assembly (Premier only) Non-inventory part
Purpose
Use for services you either charge for or purchase, like specialized labor, consulting hours, and professional fees. Use for goods you purchase, track as inventory, and resell. Use for assembled goods you build or purchase, track as inventory, and resell. Use for goods you buy but dont track, like office supplies or materials you buy for a specific job that you charge back to your customer. Use for an asset you do not expect to convert to cash during one year of normal operations. A fixed asset is usually something that is necessary for the operation of your businesslike a truck, cash register, or computer. Use for miscellaneous labor, material, or part charges, such as delivery charges, setup fees, and service charges. Use to total all items above it on a form, up to the last subtotal. Useful for applying a percentage discount or surcharge to several items. Use to quickly enter a group of individual items on an invoice. Use to subtract a percentage or fixed amount from a total or subtotal. Do not use this item type for an early payment discount; for an early payment discount, use the Set Discount feature in the Receive Payments window. Use to record a partial payment you received at the time of the sale. It reduces the amount owed on an invoice. Use to calculate a single sales tax at a specific rate that you pay to a single tax agency. Use to calculate and individually track two or more sales tax items that apply to the same sale. The customer sees only the total sales tax.
Fixed asset
Other charge Subtotal Group Discount
Payment Sales tax item Sales tax group
58
Setting Up Your Business Why item types are important Although you can use items as a quick means of entering data, items fulfill a much more important QuickBooks role: to handle the behind-the-scenes accounting. When you create an item, you link it to an account; when the item is used on a form, it posts an entry to that account and another entry to the appropriate accounts receivable, accounts payable, checking, fixed asset, or other account. While items are easy to set up, you should spend some time deciding how they can best work for you before you start setting them up and using them. Use your current list of services and products as a starting point. Consider how much detail you want on your invoices or statements and set up your items with that level of detail in mind. For example, if you are a seamstress who creates and sells home accessories, you can set up a single item and charge a flat rate for a certain size of couch pillow, or you can break that pillow down further into labor and materials. Furthermore, QuickBooks provides many useful reports that break information down by the goods or services you purchase and sell. That way, you can quickly find out: How much income your items bring in What you are spending to purchase items How well you estimate the cost of items How much time you spent on each type of job or item
59
Setting Up Your Business | Setting up Sales Tax

Depending on where you do business, you might be required to collect sales tax for the products or services you sell. If you collect sales tax, you must pay it to a tax agency on a regular schedule. QuickBooks helps automate your sales tax tracking so you can keep accurate records about the sales tax you collect and pay.
Important: You must follow the rules and regulations for collecting and paying sales tax in your tax district (city, county, state).
Understanding how sales tax works

QuickBooks uses sales tax codes to track the taxable or non-taxable status of both the items you sell (products and services) and your customers. If your tax agency requires you to report the reasons why particular sales are taxable or non-taxable, the sales tax codes that you assign to your items and customers enable you to run reports that provide this information for your sales tax return. QuickBooks uses sales tax items to calculate and add sales tax charges when you make a taxable sale. When you set up a sales tax item, you assign a sales tax rate to it and associate it with the tax agency to which you pay the sales tax. All of the sales tax items you set up are in your Item list. Once youve set up sales tax, QuickBooks automatically applies the appropriate sales tax rate to the sale of your taxable items.
Before you start setting up sales tax

To set up sales tax in QuickBooks, you need to know the following sales tax requirements for the locations where you sell your products and services: Sales tax rates for each tax district (a city, county, or state that has a sales tax) in which you sell. You may have multiple sales tax rates that you need to charge, for example, sales tax for both a county and a state. Tax agencies to which you pay the collected sales tax for each of those district taxes. Tip You can find your sales tax requirements (rates, payment schedules, etc.) online at your state sales tax Web site. We have provided access to these Web sites from the in-product Help. Go to the Help menu and click QuickBooks Help. In the Search field, enter Finding the sales tax rates and requirements for your business. Select that topic and then click the link for your state.
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Term
How it relates to sales tax setup

The percentage charged for sales tax by the tax district. For each different district/rate combination, you need to set up a new sales tax item. For example, you might sell in three counties that all charge the same sales tax rate, but you need a separate sales tax item for each county, even though the sales tax rate is the same. This enables you to track the amounts of sales tax you collect for each tax district. A QuickBooks item that is used to calculate the appropriate sales tax for a sale. A sales tax item includes a sales tax rate and a tax agency. When you sell taxable items, you charge the appropriate sales tax rate by assigning a sales tax item to each sale. A QuickBooks item that groups multiple sales tax items so you can charge only one rate on your sales. For example, the location where you sell might require you to charge both a county and a state sales tax. However, customers are used to seeing one sales tax rate on sales. You would set up a sales tax group item that combines those two sales tax rates, say 1% for the county and 7% for the state, to create a single, sales tax group item with a rate of 8%. You would apply this sales tax group item to your taxable sales for that county. The identifier that QuickBooks uses to track the taxable and non-taxable status of both the products and services you sell, and the customers to whom you sell these items. For example, a customer that is a non-profit organization might have a non-taxable status. You would not charge sales tax for anything you sell to this particular customer. A town, city, county, or state that charges sales tax. A tax district might also include a municipal or special jurisdiction, such as a Mass Transit tax or a parish in Louisiana. The government office that determines the requirements for sales tax collection or payment. You might need to pay your collected sales tax to one or more tax agencies, depending on the requirements for the locations (tax districts) where you do business. Tax agencies are set up as vendors, because you make payments to them. A tax agency is sometimes called a tax authority.
Sales tax rate
Sales tax item
Sales tax group item
Sales tax code
Tax district
Tax agency
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Preferences: Set sales tax preferences

Verify that you have sales tax turned on. Choose the sales tax item you want to use as the preset sales tax rate on all your sales forms (invoices, sales receipts, etc.). Choose when you owe sales tax to your tax agency. Choose when you pay sales tax to your tax agency.
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62
Setting up sales tax

Setting up sales tax is a multi-step process, divided into three main parts: Part 1: Sales tax payment schedule Part 2: Sales tax codes to track taxable status of items and customers Part 3: Sales tax items, rates, and tax agencies Part 1: Sales tax payment schedule In this procedure, youll turn on sales tax and then set up information about when you need to pay your tax agency. To set up your sales tax payment schedule: Go to the Edit menu and click Preferences. Click Sales Tax in the list on the left. Click the Company Preferences tab. For the question Do You Charge Sales Tax?, click Yes. Select when you owe sales tax to the tax agency, as specified by your tax agency. Select As of invoice date if your tax agency stipulates that you owe sales tax from the moment you write an invoice or make a sale. Select Upon receipt of payment if your tax agency stipulates that you owe sales tax when you receive the payment from a customer.
Note: This preference overrides the accounting basis youve set for your company and for your report preferences (i.e., if your report preference is set to cash but you select accrual here, your sales tax reports will be accrual-based).
Did You Know?

New Manage Sales Tax window QuickBooks 2008 includes a new Manage Sales Tax window to help you complete all of your common sales tax tasks, like setting sales tax preferences, preparing state sales tax forms, and paying sales tax. Go to the Vendors menu, click Sales Tax, and then click Manage Sales Tax to open this window. Setting the time interval for paying your sales tax affects reports and reminders. The time interval you select to pay your sales tax is reflected in the period of time covered by your sales tax reports and sets reminders to pay your sales taxes. For example, if you select Monthly, QuickBooks uses the previous month as the basis for your sales tax reports. When its time to pay your sales tax using the Pay Sales Tax feature, QuickBooks reminds you to make the payment.
Select how often you pay sales tax to the tax agency, as specified by your tax agency. If you dont know which time period to choose, check your sales tax license. It should indicate the payment schedule that you need to use. Tip If you collect sales tax for multiple tax agencies that require payment at different intervals, use the payment interval you use most frequently. When you run your sales tax reports and make your payments, youll be able to see which amounts are due on which dates.
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Preferences: Set up sales tax codes
Add sales tax codes by clicking the drop-down list for the type of sales tax code you want to set up and click <Add New>.
Enter the sales tax code and a short description.
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Setting Up Your Business Part 2: Sales tax codes to track taxable status of items and customers Now youll set up the sales tax codes that youll use to track the taxable and non-taxable sales status of your items and customers. Later, youll assign these sales tax codes to your customers and the items you sell. QuickBooks creates two sales tax codes for you: The taxable code (TAX) is assigned to items and customers that are taxed. The non-taxable code (NON) is assigned to items and customers that are not taxed, such as non-profit organizations or items that the customer plans to resell. Depending on your tax agency requirements, these two preset sales tax codes might be all youll need. You wont need to set up any additional codes or change this preference. If your tax agency requires you to specify additional sales tax codes to track taxable and non-taxable sales, such as specific tracking for out-of-state sales, you can set them up now. (You can also set them up later when you need to use them.) To set up additional sales tax codes: Click the drop-down list for the type of sales tax code you want to set up (Taxable or Non-taxable) and click <Add New>. In the New Sales Tax Code window, enter a sales tax code you want to use and a description for it. Each sales tax code you add must be unique. For example, you might want to set up a non-taxable sales code for labor costs. You might enter LBR as the sales tax code and Labor, non-taxable as the description. Many businesses also use a non-taxable out-ofstate sales tax code (OOS). Click OK. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each sales tax code you want to add. Part 3: Sales tax items, rates, and tax agencies You need to set up a sales tax item for each tax district (city, county, state) in which you sell. A sales tax item includes the sales tax rate you need to charge for that tax district and the tax agency to which you remit the sales tax you collect. Even if you sell in three different counties that all have the same sales tax rate, you need to set up a separate sales tax item for each county/rate combination so that you can properly track your sales tax collection and payments. To set up your sales tax items, rates, and tax agencies: Click Add sales tax item. In the New Item window, click the Type drop-down arrow and then click Sales Tax Item. Enter the sales tax name. (Use a name that describes the location for the Tax, such as San Mateo County. This name will appear as one of the choices in the Tax field on your sales forms.)
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Enter a description for the way this sales tax item will appear as a line item on your sales forms (for example, San Mateo County sales tax). You cant edit it on the forms themselves. Users frequently use the name of the sales tax item as the description. Enter the sales tax rate (as a percentage) you charge when a sale is taxable. For example, your sales tax rate for San Mateo County might be 1.25% (or 1.25 cents per dollar purchased). In the Tax Agency drop-down list, click <Add New> to open the New Vendor window, where youll set up the tax agency (a vendor) to which you pay this sales tax. Enter a vendor name and contact information. For example, in California, sales tax is paid to the Board of Equalization. Click OK to close the New Vendor window. Click OK to close the New Item window. Repeat steps 1 through 9 for each local, county, or state sales tax item and rate you need to set up.
Important: Depending on your sales tax requirements, you might need to combine multiple sales tax items to create a sales tax group item. For example, a county sales tax rate of 1.25% and a state sales tax rate of 7.0% would combine for a sales tax group item with a sales tax rate of 8.25%. Then, you can use this single sales tax rate on your sales forms.
hen youre finished setting up all your sales tax items, choose your Most common W sales tax, which is the one you charge most often. Remember, the most common sales tax that you charge your customers might be a sales tax group item. n the Sales Tax preferences window, decide whether or not you want to mark your I taxable items when your sales forms are printed. If not, clear this checkbox. lick OK to apply your sales tax preferences. C If youve already set up your items and customers, youll be prompted to assign a taxable sales tax code to all of them. Click OK if most of your items and customers are taxable. If not, clear the checkboxes and click OK.
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Entering an opening balance for sales tax liability (what you owe)
You need to enter an opening balance for your Sales Tax Liability account (what you owe as of your QuickBooks start date). After your start date, your sales tax is included on your sales forms and entered into this account. Caution Do not use this procedure if you entered historical invoices or sales receipts dated before your QuickBooks start date. Your sales tax will already be included on them and posted to this account. You can also skip this procedure if you entered an opening balance for each tax agency as you set it up. To enter your sales tax liability for a tax agency: Go to the Lists menu and click Chart of Accounts. Double-click the Sales Tax Payable account. In the register, find a blank transaction and fill in the details for the tax agency owed: In the Date field, enter your QuickBooks start date. In the Vendor field, enter the tax agency. In the Billed field, enter the amount you owed as of your start date. From the Account drop-down list, choose Opening Bal Equity. Click Record. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each tax agency to which you owed sales tax as of your QuickBooks start date.
Did You Know?

Sales tax group items In many states where you charge a state sales tax rate, you also need to charge for a city or county sales tax along with it. However, your customers are used to just seeing one sales tax item on their invoices or sales receipts. You can resolve this issue by creating sales tax group items. Once youve set up all of your sales tax items for your city, county, and state sales tax rates, youll be ready to combine the rates to create a sales tax group item. Refer to the in-product Help for information on setting up a sales tax group item.
6
Setting Up Your Business | Setting up your Payroll

Payroll Setup
Click Company Setup to enter information about the types of compensation and benefits you provide.
Click Employee Setup to enter employee personal, pay, and tax withholding information.
Click Taxes to enter employerspecific tax rates and any local taxes.
Click Payroll History to enter year-to-date payroll history.
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Setting up your Payroll

As an employer, you have specific payroll responsibilities that are required by government agencies. These agencies can be federal, state, or local. Some of these responsibilities include, but are not limited to, withholding amounts from your employees compensation to cover income tax, social security, Medicare, and other payments. Choosing a payroll service To use QuickBooks to manage your payroll, you first need to subscribe to a QuickBooks payroll service. QuickBooks flexible options ensure that you get the payroll service that is right for you. QuickBooks also includes manual payroll features that do not require a subscription. Refer to the in-product Help for more information about using manual payroll in QuickBooks. Consult with a tax professional or accountant to address all of your business specific needs. You can learn about all of the QuickBooks payroll offerings, including manual payroll through the QuickBooks Payroll Web site. To learn about and sign up for a Payroll Service: Go to the Employees menu and click Payroll. Click Learn About Payroll Options. Or, if you are not sure which payroll service is right for you, contact one of our payroll experts at 1-866-820-6382 to learn more and help you choose.
Note: If you choose to sign up for a payroll service, you will be prompted to complete the activation process for your service. After you complete your activation, you can set up payroll for your business as described in the next section.
Did You Know?

Intuit Payroll Services Intuit offers a variety of payroll services to meet your needs. QuickBooks Standard Payroll includes tools, tables, and Federal forms to help you run your payroll, quickly enter hours for a large number of employees, pay your payroll taxes, and prepare your federal tax forms. QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll adds state tax forms, tools for tracking workers compensation costs, and tools for easily calculating bonuses. Both Standard and Enhanced Payroll enable you to process payroll for up to three business entities (EINs). QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll for Accountants includes all of this, plus after-the-fact payroll, client-ready reports and the ability to process payroll for up to 50 specific businesses. With QuickBooks Assisted Payroll, Intuit handles your tax payment and filings for you. All QuickBooks payroll services offer direct deposit of employee paychecks for a small additional fee. For more information about payroll services, go to the Employees menu, click Payroll, and then click Learn About Payroll Options. 69
Setting up payroll QuickBooks Payroll includes an easy-to-use Payroll Setup wizard that guides you through setting up payroll for your business. Payroll Setup helps you set up your employees, set up compensation and benefit information, as well as enter any year-to-date payroll data. You will also be assisted in setting up scheduled payroll groups and your payroll liability payment schedule to make managing your payroll easier.
Before you begin setting up payroll, we recommend you gather all of the information in the Payroll Setup Checklist on page 71. You can find this information in your own records, from your accountant or QuickBooks Professional Advisor, or from federal and/or state agencies. To set up payroll for your business: Go to the Employees menu and click Payroll Setup. Follow the onscreen instructions. Tip If at any time you need to leave the Payroll Setup wizard before completing all of your payroll setup tasks, click the Finish Later button. When you reopen the Payroll Setup wizard, you can continue. To ensure accurate payroll calculations, complete your setup before using Payroll. Payroll Setup has been grouped into the following categories: Company Setup Enter information about the types of compensation and benefits you provide. Employee Setup Enter employee personal information (name, hire data, Social Security number, etc.), pay information (pay rate, payments and deductions, paid time off balances, etc.), and tax withholding information (from W-4 and state forms). Taxes QuickBooks Payroll automatically sets up your state and federal taxes. However, you must still enter employer-specific tax rates (state unemployment insurance) as well as any local taxes that may apply. Payroll History If you have issued paychecks during this calendar year prior to using QuickBooks Payroll, you must provide year-to-date payroll history to accurately generate tax payments and filings.
Note: After your initial payroll setup, you might need to add new employees or edit employee payroll information. You do not need to use the Payroll Setup wizard for these quick tasks. Instead, follow the instructions for adding and editing employee information listed on page 73.
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Setting Up Your Business Payroll Setup Checklist
Item
Company Information
Examples
Pay period frequency or frequencies (i.e., weekly, every other week, twice a month, monthly, quarterly) Date you started or will start using payroll in QuickBooks Compensation you give employees and officers: hourly wages, salaries, commissions, etc. Insurance benefits offered, such as health, dental, vision Retirement benefits offered, such as 401(k) Additional deductions from net pay that you withhold, such as union dues, repayments of employee advances or loans, and life insurance Additions you add to a paycheck, such as bonuses, travel reimbursements, employee advances, or loans and tips State or states for which you file payroll taxes Your state employer tax ID number or numbers and Federal EIN State unemployment tax (SUI) rate(s) for employer and/or employee State disability (SDI) tax rate or rates Other state tax rates for your company (if applicable) Local income taxes that you withhold or pay on behalf of your employees (if applicable) Whether you qualify for the Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) credit Employee names, addresses and Social Security numbers from your employees Social Security cards or W-4s Employee withholdings or allowances, which can also be found on the W-4 form Current employee wages/salaries, additions, deductions, and company contributions Sick and vacation time policies and hours accrued Quarterly and pay period summaries of employee payroll amounts from the beginning of this calendar year to the beginning of the current quarter Paycheck information from the beginning of the current quarter to today Note: You need to enter year-to-date amounts only if you start using QuickBooks Payroll after January 1 of the calendar year. Quarterly and pay period summaries of payroll liability payments from the beginning of this year to your start date Copies of payroll liability checks from the first day of the current quarter until today (Optional) For each employee you want to pay using Direct Deposit, you need bank account and routing numbers. Youll get this information from your employees when you ask them to fill out a Direct Deposit form.
Compensation, Benefits, and Miscellaneous Additions and Deductions
Tax Information
Employees
Year-to-Date History
Liability Payment Information
Direct Deposit Information
1
Setting Up Your Business | Setting up Employees

New Employee: Personal Tab
New Employee
Information for: Douglas Begle Change tabs: Personal Mr./Ms./... Mr. Douglas Begle Doug Begle 123-45-6789 Male 12/06/1984 M.I. Personal Info Address and Contact Additional Info OK Cancel Next Help Employee is inactive
Enter the employees personal information, including their Social Security number and the name to be printed on their paychecks.
Legal Name First Name
Last Name Print on Checks as SS No. Gender Date of Birth
Enter the employees address and contact information in the Address and Contact tab.
Edit Employee: Payroll Info

Enter additional payroll data like wages, taxes, bonuses, mileage reinbursements, health insurance deductions, and 401(k) contributions in the Payroll Info tab. If you're using payroll schedules, click the drop-down arrow and select a payroll schedule to assign to the employee. The Pay Period eld updates and becomes grayed out. Enter tax information, sick time, and vacation time. If you are using the Direct Deposit service of QuickBooks Payroll or Assisted Payroll, click Direct Deposit to enter this information.
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Setting up Employees
To process paychecks and prepare tax documents for your employees, you need to enter specific information about each of your employees in QuickBooks.
Note: If you are a QuickBooks Payroll subscriber, you will be prompted to add all of your employee information during payroll setup (described on page 69). Use the following procedure to edit employee information or to add additional employees at a later date.
Key Term
Employees Employees are people who work for your company. Employees can work fulltime or part-time. If you have workers who need a 1099 (for example, subcontractors), set them up as vendors, not employees.
Refer to the Payroll Setup Checklist on page 71 for a list of employee information to gather. To set up an employees personal information: Click the Employee Center icon at the top of the QuickBooks window. Click New Employee. On the Personal tab, fill in the form. Click the Address and Contact tab, fill in the form, and then click OK. When prompted to set up the employees payroll information, click Leave As Is. To set up an employees payroll information: Click the Employee Center icon at the top of the QuickBooks window. Click the Employees tab and then double-click the employees name. From the Change tabs drop-down list, click Payroll and Compensation Info. Fill in the Payroll Info form. Click the Taxes button. Click the Federal tab and fill in the form, based on the employees W-4 information. Click the State tab and fill in the form. Click OK. Once youve set up your employees, refer to Paying Employees on page 91 to learn about paying them.
Did You Know?

Is the company owner an employee? Generally, people in business for themselves are not employees of the company. However, if your company is incorporated, working corporate officers are considered employees. Check with your accountant or payroll professional to determine if the owner should be considered an employee and then set up the owner accordingly in QuickBooks.
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Money In | Creating an Estimate

Create Estimates
Print and mail or e-mail estimates to your customer. When youre ready to bill the customer, click here to convert this estimate to an invoice. Choose items to add to the estimate or create new items.
5 6
Choose the Estimate template you want to use, or create your own.
4
Money In
Creating an Estimate
You can use the estimate form to prepare estimates, bids, quotes, or proposals for your customers. You can change the title Estimate to anything that suits your business. Filling in the estimate is similar to creating an invoice. And when its time to bill your customer, you can create the invoice directly from the estimate by clicking Create Invoice on the estimates toolbar. QuickBooks then creates the invoice, with all the information from the estimate filled in. Later, you can create reports that compare your estimated costs and revenue against your actual costs and revenue to see how accurate your estimates are. To create an estimate: If necessary, turn on Estimates (described below), if you didnt do this during the EasyStep Interview. Go to the Customers menu and click Create Estimates. Enter the name of the customer or job. Select an estimate template from the Template dropdown list. Fill in the estimate form. Click Print. Save the estimate. To turn on the estimates feature: Go to the Edit menu and click Preferences. Click Jobs & Estimates in the list on the left and then click the Company Preferences tab. Click Yes to the question, Do You Create Estimates? To have QuickBooks warn you when you try to record an estimate with the same number as the existing estimate, select the Warn about duplicate estimates numbers checkbox. If you do progress invoicing: Make sure Yes is selected in response to the question, Do You Do Progress Invoicing? Specify whether you want line items that have zero amounts to print on your progress invoice Click OK.
Key Term
Estimate An estimate is a form you use to itemize the work you propose to do or the products you intend to sell to a customer. Your company might use a different term, such as bid, grant, or proposal. Estimates are optional, not mandatory, for all businesses.
Did You Know?
Using sales orders In QuickBooks Premier and Enterprise Solutions editions, you can create sales orders to help you keep track of items that your customers have ordered but you have not yet delivered to them, for example because you do not have them in stock. Refer to the in-product Help for instructions and tips on how to use sales orders.
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Money In | Creating an Invoice

Create Invoices
Print and mail or e-mail invoices to your customer.
6
Choose items to add to the invoice or create new items.
Choose the Invoice template you want to use or create your own.
Create Custom Invoices
Print your company logo on your invoice.
Choose different fonts to use for different parts of the invoice. Control what type of information gets printed on your invoices.
Click here to access more advanced customization options.
6
Money In
Creating an Invoice
When your customers dont pay you in full at the time you provide your service or product, or when they pay in advance, you need to track how much they owe you. You can use an invoice to help you keep track of what your customers owe you (or your accounts receivable). Invoices list all the details about the sale, including the services youre providing or the products youre selling (your items). Invoices also show the quantity and price or rate of each item. If you need to make automatic adjustments to prices (for example, discounts or markups), invoices will work for you.
Note: If your customers pay in full at the time of purchase, do not create an invoice. Instead, create a sales receipt, described on page 79.
Key Term
Invoice An invoice is the form you use to charge customers for the products and services they purchase from you.
Did You Know?

You can create an invoice letter directly from the invoice form by clicking the Letters button on the Create Invoices toolbar. Refer to the in-product Help for more detailed information about this feature.
To create an invoice: Go to the Customers menu and click Create Invoices. In the Customer:Job drop-down list, enter a name or click the name of the customer or job. Click the Template drop-down arrow and then click the invoice template you want to use. Click the Terms drop-down arrow and then click the sales terms that apply to this customer. In the lower part of the form, enter each of the items (including the proper quantity) that the customer has purchased. Click Print on the toolbar to print the invoice now. Optionally, you can select the To be printed checkbox to print the form later or the To be e-mailed checkbox to e-mail the form later. Save the invoice. Tip: You can customize your invoices (or any other sales form) for your business. Click Customize to open the Basic Customization window, where you can add your company logo, change fonts and colors, and access more advanced options.

Money In | Entering Sales Receipts

Sales Reciept
Choose the Sales Receipts template you want to use or create your own.
Choose items to add to the Sales Receipt or create new items.
8
Money In
Entering Sales Receipts

When your customers pay in full at the time they receive your service or product, you dont need to track how much they owe you. However, you might want to record the sale, calculate its sales tax, or print a receipt for the sale. In these cases, you can create a sales receipt. Examples of businesses that commonly use sales receipts include beauty salons, pet groomers, dry cleaners, and restaurants.
Note: If you need to track how much a customer owes you or you do not receive full payment at the time of the transaction, do not use a sales receipt. Instead, create an invoice, described on page 77.
Key Term
Sales Receipt A sales receipt is the form you use when you make a sale for which you receive full payment at the time of the sale. Sales receipts can include payments by cash, check, or credit card.
To enter a sales receipt: Go to the Customers menu and click Enter Sales Receipts. Fill in the top part of the form, including the Customer:Job, Date, and Payment Method. Click the Template drop-down arrow and then click the sales receipt template you want to use. In the bottom part of the form, select or enter the items purchased. Save the transaction.
Did You Know?

You can also use a sales receipt to create a summary of sales income and sales tax owed. You can summarize daily or weekly sales on a sales receipt.
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Money In | Receiving a Payment

Receive Payments
Receive Payments
Previous Next History Journal Get Online Pmts
Choose a customer from the drop-down list.
Customer Payment
Received From Amount Pmt. Method Memo Check Baker, Chris 1,040.00 Customer Balance: Date Check #
1,040.00
07/14/2004 2112
Find a Customer/Invoice...
The checkmark next to the invoice tells QuickBooks to apply the payment to this invoice.
Date 12/15/2007 12/30/2007
Number 74 77
Orig. Amt. 1,040.00 2,000.00
Amt. Due 1,040.00 2,000.00
Payment 1,040.00
Totals
3,040.00
3,040.00
1,040.00
Amounts for Selected Invoices Un-Apply Payment Discount & Credits... Amount Due Applied Discount and Credits Applied
1,040.00 1,040.00 0.00
Save & Close
Save & New
Clear
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Money In
Receiving a Payment
When you receive money from a customer, you must receive the payment in QuickBooks so QuickBooks can record the transaction and mark the invoice as being paid. When you receive a payment, the accounts receivable records are updated, and the payment is ready to be deposited into an account. To receive a payment: Go to the Customers menu and click Receive Payments. Fill in the top portion of the form, including the customers name, the payment amount, payment method, and the date on which the payment was received. Check the column to the left of the invoice to which you want to apply the payment. You might be asked to decide how to apply the payment for one of the following scenarios: Overpayment can become a credit or refund Underpayment can be left as is or written off Customer has unused credit to be applied Customer has available discounts Choose the appropriate selection and you should see your choices reflected in total amounts for selected invoices. If the customer has a discount or available credits, you can choose how to apply them. Save the payment.
Did You Know?

You can set a preference so that payments received: Automatically go to the undeposited funds account Automatically get calculated and applied as you select invoices in the list Go to the Edit menu, click Preferences, and then click the Company Preferences tab in the Sales & Customers area to set this preference.
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Money In | Making a Deposit

Payments to Deposit
Payments to Deposit
x
All types What are payment method views?
Select View View payment method type Select Payments to Deposit
The checkmark indicates which payments to deposit.
Date 07/14/2004 04/11/2007 09/10/2007 09/23/2007 09/26/2007 10/30/2007 11/25/2007 12/14/2007 12/15/2007 12/15/2007
Time
Type PMT PMT PMT PMT PMT PMT PMT PMT LIAB ADJ PMT
No. 2112 3402 5668 2957 1556 41022 15785 986
Payment Method Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Check Cash
Name Baker, Chris Fisher, Jennifer Luke, Noelani:Kitchen Dunn, Eric C. W.:Utility... Johnson, Gordon:Utility... Memeo, Jeanette Pretell Real Estate:155... Jacobsen, Doug:Kitchen Great Statewide Bank Roche, Diarmuid:Garag...
Amount 1,040.00 5,164.00 2,481.80 2,400.00 2,400.00 16,537.54 5,435.00 2,000.00 124.00 440.00
QuickBooks sorts received payments by payment method type.
0 of 10 payments selected for deposit Select All Select None Get Funding Status
Payments Subtotal
0.00
OK
Cancel
Help
Make Deposits
Click Payments to see other payments you can deposit.
Make Deposits
Previous Deposit To Next Checking Print Payments Date 07/14/2004 Journal Memo Deposit
Click Payments to select customer payments that you have received. List any other amounts to deposit below.
Indicates the account to which you want to deposit the funds.
Received From Baker, Chris
From Account Undeposited Funds
Memo
Chk No. 2112
Pmt Meth. Check
Amount 1,040.00
Deposit Subtotal To get cash back from this deposit, enter the amount below. Indicate the account where you want this money to go, such as your Petty Cash account.
1,040.00
Record cash back from a deposit by specifying the account and amount here.
Cash back goes to
Cash back memo
Cash back amount
5
Deposit Total Save & Close Save & New 1,040.00 Clear
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Money In
Making a Deposit
When you receive a payment from a customer, you can either deposit the payment into a bank account immediately, or you can wait until a later time to make the deposit. To make a deposit: Go to the Banking menu and click Make Deposits. In the Payments to Deposit window, select the payments that you want to deposit and click OK. In the Make Deposits window, click the Deposit To drop-down arrow and then click the account to which you want to deposit the funds. Verify the date and the list of payments to deposit, making updates as necessary. If you want to receive cash back from this deposit, fill in the Cash Back fields at the bottom of the form. If you want to print a deposit slip or deposit summary, click Print. Save the deposit.
Note: Just because youve recorded the deposit in QuickBooks doesnt mean that youve actually made the deposit and that the money is available. You still need to physically deposit the money at the bank or send an online transfer.
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Money Out | Paying Bills

Enter Bills
Choose or enter the name of the vendor who sent you the bill. Enter the amount due here. Select the payment terms here and QuickBooks will auto ll the Bill Due date for you. Assign the bill to one or more expense accounts.
Pay Bills
Click here to display all unpaid bills or all bills that are due before a speci c date.
The checkmark indicates the bills youve chosen to pay.
Click Go to Bill to view the bill that corresponds to the selected bill.
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Money Out
Paying Bills
As you purchase equipment, supplies, products, or services to run your business, you will also receive bills that need to be paid. Entering these bills in QuickBooks enables you to not only track information about your purchases, but also to pay these bills. QuickBooks remembers all of your unpaid bills, enabling you to easily choose the bills you want to pay. QuickBooks then writes and saves the checks or credit card charges or sends the online banking payment instructions, depending on the payment method you choose.
Note: Before paying a bill, be sure you read the section Writing checks versus paying bills on page 41 to make sure you are using the correct payment method.
Did You Know?

Do not use the Write Checks window to write a paycheck, pay your payroll liabilities, pay sales tax, or pay bills youve already entered in the Enter Bills window. Refer to the in-product Help for more information on how to make these types of payments. Paying employees Refer to page 91 for instructions on paying employees. Paying bills You dont need to use the Pay Bills window to pay your bills. You can enter checks, credit card payments, and cash expenditures directly in the appropriate account register. However, if you enter bills using either the Enter Bills window or the Accounts Payable register, you must use the Pay Bills window for your bill payment. Do not use the Write Checks window to pay a bill that youve entered with either of these methods.
To enter a bill: Go to the Vendors menu and click Enter Bills. In the Vendor field, choose or enter a new vendor.
Note: If an open purchase order exists for this vendor, you are prompted to receive against it. Click Yes to receive against one or more purchase orders; then, in the Open Purchase Orders window, click each purchase order that contains items youve received and are being billed for.
Specify the Payment Method, Payment Account, and Payment Date. In the Amount Due field, enter the amount of the bill. Fill in the Date, Ref. No., Terms, and Memo fields as necessary. For expenses (money you spend to run your business, such as utilities), assign the bill to one or more expense accounts on the Expenses tab. For items (products or services your business buys), edit items that were entered from your purchase order or enter new items on the Items tab. Click Save & Close or Save & New to enter the transaction. To pay a bill: Go to the Vendors menu and click Pay Bills. All outstanding bills are displayed. To limit the number of bills displayed, click Due on or before and then click the due date for the bills you want to display. Click Pay Selected Bills to complete the transaction.
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Money Out | Writing Checks

Write Checks
Indicates the account from which the funds will be taken for this check.
Write Checks - Checking
Previous Next Checking Print Find Journal Ending Balance 7,178.06 No. 302 Date 07/14/2004 Pay to the Order of Gallion Masonry $ 1,550.00
Bank Account
Fill out the check just like you would a paper check.
One thousand five hundred fifty and 00/100* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dollars Gallion Masonry 189 Old Bayshore Rd Bayshore CA 94326
Address
Use the Expenses tab to itemize purchases you make to run your business, such as job materials or utility costs. Use the Items tab to itemize the products and services youve bought with or without a purchase order.
Memo
Expenses
$1,550.00
Items Amount
$0.00 1,550.00
Online Payment Memo
To be printed Customer:Job Baker, Chris
Clear Splits
Recalculate
Save & Close
Save & New
Clear
Select Checks to Print

Select Checks to Print
x
First Check Number 196
Make sure that the checks in your printer correspond to the check number entered here. Click here to choose the checks you want to print.
Bank Account
Checking
Select Checks to print, then click OK, There are 3 Checks to print for $8,251.67. Date 12/15/2007 12/15/2007 12/15/2007 Set to Payee Daigle Lighting Perry Windows & Doors Sergeant Insurance Amount 640.92 6,935.75 675.00 OK Cancel Help Select All Select None
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Money Out
Writing Checks
You can write a check for any kind of expense that you track with QuickBooks expense accounts and for noninventory part, service, and other charge items. If you are using inventory or purchase orders (Premier only), you can write checks for inventory part items too.
Note: Before writing a check, be sure you read the section Writing checks versus paying bills on page 41 to make sure you are using the correct payment method.
Did You Know?

You should not use the Write Checks window to write a paycheck, pay your payroll liabilities, pay sales tax, or pay bills youve already entered in the Enter Bills window. Paying employees Refer to page 91 for instructions on paying employees.
To write a check: Go to the Banking menu and click Write Checks. Click the Bank Account drop-down arrow and then click the account from which you want to write the check. Fill in the onscreen check as you would a paper check. Itemize your expenses (shipping charges, taxes, or other expenses not associated with any one item) on the Expenses tab. If you are purchasing items for your inventory, enter the items on the Items tab. Save the transaction. To find and print a single check: Load the blank check form into the printer. Go to the Banking menu and click Write Checks. Click the Find button and search for the check you want to print. Double-click to view the check you want to print. Click Print. In the Print Checks window, choose the options you want and click Print.
Note: To learn how to print multiple checks at the same time, refer to the in-product Help.
8
Money Out | Issuing Credits or Refunds

Credit Memo
Create Credit Memos/Refunds
x
S e i Hi s t o r our Use Credit To Tem e t Customi e
Select the template you want to use, or create your own.
Previous
Next o
Customer a er C ri s
Custom Credit Memo D T 12/15/2007 SHIP TO oo m 2 S L N O. 92
Credit Memo
SOLD TO er C ri s 15 . esert D s ore C
P.0 NO.
Enter the name of the returned item here. Describe the reason for the return. Select to print and/or e-mail a copy to the customer.
I T Labor
S I PT I ON 5
NT I T
T 70.00
O NT
T x
Job took 5 fewer hours than billed
350.00 Non
5
Customer The listed amount will be Messa e credited to your account To be rinte d To be e mai d e Customer Tax Cod e T x Pro ess redit Memo rd me t T x San Tomas 7.75 Tota 0.00 350.00 Remaining Credit e sv i a e e C e r 350.00
S ve C ose
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Money Out
Issuing Credits or Refunds

Use a credit memo to record a credit when a customer returns items and youve already recorded an invoice, customer payment, or sales receipt. You can also use a credit memo for an overpayment. To enter a credit memo or record a return: Go to the Customers menu and click Create Credit Memos/Refunds. In the Customer:Job field, click the customer and job for which you are creating the credit memo or refund check.
Note: If you have created more than one job for the customer, be sure to assign the credit memo to the correct job. You can apply the credit memo only to the same job for which it was created.
Key Term
Credit memo A document that notifies a customer that you have reduced the customers balance (for example, when a customer cancels a sale, returns something, or overpays).
Click the Template drop-down arrow and then click a template. Enter the items being returned in the line item area. Describe the reason for the credit and enter the quality and rate, if applicable. (Optional) Enter a memo for this transaction.
Note: The memo does not print on the credit memo, but it does appear in the Accounts Receivable register and in the customer register.
Indicate whether you want to print or e-mail the credit memo to the customer. (You can choose to do both.) Save the credit memo. In the Available Credit window, choose how to use the credit. You can: Retain as an available credit Give a refund Apply it to an invoice
Note: QuickBooks enters a negative amount in your Accounts Receivable register for the credit memo.
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Money Out | Paying Employees

Enter Hours and Select Employees to Pay
QuickBooks records the checks in this bank account. Specify a check, date, and pay period for the paychecks you create.
QuickBooks creates a paycheck for each employee marked with a checkmark. Review paychecks and enter hours worked, sick or vacation time, commissions, or other variations from pay period to pay period by clicking the employees name.
4 6
Review and Create Paychecks
If an employee is set up for direct deposit, select the Direct Dep. checkbox for that employee. Choose whether paychecks should be printed from QuickBooks or written later by hand. Review paychecks and enter hours worked, sick or vacation time, commissions, or other variations from pay period to pay period by clicking the employees name.
9 10
90
Money Out
Paying Employees
Paying employees is a big responsibility. You have to keep track of hours, salaries and wages, Social Security numbers and dependents, tax rates and forms, vacation and sick time, bonuses and advances, as well as company payments to government and private pension plans. QuickBooks provides several features and services to help you manage your own payroll quickly and easily.
Note: For information about your payroll options in QuickBooks, go to the Employees menu, click Payroll Service Options, and then click Learn About Payroll Options.
Did You Know

Intuit Payroll Services Intuit offers a variety of payroll services to meet your needs. QuickBooks Standard Payroll includes tools, tables, and Federal forms to help you run your payroll, quickly enter hours for a large number of employees, pay your payroll taxes, and prepare your federal tax forms. QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll adds state tax forms, tools for tracking workers compensation costs, and tools for easily calculating bonuses. Both Standard and Enhanced Payroll enable you to process payroll for up to three business entities (EINs). QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll for Accountants includes all of this, plus after-the-fact payroll, client-ready reports and the ability to process payroll for up to 50 specific businesses. With QuickBooks Assisted Payroll, Intuit handles your tax payment and filings for you. All QuickBooks payroll services offer direct deposit of employee paychecks for a small additional fee. For more information about payroll services, go to the Employees menu and click Add Payroll Service.
To print paychecks: Go to the Employees menu, click Pay Employees, and then specify if you want to pay employees using Unscheduled Payroll (generally used to pay bonuses and off-cycle checks) or set up Payroll Schedules. Update the Pay Period Ends date and the Check Date values, as needed. Click the Bank Account drop-down arrow to choose the account that QuickBooks uses to record this transaction. Select the employees you want to pay by clicking in the column to the left of the employees name. Review the paycheck information in the Enter Payroll information window. To preview or modify a paycheck, click the employees name to open the Preview Paycheck window. Make any necessary changes and click Done. Click Continue. Review and verify the paycheck information in the Review and Create Paychecks window. In the Paycheck Options section, click whether the paychecks should be printed or handwritten. Click Create Paychecks. In the Confirmation and Next Steps window that appears, click Print Paychecks. Click Send Payroll to Intuit if youre sending your payroll to Intuit for processing.
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Managing Your Business | Using Reports

Report Center
Report Center
x
Memorized Preferences Learning
Reports
Report choices displayed in the window are based on the category you choose.
Company & Financial
Customers & Receivables

Find out how much money your customers owe and when it is due.
A/R Aging (what my customers owe me and what is overdue)
Summary Detail
Customers & Receivables

Sales Jobs, Time & Mileage
How much does each customer owe? How much of each customers balance is overdue? More... Which invocies or statement charges are due and overdue? More...
Click the thumbnail report icon to view a sample of a report.
Vendors & Payables
Purchases Inventory Employees & Payroll Banking Accountant & Taxes Budgets & Forecasts List Contractor
and when are they due? More... 1 - 30 5.65 Invoice 1 Collections 1/01/2000 Pretell Estates Netcustomers are overdue, how much do they owe, Which 30 12/01/2000 Total 1 - 30 and what are their phone numbers? More... 5.65 > 30
Net 30 12/25/2000 488.30 Invoice 12/25/2000 Cook, Brian Open Invoices Which invoices or statement charges havent been paid Total Current 488.30
Accounts Receivable Graph For the total amount owed by my customers, what A/R Aging Detail proportion of that amount is overdue? (i.e., show me a Type Date Name Terms Due Date Balance graph of the information in the A/R aging summary Current report.) More...
Customer Balance
Summary TOTAL Detail
Invoice Total > 30
08/01/2000 Pretell Estates Net 30
SA
L MP
08/31/2000
990.00 990.00
How much does each customer owe? More... 1,483.95 What payments and invoices make up each customers current balance? More... What job-related expenses havent been charged to customers? More... What transactions has my company had with each c stomer? More
Click More for details about content, dates, and customization.
Mfg & Wholesale
Professional Services Retail
Unbilled Costs by Job Transaction List by Customer
View detailed Help topics to learn how to use and modify reports.
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Using Reports to see how your business is doing

One of QuickBooks most robust features is its ability to generate data-rich reports about your business. Everything you enter in QuickBooks can be found and generated into a report. QuickBooks comes with dozens of prepared reports that you can run. You can use the Report Center to learn about QuickBooks reports and locate the ones that contain the information you need. Once youve found a report, you can change its date range, customize the way it looks, print a copy of it, export it to Microsoft Excel, or display it on your screen. To find and display the right report: Click the Report Center icon at the top of the QuickBooks window. Click a report category from the list on the left. Reports for the selected category are displayed on the right. From the report list, you can view a thumbnail picture of the report by moving your mouse over the thumbnail icon . To learn more about a specific report, click the More... link to learn about the data and specific ways to customize the report. When you find the report you need, click its name to view the report. Tip In addition to the powerful reports available in the Report Center, you can also use the QuickBooks Centers to get a quick snapshot of how your business is doing and the status of your relationships with your customers, vendors, and employees. For example, from the Centers you can easily see all of your unpaid bills, all of the invoices that your customers havent paid, and the detailed history of each of your customers and vendors. For more information about the QuickBooks Centers, refer to QuickBooks Centers on page 29 or the in-product Help.
Did You Know
Customizing a report QuickBooks provides many preset reports that focus on all aspects of your business finances. However, you might want to change the way the data displayed, or filter the report for specific information. To get the most out or your QuickBooks reports, you can: Change the data range of a report Change the scope of a report Modify the appearance of a report (changing fonts or columns widths) To learn how to get the most out of your reports, go to the Report Center and then click the Learning link in the top-left corner of the window.
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How to Use Reports to Find the Information You Want

The QuickBooks Report Center describes all the available reports. Here are 10 common questions that people ask and the QuickBooks report you can use to find the answer.
To answer this question...

How much money did my company make or lose over a specific period of time? Which invoices or statement charges havent been paid and when are they due? How much does my company owe each vendor and are any payments overdue? What is the value of my company (its assets, liabilities, and equity), and where can I see the total balance for each type of account? What is the recent activity in all my companys accounts, with beginning and ending balances for each account? What are the total sales for each customer and job?
Use this report

Profit & Loss Standard (In Company & Financial) A/R Aging Detail (In Customers & Receivables) A/P Aging Detail (In Vendors & Payables) Balance Sheet Summary (In Company & Financial) General Ledger (In Accountant & Taxes) Sales by Customer Summary (In Sales) Sales by Item Summary (In Sales) Expenses by Vendor Summary (In Company & Financial) Income Tax Summary Income Tax Detail (In Accountant & Taxes) Sales Tax Liability (In Vendors & Payables)
Which items and/or services bring in the most/least income?
What are my companys total expenses for each vendor?
Where is the information I need for my federal income tax forms?
For my companys total sales, how much is taxable, at what rate, and how much sales tax is currently due to be paid?
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Memorizing a report for reuse

Whenever you change the settings for a report (modify it), you can memorize the report with the new settings and save it in the Memorized Report List. Then, when you want to create a similar report, you can click the Memorized Report List to find it.
Note: QuickBooks memorizes the report settings, not the data in the report. When you display a memorized report, it applies the settings you memorized, but displays the latest data. For example, if the report date is set for the period Last Month and you memorize the report in September but recall it in December, the recalled report will have data for November, not August.
To memorize a report: Click the Report Center icon at the top of the QuickBooks window. Open the report you want to modify and save. After you have customized a report, click Memorize at the top of the report. If you have changed an existing memorized report, indicate whether you want QuickBooks to replace the earlier report (under the same name) or create a new memorized report (under a new name). In the Memorize Report window, enter a title for the report. If you want to assign the report to a memorized report group, choose Save in Memorized Report Group and choose the group from the drop-down list. (You must already have the group set up on your Memorized Report List. You cannot create a new group here.) Click OK. Tip When you create a report, you can change the way it looks (reformat it). You can change the fonts, change the header and footer, and resize the columns. You can also move and sort the data that the report contains. For example, you can add or delete columns, sort by columns, move columns, change how numbers display, change how transactions sort, and change the subtotal groupings. For more information about how to modify the look and content for a report, refer to the in-product Help.
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Managing Your Business | Additional Services and Solutions Other QuickBooks Services to help you manage your business
QuickBooks Business Services enable you to streamline management of your business and automate essential business activities. QuickBooks Business Services offer easy-touse, tightly integrated solutions that will enable you to manage your business efficiently and with confidence. Intuit Business Services and software include: QuickBooks Online Banking QuickBooks Bill Pay Service QuickBooks Deluxe Online Billing Service QuickBooks Remote Access QuickBooks Online Backup Service QuickBooks Merchant Account Service QuickBooks Technical Support Plan QuickBooks Checks and Supplies QuickBooks Shipping Manager QuickBooks Employee Organizer QuickBooks Basic Payroll QuickBooks Standard Payroll QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll QuickBooks Assisted Payroll Service QuickBooks Point of Sale software or hardware QuickBooks Platinum Plus Business Mastercard QuickBooks Customer Manager software QuickBooks Client Manager software Enhanced Payroll for Accountants To learn more about these business solutions, go to the Help menu and click Add QuickBooks Services.
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QuickBooks Solutions Marketplace

QuickBooks Solutions Marketplace can help you run your business more efficiently by providing quick access to information about more than 400 industry-specific software solutions that work seamlessly with QuickBooks. Created by independent developers with first-hand knowledge of your industry, this software helps eliminate double data entry, streamlines business operations, increases productivity and helps save you time. Working more efficiently enables you to focus on more important issues, like running and growing your business. To learn more about QuickBooks Solutions Marketplace, go to www.marketplace.intuit.com.
A sampling of industry and task-based software solutions found within QuickBooks Solutions Marketplace include: Construction. Improve how you manage your contracting jobs and learn how you can earn more money from each job. Solutions are available to help solve your estimating, job tracking needs and more. Manufacturing and Wholesale. Need to improve your inventory tracking capability? Want better control over your shop floor? Find solutions that address key tasks, including planning and tracking, customer management, and EDI. Professional Services. Strengthen management of your firm, including better control over your client information and time tracking capability. Retail. Increase the efficiency of your retail business and spend more time with your customers through improved point of sale transactions, customer management, and e-commerce selling efforts. Wholesale and Distribution. Learn how you can better control your inventory tracking capability. Need to improve your order management process? Find software that meets your special needs including EDI, route delivery automation, and pricing.
9
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5 | ew Features N
Whats New in QuickBooks 2008

Intuit listens to thousands of customer suggestions to improve the quality and performance of our software. This chapter highlights some of the new features available in QuickBooks 2008. For more information about any of these features, refer to the in-product Help.
Note: If you would like to submit a product suggestion, go to the Help menu, click Send Feedback Online, and then click Product Suggestion.
QuickBooks Pro Edition

The 2008 release of QuickBooks Pro includes these new features and improvements. QuickBooks Coach The QuickBooks Coach helps you get up and running quickly and confidently. In addition to providing quick access to learning and productivity tools like the QuickBooks Learning Center, the QuickBooks Coach offers a new, interactive guidance mode so you can learn how to use QuickBooks to manage your business while your work. In guidance mode, you can explore the QuickBooks Home page and get helpful tips about when and why to do each task and learn how different tasks fit together to create workflows you use in your business.
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New Features Improved in-product Help and Search QuickBooks in-product assistance has been redesigned to provide you better point-of-need help in a way that doesnt get in your way. QuickBooks Help is now docked to the right of the QuickBooks window and no longer covers up the windows that you use to do your work. The new Help viewer includes new tools to help you be more productive and successful: Relevant Topics list: As you use QuickBooks, the Relevant Topics lists provides you with links to help topic that relate to the task or window you are currently using. Search: The in-product search engine has been rebuilt to provide faster and more accurate search results. Better integration with online assistance: Help content and search results include links (when appropriate) to online Help resources, like online support Knowledge Base articles and Community forums. If you cant find the answer you need in the in-product Help, these resources might have the Help you need. Improved online banking setup Signing up for online banking has never been easier. With the new online banking setup wizard, you get step-by-step guidance to set up online access for your QuickBooks accounts. In most cases, you can be set up in three steps. To learn more, search for online banking in the in-product Help. Enhanced customer credit card protection There are payment card industry standards for all merchants who store, process, or transmit customer credit card data. By maintaining these standards, you ensure that all credit card information is protected and secure. To learn more about Credit Card Protection, search for credit card protection in the inproduct Help. Enhanced e-mail Support QuickBooks now supports e-mail integration with Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail. If you use Outlook or Outlook Express as your primary e-mail client, now you can use it to e-mail invoices and statements to your customers directly from QuickBooks. Getting Excel data into QuickBooks If you have existing customer, vendor, or product data that you want to add to QuickBooks, you can use a new preformatted spreadsheet and then add the data from the spreadsheet into QuickBooks. For each entry in the spreadsheet, QuickBooks creates new records for your data so you can get started billing your customersno need to enter your records one at a time. To learn more, search for import spreadsheet in the in-product Help.
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QuickBooks Premier Edition

QuickBooks Premier helps you manage your finances most effectively, with comprehensive tools to help achieve better results and meet specialized or more complex needs. QuickBooks Premier includes all of the new features and improvements in QuickBooks Pro, plus these additional features. Invoicing for time and expenses Now you can invoice customers with unbilled time and expenses directly from a single list. Instead of creating an invoice from scratch, simply open the Time & Expenses list and select the customer. The outstanding billables are transferred directly to an invoice. Using the Time & Expenses list, you can quickly view subtotals of your unbilled time and expenses for each customer, filter the list by date, sort your results, and select which customers to bill. To learn more, search for invoice for time and expenses in the in-product Help.
Accountant Edition features

Several new features have been added to make it easier for accountants to work with their clients company files and decrease the amount of time needed to make changes. Accountants Copy The QuickBooks Accountants copy has been overhauled so accountants with lots more functionality that is vital for their end-of-the period work: Improvements include: Bank/Credit Card account reconciliation: reconcile bank or credit card accounts and send results back to your clients. Account Merge: merge accounts on the Chart of Accounts list to improve account organization. Account type change: fix account types that were incorrectly assigned by the client. Year-over-year support: open Accountants Copy from QuickBooks 2007 with QuickBooks Accountants Edition 2008 without upgrading. Changes made in QuickBooks Accountants Edition 2008 can be imported into the clients QuickBooks 2007 file. Tax-line mapping for accounts: track income tax related expenses more easily. 1099 account mapping: ensures that 1099-MISC forms issued at the end of the tax year contain correct information. Edit or void deposits: have more control to add missing transactions or void incorrectly entered ones. Edit items: reclassify transactions at the item level. Other productivity tools include: One-click file transfer from client to accountant. Enhanced data import and handling of merge conflicts. To learn more, search for Accountants Copy in the in-product Help.
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6 | requently Asked F Questions
Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register my copy of QuickBooks? You can register online or by phone. Go to the Help menu and click Register QuickBooks. How do I purchase additional user licenses so I can add users to my QuickBooks? You can add users to your QuickBooks in two ways: You can purchase additional copies of QuickBooks in a store or; You can buy additional user licenses by phone or web. To add a license to your existing QuickBooks license by phone or web, go to the Help menu, click Manage My License, and then click Buy additional user license. Follow the onscreen instructions. For other QuickBooks purchasing questions, call 1-888-26-888. How do I download and install an update or patch? Periodically, Intuit provides updates to QuickBooks that you can download from the Internet. These updates can include a maintenance release (also known as a patch), a new feature, a new service, or timely information that could be relevant to your business. To download an update, go to the Help menu and click Update QuickBooks. Follow the onscreen instructions.
Note: If you store your company file on a file server and also installed QuickBooks on that computer (as described on page 5), you also need to apply patches and updates to the server.
How do I move my QuickBooks file from one computer to another? To move QuickBooks company files from one computer to another, we recommend that you use a portable company file. The portable company file does not simply copy the data for your QuickBooks company; it compresses the data into a smaller file. To move your company file: Create a portable company file on the source computer: a. Go to the File menu and click Save Copy or Backup. b. Select Portable Company File and then click Next. c. Choose the drive (hard drive, CD, or Zip disk) where you want to save the portable company file. You can use the same file name or enter a new name. d. Click Save. Take the media containing your portable company file to the computer to which you want to move your company file. Open the portable company file on the destination computer: a. Go to the File menu and click Open or Restore Company. b. Select Restore a portable file and then click Next. c. Browse to select the portable company file you want to restore, click Open, and then click Next.
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FAQ d. Browse to select and change the location and file name of the company file that will be created and opened from the portable company file. If you select an existing company file, it will be overwritten with the data from the portable company file. e. Click Save. How do I remove older or unneeded transactions from my data file? You can use the Clean Up Company Data utility to remove transactions that you no longer need to keep detailed records of. You can choose to remove transactions as of a specific date (for example, all transactions dated on or before 12/31/04). Optionally, you can choose to remove unused list items, such as obsolete customers and items. Before removing the transactions, QuickBooks creates an archive copy of your company file and enters general journal transactions that summarize the transactions being removed.
Note: Cleaning up the data in the company file does not reduce the physical size of the company file.
How often should I back up or restore my company file? You should back up your QuickBooks company files daily. Backup copies are important insuranceif you should lose data for any reason, you can restore data from your backup copy. QuickBooks enables you to back up and restore your data in a number of ways. To view detailed information about each backup and restore option, refer to the in-product Help. To back up a company file: Go to the File menu and click Save Copy or Backup. Choose the backup option you want, click Next, and follow the onscreen instructions. To restore a company file: Go to the File menu and click Open or Restore Company. Choose the restore option you want, click Next, and follow the onscreen instructions. What should I do if I forget my password? QuickBooks 2004 and later releases support case-sensitive passwords. If you believe you are entering the correct password, but are still getting the message The password you typed is incorrect, your password might include mixed-cased characters. Try the following: Attempt to log in by entering the login name of Admin and then click OK without typing a password. Enter your password with Caps Lock or Num Lock turned on or off. Enter password variations, using mixed upper- and lower-case characters. Enter the password with a space before or after the actual password. Type the password in a text editor to confirm that your keyboard is functioning properly.
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Restore a pre-update backup of your file that does not have the case-sensitive password. When you restore this file, you can set your new administrator password at the end of the update process. If you are still unable to access your file, refer to the Password Recovery Web site: www.quickbooks.com/removepassword (additional fees might apply). How do I update my payroll to use the latest tax tables? If you are a QuickBooks Payroll subscriber, you have two options for updating your tax tables. You can: Go to the Employees menu, click Get Updates, and then click Get Payroll Updates. Click Update. Turn on the Auto-update preference. When a new tax table is available, it will be downloaded automatically and you will be prompted to install. Payroll updates, which might include compliance enhancements and updated payroll tax forms as well as new tax tables, become available throughout the year. We recommend that you connect to the payroll service at least every 45 days to make sure you have the most current tax table available. Make sure that you download and install the latest payroll update before you pay employees for the first time. How do I add another companys EIN (Employee Identification Number) to an existing QuickBooks Payroll subscription? To add an EIN for another company: Go to the File menu, click Open or Restore Company, and then choose the company file you want to add. Go to the Employees menu, click Payroll Service Activities, and then click Use my existing Payroll service subscription. When asked if you want help setting up payroll in QuickBooks, click Yes. When asked to identify your subscription, follow the onscreen instructions. Click Add To Subscription and then click Next. Enter and confirm the new EIN to be associated with your existing subscription. Click Done. When you finish the onscreen instructions, QuickBooks will update your subscription in the new company file. You can run payroll immediately.
Note: QuickBooks Standard and Enhanced payroll subscriptions can process payroll for up to three businesses (EINs) on the same payroll subscription. QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll for Accountants can process payroll for up to 50 EINs on the same payroll subscription.
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FAQ
| ndex I
Index
Numerics
3-User Value Pack, installing 6
A
Accountant Edition, new features 102 Accountants (see Professional Advisors) 37 Accounts adding 48-49 balance sheet 50 deciding which type to use 50 defined 49 income and expense 50 undeposited funds 50 Adding accounts 48-49 customers 52-53 employees 72-73 items 56-57 jobs 53 vendors 54-55 Administrator password 14 Antivirus software compatibility 6 Assets defined 21 Assisted support getting 37 working with a Professional Advisor 37
B
Backing up company files 107 previous accounting system 9 Balance sheet accounts, described 50 Bank accounts, setting up 23 Bills, entering and paying 85
C
Callback support 37 Centers, described 29 Chart of accounts defined 49 reviewing 22 Checks printing 87 writing 87 Client Manager, compatibility with QuickBooks 5 Common tasks adding accounts 48-49 adding customers 52-53 adding employees 72-73
adding items 56-57 adding vendors 54-55 creating estimates 74-75 creating invoices 76-77 creating sales receipts 78-79 entering and paying bills 85 issuing refunds or credits 89 making a deposit 83 overview 44 receiving a payment 81 setting up QuickBooks preferences 47 setting up sales tax 60, 63, 65, 67 using reports 93 writing checks 87 Company preferences, defined 47 Company file backing up 25, 107 creating 21 defined 19 e-mailing 19 moving to another computer 106 restoring 107 setting up 19 sharing 6 updating 11 Converting data from other applications 16 from Excel 16 from Peachtree 17 from QuickBooks Online Edition 18 Pro for Macintosh 17 from Quicken 16 from QuickPayroll 16 Create customer list 22 items list 22 vendor list 22 Creating estimates 74-75 invoices 76-77 sales receipts 78-79 Credit memo, defined 89 Credits, issuing 89 Customer Center 29 Customer Manager, compatibility with QuickBooks 5 Customers adding 52-53 defined 53 importing from other applications 24
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Index
Customizing QuickBooks 47
H
Help resources in-product Help 33 Learning Center 36 Help system described 33 finding help for common tasks 34 getting step-by-step instructions 33 using Search 34 viewing for a window 34 Historical transactions, defined 19 entering 23 Home page 28
D
Dedicated server requirements 7 setup 7 Deposits, making 83
E
EasyStep Interview using 19 EIN (Employee Identification Number) adding to an existing subscription 108 Employee Center, described 30 Employees adding 72-73 defined 73 paying 90 setting up payroll information 73 Entering a bill 85 Estimates creating 74-75 defined 75 turning on and off 75 Expense accounts described 50 displaying balances for 50
I
Icon bar adding icons 31 modifying 29 Income accounts described 50 displaying balances for 50 Index, using in Help 34 Installation Multi-user Host 8 Server 8 Standard 8 Installing 3-User Value Pack 6 QuickBooks 8-9, 106 reinstall pack 9 troubleshooting 13 Internet Explorer not installed on computer 15 Intuit Payroll Services 69 Invoices creating 76-77 defined 77 Issuing credits and refunds, how to 89 Item types 59 Items adding 56-57 choosing the type to use 58 defined 57 importing from other applications 24
F
FAQs (See Frequently Asked Questions) 106 Firewall software compatibility 6 software using on a network 6 Frequently Asked Questions how do I add another EIN to my subscription? 108 how do I backup my company file? 107 how do I download and install a patch? 106 how do I move my QuickBooks file? 106 how do I purchase additional copies of QuickBooks? 106 how do I register QuickBooks? 106 how do I remove older or unneeded transactions from my data file? 107 how do I update my payroll tax tables? 108 what should I do if I forget my password? 107
J
Jobs, adding 53
G
Getting Started Checklist 19-20 Getting around QuickBooks 28
K
Keyboard shortcuts 115-116
109
L
Learning Center, described 36 License Number, locating 13 Lists entering information as you work 40 how they work in QuickBooks 38
M
Macintosh, converting QuickBooks Pro for Macintosh data 17 Making a deposit 83 Memorizing reports 95 Microsoft Excel, integrating with QuickBooks 5 Microsoft Outlook integrating with QuickBooks 5 synchronizing with 24 Microsoft Word, integrating with QuickBooks 5 Multi-user Host installation, described 8 installation requirements 6 Multiple windows displaying 31 viewing 29
Paying bills how to 85 versus writing checks 41 what happens behind the scenes 41 Paying employees 90 Payments, receiving 81 Payroll adding an EIN number 108 Center, described 31 choosing a payroll service 69 setting up for an employee 73 setup checklist 71 updating tax tables 108 Peachtree, converting data from 17 Phone support 32 Preferences, setting up 47 Premier Edition, new features 102 Printing checks 87 Pro Edition, new features 100 Product Information window 14 Product Number, locating 13 Professional Advisors, getting help from 37
N
Network hosting requirements 7 setup 7 New features Accountants Copy 102 Accountant Edition 102 Enhanced credit card protection 101 Enhanced e-mail support 101 Improved help and search 101 Improved online banking setup 101 Industry-specfic editions 102 Invoicing for time and expenses 102 Premier Edition 102 Pro Edition 100 Numbering accounts 22
Q
QuickAdd described 40 using for customers 53 vendors 55 QuickBooks additional services 96 Assisted Support 37 Coach 37, 100 common tasks 44 customizing 47 different versions 14 getting around 28 getting started checklist 19 how lists work 38 installation 8 installing 9 Learning Center 36 patches 106 Payroll requirements 5 preferences 47 Pro for Macintosh, converting data from 17 purchasing additional copies 106 registering 15, 106 reinstalling 9 reverting to earlier versions 14
O
Online Edition, converting data from 18 Opening balance, confirming 21
P
Passwords importance of 13 troubleshooting 14 using 13 Patches, downloading and installing 106
110
Index
Services, described 96 setting up your company 19 technical support 32 updating existing company file 11 updating from previous versions 16 user interface 28 workflow overview 44 Quicken, converting data from 16 entering historical transactions 23 fine-tuning accounts 21 Shortcuts, keyboard 115 Software patches and updates, downloading 16 Standard installation described 8 existing users 9 new users 9 Start date choosing 21 defined 20 Support 32, 37
R
Receiving a payment 81 Refunds, issuing 89 Registering QuickBooks 15, 106 Registration Number, locating 13 Removing unneeded transactions 107 Report Center, described 93 Reports memorizing 95 modifying 95 using to answer common questions 94 Requirements integration 5 multi-user mode 6 Restoring, company files 107
T
Tax tables, updating 107 Technical support contacting 32 Troubleshooting installation 13, 15 Internet Explorer 15 password not working 14 Undeposited funds account, defined 50 Update problems, troubleshooting 12
U
Updating existing company file 11 QuickBooks 16 User rights, Microsoft Windows 7 User interface customizing the Icon bar 29 described 28 viewing multiple windows 29
S
Sales receipts creating 78-79 defined 79 Sales tax agencies 65 codes 63 collecting for multiple agencies 63 described 60 liability account 67 setting up 60, 63, 65, 67 Search, to find answers to your questions quickly: 34 using in- product Help 34 Security, using passwords 13 Server installation, described 8 Setting up QuickBooks, getting started checklist 19 sales tax 60, 63, 65, 67 your Payroll 69 Setting up company files bank account information 23 completing list information 23 completing setup 21 described 19
V
Vendor Center, described 30 Vendors adding 54-55 defined 55 importing from other applications 24
W
Writing checks how to 87 versus paying bills 41
111
112
Keyboard Shortcuts
General
To start QuickBooks without a company file To suppress the desktop windows (at Open Company window) Display product information about your QuickBooks version Close active window Record (when black border is around OK, Save and Close, Save and New, or Record) Record (always) Ctrl +
Key
Ctrl (while opening) Alt (while opening) F2 Esc or Ctrl+F4
Editing
Edit transaction selected in register or lift Delete character to right of insertion point Delete character to left of insertion point Delete line from detail area Insert line in detail area Cut selected characters Copy selected characters Paste cut or copied characters
Key
Ctrl + E Del Backspace Ctrl + Del Ctrl + Ins Ctrl + X Ctrl + C Ctrl + V
Dates
Next day Previous day Today First day of the Week Last day of the weeK First day of the montH Last day of the Month First day of the Year Last day of the yeaR Date calendar
Key
+ (plus key) - (minus key) T W K M H Y R Alt + (down arrow)
Increase check or other form + (plus key) number by one Decrease check or other form number by Undo changes made in field - (minus key) Ctrl + Z
Help Window
Display Help in context Go to next Help topic Go to previous Help topic Display selected topic
Key
F1 Tab Shift + Tab
113
Activity
Copy check transaction in register Create invoice Delete check, invoice, transaction, or item from list Find transaction Go to register of transfer account History of A/R or A/P transaction Memorize transaction or report New invoice, bill, check or list item in context Open account list Open Customer Center (Customers & Job list) Open Help for active window Open list (for current dropdown menu)
Key
Ctrl + O Ctrl + I Ctrl + D Ctrl + F Ctrl + G Ctrl + H Ctrl + M Ctrl + N Ctrl + A Ctrl + J F1 Ctrl + L
Moving around a window

Next field Previous field Beginning of current field End of current field Line below in detail area or on report
Key
Tab Shift + Tab Home End Down arrow ( )
Line above in detail area Up arrow ( ) or on report Down one screen Up one screen Next word in field Previous word in field First item on list or previous month in register Last item on list or next month in register Close active window Page Down Page Up Ctrl + Ctrl + Ctrl + Page Up Ctrl + Page Down Esc or Ctrl + F4
Open memorized transaction Ctrl + T list Open split transaction window in register Open transaction journal Paste copied transaction in register Print QuickReport on transaction or list item QuickZoom on report Show list Use list item Write new check Ctrl + S Ctrl + U Ctrl + W Ctrl + R Ctrl + Y Ctrl + V Ctrl + P Ctrl + Q
114
115
116

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QuickBooks | Startup and Quick Reference Guide

Installation Setup Key Concepts Essential Tasks New Features

Trademarks and Patents

My QuickBooks License Number: _______________________________________________ My QuickBooks Product Number: _______________________________________________

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How to Use This Guide

Page Page Page Page Page

2 | nstalling and I Setting Up QuickBooks

Installing and Setting Up QuickBooks

Whats in this chapter

Hardware and software requirements

New user installation and setup

Existing user (upgrader) installation and setup

Page Page Page Page

Hardware and software requirements

Processor, memory, and disk space for QuickBooks on Windows Vista

Additional hardware and software

Firewall and antivirus software compatibility

Multi-user installation requirements

More than one user

Full QuickBooks with Database

Database server only

Allow access to other users

Do not allow access to other users

New user installation

Did You Know?

Existing user (upgrader) installation

Did You Know?

Troubleshooting installation problems

Getting the latest updates to QuickBooks

Converting data from other applications

QuickPayroll to QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Pro for Macintosh

QuickBooks Online Edition

Microsoft Office Accounting

Setting Up Your Company in QuickBooks

Did You Know?

Create your company file

Getting Started Checklist

Federal Tax ID Number

Sales tax information

Bank statements, credit card accounts, and outstanding checks

Optional information Payroll

Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the interview.

Completing your company setup

Did You Know?

Getting Around QuickBooks

Figure 2. The QuickBooks work area

Using the Home page to move around in QuickBooks

Finding your data in the QuickBooks Centers

Run quick reports that pertain to this customer.

Displaying multiple windows or one window

Adding icons to the icon bar

Note: Some QuickBooks windows cannot be added to the icon bar.

Getting Answers to Your Questions

Free help and support

Using in-product Help

Check out the QuickBooks Learning Center

Using the QuickBooks Coach

Working with a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor

How to work with QuickBooks lists

Opening Balance Address Info

Rock Castle Invoice DATE 07/14/2004 INVOICE# 92

My QuickBooks License Number: _ My QuickBooks Product Number: _