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Guide to Finding Help with QuickBooks

Get quick answers to your questions on setup, operation, and troubleshooting

By Chuck Vigeant


QuickBooks is by far the most popular accounting software ever written. It is easy to use, affordably priced and adaptable for use by most any small business. However, at one time or another, you may need help with either a basic area of QuickBooks or a more advanced question involving:
  1. Installation for desktop or networks
  2. Setup and chart of accounts
  3. Entering checks, bills, invoices
  4. Tax advice
  5. Troubleshooting

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Start with the source

QuickBooks has a wealth of information on its Web site, for installation, setup, troubleshooting, and further links.
I recommend: Go to QuickBooks support for information on both free and paid support options. If you want self-help support, you can go directly from this page to Intuit's knowledge base.

Hire a set-up pro

One of the most important decisions immediately following the installation of QuickBooks, is to ensure proper setup, including the chart of accounts.
I recommend: QuickBooks is always better with a QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor who can guide you one-on-one on the correct setup for your business. Fees can range anywhere from $35 per hour for those with bookkeeping skills to several hundred dollars or more for those who are high level CPAs.

Train yourself

There are four primary resources for QuickBooks training, ranging from self-help tutorials to paid instruction.
I recommend: The QuickBooks learning center is built into QuickBooks itself. Intuit CD Interactive Training and Instructor-led seminars offer authoritative help and third party trainers such as RealWorld Training offer a full suite of QuickBooks seminars and CD-ROM training products. Also, organizations such as The Sleeter Group will come to your business and train you.

Find tax and bookkeeping advice

The ultimate goal of keeping your books is to track information to help you better run your business and to provide an organized data structure to do your taxes efficiently each year.
I recommend: If you do not have a local CPA or tax practitioner available, Intuit has a network of 20,000 pro advisors that comprises bookkeepers, CPA's, IRS Enrolled Agents and Tax Practitioners.

Troubleshoot with an expert

The help within Quickbooks can be sufficient for everyday operations, but there are communities of experts who provide their expertise on a variety of subjects for free.
I recommend: Intuit provides an online community where users and pro advisors exchange ideas. Yahoo also has a list of long-running online communities that are moderated by experienced QuickBooks users.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Help Materials: Intuit has the best collection of help materials both in the product and on its Web site.
  • Expert Advice: It is advisable to contact a QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor before you setup your QuickBooks. It will save you time and money in the long run.
  • Training: Your learning method will totally be determined by your personal preference; there is no one right way to learn.

The official source of Finding Help with QuickBooks is
the QuickBooks Software page at Business.com

Free Intuit QuickBooks Simple Start 2009
QuickBooks Simple Start Free Edition is a Free and fully featured bookkeeping software solution.
ibx.intel.com
QuickBooks Inventory Software
Advanced inventory control software that fully integrates with Quickbooks. Everything from parts tracking to POS. Free 14-day trial offer.
www.fishbowlinventory.com
QuickBooks Checks
Offers personal, business, and voucher-style checks compatible with Quicken and QuickBooks. Packages include checks, envelopes, and deposit slips.
Pricing | Order Checks | Envelopes | Invoices
www.compuchecks.com
Money Managment Made Easy - View Expert Product Reviews Now
Accounting Is One Of The Most Important and Often Most Complicated Parts of Running a Business. See Our Free Expert Reviews and Buy The Best Software.
www.TopTenREVIEWS.com

Recommended Solution Providers

Intuit: QuickBooks ProAdvisor Search
A site maintained by the parent corporation of QuickBooks that allows a user to search for an expert by city or zip code.

Video Professor: QuickBooks
A famous training site for computer software that has a comprehensive QuickBooks product.

e-Controller: QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor Center
This company consults in QuickBooks-related services such as training & expert online support.

Custom Guide: Intuit QuickBooks Training
A corporation that has many training products available for QuickBooks.

Bookkeeping Help.com: Directory of QuickBooks Advisors, Accountants & Bookkeepers
A site that gives professionals by state, that can assist customers with their QuickBooks questions.

TeachUComp: QuickBooks Tutorial
A comprehensive software tutorial for QuickBooks is sold by this vendor.

QuickBooks Compatible Software Solutions
A site that has industry-specific financial software that will integrate with QuickBooks for a complete accounting solution.

Qbalance: QuickBooks Help
This vendor offers free help on the site, but mostly it is a portal to obtain their QuickBooks helpdesk service for a price.

Best Sites to Learn More

QuickBooks Frequently Asked Questions
This site has QuickBook's official FAQ, and a knowledge database for users to find the help they need.

Learnthat.com: Free QuickBooks 2004/2005 Training
A free lengthy online tutorial complete with illustrations for QuickBooks.

Quicklabs.Com: Guide
This site has the contents of an entire book (with illustrations) on how to use QuickBooks with helpful hints and tips.

QuickBooks Financial Tutorial
This webpage shows a movie tutorial on financial accounting and QuickBooks.

Best Blogs and Forums

QuickBooks Forums
Official site to exchange ideas and questions about using the product.

QuickBooks Community: The Official QuickBooks Community of Users and Experts
A Canadian site for QuickBooks is a well organized topically broken down support site. It has many links including dozens of forums.

AllBusiness.com: The Unofficial Quickbooks Blog
A blog were an accountant discusses QuickBooks with particular attention to small business needs.



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