Using the Same Name in QuickBooks
March 22, 2009
Did you know it is possible to have a vendor and a customer with the same name in QuickBooks? OK, well not quite the same name, but a wise bookkeeper colleague of mine explained how this can be done. Say for example, XYZ Company provides computer services so you setup them up as a vendor named XYZ Company. Now they also pay you rent to share your space, so they are also a customer and here is how to name them: XYZ Company {Customer}. The key is using the brackets. This naming method can also be used for corporate owner distributions who also receive employee paychecks. QuickBooks essentially sees the bracketed text as invisible and the bonus is that the text does not print out on your paychecks or forms. Try it out and be sure to stop back to let us know how it worked for you!
[tags]quickbooks, resources, bookkeeping, kellywilliamsva, kelly williams, virtual assistant, training[/tags]
Mozilla Firefox MeasureIt & LinkChecker Plugins
March 10, 2009
I found some wonderful tools recently to help me with my new WordPress site design. I exclusively use Mozilla Firefox for internet browsing, and I bumped into these 2 great plugins, both written by Keith Freitas.
MeasureIt – Draws out a ruler to get the pixel width and height of any elements on a webpage. This is extremely helpful, if for example, you are customizing your Twitter background or your site’s shopping cart.
LinkChecker – Checks the validity of links on any webpage. This runs through all the outgoing links on your webpages.
Now it’s your turn! I’d love to hear about some of your favorite browser plugins.
My LLC is Formed!
December 29, 2008
It is with great excitement that I announce I have taken my bookkeeping service to the next level and have formed an LLC. Woo Hoo! This is part of my many plans brewing for 2009 as I welcome 2 more new clients in to the new year. We are poised and ready for what this year may bring. Oh, and not to mention my husband is relieved to have that personal asset protection of the LLC.
The coolest news of all is that I was able to process my LLC at MyCorporation by Intuit. Of course as a bookkeeper, I am a huge QuickBooks fan, so I was thrilled to hear that their maker, Intuit, is currently offering Incorporation and LLC processing free of their $149 fee. I feel relieved to have some help preparing and processing those required documents; and free makes me want to share their promotion with everyone. What plans do YOU have for the new year? If your changing your business structure, checkout MyCorporation before their F*R*E*E promotion ends on December 31!
QuickBooks Like A Garage?
December 20, 2008
I just got such a kick out of reading a post by Kelly Totten of Cracker Jack Coaching entitled “5 Ways QuickBooks Is Like A Garage.” Here’s what she says (and I so agree):
- There are some great tools in there … if you can find them.
- Having the tools in there doesn’t mean you know how to use them.
- Every once in a while, you have to clean it up.
- You don’t want to be embarrassed when someone looks inside.
- Some people shouldn’t be allowed in there.
Seriously, if you feel this relates to you and bookkeeping is a painful albeit necessary evil, you may just need a little help from someone who actually enjoys it!
QuickBooks 2009 Online Banking Update
December 13, 2008
Here is a nice short video of the four features affected by the QuickBooks 2009 update to Online Banking. While I didn’t see much difference in using the 2008 version over 2007, I do plan to upgrade to 2009 with their many useful improvements.
[Video removed]
The New QuickBooks 2009
December 5, 2008
As I’m wrapping up my client books for the year, I am gearing up for my upgrade to the new QuickBooks 2009 Premier version. A colleague and I were recently chatting about the cool improvements to the Bank Reconciliation process and the new data sorting capabilities. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to unmark everything and searching for an odd dollar amount I missed. Who knows what I’m talking about here? Well now with the click of a button, we’ll be able to sort by dollar amount and other column headings . That is worth it’s weight in gold right there! I’ll save myself some frustration not to mention a chunk of my client’s time. Here’s a quick video of some of the improvements Intuit has made.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RRy5npbv3I]
What IS this Twitter buzz?
November 11, 2008
A few months ago, a colleague of mine asked if I was on Twitter. Dumbfounded, I went searching to find out what the buzz was all about. At first, I didn’t quite get the point of micro-blogging in 160 characters or less — what could be the value in that? Well, now I’m hooked and think it’s a cool concept. I will say Twitter can definitely suck up huge chunks of your time. As with any social media network, it takes time to build a following and find other interesting people you’d like to follow. Ultimately, that’s what makes it so much fun! Reading all the tweets as I work from home is like having an office full of chatter. I get hot tips for my business, links to awesome blogs, websites and contests, keep up with the news, as well as having daily laughs and inspirational quotes. The more Twitter peeps you follow, the more enjoyable it is (peeps is slang for people).
Here are some great resources to get started on Twitter:
- Twitter Revolution
by @WarrenWhitlock and @CoachDeb.
- Mashable posts on How To and How NOT To Build Your Twitter Community by @PRSarahEvans.
- Visit the TwiTip blog by @problogger and learn how to use Twitter more effectively.
- Know your Twitter Lingo as noted by @MariSmith. A must have to fit your tweets in 160 characters.
- Check out TweetBeep and setup keyword alerts by @mdjensen. They’re like Google Alerts for Twitter.
And the best news yet for this Twitter addiction? I recently found a fabulous new client for my project management and bookkeeping services. Twitter rocks! Come follow me at @KellyWilliamsVA.
Help Eliminate Poverty with World Vision
October 15, 2008
Today is Blog Action Day and thousands of bloggers are uniting to discuss the issue of poverty. We are so blessed in this country and there is definitely something we can do to help fight poverty in our world. An organization that has been making such an important difference since 1950, is World Vision. I encourage you to visit their site and look at the Gift Catalog Giving items. You will certainly be amazed. In our society of excess, we wouldn’t dream of giving these kinds of gifts that are available for donation: a goat, chickens, share of a deep well to ensure safe drinking water, seeds, food, blankets, and the list goes on. It is even possible to help the millions of American children experiencing poverty today.
Who They Are: World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
Let’s be part of the solution. Won’t you help break the cycle of poverty for those in need in our world?
Dual Monitors, Oh Yea!
October 14, 2008
Recently there were discussions on several VA forums about using dual monitors. What a concept! I had never seriously considered this until my fellow VAs were raving about this setup. At one point, someone mentioned to try it “if you happen to have an extra monitor around”. I chuckled and thought, sure, who has a monitor just sitting around and then I saw it! I had an unused monitor at my archaic desktop machine in the playroom corner. I was thrilled, to say the least, and set about hooking it up.
Now as a bookkeeper, having multiple windows open at all times is an absolute must. There are statement pdf files, emails of transactions and instructions, online project collaboration notes, my time keeper, not to mention the QuickBooks software program. Even though I love my widescreen HP laptop, there just isn’t enough screen real estate to work with everything I need. I have spent a lot of effort zooming in and out, going back and forth between the windows. With my fabulous new setup, I am now able to drag the windows back and forth between monitors, keeping things in 100% view. What a boost to my productivity! I challenge you to dust off those ole’ monitors and try it out, then let me know what YOU think.
Will Big Banks Remember Small Business?
October 5, 2008
I bank at Washington Mutual and several weeks ago I joined in the panic, and transferred the majority of my business checking funds for “safe keeping” until the dust settled. As I kept tabs on the WaMu website, I was initially encouraged to discover JP Morgan had acquired the bank. I felt a little more secure reading the Chase Welcome page about how I was to continue banking as usual.
Then I began to seriously think about how the takeover will affect my banking long-term. I searched hard to find a small business-friendly bank willing to give me free checking, free online bill pay, no monthly service charge and no minimum balance requirement. I was very happy to recommend Washington Mutual as my preferred banking choice. After starting out at Wells Fargo where we hold our personal accounts, it was quickly apparent that spending $12-15 per month for basically nothing was a bad business decision. That money is better spent each month on a combination of web hosting, fax service, or online data backup.
As a national leader in business banking services and the nation’s #1 SBA lender, I really hope Chase does remember the small business community and will market to that segment, as Washington Mutual has done so well. If you feel passionate about your preferred business banking provider, please let us know.
