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QuickBooks Done Right

Column: From the Trenches

From the Jan./Mar. 2008 Issue

As we start off a new year, it is a great time to review the developments in
the small business accounting market with Intuit’s QuickBooks. I hope
you regularly read Doug Sleeter’s
QuickBooks column
since he always has useful ideas. I have grown to enjoy
speaking with Doug and helping him where I can, including in his annual Sleeter
conference. However, I thought it might be appropriate to discuss some of the
opportunities for your business with QuickBooks, and to understand the impact
of QuickBooks 2008 and beyond.

FOUR MAIN SETUP ISSUES
From field visits to tax and accounting firms as well as their clients, it is
still common to see errors in basic QuickBooks setups. There are several correct
ways to install QuickBooks, and dozens of incorrect ways. The main issues revolve
around the new database introduced in 2006, attempting to support old versions
of the product, speed and remote access. These four items frequently seem to
be issues with installations.

  • A SEPARATE SERVER
    Reasonably good results are occurring in firms that install QuickBooks on
    a separate physical server — a server only used for QuickBooks. This
    is particularly true for firms that have a large write-up practice using the
    product. A server-grade machine, often a 1U blade server, is added to the
    server farm with the sole purpose of supporting QuickBooks. By using a separate
    server, the database installation can install cleanly and without conflict
    from other applications. I have seen QuickBooks installed on both Windows
    Server and Windows XP using this approach. This separate server often helps
    with speed issues, as well.
  • A VIRTUAL MACHINE
    As an alternative to a separate server, I suggest that a virtual machine approach
    to support each version of QuickBooks would work well. This approach allows
    disk files to act like servers, and to share the application among multiple
    users. This approach also provides the most isolation and portability of the
    QuickBooks applications, regardless of version year. Installing QuickBooks
    on VMware seems to work the best.
  • A SEPARATE NAS UNIT
    Another common installation approach is using a separate NAS (Network Attached
    Storage) unit to store all versions of QuickBooks and QuickBooks files. The
    NAS approach could be used in conjunction with virtual machines to isolate
    different versions of the product.
  • REMOTE ACCESS
    The ease of supporting QuickBooks with remote access is improving with each
    version. If remote access is particularly important to you, having a separate
    server or virtual machine for QuickBooks can make the remote connections easier
    via Terminal Server or Citrix. Intuit is evaluating the possibility of offering
    hosting services, but at this time has no formal plans to offer hosting services.
    Additionally, the WebEx Remote Access in QuickBooks 2008 has a new pricing
    plan with improved
    performance.

QUICKBOOKS 2008
So what does QuickBooks 2008 bring to our clients and our practice? First, QuickBooks
2008 has made gathering client data from the front-end easier. Additional support
has been added for payroll and tax integration, with this version providing
a framework for full-service solutions from firms that want to provide a complete
client solution.

Ease of Use Improvements
QuickBooks 2008 was engineered to try to respond to the number one small business
request — ease of use. Big improvements in 2008 were made in the following
areas: ease of getting started, ease of getting paid and ease of getting data
to accountants. The last few years, Intuit really improved setup so customers
can get through the initial process fairly quickly. However, they found that
after setup, customers experience a “moment of truth” where often
they don’t know what to do next or where to start. This actually happens
quite often whenever people adopt a new software program or application.

QuickBooks Coach
Building on the recent setup improvements, new in QuickBooks 2008 is the QuickBooks
Coach. QuickBooks Coach provides quick and easy access to two ways to help
customers get started: by viewing tutorials to learn more about key features
in QuickBooks or by learning through doing with Coach Tips. This provides
new QuickBooks users the flexibility to get familiar with QuickBooks in the
way they learn best. Coach Tips is like taking a highlighter to mark the route
to your destination on a map. But it also allows the user to work in full-functioning
QuickBooks, with highlighted tips to guide users through the few most common
tasks such as creating an invoice or paying employees. Many accountants help
small business owners set up QuickBooks and then offer training. The QuickBooks
Coach feature provides those accountants with yet another tool to help clients
get trained quickly and easily.

Improved Accountant’s Copy
Also improved in QuickBooks 2008 are the following Accountant’s
Copy features:

  • Complete a range of adjustments to prior-period transactions such as
    AP, AR, banking and journal entries.
  • Modify chart of accounts.
  • File transfer. “Click, Encrypt and Send.” [new for QB2008]
  • Backwards-compatibility. The Accountant’s Copy in 2008 is now backward-compatible
    with QB 2007 (e.g., QuickBooks Accountant’s Edition 2008 can open
    Accountant’s Copies created with QuickBooks 2007 and send changes
    back to clients to be imported into QuickBooks 2007). [new for QB2008]
  • SmartMap Tax-line mapping. Streamlined and enhanced integration with
    Lacerte Tax.
  • Modify lists, including class, items, vendors. [new for QB2008]
  • Bank reconciliations. Accountants can do the bank reconciliation and
    push changes back to the client. [new for QB2008]
  • Account Merge. Accountants can make changes (including merge items) to
    list items and push back to the client. [new for QB2008]
  • Account type change. [new for QB2008]
  • 1099 account mapping. [new for QB2008]
  • “Shading” notation to denote transferable data. [new for QB2008]
  • Intuit-provided one-way portal for secure interchange of information
    from the client to the accountant. The Accountant’s Copy collection
    of features of the QuickBooks product continues to improve with Intuit addressing
    more and more issues in each version.

Additional New Features
Additional new features in QuickBooks 2008 include the following:

  • Re-Designed, Context-Sensitive Help.
  • QuickBooks Community Site.
  • Time Tracker for the Web.
  • Time Tracker for Outlook.
  • Invoicing for Time & Expenses.
  • Outlook E-mail Integration.
  • Google Maps & Directions.
  • Multi-Location Inventory (for QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions).
  • Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) (for QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions).
  • Business Intelligence (In beta for QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions).
  • Company Directory (In beta for QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions).
  • Remote Access.
  • Free version now includes two unattended connections to QB and one unattended
    access to accountant’s PC.
  • Additional unattended computers can be added for $3.95/month each, $29.95/month
    for 10.
  • Conversion Tool.

Other Changes by version include the following:

  • Simple Start
    • Simple Start Free Edition doesn’t have a limitation on the
      number of vendors and customers.
    • Payroll is now possible in Simple Start.
    • Data can be imported from Excel (lists).
  • Pro/Premier
    • Free six-month subscription to QB Remote Access.
    • Time Tracker for Outlook.
  • Enterprise Solutions
    • Support for Linux as the database server.
    • EDI setup fee waived for True Commerce Transaction Manager.
    • Add-on inventory for multi-location, serial/lot tracking, and bar
      coding (monthly fees apply).
  • Online Edition
    • Automated Online Banking handles transactions every night.
    • QuickBooks Online Payroll is integrated with QuickBooks Online Edition.

As you can see from these feature lists and notes, Intuit continues to be serious
about its small accounting business and the support that its product receives
from accountants. I’d suggest that you will likely see even more in future
QuickBooks products as we head into the sixteenth year for this product.