Bonnie Hellman on mon 7 jan 08
Hi Tom and others,
You've given good advice, Tom, except that I would have said that you can
use a version of QB for several years, until you'll want to buy an
upgrade/new version. I thought that QuickBooks 2007 made significant
improvements over previous years. I bought and have on my computer QB 2005,
2006, 2007 and 2008, but haven't done much exploring in 2008 yet. (I have
clients using all versions.)
If you are doing payroll, you'll be buying their real time payroll every
year, unless you really know what you are doing. However, I have one
client using QB 2005, who has many people on the payroll for her restaurant,
and she's been doing payroll since 2005 when she started to use QuickBooks.
I am involved with another company that keeps the books for 60 separate
companies, all using one QuickBooks program.
So I would buy QB 2007 on eBay if it were significantly cheaper, and a brand
new copy, which you can register and receive updates. If I were buying it
today in the store, I'd buy the one they're probably selling, QuickBooks
2008, one of the versions.
If you're the paper type, Lisa Skeen's mention of the Dome system will work,
but the paper system will give you an insufficient number of accounts in
your chart of accounts as a ceramic artist and you'll be doing LOTS of
calculator work to get totals. For approximately $60-$65 you get more
accounts than you're likely to use, and more bank accounts as well and you
can put your calculator away.
FYI you can also set up a Dome type set-up (also called a double entry set
of books) in a spreadsheet like Excel. It's called double entry because you
enter the total amount and then you allocate this amount (thus entering the
amount twice) into accounts or categories. You are NOT keeping 2 sets of
books.
My experience is that a computer generated set of books just LOOKS more
believable than a handwritten set of books, and certainly more believable
than an envelope of receipts and a calculator tape. Once you figure out what
you're doing, it's actually easier to keep records on the computer.
I also know that clayarters, even those who think they're barely computer
literate, can handle a QuickBooks type program. (One of the things I do is
instruct people in how to use QuickBooks, and I've taught new computer users
to experienced computer users, people who have taken accounting courses
(sometimes a long time ago), and people who haven't clue when to use a debit
and when to use a credit. Everyone can do it. One of the very nice things
about QuickBooks is the ability to change entries after you make them, if
you want to. One of the annoying things (to a CPA) about QuickBooks is the
client's ability to change entries in the previous year.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Bonnie
Bonnie D. Hellman, CPA in CO & PA
Ouray, Colorado 81427
As required by United States Treasury Regulations, you should be aware that
this communication is not intended or written by the sender to be used, and
it cannot be used, by any recipient for the purpose of avoiding penalties
that may be imposed on the recipient under United States federal tax laws.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom at Hutchtel.net"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 5:49 PM
Subject: Re: Quicken & Quickbooks
> We've used QuickBooks for 15 years to run, first the pottery retail, then
> doing wholesale, and web, and now have added the gallery and a community
> theater company that Betsy is part of. The pottery and gallery are
> separate
> parts of one company, and the theater co. is a separate company. It was
> easy and intuitive to start, and even as our uses became more complex, it
> grew with us...and obviously we don't come near its capabilities. One of
> the women at our accounts is a QB trained person and she constantly amazes
> us with finding easy ways to do stuff...like Bonnie says there's always a
> couple of ways to do things.
>
> One thing to be aware of, it's fairly pricey, and don't try to buy an
> older
> copy on EBay since every 3 years they essential force you to upgrade, plus
> your annual updates require an annual fee. If you use it for payroll, as
> we
> do, you also have to subscribe to payroll updates...$199/yr. But the
> program is more or less bullet proof from an accountant's view, which
> Quicken is not, and the IRS likes it should you ever have an audit...we've
> had 2. The last time I just gave the auditor the computer and said go to
> it. Any questions, call the accountant. That's why they get the big
> bucks,
> right Bonnie? She walked away 20 minutes later with what she needed.
>
> So, if you're small, but thinking big, go QuickBooks. If you're just
> dabbling, doing a few shows, and basically working out of a checkbook, use
> Quicken, but keep a completely separate checkbook for the business side.
> Quicken is nice that you can arrange to download your bank statement right
> into the checkbook register.
>
> Books? Quicken-The Missing Manual and Quicken, Home and business.
>
> Tom Wirt
> Hutchinson, MN
> twirt@hutchtel.net
> www.claycoyote.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
> subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
Russel Fouts on tue 8 jan 08
>> FYI you can also set up a Dome type set-up (also called a double
entry set of books) in a spreadsheet like Excel. It's called double
entry because you enter the total amount and then you allocate this
amount (thus entering the amount twice) into accounts or categories.
You are NOT keeping 2 sets of books. <<
I've done just this for years, works great. You will need to know a
bit about Excel database functions and creating formulas to make it
work but it does work.
Russel
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
Home of "The Potters Portal"
Over 3000 Pottery Related Links!
Updated frequently
"Look, it's my misery that I have to paint this kind of painting,
it's your misery that you have to love it, and the price of the
misery is thirteen hundred and fifty dollars. "
- Mark Rothko, In Art/Painting
| |
|
