When Intuit introduced QuickBooks in 1994, it was essentially a basic computerized bank register. Over time, it has evolved into the robust accounting software we know today. Even seasoned users can discover new ways to harness its capabilities. Here are six insights to help you maximize your QuickBooks experience.
With your permission and passwords, others can access your QuickBooks file, but you might prefer to keep certain financial details private. QuickBooks' Preferences feature empowers you to control visibility across 19 different categories, such as bills, jobs & estimates, payroll, and taxes, among others. Tailor your personal preferences and set distinct Company Preferences to suit your needs.
Pro Tip: In "Preferences," under "Desktop View," select "Company Snapshot" as your default desktop view. This provides a concise overview of your business's revenues, expenses, and profit and loss, keeping you informed at a glance.
By personalizing the menus and icons in your QuickBooks view, you can efficiently organize your modified reports as favorites. Simply click the small heart icon under the report, and QuickBooks will prompt you to "name" your custom report, adding it to your report list. Alternatively, you can achieve the same outcome by using the "Advanced" button in the preferences list under the view option.
For businesses with extensive databases, the search function might experience slowdowns when locating specific transactions. To enhance performance, navigate to "Preferences" and select the "Company Preferences" tab. Here, you'll find an "Indexing" box, with the default set to 30-minute intervals, meaning QuickBooks saves all transactions every 30 minutes. To alleviate potential slowdowns, consider extending the time interval for indexing.
QuickBooks offers a wealth of automatically generated information, but not all of it will be relevant to your needs. To streamline your workflow, focus on running specific reports that are essential to your operations. If a report contains more data than necessary, consider customizing it beforehand to enhance efficiency. Navigate to "Preferences," select "Report," and check the "Prompt Me To Modify Report Options" box. This proactive step will help you save time and simplify the data you need to manage.
New to QuickBooks? You might have noticed those handy pop-up messages that guide you through various actions. These tips are invaluable for first-time users, but they disappear after being triggered once. If you have a new accountant or team member who needs a refresher, you can easily reactivate these reminders. Simply navigate to the General Preferences in the main preferences menu and select the “Bring back all one-time messages” option.
QuickBooks empowers you to efficiently manage each product or service you offer by allowing you to input back-end costs and calculate profits seamlessly. While each item requires detailed information, you can streamline this process by selecting “Lists” and then “Add/Edit Multiple Entries.” This feature opens a spreadsheet, enabling you to swiftly enter items and import them into your company database, saving you valuable time and effort.
Are you a manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor looking to maximize your QuickBooks investment? Elevate your order management with Now Commerce, a cutting-edge solution that transforms QuickBooks into a robust tool for streamlining your order processes. Designed for your customers, sales reps, and back office, Now Commerce empowers them to access comprehensive account information and seamlessly enter orders that integrate directly into QuickBooks, eliminating the need for redundant data entry. Simplify your order management and enhance efficiency with QuickBooks Order Management.