Accounting solutions will vary according to whether:

·        you are a product-based or a service-oriented enterprise;

·        you are a “start-up” or a mature business;

·        the volume or complexity of transactions requires more powerful programs

·        you require access on an any time, any where basis

·        you have technology embrace you

QuickBooks® offers the following editions from its family:

·        Simple Start Edition

·        Basic, Pro, Premier Editions

·        Enterprise Editions

·        Point of Sale

·        Online Edition 2005

·        Industry Specific Editions

o    Contractors, Nonprofits, Manufacturing & Wholesale,

o    Professional Services

The levels of service offered by accountants are based on

·        Frequency : daily, monthly, quarterly

·        Location: onsite or offsite

·        Degree of involvement

·        Full : all bookkeeping functions are done

·        Partial : your data input is reviewed for errors, adjustments made,

·        Limited : tax returns are prepared from your data

While the bookkeeping “essentials” basically remain the same in each program, the level of service provided by your accounting firm must be carefully interfaced with your needs and resources. A lot of it depends on what you want to do “in house”.

Full integration is in “Offsite Accounting” and can be scaled back by eliminating procedures and frequency to make your “custom” package.

The accounting packages to be aware of are from the most basic Simple Start program to POS to industry specific applications. 

“Offsite Accounting”

In some cases it make a great deal of economic sense to have accounting functions done offsite. Most of the time it results in a 40% savings of what it cost to have a full or part time bookkeeper and the work is done faster and more accurately.

The general flow is as follows:

·        Requires the scanning of “source documents”

·        Forwarding them to my office via email.

·        Using Remote Access all the data entries will be made based on the source documents

·        Then the pertinent activities, reports, etc. would be printed in your office or emailed to you in PDF format.

Although this is a thumbnail explanation, it is easy visualize. In other words, I would provide all bookkeeping functions, but in my office and not yours.

“Source documents” is an accounting term for original documents – invoices from vendors; expense reports; contracts; etc. These are also the items which substantiate any expenses made by your company, if you use my forms. 

It also serves the purpose of providing “dual” backups of important data – it will be left on your computer and will be saved on my computer(s) also.  It is also my policy to burn these data banks to CDs and store them in a secure environment.

Should I have any questions regarding the data emailed me, I will email you back with the question and you can answer via email at your convenience.  This will not hinder the entry of other data as the transaction will be put in a “suspence” account for later explanations and corrections. 

Remote Access is a program whereby I am given the flexibility to work on your books from almost any “remote” location.  I can view and control your software to do input, solve problems, and analyze the status of your business. 

Additional timesavers would be using electronic banking, down loading of American Express bills and credit cards, so I wouldn’t have to wait for the source documents to get to you to be scanned and then emailed to me.

 The immediate benefits to you are:

1.     No payroll

2.     No insurance

3.     No paid vacations

4.     No overtime

5.     No employee downtime

6.     No computer downtime

7.     No staff absence

8.     No employee turnover

9.     Little or no training

QuickBooks® Online Edition 2005

This is a web-based version of the software, which you can access anywhere and at any time.  Giving you ease and control it stores your application and your files on firewall-protected servers. In addition it provides access by me for review of transactions and making corrections and adjustments. Or for data entry.  An excellent application for multiple locations.

QuickBooks® Simple Start Software

Long forgotten were the small businesses that have used manual “paper and spreadsheet” methods of keeping track of their income and expenses. What was needed was a way for these businesses to keep more accurate, organized records. With the introduction of Simple Start by QuickBooks® this has changed. It manages money coming in and out of the business and organizes that information in one place. Thus the business can see its financial picture with the basic reports provided

Although many of the screens resemble the more sophisticated members of the QuickBooks® family, it does not offer features to manage accounts payable, inventory, payroll or generate advanced reports. Clients needing more comprehensive tools to manage a higher volume or expanded range of tasks may be better served by other QuickBooks® software.

QuickBooks® Point Of Sale

This is a fourth generation POS software that’s one of the most complete; easy-to use retail management systems available. An all-in-one bundle with the retail hardware needed to turn a Windows PC into a retail management system – a receipt printer, bar code scanner, credit card reader, and cash drawer -- all guaranteed to work seamlessly with the software.

It will meet the special inventory, sales, and customer tracking needs of retailers.  Although it can be a “stand alone” program, when used with QuickBooks® Financial Software products it is a full financial package.

QuickBooks Industry Specific Software

Using all the features included in Premier 2005 software there are five additional versions designed to work with Contractors, Nonprofits, Retailers,  Professional Services and Manufacturing & Wholesalers. Each edition has features that simplify certain areas of the industry.

“Custom” Solutions tailored to fit your needs!