London QuickBooks

Posts Tagged ‘software’

The UK version of QuickBooks 2010 is now in Beta testing. Beta testing is a process were software is tested by a number of users to see if there are any problems before it is released for sale.  The good news is that multi-currency is now back in the software, after it was removed in the QuickBooks 2008 UK version. There is currently no news of the expected QuickBooks 2010 release date.

I have been working with a Pest Control company (I don’t think they like to be called rat catchers!) in London. They had been using QuickBooks for several years but had not been reconciling the bank account. As a consequence QuickBooks was not working properly for them.

Last year I visited their office (a very nice office with not a mouse trap in sight) and during an on-site QuickBooks training day, I explained how to maximise their use of QuickBooks. At the end of the day we decided that there were so many loose ends in their current company file that it would be better to start a new QuickBooks company file for their new financial year.

Their new financial year started on the 1st February, so over the last two days I have been helping the Pest Controllers to setup a new QuickBooks company file. To make best use of my time, and to keep costs down for the client, I assisted them using remote access software. This allows me to dial into there office and view and control the PC in their office. Once I had explained what they needed to input into the new company I left them to get on with data inputing.

Here is a copy of the plan we used:

To create the new QuickBooks company file we need to do the following:-

• Export the following from the old company

o Customer details
o Supplier details
o Chart of Accounts
o Item list

• Create new QBooks file
• Input company basic info – full name, vat number, address etc
• Import the exported data (above) in to the new company
• The following data is needed for the opening balances as of 31st Jan 2010

o List of all customers that owe you money – the invoice numbers, the amounts, the date of invoice, payment terms
o List of all suppliers that you owe money to – the bill reference number, the amounts, the date of invoice, payment terms
o Current bank account balance
o Balances of any deposit accounts
o Balances of any credit cards
o Balances of any loan
o Details of any assets that the company owns that you want to have on Qbooks
• Key the above data into the new QBooks company
• Redesign the invoice layout – logos etc

I have obtained a copy of the American version of QuickBooks Premier Accountant 2009, as part of my joining the American QuickBooks ProAdvisor scheme.  I have chosen to install it on a separate dual-boot hard drive in my PC. For the more technical of you, the specification of the PC is:

• AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6000+ 3.00 GHz processor
• 4 Gb Ram
• 1000 Gb hard drive
• Running Window 7 Ultimate Evaluation Copy Build 7100

The QuickBooks install went without a hitch, just the usual “Next”, “Next” clicking routine.  I installed the Google option, and can confirm Charlie Russell’s findings about problems with Google.  Windows 7 gave an error message when trying to install Windows 7 updates. The error code indicated Google Desktop was at fault. Uninstalling Google Desktop allowed the Windows updates to work normally.

The QuickBooks 2009 installation worked well and appeared to open relatively quickly on Windows 7.  Updating QuickBooks to the latest version using automatic updates worked well.

So in conclusion QuickBooks 2009 and Windows 7 appear to be working harmoniously together.  I’ll use the system over the next few days and report back if any issues come up.

I have recently joined the QuickBooks ProAdvisor scheme in America.  Yesterday the starter pack arrived in the post. The list of software supplied is as follows:

• QuickBooks Accountant Edition 2009
• QuickBooks Simple Start 2009
• QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 2009
• QuickBooks Point of Sale 2009

This is a very impressive list, and when the QuickBooks 2010 software gets released, QuickBooks will be sending the 2010 versions.

I intend to run this on a PC I have which has Windows 7 on it. I will see how that install goes.  So far I have found that Windows 7 is like a version of  Windows Vista that works!  Think of it as Vista without the headache.

Okay, I work in the UK, so why do I want to join the QuickBooks ProAdvisor scheme in the USA?  Well my reasons are as follows:-

• In the UK we tend to get updated versions of QuickBooks many months/years after the USA. For example our version of QuickBooks 2008, which came out in 2007, still hasn’t been upgraded. In the States the QuickBooks 2010 is expected soon.
• I wanted to see the American versions to see what features would be coming our way in the next version. This way I would be ahead of the game.
• American companies operating in the UK would be using the UK or American versions of QuickBooks.  I see this as an opportunity to support these American based companies.

There is also the opportunity to train, and be certified, as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor.  I have been a Quickbooks ProAdvisor in the UK for 5 years and I’m looking forward to the challenge of learning about these new versions of QuickBooks.

Initial impressions are that the support supplied by QuickBooks in the States, in terms of material available on their Prodvisor website and forums, looks superior to the UK’s.

I will keep you informed how I get on over the next few weeks.

I’ve had a word with my “mole” in QuickBooks UK.  I was quizzing him about the launch date for QuickBooks 2009.  Apparently it’s still in the pipeline, but the pipeline is proving to to be longer than expected.

Don’t be surprised if it’s called QuickBooks 2010!

I have received a UK version of the PaperSavePlus software, that promises to provide a “paperless” office for QuickBooks users. Over the next week or so I’ll put the software through its paces and then report back on my findings.

Watch this space…….

I have recently come across what looks like a very interesting QuickBooks based product. It is called PaperSavePlus and it stores all your QuickBooks documents electronically. It appears to allow you to store your QuickBooks bills by either scanning them in, or attaching email documents directly.  This appears to be an established product in the USA, but a version for the UK compatible version is due soon (next week?)

A paperless office is one of those concepts that has been talked about for many years, but never seems to have become a reality for most offices in small businesses. For example when I receive a PDF bill from my Internet Service Provider, each month, my office manager prints it out, adds it to QuickBooks and then stores it with all the other paperwork. Surely there must be a better way? I’m also sure that a lot of other companies are doing exactly the same.

The paperless office add-in for QuickBooks comes from the PaperSavePlus website.

I will be interested to look at how the program stores the data and how easy it is to backup. I’ll also be interested to see how easily it integrates with QuickBooks.

When I have had a look at using PaperSavePlus to create a paperless office for QuickBooks, I will write a review for you here at this blog.

If you are thinking about buying QuickBooks 2008, then you can view an on-line demonstration of the software. The demo lasts about 5 minutes. It will give you an overview of how the accounting software can help you run your small business.

If you want to you can buy QuickBooks 2008 from this website.

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Available on the QuickBooks UK website is a QuickBooks 2008 demonstration (opens up in a new windows)

Adapt Computing Ltd are pleased to announce the launch of their new London QuickBooks website.

The new website will give QuickBooks users in the London and M25 area access to QuickBooks training and support. We provide on-site training and support for small businesses using QuickBooks software in the London area.  Adapt Computing has many years of experience using QuickBooks and offering clients training and consultations.

QuickBooks software can also be bought on-line.  All current versions can be bought.

• QuickBooks 2008 Premier
• QuickBooks 2008 Pro
• QuickBooks SimpleStart
• QuickBooks 2006 Accountant
• QuickBooks 2006 Pro
• QuickBooks 2006 Regular

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If you would like more information please contact us.