So you’ve decided to take the plunge and use a computerized accounting system.  Quickbooks is one of the more popular software packages, so you’re thinking about using that program.  But you have questions, and you’d like them answered first.  Or, possibly, you’ve been using Quickbooks or other popular accounting software (Peachtree, One Write, Dac Easy, MAS 90). We’re here to help you.

We’re not accountants (although we have been trained), nor are we trying to take their place.  To the contrary, we often work with your accountant to help you set up and use computerized accoounting software properly and fully optimized.  You will only save time and money if you are able to give your accountant a proper report so that he can prepare a valid “audit and compilation” return without spending additional time sifting through the preverbial “shoebox crammed with receipts”.  If you’re preparing your own return, the situation is similar: You must have a useful report to fill in the tax forms or to export the data to tax preparation software.

You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “garbage in - garbage out”.  Nowhere is this more applicable than in computer accounting programs.  Setup is paramount - If you haven’t set up your chart of accounts, created the best starting date, opening balance, tax year and other elections, you may not get very useful reports, and your accountant may actually have to do more rather than less work.  For example, let’s say that you have many telephones - land line office telephones, cell phones, personal phones, etc.  Does your accountant think it would be advantageous to list all of these types of phones under a single expense account for “telephones” and then use sub-categories?  Or does he or she think you should include each type of telephone under another expense category - e.g. car/phone; office/phone, personal/cell phone?  This could make a difference in your overall tax liability.  If you have a business, are you separating out personal vs. business expenses?  By classes or categories?  The point is that, when it comes to computerized accounting software, you’ve got to ask the right questions in order to set it up for your maximum benefit.  Moreover, if you don’t set it up correctly at first, it can be very difficult to adjust later.  And that’s where we can help you.

Most of the computerized accounting programs such as QuickBooks are actually “relational database systems”.  That is, they are comprised of many “lists” of data that are, in turn, coordinated onto various reports, invoices, statements and the like.  You have lists of accounts, items (products or services), customers, vendors, taxes, payrolls and the like.  Once they’re all set up, you can use as many or as few of these lists to create invoices, tax statements and other consolidated reports that you require, all without “reinventing the wheel”.  That’s one of the prime benefits of computerized accounting software.

We can recommend the best software (Quickbooks comes in many flavors), install it for you on a computer or a network, set it up for you (coordinating with your accountant), test it and train you and your personnel, as well as answer your questions as you proceed to use it.

That’s what we do.  That’s how we benefit our clients.

• SOFTWARE SELECTION
• HARDWARE AND UPGRADES
• NETWORK SETUP AND MAINTENANCE
• INSTALLATION AND SETUP
• COORDINATION WITH ACCOUNTANT
• PROBLEM SOLVING AND TROUBLESHOOTING
• DEVELOPING FORMS, STATEMENTS AND PROCEDURES
• SETTING UP FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS REPORTS
• TRAINING PERSONNEL
• ANSWERING DAY-TO-DAY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SOFTWARE

We’re part of Computer Coach, which provides computer hardware and software services, and we’ve been right here in Sarasota, FL for over twenty years.  Trained in accounting, business and law, we have been working with Quickbooks and similar programs since the very first versions of each!  We specialize in small businesses, their computers, networks, software, procedures, business and advertising plans and training.

We’d love to assist you.  Either call (941) 302-0908 or click HERE to schedule a service call.We look forward to serving you.

Joe Kelly, Owner