Question: How should I set up items for blank goods in QuickBooks? Answer: “Blank goods,” or orders that are then screen printed or embroidered by other vendors, are one of the most complex of orders in our industry. I recommend setting up a blank wearable by its item number and description only—not including color or…
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Question: I have sales of $1.2 million annually and am using QuickBooks Premier. I see that QuickBooks recommends its Enterprise software for companies with sales in excess of $1 million. Should I upgrade to Enterprise? Answer: Whether you should upgrade to Enterprise or not at this point will depend on your particular company needs. Enterprise…
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Question: Last year, I called QuickBooks to ask which program I should buy. They told me QuickBooks Online, and switched me from QuickBooks Premier to Online, but it doesn’t do what I need it to do. Can I convert back to QuickBooks Premier? Answer: Yes, but it’s not easy. Intuit sells QuickBooks Online as a…
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Question: What financial statements do I need to have for my accountant? Answer: The two standard financial statements you need to produce are your balance sheet and your profit and loss statement (also known as an income statement). A balance sheet is a financial snapshot on a given day. It is dated “as of” a…
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Question: A bookkeeper has been recommended to me. What should I ask to learn if this person can help me as well? Answer: A bookkeeper who works well for another type of company may or may not be suitable to you as a promotional products distributor. In addition to the common bookkeeper concerns for all…
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Question: Is there an easy way to keep art files so I can find them later? Answer: While this technically is not an accounting question, cataloging your art files is important for keeping your order management organized. During my distributor days, I kept a folder in my documents called “Art.” I would keep all my…
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Question: How do I make a particular template my default template in QuickBooks? Answer: QuickBooks does not let you specify a particular template as your default template for a specific form, such as an invoice or purchase order. After using that specific template for a number of times, it will start coming up. But it’s…
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Question: Is it time to upgrade to QuickBooks Premier 2016? Answer: QuickBooks Premier 2016 was released in November 2015. Every year when software comes out, it takes time for the bugs to get worked out, and Premier 2016 is no exception. It’s wise to wait a few months after the initial release to upgrade. My…
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Question: What is involved in converting from my current accounting software to QuickBooks? Answer: Converting from other ad specialty systems, such as ASI ProfitMaker, OrderMaster, AIA or Proforma, involves planning and attention to detail, and it is a routine procedure. QuickBooks is user-friendly, which has something to do with it being the No. 1 accounting…
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Question: I have been using the order numbers that QuickBooks auto-assigns for sales orders (SO), purchase orders (PO) and invoices numbers. Is there a better way? Answer: Yes. When I was a distributor, I quickly learned how often I had to access different orders during the course of a day. And thus, being able to…
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