quickbooks - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

quickbooks

RuthA · Senior Member

I love Quickbooks, if you want to have a bit of a play on it to find your way around we could then have a chat on the phone to talk through using it if you'd like? If you want to, let me know, my email address is ruth@shorebusiness.co.uk

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Thanks Ruth,

I hope my pack is here by Friday, then I can have a bit of a play with it over the weekend. Maybe slightly late in making the decision as I really wanted to start moving clients to it for the new tax year so it might mean learning it on the job so to speak.

Kris

RobRJBS · Senior Member

Kris, Quickbooks is Fab! I am such a fan and use it for all my clients.

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

I didn't really think £33 per month was a bad deal. Just for fun I phoned sage, for their accountants club with sage 50 5 company they wanted £84 per month. I just laughed and laughed then hung up. How can they still be in business??? Where are all these rich fools and how can I part them with their cash?

Kris

RobRJBS · Senior Member

I had the exact same experience but the best bit is with Sage accounts club I don't think you even get the full product!!

Ruth have you ever shown holiday left to take on a payslip in Quickbooks and if so how?!? I really need to show it and ticked the option but it won't work :(

Rhianrach · Expert

I had to fill in a customer satisfaction survey for sage today (because i'm going to win an ipad 3). When it came to asking what problems there may be with their products and how they can improve them, I simply stated that they were overpriced and needed to be cheaper, (I probably won't win an ipad 3 now).

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Steve,

it would have only ended up as a paperweight anyway.

I had a look at Sage one today, not particularly interested in using a cloud offering (or Sage for that matter) but it doesn't hurt to be abreast of everything that's happening.

When reading their gumf and on seeing the £10 per month price tag for accountants my first thought was, and when they've got us how long will that last!

Still so far so good with avoiding Sage products in my practice!

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

The sad thing is that colleges are still pushing sage to students as some kind of industry leader. My college have not caught up with cloud offerings. Teaching today with yesterdays technology for tomorrow

Rhianrach · Expert

Don't get me wrong I like sage products, they do a good job in my opinion, but you pay far too much of a premium for them, they just aren't worth all that. Because of this I shall be swapping my payroll to 12 pay, and if the books look any where decent after I, with the help of the accountant, have cleaned them up, then I would be inclined to swap to another accounts program as well.

Amanda · Expert

Hi Kris,

If you need any help give me a call. You have my email address, ping me an email and I'll send you my number.

I love it and after 4 years I still do!

I use Sage instants for a couple of clients, but still prefer QB.

I actually think its quite easy to get your head round and I was self taught, some one gave me a verry quick lesson on it and then from there on in I am self taught. I don't use the payroll on mine as its really expensive, so I use 12Pay. I have use the payroll function at a place where I use to work and it was fine but like I say there are cheaper options. The reports are great on QB and easy to follow. I have Pro 2008 so its abit old now, I have used 2010 at someones office before and that was good.

HTH

semsley · Guru

I'm just in the process of changing my biggest client from Sage on to QB (with the accountant's blessing - he really would have preferred VT but is happier with QB than Sage). I've found one small problem though with the transaction detail report which for some reason shows a sales invoice as both a debit and credit thereby negating the transaction and I don't know why, any help appreciated Amanda as this is a report my client will need as it's similiar to (but more flexible than) the Sage detailed nominal report.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Sheila,

what was the reason for not adopting VT?

Talk soon,

Shaun.

RuthA · Senior Member

Rob - no I've never tried to do that (most of my clients don't want to remind their employees that they've got holiday they can take!!).

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Well, my Quickbooks pack arrived today. I'm just installing it now. To celebrate I'm not doing any client work the rest of the week while I get to grips with it. Woe betide the client who calls me tomorrow....

Amanda, Ruth stand by your phones.

Kris

semsley · Guru

Shamus wrote:
Hi Sheila,

what was the reason for not adopting VT?

Talk soon,

Shaun.

Hi Shaun

It was QBs ability to memorise regular transactions ie journals, invoices, bills, in fact any transaction which won me over against VT as the client has many regular transactions which will only need recalling and saving or recalling and changing the amount, therefore saving time (and money). Also the ease of modifying reports and again being able to memorise them and recall them. I know VT second guesses when you have done a transaction before and autofills but it's not quite the same. The memorising also means I can be consistent with what I put in details (as I can never remember to write the same thing!!!!). Sage does this but not with Instant (which was what the client had).

Also QB has what it calls Company Snapshot which shows at a glance debtor and creditor detail in monetary terms with overdue stuff in red and a graph of income and expenditure by month - knobs and whistles but clients like to see things which simply it for them.

Sheila

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

fair enough, thanks Sheila.

the thing that I really like about VT is the integration with their accounts software and how easy that is to manipulate.

I like how easy it is to change things with VT where Sage 50 was a lot less forgiving of alterations and I was eternally feeling that I was working around things rather than changing them how I wanted to.

I think that if a client was peeking over my shoulder I would be a lot happier about them seeing Sage, QB or SAP than the VT screen which lets be honest are not the prettiest that you will ever come accross.

After saying that though the finished printed set of accounts is excellent.

All in all I'm really happy with VT but I fully appreciate why people go with different options.

OMG I'm being almost reasonable tonight! I must be coming down with something.... Nobody mention cloud offerings, I may be caught off gaurd and say something silly like they're a good idea... No, there's no way that I could ever be that ill!

Amanda · Expert

Shiela,

What version of QB are you using??

I'm on an old one Pro 2008.

On mine you can go into 'Custom transaction detail report' which allows you to them put filters on it. To be honest I never use it as my clients are all small.

I'll be interested to know what the latest version is like though as I may upgrade at some point. I do like the graphs, although I look at them sometimes, the client wouldn't have a glue as they are small so I don't even print them off for them.

The reoprting facility is good on QB even my old version!

Sorry I couldn't be of more help tonight.

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Hi Amanda, If you really want to see the new version of quickbooks pro I can give you a free 30 day trial (and save you a few pounds if you want it). Drop me an email and I'll get you sorted. Then you can help me. Kris

Wella · Expert

I joined QB Pro Advisor couple of months ago, only because I got a full working copy of 2012 Premier, and 2012 Pro all for an introductory price £120 inc VAT.

I like VT for most of my clients, particullarly those with incomplete accounts,as it is easier to make and adjust entries but I have used QB in the past, and also like that, so thought I'd have an extra string for my bow.

I am going to experiment with QB and VT Final Accounts, to see how/ if the import trial balance option works.

Now all I have to do is to remember to cancel my direct debit before next years renewal subscription is taken next March at the non introductory price.

Bill

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Hi bill, well done on an introductory price. I paid the full whack. I'm struggling to get a feel for it. A lot of qb seem overly complicated. Like you I can see me still using vt for a lot of clients. Maybe it'll just take some time. Kris

Amanda · Expert

Once you get into it Kris its a doddle!!!

It may take a while but you will get there in the end.

Wella · Expert

kjmcculloch83 wrote:
Hi bill, well done on an introductory price. I paid the full whack. I'm struggling to get a feel for it. A lot of qb seem overly complicated. Like you I can see me still using vt for a lot of clients. Maybe it'll just take some time. Kris

I had been thinking about QB for a long time because of its Sage like qualities and functions but with it's less rigid ease of use, and easy reporting functions but couldn't quite justify the outlay.

Because some time ago I downloaded a trial version of QB Simple Start, they had my email address. One of the emails they sent was a special offer for the Advisor programme, which arrived just as I was considering what to do, so it was more viable

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

The thing I do like about it is that most of my clients pay by standing order, the same amount each month so it seems I can memorise the invoice creation, the same with my regular payments. The only thing I can't see is how to quickly put in a cash payment without raising a purchase invoice then paying it, surely there's an easier way.

I'm off to amazon to buy a book.

Kris

Sylvia · Veteran Member

I have also decided to buy Quickbooks, I got mine a couple of weeks ago. I learn software best as I use it, put my own accounts in and I am very pleased so far. My first client has Sage Instant, so I get to learn two packages!

Sylvia

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Think that's the best way Sylvia,

I did the same thing in order to learn VT and Sage 50. Just typed in my opening balances from a couple of years back then entered all of my companies transactions making sure that my figures came out exactly the same as those prepared by my accountants.... Must admit that the first time that I did it with VT I ended up with a lot of journal entries so scrapped it and strted again with considerably better results on the second pass.

I bought QB 2010 last year when Amazon was clearing their stock. Never got to instal it though as a week after paying £69 for it the price rocketed so still unopened I sold it through Amazon resellers for £155... Just kicking myself now that I didn't buy a dozen copies of it whilst they were virtually giving it away!(current price is now £198.43 which doesn't make a lot of sense when the 2012 version is only £169.99!).

Amanda · Expert

Is that one OK?............

Just for the record I don't look like her, I am about 4 inches taller than her!

-- Edited by Amanda on Monday 23rd of April 2012 10:17:12 PM

Amanda · Expert

HI Kris,

On QB if you have lots of Cash receipts, say from the post office or small stationery shop etc, don't enter them as an invoice, just go to BANKING menu across the top, and go to write cheques. pick the company you wish to pay, date and amount, then in the bit underneath post to which account you need, like Stationery and then SAVE. This will post it to the correct account and supplier account without having to post each individual receipt as an inv. I do this for quickness when I have a client who has alot of small receipts like postage etc.

HTH

Amanda · Expert

Kris - perhaps they didn't have Dallas in Scotland?..........

Don Tax - I remember Seven Brides and Seven Brothers am I really that old.

Next we'll be talking about Elvis Presley!

PS can I put in a request for someone to be a 'young' Bobby Ewing, he was my favourite.

-- Edited by Amanda on Monday 23rd of April 2012 11:25:19 PM

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Thanks Amanda,

I'll try that one.

Kris

Amanda · Expert

Shaun,

Are we back to the Dallas Theme????

I think JR suits you!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Amanda,

just noticed how many people stuck with that theme so thought that I would revert back... So, back to the poison dwarf???? wink

Don Tax · Expert

"Dawg-gone it, why do I never get to sing?".

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Am I the only one too young to really remember Dallas?

Kris

Don Tax · Expert

Well then young man, you're in for a treat when you see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, then.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Amanda wrote:
Is that one OK?............

Just for the record I don't look like her, I am about 4 inches taller than her!

It'll do for me biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

To quote a great man "Ding Dong" (nope, fear not, I'm not about to change my Avatar to Leslie Phillips!)

Wella · Expert

Don Tax wrote:
Oh no, I sure hope you're not gonna get my tail over the dashboard with those 'Lonesome Polecat' lyrics.

Thought we might get a rendition of "Sobbin' (Sabine) Women" from the old crooner biggrin

http://youtu.be/yfNAUCKGcaE

Amanda what do you mean "Next we'll be talking about Elvis Presley!" ? he's the greatest.

Bill

-- Edited by Wella on Tuesday 24th of April 2012 01:04:27 PM

Don Tax · Expert

Oh no, I sure hope you're not gonna get my tail over the dashboard with those 'Lonesome Polecat' lyrics.

Amanda · Expert

I agree Bill he was the Greatest, I was very young when he died, but I remember him well.
His voice was amazing!

Wella · Expert

Just started work when he died.

A work colleague wore a black arm band for a week

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Welcome back digga wink

feel like leaping into Nar nan nar, nan nar nan nan nar nar...

semsley · Guru

Wow miss Ellie is no longer alone!!! Amanda I've got pro 2010 but the one I have the problem with is 2012. The filters don't help. It's really strange, as I've only just transferred a few transactions it's easy to see what's wrong but don't know why. I've got two sales transactions on and on the transaction detail one of them appears once as a credit, the other appears twice once as a debit and once as a credit. Therefore the total sales only amount to the total of the first invoice. I've even deleted the second transaction (in case I'd gone something wrong with it) re-entered it but the report still does the same. It's doing my head in, particularly as this is the report the client really wants as it is like the Sage nominal report she is used to