7 Ways To Streamline Your Workflow With Intuit QuickBooks

As a contractor who uses QuickBooks, you've got seen that Intuit QuickBooks will have its limitations once it involves your business - finally, it's associate degree accounting computer code therefore it isn't planning to do your planning, track your leads, offer a worksheet for you to make your estimate,... To handle those different wants, maybe you've got resorted to spreadsheets, pencil & paper, or even you found computer code that may do a number of what you would like, however it does not integrate with Intuit QuickBooks. As a result, you'll notice that you simply do double-entry (or some simplified version) or compartmentalizing your data. therefore whereas you'll have simplified one method, you're still having data in multiple places.

But if you would like to contour your work flow, that has varied advantages, then it is time to appear at merchandise that handle what you wish whereas desegregation with Intuit QuickBooks. Some merchandise do a good job with desegregation however others fall manner short. therefore here area unit some key areas to consider:

1. Version of Intuit QuickBooks - establish that versions(s) of Intuit QuickBooks your computer code can integrate. If it integrates with professional, it'll integrate with Premier and Enterprise, however on-line may be a terribly totally different computer code, therefore take care to raise. you would possibly additionally notice that the year comes into play, as well, (e.g. the merchandise may go with a more moderen version of Intuit QuickBooks, however not associate degree older version or contrariwise.)

2. Item level vs Account - Unless this product goes to try and do everything however your Profit/Loss (Income) Statement and record, and job cost accounting isn't necessary, then I take a far tougher investigate the mixing. If you employ a desktop version of Intuit QuickBooks and job cost accounting is vital, i like to recommend integration at the Item level (vs. the account level). If it does not, you may notice that some options and lots of of your job price reports in Intuit QuickBooks are useless.

3. technique and frequency of integration - establish however this product can integrate with Intuit QuickBooks; typically, you've got to get a further module or product, therefore take care to raise. however will the mixing work? typically it's automatic, typically it is a click of a button and typically you've got to manually export out of 1 program then manually import into Intuit QuickBooks or vice versa.

4. References - refer to some United Nations agency area unit victimization the merchandise with Intuit QuickBooks and raise regarding their expertise. you would possibly additionally raise if the sales company uses Intuit QuickBooks for his or her accounting; they usually perceive the mixing higher if that is the case.

5. Hosting - If your desktop version of Intuit QuickBooks is being hosted somewhere, raise if your hosting company works with this computer code. If they do, you may presumably get the extra program, however typically at a decent rate. If they do not already support your computer code, raise if they'll. If they assert they'll, take care to raise what your fee are - usually it's considerably higher.

And here area unit 2 bonus tips - not specific to Intuit QuickBooks however invariably price asking once shopping for computer code.

6. technical support service - establish regarding their possession and technical support service . I've seen some products work great until the owner retires or moves elsewhere. Sometimes the smaller companies aren't staffed adequately for tech support - or at least not available when you need (perhaps nights/weekends). Larger companies sometimes are staffed better. You might want to ask if the support is US-based. Is the support included or is this an extra cost? Find out what it would be for an annual support plan and what happens if you don't have the support plan but need help. See how long Intuit QuickBooks tech support number will support a product. In the case of Intuit QuickBooks, it's 3 years.

7. See how they handle patches and upgrades. If it's cloud-based, that may not be an issue. If it's desktop software, then ask. Intuit differentiates between patches to fix bugs to the software and actual upgrades to new versions. However, Intuit supports only 3 years, so you may want to see if this product has similar limitations.