atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Computers & Programming Computers, Software, Accessories Quickbooks Pro 2010

I have usewd QB for several years now. I kind of jumped in and started out not knowing what I was doing. Iran across an accountant that was wanting my business and offered some free training. He spent about 4 hours with me and we tuned it up fairly well. Is it the answer to all of your needs in this business? No but it will help. I have redesigned some of the templates for invoices etc.

Mike

I use QB-pro also and subscribe to their payroll option. It makes out all my monthly and quarterly state and federal tax forms. With the payroll option you have to update every three years. You can also e-mail invoices with it. On Dec. 31 I make a back-up and give it to the accountant.

There is another "premier" accounting solution out there called "Creative Solutions". My CPA is moving more and more people to it from Quickbooks.

I don't know the specifics and heck I'm still using Quicken Home & Office for invoices...but from what I've seen, this is more like a real accounting program rather than something to keep track of Granny Smith's craft shop.

https://cs.thomsonreuters.com

Now that I have it setup some and starting to work with it I can see 3 things that I would like it to do.

1. Is there a way to have a spot to enter labor and installation charges to an Estimate and Invoice?

2. Have a spot to do work orders. Something like the Estimates but for simple service jobs.

3. For an item like a phone it would be nice to have all of 1 model in one inventory but still be able to track individual serial numbers.


Any experts know if either can be done Please let me know.

1. Put labor as an item. I have L1 to L9 for different kinds of labor--IT, Installation, Bench, Training, Remote etc.

2. Not that I know of --but you can change and nmake different templates for the Estimate section. This may be a way of entering in a swparate place for labor, too.

3. I have mine separated using all the different manufacturers that we service--Allworx, Avaya, Comdial, Toshiba etc. It's all in the listing of the items. I use different "indicators" so that they all come up in the list in a logical progression.

I'm about ready to give it a try. I have my customer and inventory information imported and have tweaked the settings. I did find a way to create a work order to take the place of an complete estimate form. I also have made an Invoice template that I like better then my old invoices. After I get used to this I just might like it. After working with databases for many years its pretty easy. Heres a sample of my work order and invoice.

Work order looks neat & clean. I don't use them, however if I did, I would add in the area where you say "Thank you for your business" something like "Terms & Conditions have been explain to the client for overdue invoices" or better yet spell them out along with a place for them to sign. This is so that they can't say that they didn't know that there would be interest charges after 30 days, for example.

On the invoice, I like the inlay of the phone. How'd you do that?

I would line up the lines for the "Price Each" column with the "Terms" box above.....just makes it look neater IMO.

I would also remove the "Part Number column" from the PRINTED invoice. I wouldn't want to give the client too much info, so they could surf the net for their next purchase if you know what I mean.

I have multiple invoice templates depending on the situation. My best one is a copy of the main one that I call "Incentive", that I use for a client not covered by a maintenance contract. In the "Description" area at the bottom there's a big box with "This invoice can be reduced or completely credited if you sign up for one of our service plans." I get a lot of call backs inquiring about this. :dance:

Great ideas Dave I'll work on them and may end up like you with different Invoices for different occasions. I am still considering maint. contracts so I'll keep that idea on hold till then. The phone inlay I did from a TranTel phone pic. I changed the contrast and brightness to fade it into the background. When I print them on a laser printer B&W it looks pretty sharp. The work order are mostly for my use. It give me a way of getting the job into QB without doing a complete estimate. I can also print a copy and take it with me for reminder of todays job and a place to write down what the job required. Basically to take the place of the memory that not as good as it used to be.

We use work orders also for the same reasons as Merritt but more importantly to get the customer's signature. They get itemized with all charges instead of the invoice so there can be no question. A signed copy gets attached to the invoice which can cover multiple work orders but usually doesn't. The invoice just has a sub-total, tax and total due.

-Hal

I cleaned up the invoice as Dave suggested and it looks even better. Thanks for the tip Dave I guess it hasn't got cold enough to give you brain freeze yet. Here is the newer version in gray scale like it prints but the printed copy the fonts are a lot cleaner. I can also add any custom message under the Thank you for your business.