New Business Direction LLCI was telling a friend of mine about the topic of this months’ newsletter and he said “you’re the expert in QuickBooks® and you make a living from setting it up and cleaning it up and teaching people how to use it – why in the world would you tell people NOT to use it?”
The answer is simple – QuickBooks® is a really great program, it’s relatively low cost and it works well for most small businesses. However, one size does not fit all. It’s like that suit in the back of your closet. If QuickBooks® doesn’t fit, it won’t work and it won’t get used.
Fortunately, QuickBooks® has many solutions in their product line-up and with our expertise and knowledge we can customize and tailor a program specifically for you and your small business.
Data File Sizes and Transaction Limits
What impacts whether you should use QuickBooks® Pro or Premier or the more powerful version, Enterprise Solutions, is the size of your data file today and how that data is expected to grow over the time period for which you want to keep all transaction data in one (1) company data file.
The rate of growth of QuickBooks® company data files varies significantly from company to company. There is no “average” or “typical” data file size, since businesses track different information. How quickly a file grows depends on the number of transactions, the amount of information entered in each transaction and the number of “links” per transaction.
If your business generates more transactions than QuickBooks® can handle, performance may be affected. Technically, QuickBooks® Pro and Premier can handle two billion transactions in a single company file. In practice, however, tasks like running reports and finding transactions can take longer if the file grows too large.
We recommend that QuickBooks Pro and Premier data files should not exceed 200MB and that Enterprise Solutions files should not exceed 300 MB. These are general guidelines, based on several factors. There are no specific maximum file sizes and your system will not come to a crashing halt if you exceed these recommended sizes, however, as the data file grows, the overall performance of the software declines and the risk of data corruption increases.
To see how large your data file is currently, open your QuickBooks® file and press the F2 key. A Product Information box will appear and your data file size will be listed on the left hand side of the screen under File Information.
Item or List Limitations
QuickBooks® also has item limitations – counts that cannot be exceeded. Companies with list requirements that exceed those in the following table are not a good fit for QuickBooks®. This list highlights some of the more important physical limits and it is not an all-inclusive list. These counts are “combined” counts. For example, in Premier, you can have 14,500 customers, vendors AND items combined, not 14,500 per list.
| List Name | Pro and Premier | Enterprise Solutions |
| Chart of Accounts | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Names (customers, vendors, employees and other names) | 14,500 | >100,000 |
| Items (including inventory) | 14,500 | >100,000 |
| Classes | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Price Levels | 100 | 750 |
*For an all inclusive list click here
For companies that require a more robust inventory, we recommend using Enterprise Solutions, QuickBooks® Point of Sale or an add-on software such as Fishbowl.
To find out how many items your data file is currently using, open your QuickBooks® file and press the F2 key. A Product Information box will appear and your List Information will be shown on the right hand side of the screen – be sure to scroll down to see all of the lists.
User Access Limitations
QuickBooks® limits the number of users who can access the company data file simultaneously. Companies that require more users simultaneously accessing the company data file than QuickBooks® supports are not suited for QuickBooks®.
Inventory Method Limitations
Companies that require an inventory method other than average cost (such as FIFO or LIFO) may want to use QuickBooks® with an add-on software for the inventory feature. Note that an exception is QuickBooks® Online Plus – as of mid-2010 it offers Inventory using the FIFO cost method. Another exception is QuickBooks® Enterprise Solutions for 2012 with Advanced Inventory which has a FIFO option as well.
| QuickBooks® Product | # simultaneous users |
| Pro | 3 |
| Premier | 5 |
| Online Plus | 5 |
| Enterprise Solutions | 30 |
| Online | 25 |
Summary
Although QuickBooks® works quite well for companies of various sizes and across many industries, there are a few situations in which QuickBooks® may not be the best solution.
If you are interested in finding out more about any of the QuickBooks® line of products or if you would like to discuss what solution is best for your small business, please call us.
This article of QuickBooks Tips and Tricks was based on the 2012 version of QuickBooks.
If your company has a policy that allows you to give your employees advances on upcoming payroll, you can use QuickBooks® and QuickBooks® Payroll to record the advance, which can then be reimbursed to the company through payroll deductions. We recommend that you document any loans to employees with terms for repayment clearly spelled out and signed by both parties.
Note: This QuickBooks® tip assumes that you have an active QuickBooks® payroll subscription.
First, create an Asset Account to Track the Employee Loan and Repayment
This is a one-time setup task
- Go to the Lists menu and click Chart of Accounts
- Click Account at the bottom of the list and then click New
- Under Other Account Types choose Other Current Asset and then click Continue
- If you are using account numbers, enter the number in the Numbers field
- In the Account Name field, enter Employee Advances
- Click Save & Close
Next, you can either write a regular check (non-payroll) to the Employee for the Advance and post it to the Other Current Asset account Employee Advances or you can pay the Advance through Payroll in which case you will need to create a Payroll Item of the type “addition”.
This is a one-time setup task.
- Go to the Lists menu and click Payroll Item List
- Click Payroll Item at the bottom of the list and then click New
- Select the Custom Setup method and click Next
- Choose Addition and click Next
- Enter the name for this addition as Employee Loan
- Click Next
- On the Expense Account screen, choose the Other Current Asset account, Employee Advances, that you created in Step 1 for tracking this expense and click Next
- Select None as the tax tracking type
- Leave the taxes unchecked and click Next
- Select Neither in the calculate based on quantity screen and click Next
- Select Net Pay and click Next
- Leave the default rate and limit blank and click Finish
Use this addition on the Employee’s paycheck under Other Payroll Items. Enter this amount as a positive number.
Then, create another Payroll Item of the type “deduction”Again, this is a one-time setup task.
- Go to the Lists menu and click Payroll Item List
- Click Payroll Item at the bottom of the list and then click New
- Select the Custom Setup method and click Next
- Choose Deduction and click Next
- Enter the name for this deduction as Loan Repayment and click Next
- Leave the first two fields blank, then under the Liability account field, choose the Other Current Asset account, Employee Advances, that you created in Step 1 for tracking this expense and click Next
- Select None as the tax tracking type and click Next
- Leave the taxes unchecked and click Next
- Select Neither in the calculate based on quantity screen and click Next
- Select Net Pay and click Next
- Enter a default rate and limit if desired and then click Finish
Note: You should only enter a default rate and limit if the rate and limit will apply to everyone using the Payroll Item. The limit may be marked as an annual limit and if so, you will need to manually adjust or remove the amount at the beginning of the calendar year or it will start recalculating.
Use this deduction on the Employee’s paycheck under Other Payroll Items. Enter this amount as a negative number.
Create a Custom Summary Payroll Report to Track Employee Loan Balances
- Go to Reports
- Select Employees & Payroll
- Select Payroll Summary
- Click on Customize Report in the upper left corner
- On the Display tab, choose All Dates
- Select Payee in the Display Columns by drop-down menu
- Check % of Row and uncheck Hours and Rate
- Click on the Filters tab, select Accounts and choose the Other Current Asset account used for the Employee Advances on the drop-down menu
- Click OK
Manage Employee Loans that will be Repaid over Time on Multiple Paychecks
- Edit the Employee
- Change tabs to Payroll and Compensation Info
- Under Additions, Deductions and Company Contributions select the Loan Repayment Payroll Item
- Enter the amount to be paid by paycheck in the Amount column as a negative amount.
- Enter the balance remaining to be paid at this point into the Limit column as a negative amount.
- Click OK
Note: QuickBooks® will automatically deduct this repayment on each paycheck and will stop the deduction once the limit has been reached.
This article of QuickBooks Tips and Tricks was based on the 2012 version of QuickBooks.
Please note that you should rarely need to void a payroll check. Remember that voiding a payroll check is not like voiding other kinds of checks; paychecks have associated tax and other liability calculations and payments that need to be taken into consideration. You are required to amend and file corrected payroll tax returns if you void a paycheck from a previous tax period.
To correctly replace a lost or destroyed paycheck and ensure that your payroll data remains accurate, you need to print a replacement check with a new check number and make a record of the lost or destroyed check.
Find the Paycheck in QuickBooks®
First, open the check register and find the paycheck that was lost or destroyed. In the Banking section on the Home page, click the Check Register icon. If you have more than one bank account, select the appropriate account and click the OK button. This brings up the Check Register where you can search for the lost or destroyed paycheck. You could also search for this check in the Employee Center.
Once you find the original paycheck, make a note of the check number and the net pay amount. You will need these later.
Double-click the entry in the register to open the Paycheck window. Select the To be printed checkbox and click the Print button at the top of the window to reprint the check using the next check number in your numbering sequence. Click Save & Close in the Paycheck window and close the check register.
This is the replacement paycheck that you will give the employee.
The next steps create a record of the lost or destroyed paycheck.
In the Banking section on the Home page, click the Write Checks icon.
-
- Use the same check number as the original lost or destroyed check.
- Make the date the same as the day the check was originally written.
- Make the check payable to the employee (ignore the message about using the built-in payroll features.)
- Make the check amount the net payment amount from the original check.
- Note in the memo line that this check was replaced by the check you reprinted.
- On the Expenses tab, choose Payroll Expenses in the Account column.
Click Save & Close.
Open the check register again. Find the check you just created, right-click it, and click Void Check.
You should now see the word “VOID” in the Memo field and a check amount of “0.00.” You now have a record in your check register of the lost or destroyed check.
*Please note that clients using the Assisted Payroll service and/or QuickBooks® Payroll with Direct Deposit may need to perform additional steps when reissuing paychecks to Employees.
This article of QuickBooks Tips and Tricks was based on the 2012 version of QuickBooks.
Non-sufficient funds (NSF) is a term used in the banking industry to indicate that a demand for payment (a check) cannot be honored because insufficient funds are available in the account on which the instrument was drawn. An NSF check is often referred to as a bad check or a bounced check.
When a customer’s check is returned for insufficient funds, perform the following steps in QuickBooks®
First, check to see if these items have already been set up in your QuickBooks file. Go to Lists, Item List and look for Other Charge Items called Bounced Check and Bounced Check Fee. If they are already on your Item List, you can skip step 1.
Step 1: Create items for tracking bounced checks and their associated charges: This is a one-time setup task.
- Go to the Lists menu and click Item List
- Click Items at the bottom of the list and then click New
- Under Type choose Other Charge and name it “Bounced Check”
- In the Amount or % field, leave a zero
- From the Tax Code list, choose Non (if you use Tax Codes)
- In the Account field, select your bank account (for example, Checking)
- Click Next.
- Create a second Other Charge item titled “Bounced Check Fee” for the service charge you assess your customers for bouncing checks
- In the Amount or % field, leave a zero
- From the Tax Code list, choose Non (if you use Tax Codes)
- In the Account field, choose Bank Service Charges
- Click OK
Step 2: Use the items you created in Step One to re-invoice the customer for the bounced check, plus any bank fees you want to recover.
- Click Customer Center
- On the Customers & Jobs tab, select the customer with the bounced check
- Right-click and choose Create Invoices
- For the first line item on the invoice, use the Bounced Check item for the amount of the bad check
*Note: Because this item is linked to your bank account, this will reduce your bank account by the amount of the bounced check.
- For the second line item on the invoice, use the Bounced Check Fee item for the amount of any bank fees that you want to recover from the customer
- Complete filling out the invoice as usual
Step 3: QuickBooks® has a Bounced Check Letter that you can send along with the new invoice
- Select the customer in the Customer Center
- Go to the Word menu at the top of the Customer Center and click Prepare Letter to Customer
- Follow the onscreen instructions in the Letters and Envelopes wizard
- In the Choose a Letter Template window, choose Bounced Check
Step 4: Enter your bank’s bounced check charge when you reconcile your bank statement
When you reconcile your bank statement:
- Include your bank’s charge for the bounced check in the Service Charge field
- In the Service Charge Account field, enter Bank Service Charges
This article of QuickBooks Tips and Tricks was based on the 2012 version of QuickBooks.
Each January we rush around to gather tax information on the independent contractors we paid in the prior year in order to send them a 1099. Here are some basic tips for making it easier and less hurried for next year.
Form W-9
As a trade or business, you are required to obtain a Form W-9 from your independent contractors before you pay them, better yet – before they do any work for you. This is regardless of how much money you pay them. This form will give you the name, business name, address, entity type and taxpayer identification number.
Who Needs a 1099?
Service Providers – Anyone you pay in the course of your trade or business for services rendered. This includes Accountants, Consultants, Architects, Engineers, Designers, Contractors, Plumbers, Electricians, Installers, Landscapers, Snow Removal companies, Cleaning companies, the Auto Repair technician, Entertainers – anyone who performs a service or casual labor for your business who is not your employee.
Rents – If your business pays rent for office space or land or equipment, you are required to send the recipient a 1099 for the amount of rent you have paid them.Exclusions – Sole proprietorships, partnerships and LLC’s that are taxed as sole proprietors and/or partnerships receive a 1099. You are not required to send 1099’s to a Corporation or a Tax Exempt entity. The Form W-9 will provide information regarding the entity type.
Threshold – Send to recipients to whom you have paid $600 or more during the calendar year.
Deadline
January 31st of the following year to recipients. February 28th to the Internal Revenue Service.
This article of QuickBooks Tips and Tricks was based on the 2012 version of QuickBooks.
