Business Discussions

How would you rate your communication skills? Do you think there is room for improvement? Well, you are in luck! Our QuickBooks Blog shared some ways to improve your communication skills. Here are my favorite points:     Be Transparent With Your StaffMiscommunication is a significant issue in our everyday lives. I don't know about you, but there are times when I get upset, but it always boils down to miscommunication. The writer urges us to be transparent to avoid this. By being transparent, it builds trust, understanding, and empathy with team members! If you are clear and concise with giving instructions, your employees will most likely do what is asked of them without complaints or confusion.   Focus on listeningThis is an area I can personally say I struggle with. Sometimes I can be caught up in my thoughts that I don't pause to consider what others may have to say. Here are some ways the writer mentioned why it is essential to listen:   It shows your team th

    This set of videos focuses on QuickBooks Online Inventory, which is available for QuickBooks Online Plus. The inventory tool offers basic quantity-on-hand tracking and reporting features. While adding and managing basic products and services is a fairly straightforward process, the full inventory experience is quite a bit more involved and requires regular upkeep. It’s best to start with inventory as you set up your product list, but you don’t need a clean slate to get set up (just know it will require some extra work). If you are converting from QuickBooks Desktop with existing inventory, there is a different workflow (found here). Note that inventory should be set up immediately after conversion, not later.   How to Create an Inventory Product | QuickBooks Online Tutorial 2018     After enabling inventory tracking (Gear Icon [  ] > Account and Settings > Sales > Products and Services > Track Inventory Quantity on Hand),

Hello Community! I hope everyone is having a wonderful, productive week.   When is the last time you thought about your business’s “digital identity”? What’s your online presence like? If you’re like many businesses, it’s possible you could use a little help in that department. Business owners have a lot on their plate that building their brand (especially online) can be last on the list. Entrepreneur.com came out with a wonderful article with some advice on how to best form your brand’s digital identity. Let’s not waste any time and get right to it!   Build your website firstYou may want to jump into making a Facebook or Instagram page, but your home base will be your website. Make building your site a priority before your social pages. This is where you’ll be sending your customers to ask questions or book appointments, so testing it out is important. Pick a domain name that is clear and easy to spell and remember to check if that name is available!   Claim y

Hello Community friends! Do you ever feel like you're in a slump, rut, ditch (you get it)? I think life can just get so busy with the daily routine and one can easily be worn down. Maybe that's just how I've been feeling lately, but if you think that describes you too, I've got a few pointers of how to overcome that feeling.     Accept that no journey is without twists and turnsAhh, the rollercoaster of life, right? There are ups and downs and surprise turns all throughout. Accepting that life, as well as business ownership is going to come with a few plot twists along the way makes it a bit easier when they do show up.   DaydreamYes, really! Take a breather, close your eyes, and think about how great it's going to be when you start checking off your goals one by one. Let those feelings of joy motivate you and push your further.Start with positive energyWake up early, get yourself ready, have some coffee, practice some positive affirmations, and then tackle the day. Sta

I know there are a lot of business owners here in the Community, but maybe you haven't officially took that leap yet. If that's you, you've come to the right place. I was reading an article from the QuickBooks Resource Center earlier and it presented a "beginner's guide to startup costs." Let's take a look at some of the key points...     Fixed CostsAs you may have assumed, fixed costs are those that don't necessarily fluctuate. These costs include: Rent Payroll Taxes Software Insurance Utilities And office supplies To name a few. These are ongoing expenses that you'll always need and typically paid for on a monthly basis.   Variable CostsThese expenses can vary in price and can even be a one time cost in some situations: Permits and licenses Incorporation fees Logo design Website design Business cards or brochures Down payment on rental property Improvements to chosen location   This may sound like a lot but good news is there are also several tax d

Currently I have a PC and am running QB.  Am thinking about getting a MAC and am wondering if anyone can give me pros and cons.  All my other devices are APPLE and would like to have a MAC but not if I am just asking for problems.  Thanks for any input

When the team and I were talking about what our next Community Chatter post should be, we were lamenting the fact that while Spring Cleaning is a big deal every year, no one really talks about Fall Cleaning.  So we decided to buck the trend and share all of our Fall cleaning tips and tricks.       Thinking about doing some Fall cleaning? Check out our suggestions below... (While these aren't necessarily Fall specific, hopefully, they give you the encouragement to get a bit of cleaning in!)   ++++++   From Kiala: Everyone talks about Spring cleaning, but with back to school and the change of seasons around the corner, I'm going to share with you my Fall cleaning hack for my bathtub. Cleaning the bathroom is always my least favorite thing to do, and the tub always feels so awkward. I've tried those "spray it and forget it" cleaners but they never quite get my tub as clean as I would like.You know those kitchen tools that you put dish soap in and the sp

    Connecting your bank and credit card accounts to QuickBooks Online is a great way to track your income and spending without having to manually enter every transaction. Only recording your income through sales forms while leaving out your expenses provides an incomplete perspective of your business’ overall health, but creating records for every transaction can be a huge task.    If you connect your online bank accounts in QuickBooks Online, the program will automatically download the last 90 days of transactions recorded by your bank. The program will match existing entries already in QuickBooks online and add new records for incoming transactions without a matching entry. This feature ensures your accounts are always up-to-date and drastically reduces the amount of data-entry you need to do on a daily basis.  Why should I connect my online bank accounts? Get started connecting your online bank accounts Navigating

Can anyone tell me in summary how well QB has helped them?

Hi everybody! Thanks for joining us here in the Community, and more specifically, the Business Discussion board! My question for you today is, "Are you paid what you're worth?" That's definitely an important question that more than likely everyone has asked themselves at one point or another. I found an article from inc.com that offers a few ways to make sure your product or service is priced to maximize profits. Here are a few that were mentioned...   Don't price on the basis of your competitionThis may be a little easier said than done. It does make sense to price your product similar to that of your competition, but "the majority of startups launching new products undermine their pricing by about 10 to 50 percent." This can also be a losing strategy because it undermines the value of your product or service. Keep in mind you're not selling [fill in the blank with what you're actually selling], you're actually selling value.   Break the psychological pattern

Do you know what I love? Revisiting the basics of running a business. Sometimes we get so caught up in the complicated details we forget the simple things that make a business run smoothly. Today I’m going to focus on an article from our Resource center and talk about what hours tracked means and the many ways you can do so.   The Fair Labor Standards Act defines hours worked as any amount of time an employee is doing their job requirement. This includes working remotely or being on-site. They must be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked, not including meals. How many hours will depend on whether that employee is full-time, part-time, and any overtime hours.   Choose a recording method. This could be manual timesheets like a piece of paper or excel document. You can also find a time tracking software or the good old time clock (stamp time). Set a start and end time. Make a schedule if your employee’s hours differ from day-to-day, or go over your expe

Hello, hello! It's great to have you here! If you're new to the Community, welcome, there's lots to see and do! If you're a long time friend and member, we sure do appreciate you! I'm feeling grateful today, which isn't a bad thing, but let's talk about small business things, shall we? I recently read an article from a site called brit.co that talked about red flags to avoid when starting your business. It's always a good to learn for other people's experiences who have been there, so let's take a look...     Mismatched Payment DetailsSo you just started a business and accept PayPal payments, but you're using your roommates PayPal email address, something like c00lchick93@hotmail. Hmm maybe not the best look. The post mentions making sure your payment details match up and you may be wondering why that's a big deal. It not only  makes everything look and feel more cohesive, it also helps avoid chargebacks because your customers will recognize the company name a

How do I escalate an complaints issue within Quickbooks Payroll US? We are an Australian company using Quickbooks Payroll Online. We run the US payroll from Australia. We only have 2 staff in the US.  We have been using Intuit for the past 14 years. Intuit recently moved to Quickbooks.I am now being told that I need to provide valid US identification to be the Principal Account owner of Quickbooks Payroll. This is after 14 years!  Our other Principal Account Owners within our company have all been Australian and have provided their Australian ID. I have provided all my Australian ID, but they keep telling me they need US ID!When I try to escalate this issue within Quickbooks after several online chats, I have asked for a phone number to call. I am told they do not provide phone numbers. I am then instructed to login and request a call back from a team member. The issue is that they do not accept international phone numbers. They will not call Australia. Our Payroll syste

I will be providing services for clients where they will pay online.  I will also be renting a piece of equipment and I would like to pre-authorize a payment, so if they do not return the equipment to me, I capture the funds.  I don't want to do any of this through a "store", rather I will invoice clients. I would like to be able to capture funds at the time they pay for most services, but pre-authorize an additional charge just for the equipment. Is this possible? Thank you!

Why, hello there Community! You know what? I had one of the best work weeks I’ve had in a long time! You know those weeks where you get things done, you have minimal stress, and you feel accomplished? And it’s all because of a very basic but fundamental skill that I worked into my schedule…… ready?     Time Management.   That’s right. Simple and free and lessening my anxiety. Gone are my college days of procrastinating and cramming things into the last minute. What’s even better is I saw an article from Brittany Bettini from entrepeneur.com that explains 5 Reasons Why You Need to Learn Time Management for your Business.   #1 Accomplish more in less   Until someone invents a time machine that can pause time, we only have a certain number of hours every day. Taking this into account, it’s necessary to organize your time efficiently. Focus on what you need to do, starting with the most important tasks, or you’ll find your day has slipped away and y

Hello, again Community friends! We all know how important it is to be conscious of cyber security, and establish regular practices to maintain that security. Have you or your employees recently transitioned to hybrid work, meaning some time is spent working in the office and the rest at home? I came across an article on the QuickBooks Blog that provided some notable measures on how to stay secure while going back and forth between the office and home. Here are some of the points mentioned...   Build your own handbookSmall business owners/operators should have a written, not just verbally understood, cyber handbook. The handbook will provide guidelines for each employee and cover what is and what isn't acceptable when it comes to using the web for work. "The goal is to create a resource that every employee can access, regardless of their location and the devices they use for work. It should be the first stop for any team member who has questions or wants to double-check a

Good afternoon, wonderful people of the Community! We have officially entered August and the back-to-school commercials are coming in full swing. I’m not sad about leaving this sweltering hot summer behind soon, but I’m trying to soak up some of those rays while I still can. I hope everyone is well-rested and productive this week!     Work anxiety can be a tough reality in any job. Even people with their dream job experience it. Maybe there’s a huge deadline coming up, financial issues, or an extra responsibility you’re not quite confident in, but everyone has felt it. The good news is that this too shall pass… but what can we do in the meantime? I’m here with some ideas that get me through when anxiety is trying to take over.   Start your morning rightThis can mean something different to anyone, but one thing I recommend is giving yourself some quiet time before you go to work. Whether it’s sitting outside for a little while with coffee, meditating, or reading a book,

Name: Kristin Jackson Business: Think Somatics and class leader at Joyn Location: Portland, OR and online everywhere Launched: 2003 Personal trainer Kristin Jackson had spent more than two decades exploring and teaching different kinds of exercise including Pilates, yoga, water aerobics and even hula hoop. For herself and for her clients, Kristin focused on “typical” training goals like building a strong core, keeping shoulders back and maintaining excellent posture. But when she was hit by a car in 2011, Kristin discovered the muscles and muscle patterns she’d worked so hard for were hindering her recovery. In her quest for healing, Kristin turned to somatics, a gentle neuromuscular practice that helps people regain flexibility, get rid of pain and move with ease – and with joy. Today, spreading joy is a key part of Kristin’s entrepreneurial mission as a certified somatics practitioner and a class leader at Joyn where she teaches somatics, hula hoop and a playful “Take It Outside” mo

Did you know that a 2009 study showed that just 6 minutes of reading a day has been found to decrease blood pressure, lower your heart rate, and overall reduce stress?  It's true!  So if you haven't picked up a good book in a little while, today, August 9th is National book lovers day; which seems like a great time to get back into the habit.    My team had a lively discussion in Slack this morning about books and I asked about one book that they had read that changed their lives.  Curious to see what they recommended? Read on. ;)    ++++++   From Morgan: I've always enjoyed reading and unfortunately, I don't make enough time for it. There have been several books that I thought changed my life, but looking back it was probably just that "reader's high" you get when you finish a book. However, I read a book my senior year of college that quite literally changed my life and likely yours, and many others as well. "Morgan, what are you talking a

Good afternoon, my QuickBooks Community Family! Welcome back! Quick question, do you want to attract and retain employees? Of course, your answer should be YES! Well then, let's look at the variety of perks you are offering them. A thought to consider is, does it give your business a competitive advantage over other companies. Today, I will be sharing this article by Money Crasher about 26 best company benefits and perks for employees. Here is what they had to say:   Although your business may not be big as Google, Twitter, Facebook, there are still ways to enhance what you're currently offering employees. They presented four categories which we will examine each:   Individual employee perks and benefits Team-based perks and benefits Companywide perks and benefits Office perks and benefits   Starting with individual employee perks and benefits, they suggest giving your employees holiday and birthday gifts. To make it more special/personalized, find out their interests

Good day everyone! Welcome back to the QuickBooks Community! Today, I wanted to share this gem by Nicole Blanckenberg about  tips to improve your advertising strategy for your small business. Here is what she has to say:     Redefine your advertising goalsIt is time to take a step back and reanalyze your advertising goals. She mentioned that you want your advertising to be relevant, realistic, budget-friendly, measurable, specific to your market, and reachable.   Dive deeper into your customer dataA lot of mistakes small businesses make are looking at the demographics alone when trying to target their audience. However, the writer revealed that is just the surface. She tells us to explore not only demographics such as age, sex, income but also the geography, including the neighborhood and cities, behavioral such as product/service usage, purchase history, and psychographic linked with their lifestyle, habits, goals, etc.    Invest in brand identityW

    What impression do you want your invoices to leave on your customers?   A customized invoice, even semi-stylized ones, is an opportunity to enhance the perception of your business. The Custom Form Styles module in QuickBooks Online lets you edit the layout, design, and data fields that appear on your invoices.   There’s nothing wrong with plain invoices. Customers aren’t going to abandon your brand because you use generic sales forms. Invoices do, however, make them think something.     Unlike other branding solutions, this one requires very little effort and has no added cost. You don’t need an MFA to create an eye-catching invoice template. Anyone with QuickBooks Online Essentials and QuickBooks Online Plus can use the Custom Form Styles module to create an attractive, professional-looking invoice.     Why do I need to customize my invoices (and other sales forms)?   Customizing invoices give your communica

Hello again, and welcome back to the Business Discussion board. I found an article on blogher.com that offered some helpful insight every small business owner needs to know. And that's the legal side of things. Let's take a look...     Get your entity establishedSetting up your business as an LLC or corporation creates separation between you personally and the business. Even though it's yours, you still want to get this done for future protection. "That’s going to protect your assets from any kind of liability that comes with your business and vice versa in that it will also protect your business from any kind of liability that would come at you personally.”   InsuranceSuper important but can easily be forgotten. There are several types of business insurances out there for you to choose from. Each option is designed to protect something different and specific risks. Out of the variety, liability insurance is the most common for small businesses to purchase fir

Sometimes it’s important to go back to the basics, even if you’re a seasoned business owner. Many of us write emails all the time, but as a business owner, this is most likely a big part of your communication with both customers and employees. Whether it’s a quick update on a project or responding to an upset customer, you want to put your best foot forward and be professional and clear.     There are skills that take time to develop, and writing is one of them. Don’t worry if writing isn’t a strength of yours. Thankfully, we have a post for you in our Resource Center to help you from start to finish with your emails. Let’s look at some tips to set you up for success!   First, here are some important questions to ask yourself:   1. Is email the most efficient way to communicate my message?Face to face tends to be the best and most efficient way to communicate, but it’s not always possible. Before you write an email, you want to make sure this is the best way to com

Hello Community friends, and welcome back to the Business Discussion board. One of my most favorite things to do is go to vendor craft fairs. There’s a huge one in my hometown every year and it’s not fall until I’ve been! I’ve never been as a vendor before, just a customer, snacker, and people watcher. However, if one were to attend an event of these sorts to sell, here are a few things to avoid…     1. Being unpreparedNothing is set up on time, you forgot part of your display and bags, and you didn't bring enough items to restock! Que the "Oh No!" song. A simple way to avoid this is to make a list of every little thing you'll need and check them off one by one as you put them in your car before you head out. It's better to bring it and not need it, than to not bring it and need it.   2. Being unfriendlyI'm sure it can be more than nerve wracking presenting your work for others to look over and ultimately judge. You may even be a little shy, but if you come off as compl