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Once your business is ready for, well, business, we know there’s one thing on your mind: customers. (Not sure if your company is ready for its debut? Here’s a checklist to help you decide.) Specifically, it’s time to focus on landing your very first customer. Why is your inaugural client vital to your business success? Simply put, after your countless hours of dedication, determination and perseverance, when someone buys what you’re selling, suddenly it feels like it was all worth it. Self-starters understand an initial sale or service contract roughly translates as, I did it! It’s proof-positive that your entrepreneurial vision is, in fact, 20/20. But symbolic success aside, your pioneering first customer can help you better understand and grow your fledgling business. More than that: The way you think about and learn from client numero uno is crucial for your business to survive, and thrive, in the long run. Consider the following insights about Customer #1: &nb
You’ve heard the saying, “If you build it, they will come.” If you’re building your own business, nothing’s more exciting than imagining when your very first customer will come. Who will it be? What product or service will they purchase? In what volume? Will they tell all their friends about your company? And how long before you’ve got a global following, international fame and wealth beyond your wildest dreams? Whoa, Nellie! Customers and clients (you’ll notice we use these words interchangeably) are, of course, essential to your entrepreneurial success. And the time and effort you spend readying your business for its debut is critical to building a following of happy, loyal customers. In fact, the more you strategically fine-tune your brand before you hit the market, the more likely you’ll be to land your first customer – and make the first of many sales to come. Herewith, five tips to help you ensure your business really is customer-ready. Are all
As we know data security is important nowadays to prevent our personal information from any unauthorized access. But, sometimes it is needed to be removed. Like in this case described below: A few days back I got some important files from my client but, those files were password protected. Though he provided me with all those passwords for opening the document. But, it becomes very annoying for me to enter the password again and again when tried to open the document. So, I discussed the same issue with my friend and he suggested me to remove security from those documents. I tried Mac preview to unlock PDF document but, this approach is not useful for multiple files. Can anyone suggest any reliable application for Mac OS X?
Hello, I have recently taken over a companies QB.The issue that I am seeing is that the office person was creating an invoice for a customer, then she would recieve a payment and post thru the invoice. But she would not make a deposit. She would do an general ledger journal to debit into cash in bank and credit undeposited fund and sales. Thus leaving the invoice show as open ( not paid).My questions are:1. how does this affect my balance sheet2. Should I void journal or invoice?
“It’s wild how early you have to start preparing for the holiday season. We start planning and making pieces in the summer. Thinking about making mugs for Christmas while it’s July is definitely something we never anticipated! Right now, we’re making pottery to sell online and at a few craft fairs during the holiday season, and we’re also are in the midst of filling restaurant orders.” – Mallie Testerman & Stephen “Sven” Jobe, founders of Sven Ceramics “We're planning a big production of all our products to ramp up our inventory. We’re also trying to come up with one more new design for the winter season. Fingers crossed!” -- Jane Lee, founder of Wildebeest dog accessories “We just purchased a vintage caramel twist wrapper from the 1950s. We are also hiring people to assist with caramel production as one half of this partnership is having a baby. That will be interesting!” – Courtney Robinson and Celia Glowka, founders of Caramel Caravan “Sales have really pick
Jast as an FYI, I received the email yesterday and then a follow up phone call from this woman trying to gain access to our QB files. When I called Intuit the person I spoke to said this was a scam. From: Martinez, Brisa [mailto:[email address removed]] Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2018 1:45 PM To: Mark Mazzie <[email address removed]> Subject: Intuit EOC License Change- Account # [removed] Hello Mark, This email is a follow-up to an email sent out previously regarding your QuickBooks Enterprise Software. A change in license coding is needed for your EOC (Entitlement Offering Code) or product code. While the functionality of your software is not compromised, correct coding on your account is needed to ensure that your product offering is captured correctly on your account. The correct Product number you should have is [removed]. Below is the link for instructions on how to change your EOC (Entitlement Offering Code) or pro
We’ve covered Invoice and Sales Form Basics, now let’s take a look a few of the essential connected features: Sales Tax, Billable Hours, and Estimates. Setting up for Success with QuickBooks Online - Invoicing and Sales Form Basics Setting up for Success with QuickBooks Online - Intermediate Invoicing How to Set Up Products & Services: Organize & List We also introduced two basic list creation methods in the QuickBooks Encyclopedia: the “build-as-lists-you-work” method, where you create entries as you generate sales forms and the “build-lists-all-at-once” method, where build a complete list ahead of time. Each method has advantages. Whether you prefer to set aside time to enter everything ahead of time or do work on the fly, you’ll want to spend time creating product and service, customer, and vendor items before you start sending Invoices en masse. How to Set Up Sales Tax: Settings, Sales, & More &n
You probably know that QuickBooks Connect is an exciting, inspiring conference packed with entrepreneurs eager to learn about growing a successful business. And you know what makes QB Connect even better? All the amazing shopping opportunities that let you support small businesses -- and cross some items off you holiday gift list! QuickBooks Connect 2018 in San Jose, CA (November 5-7) will play host to some superstar entrepreneurs at the Connect Bazaar. Stop by their booths and support your fellow small-business owners who will be selling their goods during the conference. Each of these smart, motivated entrepreneurs has a fascinating small business story to share. See for yourself in the profiles below. Patti Lee-Hoffmann of Flutter Eyewear As Patti approached the age of 50, she and her professional women friends wanted a more stylish version of the typical drugstore reading glasses. As co-founder of a 600+ employee consulting firm, Patti has plenty
Do you think there's an advantage to keeping track of taxes year-round and filing quarterly? Do you prefer to do it all at once at the end of the year?
Many small-business owners sell their products on Amazon or eBay or Etsy in addition to selling on their personal websites. The main reason is that they want to expand their market reach and make more sales. But is adding new sales platforms always profitable? Amazon and eBay are very large marketplaces that generate far more customer hits than small-business websites. On the other hand, these marketplaces charge fees for that boost in market reach, and those additional fees impact individual sellers' pricing. For example, let's say I sell a product on my website for $25. The same product might have to be sold for $22 to customers on Amazon or eBay to compensate for the fees associated with selling on those platforms. I also have to take into consideration how other sellers on those platforms are pricing similar products, so I can compete with them. In addition, syncing inventory across
HiI understand that QB POS has been tested with Surface Pro4, however: for our second terminal, I’d like to get the newest computer possible. Has anyone had success running on SP6? Telephone support could not answer this question.thanks !!
In the first article of this two-part series, I explained how to value-price your work with your new clients. It’s always easier to change your pricing/billing plan when you take on new clients, as they are eager to get on board and have no knowledge of your past hourly billing method. It’s a little more difficult when you start to migrate your existing clients who are accustomed to the hourly billing. Put on your psychologist’s hat here and remember that most people do not like change. You are going to need to sell them on this new way of billing by giving them something in return. Here’s how I successfully approached the challenge: Make the pricing migration at a good breakpoint. I chose the beginning of the year. You can also do this when an existing client’s contract expires. Sell your client on your offer of “unlimited access” for bookkeeping support. Let them know you are available to them whenever they need you, and you won’t be setting a timer and
Congratulations! Your practice is growing, and that feels great. Question is, are you making a profit? If you’re not, it could be because you’re invoicing based on an hourly billing method. I relied on hourly billing for years, and I ended up undercharging for my services, losing track of my hours and, if you can believe it, sometimes even forgetting to invoice my clients! I knew I was losing money working this way, but I never made the time to figure out how to change things. Then I started hearing the buzz around “value pricing” and “fixed pricing.” Could a new approach to pricing increase my revenue? I was willing to spend time and money to find out. First, I signed up for a session at QB Connect with Ron Baker who is known as the father of value pricing. I also started paying attention to Mark Wickersham. Mark is an engaging guy with razor-sharp wit who is a pricing expert for bookkeepers and accountants. I devoured Ron Baker‘s book, Implementing Value Pricin
It’s a bit scary, isn’t it? You’re all comfy-cozy in your desktop world with your small collection of desktop clients - but you also want to grow and expand your business. Where do you go next? This was my journey to shift my practice from Desktop to the cloud. Moving Clients from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online Step 1: Learn QuickBooks Online The first most important step is to learn that online software. If you’re a QuickBooks ProAdvisor (and if you’re not you should be - it’s free!), take the test, pass the test, and take the advanced certification. What you learn will set you up for success. Step 2: Convert your company file to QuickBooks Online You’ll need to learn how to convert your desktop files, of course, so you might as well start with your own company data file. (After all, that’s what you’re going to be doing with your current customers!) Starting with your own file gives you a playground to practice and to see the results: Create a po
Several years ago, I was happily working in QuickBooks Desktop. I had a comfortable bookkeeping service with a handful of clients who kept me busy 50 hours a week. My daughter had a baby and was on maternity leave from her job at the bank. When she had to go back to work, she was miserable. She missed the new baby terribly. The idea popped into my head that I could grow my business and hire my daughter. She could work from home and be with my grandson. I could expand my business. It was a win-win. I had already begun to realize that the world was shifting to the cloud. A little voice had been telling I needed to learn QuickBooks Online. But switching platforms takes time and effort. I’d been using Desktop for more than 15 years, so I was comfortable with it and knew it well. Couldn’t I just stick with Desktop? When my daughter came on board, I made sure she got certified in QuickBooks Online. After all, she might be my successor in this business someday. I already had
Imagine if managing your precious dollars was straightforward, painless and fun. Dawn Fotopulos, CEO of DF Consulting, Inc. and author of Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners is on a mission to turn that dream into a reality. A seasoned pro when it comes to sharing financial advice with small business owners, Dawn is dedicated to helping people who work for themselves feel confident and informed about money matters. Here, Dawn explains why your balance sheet serves as a truth serum by painting an accurate picture of your business. Do you know your numbers? Are you financially literate? If you’re like the majority of people who work for themselves, the answer, sadly, is no. Dawn says this shortcoming has lead to an epidemic of entrepreneurial failures. It also explains why Brad Smith, CEO of Intuit, believes “if we could improve the survival rates of small businesses by only 5%, we could eliminate the unemployment probl
When it comes to building a successful brand, entrepreneurs must think carefully and strategically from day one. Seasoned business pro Julie Gordon White says it’s never too early make smart tactical decisions about everything from what you name your business to how you market it on social media. Here, Julie shares five tips for getting your brand-building off to a great start. Keep your own name separate from the name of your business “You should definitely own the URL with your name and direct it to your business URL. But for any business to live on after being sold or acquired, it must have its own name. That’s why my company is called The WELL for Women Entrepreneurs and not Julie Gordon White, Inc.” Create a strong “brand partnership” between the business and the founder (yep, that’s you!) “The business identity must be so strong it can remain solid and stable after a change of ownership. The way to accomplish this is to build a "b
Hi everyone, I'm new here. My name is Debbie and I have a Health and Wellness website. I just started and have a lot to learn. Any tips would be appreciated!
Quarter three has ended and quarterly tax payments are in, congrats! We're buckling down for the end of the year, which means quarter four taxes and annual taxes will be here soon. There are some common tasks most self-employed workers have to do to prep, such as: Organizing total income, total expenses, Tracking and reporting how much you drove for business (i.e. miles), Maintaining receipts Tallying up sales tax Anything else? How did you do with these tasks during the third quarter? What did you learn, what did you wish you had known ahead of time? Did you run into any challenges? If this isn't your first rodeo, what advice would you give to a first time self-employed tax-payer? If this is your first year as a self-employed tax-payer, how are you feeling? What questions do you have and is there anything you could use help with?
Welcome to Community Conversations! In this ongoing series, QB Community Founder and host,Leslie Barber, sits down with small business owners to talk about what’s great and what’s tough about working for yourself. You’ll hear loads of ideas, insights and inspiration. We invite you to sit back, listen and learn! Here’s what you’ll find in this episode of Community Conversations ... Romy Taormina is the “Nausea Relief Chief” who founded Psi Health Solutions, Inc. and invented fashion-forward, acupressure wristbands called Psi Bands. Romy says even after being in business for a decade, managing operations, cash flow, inventory and manufacturing is still plenty challenging. She tells us how she figures it all out, one analytical step at a time. Julie Gordon White is a popular business coach, an award-winning entrepreneur, a bestselling author and host of QB Community’s Momentum to $1 Million group. A top priority for Julie? Helping women business owners ch
Name: Mitch Daugherty, co-founder Organization: Built Oregon & Little Boxes Location: Portland, OR Launched: 2014 Built Oregon, which owns Little Boxes, started as a storytelling venture by co-founders Mitch Daugherty (left) and Terry St. Marie. Their initial idea was to tell the stories of Oregon entrepreneurs via podcast and articles. A successful crowdfunding campaign and a few stories later, they realized they’d unearthed a goldmine of local consumer-product entrepreneurs. Mitch and Terry brainstormed about how to elevate and help these small, local businesses, and the current iteration of Built Oregon took shape. Now, after four years of operating as a nonprofit, Built Oregon has shone the spotlight on many of Oregon’s small consumer-product businesses (think: chocolate, kombucha, beer, coffee, hot sauce, jewelry and more) by offering an accelerator program and an annual festival. Another key promotional event is Little Boxes, a three-day, post-Thanksgiving shopping scavenger
Welcome to Community Conversations! In this ongoing series, host Leslie Barber sits down with small business owners to talk about what’s great and what’s tough about working for yourself. You’ll hear loads of ideas, insights and inspiration. We invite you to sit back, listen and learn! Here’s what you’ll find in this episode of Community Conversations ... Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, shares his best practices for hiring. Remember, says Michael, finding someone who is technically proficient may be a lot less important than bringing in someone who gels with your business values and your business culture. Romy Taormina is CEO of Psi Health Solutions, Inc. and inventor of fashionable wristbands proven to relieve nausea. Romy believes it takes village to run a successful business, which makes hiring the right people critically important. She says finding a good fit is way more likely when you ask prospective employees lots of probing questions.
We all know that death and taxes are inevitable, and here’s something else we’d like to add to the list: When your business requires shipping a product to a consumer, something will go wrong. Not every time, of course, but, at some point, small business owners will have to navigate a sticky customer service situation due to a missed delivery date, a broken item or some other shipping-related snafu. How you handle it can make or break your business reputation, especially during the high-pressure, high volume holiday shopping season. Instead of being caught off guard, it pays to spend some time planning how you’ll handle mishaps. This post will help you get started. Create an amazing “post-purchase” experience Think your customers don’t have a “post-purchase” experience? Think again. Whatever communication does (or doesn’t happen) between you and your customers once they’ve bought something from you is, by definition, your post-purchase experience. (If you do zero outreach aft
Don't say you never get a day off! Maybe you work weekends, or have a hard time feeling relaxed when you're supposed to be "out of office." But no time off, ever? Not buying it. So...let's define "day off" as any significant period of time during which you can 1) choose your preferred activity in a 2) non-stressful environment that requires 3) no connectivity to work-related email or other forms of communication that may rope you back into professional mode unless the the house is truly on fire. What do you do? Where do you go? How do you find that moment of restorative peace?
Hi friends, It’s time for me to be moving on from the QB Community for a new adventure. Before I go, I want to let you know that growing this community and getting to know so many of you has been the honor of my professional career. As a small business owner myself, I know how rewarding and challenging your work is. I’m grateful that you’re willing to share the highs and lows of your entrepreneurial adventures and hearing your stories of grit, grace and tenacity truly has been a privilege. Here’s to your continued learning, growth and success! Wish you all the very best, Leslie
