Community Basics

  Welcome to the Intuit Community Champions program!We designed this program to allow us to highlight and feature the awesome members who answer questions, create blogs or videos, and otherwise share their knowledge to help others with Intuit products. It unites the top contributors from our QuickBooks, ProConnect, TurboTax, Mint, and Turbo communities into one program that extends across our ecosystem. New! This year we are extending our Champions program in QuickBooks to include members in Social media spaces such as Twitter and Facebook. We’d love to share how the program works, and welcome questions you may have. We hope you are as excited as we are!   How can I be considered for the Champions program? There are many different ways to contribute, but you can increase your chances with the following:   For Community: Answering questions in our Q&A forums Starting or replying to discussions in our Business Discussions forums Accepting solutions, and giving kudos

Intuit Community Terms of Use Intuit Inc. Online Community Terms of Use   Welcome to the Intuit Inc. (collectively referred to as "Intuit", "we", "us" or "our") Online Community. These Terms of Use and any web pages that display a direct link to these Terms of Use (collectively the "Site"), provide information and services to you as a forum member and are available to all individuals and entities, ("you", "your", "Users"). These Terms of Use also govern your participation in any event hosted or sponsored by Intuit (each an "Event").   General. You acknowledge that the Terms of Use together with Intuit's Privacy Statement (collectively the "Terms"), govern your use of the Site and participation in an Event. You may access our Privacy Statement by clicking on the Privacy link on the Site. Your access to the Site or participation in an Event in any way is evidence of your acceptance of the Terms and the enforcement of said Terms, so before using the Site or participating in an E

  If you’re new to the QuickBooks Community and wondering what’s happening here, you’ve come to the right place.  In this post, you’ll find out about our mission and goals as a community, learn how to quickly and easily navigate around the site and discover how to get the most out of your experience. Watch Our Welcome Video! Why We Built QB Community - Our Story Our Safe & Supportive Community QB Community Do's and Don'ts Getting to Know the QB Community Site A Word About Self-Promotion The Deal with Links Meet Your QB Community Team   Why We Built QB Community - Our Story   Let's be honest. There are tons of people and companies vying for the attention of folks like you, who work for themselves. From sketchy pyramid schemes to unknown “experts” stating little more than the obvious, there’s plenty of noise out there to distract you from the real business of starting, and growing, your dream business.   We know the noise can be deafening. Fr

  The fall season is a perfect time for reflection. The vagaries of school vacation, summer travel and shifting schedules have given way to a calmer, more predictable routine, and, at least for some of us, the crazy winter holiday season is still ahead. For me, the golden leaves, shortening days and crisp temperatures inspired me to bring the QB Community team together to take stock of what’s ahead for our amazing community. I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off our second year in business!   The QB Community team gathered last week in Portland, OR to review what we’ve already accomplished, think about about where we’re going and lay plans for how to get there. For two days, we brainstormed new ideas, dreaming big about what this community is and what it could become. We crafted a multi-step, year-long plan to put our favorite ideas into action. We also ate a lot of local chocolate!   At the end of two days, the walls of our workspace were filled with colorful

  Hi there,   Chances are you’re reading this post because you’re a little, or a lot, curious about our QuickBooks Community. Great! We love that you want to know more about who you’ll meet and what kind of ideas, information and inspiration you’ll find here, too. (Ready to join right now? Click here and become a member in a flash.)   Now, we could use this post to explain why we think you’ll be glad you joined the QB Community. Instead, we’ve decided to turn things over to some of the dedicated, passionate, hard-working entrepreneurs already benefitting from being part of the QB Community. Here, in their words, are five great reasons to join our community today.   1. Our members are supportive   Sure, you work for yourself. That doesn’t mean you have work by yourself. Whether you’re celebrating a new customer, solving an inventory problem or venting your frustration about a late payment, you’ll be cheered on -- or cheered up! – by oth

We know it takes more than just useful posts and helpful hosts to create an online community you value, feel safe in and want to visit every day. Building a vibrant, welcoming community that truly helps you start, build and grow your business requires a thoughtful exchange of ideas, information and inspiration between all of our valued participants. Since everyone here contributes to and helps shape the culture of our QuickBooks Community, we’ve put together some important guidelines about the behavior and expectations that make this community special.   As you read the information below, you’ll find we do things a little differently here than in other online communities. We’ve put a lot of thought into creating guidelines that reflect our goals and priorities, and we hope they reflect what you hold dear, too. We appreciate you taking a few minutes to find out more.     We encourage networking and collaboration We love honest, helpful and respectful conversations about

  Buckle up, QB Community, because we want to get inside your head!   This month, we’re exploring how entrepreneurs like you think. We want to know what drives you, what keeps you going and why (and how) your brain works just a little bit differently than non-entrepreneurs. Thanks to some recent research and your own great input on this topic, we’ve uncovered some fascinating findings about what makes the self-employed tick. Example? Entrepreneurs say self-employment means working longer hours and making more sacrifices than if they worked a typical 9-5 -- yet they also say self-employment significantly improves their work/life balance. Are you surprised? I’m not!   I’m a case in point. When I co-founded NutraBella and launched Bellybar, I wanted to give pregnant women an easier, tastier way to get their prenatal vitamins. I also wanted to be able to run my own business on my own terms. I’ve always been self-motivated, and I was determined to write my own story from st

  On June 21 2018, were you a) anxiously awaiting the outcome of a FIFA World Cup soccer match or b) anxiously awaiting the outcome of a United States Supreme Court case?   If it was the former, you know that France beat Peru. If it was the latter, you know that in South Dakota v. Wayfair, South Dakota won. The case has implications for small business owners selling online, so let’s find out more.   The case In this much-anticipated ruling, the Court ruled in favor of a South Dakota law mandating that online, out-of-state businesses that meet a specific sales threshold must now collect sales tax from all purchasers located in South Dakota.   This ruling overturned a previous law which found that states were not required to collect sales tax against businesses that didn’t have a sufficient physical presence or in-state connection (known as nexus).   Examples Before the 2018 ruling, if you ran a Colorado-based online business selling bespoke ski hats, you did n

  When was the last time you visited your local farmer’s market? If it’s been a while, this week is the perfect time to stop by for home-grown fruits and veggies, not to mention baked goods, honey, artisan creations and a whole lot more. Still weighing a visit to the grocery store vs. the market? Here are three great reasons to support a farmer’s market near you:   1. According to the Farmer’s Market Coalition, when you spend $100 at your community market, 62 percent of that investment stays in the local economy. 2. For every $1 million they earn in revenue, local growers create 13 new jobs. 3. Farmer’s markets support a unique local supply chain. Consider this scenario: An organic feed company sells supplies to a local chicken farmer … who sells eggs and meat at the farmer’s market … that’s bought by community members and neighborhood restaurants … which leads to happy customers and a healthy small businesses community!   Supporting a farmer’s market is a fantastic wa

  When I started my business, NutraBella, in 2005, social media wasn’t ubiquitous and omnipotent like it is today. In those days, our marketing strategy consisted of word of mouth (for lack of advertising funds!) and dabbling in targeted Facebook promotions. Back then, simply having a website could be enough for small business owners to let the world know they were open for business.   Of course, things are very different today. As we all know, a savvy, robust social media marketing campaign can turn a fledgling business into a household name. It’s happened to someone I know. Maybe you’ve heard of Little Passports?   My friend co-founded this kids’ educational subscription box business in 2009 with zero startup funds. Eventually, Little Passports got some capital, but it wasn’t until the company began a Facebook marketing campaign that their success went through the roof. After investing $500 in their first year on social media, the company is now estimated to earn betw

  For lots of small business owners, July is a slow time in business. (If it’s your high season, you’re not alone – check out this post to meet other entrepreneurs whose businesses peak during the hottest months.) In case you want to set aside some time this summer to brush up on some business strategies and tactics, we’ve curated a list of posts packed with insights and information designed to help you run your business efficiently and effectively (and have more fun doing it, too!).   We hope you enjoy digging into our QB Community Summer Reading List. Happy reading!   If you want to get paid faster and more reliably, read these posts:   Invoicing: How to Put Your Mighty Invoice to Work Invoicing: Frustrated by Late Payments? Some Tips for Tracking Down Your Dollars Invoicing: Make Every Invoice Work Faster and Better Than Ever Before Use Recurring Sales Receipts to Get Paid On Time   If you work with other people – employees, customers, suppliers -- read th

Hello fellow community members! Anyone going to the Accounting & Finance Show today in Los Angeles? If you are let’s meet up! Intuit booth is 711 I will head over there at the beginning of every even hour! (10:00) (12:00) (2:00) Also don’t miss Seth David’s class on workflow efficiency @ 4:30! hope to meet some community members in person today! 

Looking to connect with other small-business owners and self-employed people like you? Learn what QB Community is all about.  

  My 9-year-old daughter recently came to me with a business idea: she wants to start a summer camp for girls. Since I learned a ton about building my business by reading (and, of course, by doing!), I’ve guided my daughter toward some helpful resources and encouraged her to write down her ideas, consider some logistics and crunch a basic budget to form a business plan. As I watch her think, plan and dream, I know my girl is exploring independent learning that is crucial for realizing her entrepreneurial vision.   This experience got me thinking about the whole process of learning how to be an entrepreneur. It’s something we’re all doing, each and every day. In fact, being a business owner is a non-stop process of learning, understanding, absorbing and analyzing. From the get-go, we’re developing and honing our practical business knowledge by learning from other business owners, tracking market- and consumer changes and self-educating through courses, workshops and conferen

     Summer is almost here! After the long winter, I’m thinking about getting outside as much as possible, whether that means backcountry hiking or lounging by the pool. I’m ready to soak up some sun! And I know I’m not alone. To kick off the “let’s get outside” season, we’re focusing on entrepreneurs who work in countless different ways in the great outdoors. It’s hardly surprising so many businesses are built around outdoor experiences -- after all, the outdoor recreation (OR) industry is growing faster than the U.S. economy with huge opportunities for enterprising entrepreneurs.   For the first time in U.S. history, the state of the outdoor recreation industry was measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Now an independent, government agency is tracking the economic contribution of activities like fishing, rock climbing and off-roading just as it measures the impact of construction, education and computer technology on our economy. Guess what? It turns out

  Last week was tough. Our world lost two incredibly creative and innovative people, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. As we grieve, we’re all wondering how it’s possible we didn’t know what was really going on behind the beaming smiles and global success.   That’s why I’m writing this post. Working for yourself or leading a business is hard. It’s stressful and unpredictable. And often, we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders. But even when you face huge challenges, it’s crucially important that you know, you remember and you believe that you’re not alone on your journey. The very existence of a community like this one proves it.   I’m so grateful to entrepreneurs like Elisabeth Young and Nani Waddoups for talking openly and honestly about the challenges we all face running our business. Sometimes, simply admitting it to yourself, to a trusted friend or even to the pages of your private journal can make things feel just a little bit easier.     He

  Was there life before smartphones? Mine certainly wasn’t as flexible. Smartphones have brought many of us the freedom we wanted to be able to attend to life and our business -- whenever and wherever.   In fact, the entire way we do business has changed so much in the last decade. And it’s only speeding up. Car phones, faxing, phone book ads and catalog shopping have all been left in innovation’s dust, while entire industries such as hospitality, retail, entertainment and publishing have been disrupted by better, faster and stronger technologies. What did I do before Instacart?   This May, in QB Community, we’ll be exploring these “Business Shifts” and what they mean for you, the small business owner. Expect great discussions on shifting from analog to digital, paper to cloud, brick-and-mortar to ecommerce, cash to smartpay, “real’ people to bots, even dining out to delivery.   Here are three big changes that can impact you as the future of commerce continues to

 

     I don’t know about you, but when I started my business I wanted to make money AND do some good. The idea of leaving the world a better place has always appealed to me.   As business owners, we can, indeed, make a difference -- and so many entrepreneurs are doing just that. As we think about financial profitability, we can also consider the kind of environment we want to leave for our children. Fortunately for our planet and our bottom line, success and sustainability do coexist! This month at QB Community, in celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd, we’re excited to be featuring entrepreneurs who act responsibly toward the environment -- while also making money.   Consumers are aligning their values with their purchases more than ever. In fact, 78% of consumers in the U.S. say they feel better when they buy products that are sustainably produced. According to an international study conducted by Unilever, an untapped opportunity of more than $1 trillion ex

Bestselling author and business coach Julie Gordon White will be leading a new discussion group for women entrepreneurs who want to take their small business to the next level - and you're invited! Beginning Monday, April 2, Julie will guide members of the Momentum to $1 Million Group (M2$1M) in an exchange of ideas, resources and information to help grow their small businesses to the $1 million mark.     Julie will be leading real-time chats on Wednesdays from 11 AM-12 PM Pacific time, so you can get an immediate response to your pressing concerns from a seasoned entrepreneur who has "been there, done that." Read more about Julie and the M2$1M group - plus get some practical strategies and guidance right now - at Momentum to $1 Million.   To join now, just click the green “Join” button here.   Got a question for Julie right now? Post it in the comments below!

We bet you do! The QB Community is an awesome resource for asking questions, finding answers and contributing what you know to the collective smarts we've got right here. Check out these examples of conversations happening right now: How do you handle tough conversations with vendors? “Today, we were looking at the roast dates on bags and I was shocked - the"new" shipment they received last week was already a month old. It turns out they've consistently been given old coffee since the beginning.” Read more…   Hello!! How do I get my clients to pay on time? “A few of my clients routinely run late on paying their invoices. They are repeat customers who always pay eventually, but their inconsistency makes it difficult for me to plan ahead.” Read more…   Hiring to expand my business - any tips? “Hiring someone to help in my small cloud-based bookkeeping business is essential for growth and my own sanity, but I am really stuck knowing what to pay someone who then also sees

If you work for yourself, you know how easy it is for time to get away from you. Last week we brought you a pair of stories featuring hardworking entrepreneurs who understand exactly how hard it is to stay on top of everything, yet somehow manage to inspire others to keep hustling, each and every day. We also revisited a pretty fantastic conversation around how we continue to grow and challenge ourselves. Here are the highlights, just in case you missed it.   BACKING YOU: Gregg Miele Built His Gym with Real Heart – and Non-Stop Hustle "My business partner, Kevin Lilly, is a Philly guy. He and I share a strong work ethic and a belief in sweat equity. We’ve invested every penny of our own 401K money to make Heart & Hustle thrive. I think our clients recognize how much we’ve put our heart, and our hustle, into the business."    Julie Ball of Sparkle Hustle Grow Sends Women Entrepreneurs Pretty Inspiration "We will continue to gro

  March is Women’s History Month, and I’m thrilled we’ll be celebrating female business owners all month long. Did you know female entrepreneurs are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs? As a female former small-business owner myself, I’m super excited about that stat!   According to the 2017 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report commissioned by American Express, there are over 11 million women-owned businesses in the United States which collectively employ nearly nine million people. These businesses generate more than $1.7 trillion in revenue. That’s a huge part of our economy.   And it will continue to grow. The number of women-owned businesses has grown 114% over the last 20 years, compared with the overall national growth rate of 44%. That’s 2.5 times higher than the average! Even more impressive, firms owned by women of color grew 467% in the same time period. Awesome, right?   Why are women’s businesses growing at such an astounding rate, with no sign

In 1954, F. Nephi Grigg and his brother Golden drove nearly 3,000 miles from their family's frozen-potato plant in Oregon to Miami's Fontainbleu Hotel with 15 pounds of product and a plan. The product was Tater Tots - frozen, fryable potato bites - and the plan was to crash the annual National Potato Convention. The Grigg brothers bribed and bargained with the chef to serve their new invention at the event and, judging from school lunches everywhere, it went pretty well. In the past week we've featured stories of small-business entrepreneurs who brought their ideas and offerings to exactly the right people at exactly the right time - not by accident but by design. Here they are, just in case you missed it. Michael Gratz’s Prairie Fire BBQ Serves Up American Eats to Londoners "Back in 2012 street food was just starting to become a phenomenon in London, so I saw this as a low-cost gateway to start a small food business." Business of Love: Rachel Bowes’ Seattle Event

Valentine's Day is almost here, and all last week we heard voices that remind us how much running a business is like dating: You've got the goods - it's just a matter of finding the right connections and making the magic happen. Not convinced? Here are some matchmaking tips from our recent business success stories.   Figure Out What You Truly Want - So You Can Actually Get It “You’re going to be more creative and have a lot more fun along the way if you’re not doing everything by the seat of your yoga pants!” ~Julie Gordon White, Want to Grow Your Business? Think Love Triangles and Scalable Systems   Go to the Right Places "When...we moved to Austin, my first really big account was with Antonelli's Cheese Shop which has a section of curated, mostly local, fine foods. Austin is a foodie town, so other specialty stores were paying attention to what Antonelli's carried, and that really helped things take off." ~Steve Lawrence, The Business of Love: Stev