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Our discussion boards are positively crowded with inspiring stories of gutsy folks who have empowered themselves to dream big, work hard, and kick some serious butt. Here's who came to the party this past week, just in case you missed it.   BACKING YOU: At 13, Singer-Songwriter Willa Amai Steps into the Spotlight – and Shines Bright "I think of color synesthesia as having two parts of my brain meshed together, so color is connected to sound, words and letters. For me, every letter has a color. Z is purple, W is pink, X is navy, Y is yellow. When I’m making music, the colors in the song have to be enjoyable for me to hear and to look at."   Kari Browne Sold Her Two Beloved Cafes by Trusting Her Gut, and Her Heart "I decided to take a huge risk and list the cafes myself...I was able to control the narrative of the sale and explain why I was selling, that the cafes were thriving, not failing and what I hoped for my businesses."   Attorney Christina DiEdoardo Stands Up, Spe

  QuickBooks is backing up-and-coming singer/songwriter Willa Amai. We're also backing the freelance producers and session musicians, the independent lighting techs and the self-employed audio engineers who are helping her career take shape. That's because the music industry’s largest workforce works for themselves. We work for them.   Read more BACKING YOU stories right here!   BACKING YOU – At 13, Singer-Songwriter Willa Amai Steps into the Spotlight – and Shines Bright BACKING YOU -- Desiree Wood Is One Real Mother Trucker BACKING YOU: Salif Keita Says “Oui, Oui” to His Successful, and Generous, Family Business   Before you go Join our QB Community and read more inspiring stories like these. Here are five reasons to join right now!   

Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our Friday round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening right now in our community. Enjoy your week in awesome!       Introducing … You! Our profile of QB Community member @Jennie11_2 and her green garment-bag business turned into a bit of a lovefest (Jennie is pretty awesome). If you’ve got a follow-up question for Jennie, as @Ianbel08 did, tag her in the comments section and she’ll get right back to you!   Give ‘Em Some Sugar Speaking of lovefests, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. How do you show your customers how much you love and appreciate their business? What are some creative ways your customers have returned the favor? Tell us about it here.   For a little customer-lovin’ inspiration, check out this 30-second video featuring Lyon Porter, owner of Brooklyn's Urban Cowboy B&B. Talk about going the extra mile!   Let’s Talk QuickBooks This week we bring you a

Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for! Spotlight This week, get inspired by a QB Community member who said “see ya” to corporate America and joined a fiesty startup with a big-hearted mission. You Said It! Q & A with QB Community Member Sherrie Bainer Burning Question We blinked, and January is almost half-over. That doesn’t mean it’s too late to set goals and intentions for the year ahead. Tell us: What's Your One-Word Theme for 2018? Let’s Talk QuickBooks Ever wished you could organize all your accounting details by project? Thanks to the Projects Center, you can. Find out how this brand new feature can help you streamline all your financial transactions and data. What’s New with QuickBooks: Projects Center - An Easy Way to Organize Your Accounting by Project Plus,

  Happy first Friday of 2018, QB Community!   Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in the community over the past two weeks. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight This week, meet one of our most active and supportive QB Community members, jessbru99568. We learn about her family's delicious business and her job within it. Disclosure: reading this profile may make you hungry! Jessica Bruno’s Organic Bread of Heaven Takes “Family Business” to a Whole New Level   And find out how a pair of gritty entrepreneurial women sought and ultimately found initial financial backing for their successful small business. You Said It! Q & A With QB Community Member Kimberly Caccavo   Burning Question QB Community member Sangeethmathew asks a great question that applies to everyone who's in the business of working for themselves. Do first Im

      The world’s largest work force works for themselves. We work for them.   BACKING YOU gets real about the breadth of challenges facing self-employed and small-business owners while also celebrating their strengths, motivations and achievements. We all start with a big dream. QB Community is BACKING YOU – the determined self-starters who take a chance, set smart goals, and put their dreams on deadline.    BACKING YOU: Desiree Wood Is One Real Mother Trucker BACKING YOU: Salif Keita Says “Oui, Oui” to His Successful, and Generous, Family Business BACKING YOU: At 13, Singer-Songwriter Willa Amai Steps into the Spotlight – and Shines Bright BACKING YOU VIDEO: QuickBooks Backs Willa Amai and Others Who Work to Make Her Beautiful Sound   What about you? What's your big dream? What do you need to get you there?

    Happy Friday, QB Community!   Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight We *love* featuring amazing small businesses and their stories in the QuickBooks Community. In this one, we meet an entrepreneur who combined parenting experience with professional expertise to create a fantastic product made close to home: Architect Katharine Huber Navigates a Manufacturing Maze to Build Wit Design   Burning Question Might you be someone who wonders, what’s all the fuss about “crowdfunding”? Whether you’re looking for the basic 4-1-1 or seeking step-by-step crowdfunding ideas, check out this pair of articles: How to Launch a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign (Crowdfunding Part One) “Backed by QuickBooks” Gives Cash to Compelling Campaigns (Crowdfunding Part Two) (P.S. We’ll

  Happy Friday, QB Community!   Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight This year of unprecedented natural disasters reminds us we must *always* be prepared for the unexpected, both in business and at home. Tell us: Do you have a story about recovering from disaster?   Burning Question Speaking of being prepared, keeping digital files seems like a safe bet -- unless a computer glitch wipes ‘em all away, that is. What’s your solution? And do your all customers agree? Do you prefer keeping digital or hard copy records (or both)?   Let’s Talk QuickBooks The learning, fun and inspiration of QB Connect doesn’t stop in San Jose. Check out what happened this month in Toronto. CLICK HERE to See All Slides & Presentations from QB Connect 2017 Toronto   On Your Min

        Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight This QB Community member believes we all have a moral and professional obligation to give back -- no matter what we do for a living. Find out how photographer Pascal Depuhl walks the talk. You Said It! Q & A with Community Member Pascal Depuhl   Let’s Talk QuickBooks Kick-back with QB Connect!  Grab some popcorn and cozy-up on your couch while you catch up on anything you missed at this year’s conference. CLICK HERE to See All Slides & Presentations from QB Connect 2017 San Jose   Burning Question When it comes to CRM -- also known as Customer Relationship Management -- there are software options aplenty. Help this QB Community member whittle down the choices by wei

I am still reeling from the amazing QB Connect event and have one question that I continue to mull over in my head. I was asked on the spot in an interview, 'What does prosperity mean to you?'  Honestly, I was taken a bit off guard as I hadn't put too much thought into it to share a profound thought on the topic. I believe, I answered something of the likes to, "It's an abundance of spirit, when it grows within you, you can then share it with others." Perhaps not as eloquent as this...but the sentiment. I heard a few other fellow vendors...one stuck out and said, 'Happiness'. I love that. I'm curious...how do you define prosperity? 

From your Team here at QB Community -- we hope this year's Small Business Saturday is already off to a great start and just keeps getting better.    Tell us, what matters most to you/your business this time of year?    

  Happy Friday, QB Community!   Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight   It’s one thing to think of a great idea for a new or innovative product. Bringing that product to market -- from concept to customer, if you will -- is something else entirely. Meet 16 entrepreneurs who have made it happen. Need Some Entrepreneurial Inspiration? Right This Way!   Let’s Talk QuickBooks   What happens when 5,000 small business owners, accountants and developers gather in one place to learn, share and connect? Something magical, that’s what! Didn’t make it to this year’s QuickBooks Connect? No problem. We’re sharing what you missed. CLICK HERE to See All Slides & Presentations from QB Connect 2017 San Jose   Burning Question   We’ve all heard that nagging voic

Happy Thanksgiving to all the community leaders and members! It is so wonderful to be able to be a part of this community and learn to know everyone here. Thank you so much for allowing me to join!! :) Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday!!  What do you have to be thankful for this year? :)

  Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight We can’t actually hook you up with your perfect supplier, but we can provide answers to lots of your burning questions. Check out our three new posts about finding and working with vendors, manufacturers and suppliers. Working with Suppliers: Be Prepared – and Get Ready for Give and Take (Part One) Working with Suppliers: We Share Answers to Three Burning Questions (Part Two) Working with Suppliers: Leslie Barber Shares the Inside Scoop (Part Three)   Let’s Talk QuickBooks Heading to QuickBooks Connect next week? Great! Join our QB Connect Group to chat with other participants, plan in-person meet-ups and find out about the amazing entrepreneurs you’ll meet at this year’s Bazaar. Join the QB Connect Gr

    Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight The anticipation around the new season of Stranger Things is nothing compared to buzz around this long-awaited update from QB Community member Celeste Ruberti! Where Is She Now? Catching Up with Fearless Frizz Fighter Celeste Ruberti (Part Three)   Let’s Talk QuickBooks When Jose lost his job as a graphic designer, he never imagined he’d end up making and selling his handmade leather goods. You’ll find Jose -- and the mini wallet that started it all -- at the QuickBooks Connect Bazaar. Jose Estela Found His Groove Hand-Tooling Gorgeous Leather Goods   QB Connect 2017 is SOLD OUT, but you can still take part in the conference right here in the QB Community. We will be streaming QB Connect liv

Does this spooky holiday mean anything special for your business? :robotsurprised:

    Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Spotlight When Good Employees Turn Bad could be the name of a new Stephen King thriller. But in this case, it sums up the frustrating, and business-threatening, situation QB Community member LTYJenay is in. Tell us: How do you handle small town competition?   Let’s Talk QuickBooks QB Community member Adam Wegener will be selling his small, funky and surprisingly powerful amps at this year’s QuickBooks Connect Bazaar. Adam tells us why he’s so, uh, amped up for the lights, sounds and even the snacks at this year’s big event. Amps and Speakers Made From Beer Cans? That’s Music to Adam Wegener’s Ears   QB Connect 2017 is SOLD OUT, but you can still take part in the conference right here in the QB Community

    Here are five reasons you might consider registering for QuickBooks Connect 2017 – all supplied by your fellow QB Community members:   Inside Scoop: What QuickBooks Connect Means to You!   Did you know there's a Bazaar at QuickBooks Connect where select QuickBooks customers are invited to share their products with other conference-goers? Read all about one lucky vendor right here:   Alana Rivera Grew Etta + Billie From a Side-Gig to a Full-time, Wholesale Success   QuickBooks Connect can help you move your business forward faster.  Here’s what you need to know about November’s big event.

  If you’ve read our Welcome to the QB Community post, you know we how much we love honest, helpful and respectful conversations about all things business: the good, the bad, the ugly and the awesome. Especially the awesome!   However, there’s one thing we don’t love on our site: promoting your own business. Now, we totally understand the urge to plug your biz to as wide an audience as possible. But we firmly believe our QB Community is not the place for pitching your product or service – ever.   Why? People join this community to develop ideas, set and reach business goals, get inspired and learn from folks already in the trenches of working for themselves. We’re here to help all those things happen without the distraction of a sales pitch. To avoid the murky grey-area about what does or doesn’t qualify as self-promotion, our zero-tolerance approach keeps things simple.   Makes sense, right?   We keep a close eye on things to make sure everyone is on the same

    Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   Right Here, Right Now Recent tragedies and disasters have left countless numbers of people reeling -- and figuring out how to get back on their feet. QB Community member Bill Johnston posts a compelling question from the heart of the Northern California wildfires. Recovering From a Disaster   Spotlight This week, a QB Community member shared a story we can totally relate to. Find out what ParkwayInc discovered during a frustrating process of learning something new -- and then attempting to share that knowledge. Don’t forget to share your own story! It's Really Easy to Forget What You Had to Learn!   Let’s Talk QuickBooks When Alana Rivera began making apothecary products in her apartment, she never drea

      Happy Friday, QB Community!   Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   In a Word Your “elevator pitch” lets you explain your business to prospective clients, customers or even investors in a few seconds flat. Guess what? Practice makes perfect. What's your "elevator pitch" for your business?   Spotlight This week’s Featured Member built her business around a simple fact that every entrepreneur understands: When it comes to running a successful company, every minute counts. Crystal-Marie Sealy Teaches Entrepreneurs the Value of Their Precious Time   Let’s Talk QuickBooks Managing your expenses may not be your absolute favorite thing to do each month. Two experts remind us why it’s critically important to do it anyway. Three Tips from Two Accountants Who Know

  Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   In a Song Do you whistle while you work? Check out this week’s playful playlist of songs about great relationships. Tune-In Tuesday: So Happy Together!   Spotlight “When you give a little, you get a little.” Find out how this week’s Featured Member takes this adage to heart -- and uses it get new customers. Nick Leffler Gives Away Valuable Information for Free. Learn Why It's a Strategy He Swears By   Let’s Talk QuickBooks Need more moolah? We’ve got five hacks to help you manage your expenses and generate some additional dough. Find an Extra $500 in Your Business Today   QB Connect 2017 is SOLD OUT, but you can still take part in the conference right here in the QB Community. We will be streaming QB Conn

    Happy Friday, QB Community!   Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   In a Word Days are shorter. Nights are cooler. Ready or not, a new season nearly is upon us. Tell us: What's your one word theme for October?   Spotlight What’s better than one featured member from our QB Community? How about two! The week, discover what tricks Steve Chase has up his sleeve for building long, happy relationships with customers. Then find out how mindfulness master Keith Engelhardt relies on both ancient practices and modern technology to grow his business. You Said It! Q & A with Community Member Steve Chase   Keith Engelhardt Combines Ancient Practices, Advanced Technology to Scale His Brand   Burning Question Before bringing on your first employee, you need to be ready

  Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for!   In a Word Today’s word is “wellness,” as in “Wellness Works.” That’s the name of our brand new series dedicated to keeping your mind energized, your body strong and your fuel tasty and nutritious. Find out more! Wellness Works   Spotlight If you’ve ever been laid off, you know it can leave you feeling defeated. When Cheri Drake lost her job, she had a different response. This week’s featured member saw unemployment as a chance to completely redefine herself. From Radio Announcer to Home Staging Professional: Cheri's Drastic Career Change Suits Her Just Fine   Burning Question It’s not easy finding great employees, let alone keeping them happy and motivated. Share your story and learn from other QB Community me

  Welcome to QuickBooks Community! You’ve found a fun, lively space packed with conversation, resources, ideas and hands-on (and heartfelt!) support for small businesses owners and self-employed folks just like you. Everyone on this site, from our community hosts to our awesome, engaged members, is dedicated to helping you run your business smoothly and efficiently. Just as important, we all want to have fun and make money along the way!   Here are three ways to quickly understand our QB Community goals and expectations:   Our Welcome Message shares the mission of our QB Community Getting to Know QB Community explains exactly how to navigate the site 3 Tips to Get the Best Answers to Your Questions helps you find answers to questions about QuickBooks   Of course, we know it takes more than just helpful information to build a meaningful, supportive and safe site you want to visit every day. (By the way, we share our definition of “safe and