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ProConnection® Newsletter | July 2006 | Vol. V, No. 7  |
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A Retail Success Story
Building a Practice Around QuickBooks® Point of Sale. Five years ago, Certified QuickBooks POS ProAdvisor® Steve Green decided
to focus on QuickBooks Point of Sale,
and now his large client base keeps him hopping.
Here's a feature on one recent success story to show the current level of Steve's practice.
Getting Started in Retail
Best Tips for Getting Started in the Retail Niche. Intuit's Bill Teague shares tips from practitioners and insights from Intuit research to help you get up to speed in retail.
Reach Out to Retail Clients
How to Turn "Just Looking" into a Retail Sale. To help you reach out to your retail clients, CPA Sandi Smith shares her ten best tips on how to turn the noncommittal shopper into a buyer.
For You: We've created a client handout with cover letter so you can reach out to retail clients or prospects.
New Section 199 Tax Challenge
Premium Content. The Section 199 deduction is the most far-reaching business deduction to come along in many years, affecting a broad range of clients. Tax specialists Terry Myers and Dee DeScherer explain the provisions that haven't been covered in the media.
For You: A client letter you can modify as needed. More
Economy Class: Saving Money in Your Practice
Because Money Is Always in Short Supply. Intuit Accountant Relations Manager and former controller and practicing accountant Alison Ball shares a variety of tips for economizing at the office.
Help Clients Avoid a Call to Tech Support
If QuickBooks 2006 Appears to Lock up When Opened. We recently saw a small spike in calls from users of QuickBooks 2006 whose systems would appear to lock up when they started up the software. If you hear of any of your clients with this problem, please feel free to share this information with them.
Background. The delay happens with a small subset of QuickBooks users as the QuickBooks software attempts to load a message from Intuit. While we research the issue further, here is a workaround that is simple and effective.
Response: Use the Control Key. Ask clients to open QuickBooks while depressing the Ctrl key. This method allows QuickBooks to open without opening a company file. Once the QuickBooks software loads (with no company open), have the client go ahead and open the company file.
Stay Tuned. We will share further information as it becomes available.
Master Tip from The Sleeter Group: About QuickBooks Files and Extensions
Editor's Note: Many of you know The Sleeter Group's 2006 Mastering QuickBooks Consultant's Reference Guide as an advanced resource for solving complex problems in QuickBooks consulting. In a less advanced mode here, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Doug Sleeter reviews QuickBooks files and extensions.
If you’ve ever wondered about the purpose of all those files in your QuickBooks program directory and in your data directory, here is a brief discussion what they are and what they do.
Your Best Tips in July
Here are helpful tips from your fellow bookkeepers, accountants, tax preparers, and other practitioners in July:
- Applying Additional Credits to a Vendor Bill in QuickBooks Software
- Customizing QuickBooks for Homeowners' Associations (Courtesy of The Sleeter Group)
- Sending and Securing Large Client Files in QuickBooks Software
- Managing Payroll Classifications in QuickBooks Software
- Eliminate Certain Messages When Opening QuickBooks 2006
Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Bullish on QuickBooks Merchant Service
For QuickBooks Point of Sale. The local economy may be down, but for Denise Duplinski, business has never been better. Learn how she drives business in a down economy with QuickBooks Point of Sale and QuickBooks Point of Sale Merchant Service. More
Maximize Clients' Use of QuickBooks Point of Sale with Specially Designed Supplies
Help QuickBooks POS Clients Now. How? By setting them up with a source for supplies that are designed to work perfectly with their QuickBooks Point-of-Sale software and hardware. Supplies include price labels, receipt paper, and hang tags.
Hardware Too. We also have a QuickBooks Point-of-Sale compatible tag printer* that can be used with five different types of our tags, so you can choose the ones that are just right for your business.
Easy to use, our supplies help your clients make processing sales a snap.
More: Call 800-926-6066 or visit www.intuitmarket.com/pos3.
*Available by phone only.
Hot Show in August
Big Accounting Show in Chicago. Join colleagues from around the country at this major accounting show, in Chicago, Aug. 22 & 23: Business & Technology Solutions.
Includes both the Intuit Academy Experience Zone (meet with product specialists for interactive, hands-on demonstrations) and the Intuit Academy Classroom (offering CPE Sessions on advanced topics, like "How to Bill $1,000 per Hour with QuickBooks").
Visit Us at Booth 804. Intuit will be demonstrating a variety of useful, productivity-enhancing software and services for tax and accounting professionals.
Enable Clients' On-Line Stores
T-HUB for QuickBooks Financial Software and QuickBooks Point of Sale Software. From Atandra Systems, the T-HUB for QuickBooks financial software has already made a name for itself.
Certified QuickBooks POS ProAdvisor Stuart Fox updates us on his client, ModelBride and their online sales, and how he was among the first to use the new T-HUB for Point of Sale.
Reminders on Upcoming Events
Next Intuit Academy after August Event. If you can't make the Chicago show in August (see separate story), the next Intuit Academy opportunity comes in November:
- The Sleeter Group's Annual QuickBooks Consultant Conference, Las Vegas - Nov. 7-9
The Sleeter event sold out early last year, so early registration is suggested.
Additional Opportunities with The Sleeter Group. The Sleeter Group hosts several one-day events as part of its QuickBooks Consultant's University. Upcoming events include
- 2006 QuickBooks Consultant's University, Las Vegas - Nov. 10
- QuickBooks Point-of-Sale Consulting Seminar, Las Vegas - Nov. 10
- Train the QuickBooks Trainer Seminar, Las Vegas - Nov. 10
More Opportunities Coming Your Way. Look for us at these other tradeshows that may be conveniently located for you to attend. Most shows will include training events in addition to access to Intuit staff at our informational booth.
- National Society of Accountants, Providence - Aug. 16-19 (informational booth only)
- Southeast Accounting Show, Atlanta - Aug. 30-31
- Florida Accounting Show, Ft. Lauderdale - Sept.28-29
- National Conference of CPA Practitioners, Long Island, New York - Nov. 15-17 (516-997-9500)
Tradeshow Update. We list upcoming tradeshows here for your use when you plan your schedule.
Adding Value to Your Practice
Useful Information. This video of CPA Sandi Smith has her explaining how to add value in your client relationships to build your practice. She provides tips from providing on Open House to making it easier for clients to do business with you.
First Time Available. Up until now, the only way you would have seen this video was to attend a recent or upcoming accounting show where Intuit cofounder Scott Cook would be making his presentation on New and Emerging Trends in Technology and Accounting. Now you can see Sandy's video from the comfort of your own desktop.
Visit our landing page for more technical information and to download the video.
Keeping You in Charge
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STAFF
Brandon Wilson, Publisher
Bill Teague, Managing Editor
Kevin Segedi, Web Production
COMING IN AUGUST: MARKETING CAMP
Next month join us as we host a virtual summer camp devoted to marketing topics, so you can reach out to your clients better.
DID YOU KNOW? NOTICE: DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Intuit does not warrant or quaran-tee the accuracy of any statement or other information and materials provided in this newsletter. All articles and other information and materials in this newsletter (collectively, "Information") are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal, accounting or tax advice or opinions on any specific matters. The opinions expressed in Information are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Intuit. Laws and regulations change frequently and their application can vary widely based upon the specific facts and circumstances involved. You, and not Intuit, are responsible for the applicability and accuracy of Information as it relates to your practice or to your clients. Your use of Information does not relieve you of responsibility, including those to any third party, for matters involving your practice or your clients (e.g., preparation of tax returns, etc.) and you may not rely upon Intuit for advice regarding same. The provision of Information by Intuit is not intended to create, and your receipt does not constitute, any form of relationship between Intuit or the author(s) and you.
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