Important year-end Information .for QuickBooks ProAdvisors.         Novemberr 26, 2008

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 PROADVISOR GROWS BUSINESS WITH CLIENT REVIEWS

Reviews Help Grow Your Practice

While your experience may vary, Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Joe Gibbons quadrupled inquiries once he and a colleague asked clients to add reviews to his ProAdvisor profile. [1]

Now when prospects go to his profile on the Find-a-ProAdvisor Website, they see all the good things that clients have had to say.

Here is Joe about the benefit is in his own words:

Once we had reviews out there, phones started ringing more. Before the ratings we used to get a call a month and now we are getting about a call a week.

~ Joe Gibbons   

Only a Few Ratings Bring Results. It only takes a few ratings to make a difference. In his case, Joe reports that he and a colleague had three client ratings each and that volume was enough to encourage the new prospective clients to give them a chance.

Next Step: Look for your next email from the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Team: Your own Mini-Tutorial with complete step-by-step instructions so you can get started with ratings.

Plus: Sample email text that you can modify as needed when asking clients to post reviews.

 YOUR SUPPORT

Use Online Communities for Technical Questions

You Are Not Alone. Tens of thousands of users are posting to our QuickBooks Community forums and often the accounting questions or technical issues you're facing has already been addressed by ProAdvisors or other experts like you.

Did You Know? In QuickBooks 2009 Live Community is linked directly in your software. Even better, when you click on Live Community you will be taken to context-based questions and answers tied to where you are currently in the software program.

Next Step: Investigate Community options, including

• Live Community from within QuickBooks 2009.
• The New QuickBooks Online Community.
• QuickBooks ProAdvisor Community.

Tip: Use search to locate your topic quickly.

Best Time to Reach by Telephone and Avoid Long Waits

We know you can't schedule your emergencies, but when you do have a choice, some times are better than others for calling in for support. The best times to call in for technical support are as follows:

• Between 9 a.m.and 10 a.m. PST.
• After 2 p.m. PST.
• Fridays are generally best.

Next Step: Make a note of the best times by your computer or include them in your travel materials when you visit clients.

Where to Find Online Chat (Just for ProAdvisors)

Three Easy Steps. Many ProAdvisors don't know about our new Online Chat option, or where to find it. This chat option is available only to ProAdvisors and puts you in a text-based conversation with a live ProAdvisor specialist in just a few minutes. (Hours of operation are business days, M-F, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., PST.)

Step 1. Log in to QBAdvisor.Com.

Step 2. Click the Contact Us link in the upper right corner.

Step 3. On the Contact Us page, click on the Online Help box on the right-hand side..

Current Top Issue in Technical Support: Adding an EIN

Probably because more companies change payroll late in the year, we are getting more tech support calls on this one question than on any other single topic:

How to Add an EIN to Existing Standard or Enhanced Payroll Subscription

Next Step: Click the above link to read our most recent Knowledge Base item on this topic. It’s a simple process to add an EIN in most cases.

 SPEND TWO DAYS TO REAP REFERRALS ALL YEAR LONG

Becoming a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Can Pay for Your Time with First New Client

Just Ask ProAdvisors Who Have Completed Certification. Read what some fellow ProAdvisors have to say about the value of becoming certified. While certification can take up your time, you can complete the course on your schedule, and the first client you bring in as a result can pay for the time you've invested in the process.

Read the recommendations from fellow ProAdvisors in their own words:

Our business revenue has more than doubled over the past three years by being Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors. It is by far the best investment that we could have ever made in wanting to grow our practice. We are extremely happy with QuickBooks and look forward to continue being Certified ProAdvisors for a long time to come.

~ Joseph Romano   

I've been a Certified ProAdvisor since the beginning of the program and this designation has had a huge impact on my practice. I find that it gives me credibility in the marketplace and I estimate about 50% of my QuickBooks clients come from the Find a ProAdvisor website. The website is such a fantastic source of new business that I have no need for paid advertising.

~ Ilene Eisen    

Next Step: Log in to your Course Locker today. If you need a hand in accessing your course locker, please call us at 1-888-250-7279. Your ProAdvisor Team is ready to help.

Why Become Certified?

Upon successful completion of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification you will receive the following valuable benefits:

• Your profile listed on the QuickBooks Find-a-ProAdvisor Website, where there are more than 40,000 monthly visits from potential clients looking for a local expert.
• Ability to distinguish yourself and build credibility by having authorized use of the Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Logo on your website or marketing materials.
• Eligibility for up to 16 CPE credits* (in the comfort of you own home or office!)
• Benefit from Intuit's proactive marketing campaigns to connect QuickBooks users with Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors.
• The opportunity to gain additional Certifications, including certification in QuickBooks Point of Sale, QuickBooks Enterprise, and QuickBooks Advanced.

 THE YEAR IS COMING TO AN END

Intuit Year-End Resources Include Checklists

Now that the end of the year is fast approaching, you may be looking for assistance on taking care of year-end issues.

Year-End Checklist Already in QuickBooks. QuickBooks has its own Year-End Guide Checklist available from Help in the QuickBooks software. (See below.) The list can be used by you or your clients. The user checks off tasks as they are completed. Items in the checklist are hyperlinked to help articles specific to each topic.

Next Step: If your client handles year-end closing tasks, you can direct them to Help for this guide.

Year-End QuickBooks Cleanup Is Faster and Easier Than Ever with New Client Data Review

• Improve Profitability at Year-End with Client Data Review

More Resources at Year-End:

• QuickBooks Year- End Center: Year-End Closing
• Closing Dates in QuickBooks (Part of Longer Tip)
• QuickBooks Payroll and Year-End Activities
  • Enhanced and Basic
  • Assisted
  • Year-End Tune-up

Free Updated Year-End Checklist in Print Form

For those of you who like to use a printed year-end checklist, we are putting one together now as prepared by a fellow ProAdvisor. If you'd like it just as soon as it's ready, please send your editor a note at PAP-Editor@Intuit.com. Otherwise we will have a link in our December newsletter. We expect to have the checklist right after the Thanksgiving Holiday. The checklist will be in a Word document form, which you can customize for your practice or your clients as you wish.

For Those of You in Tax Preparation - Save 30%

Special ProAdvisor Savings on Tax Forms

To help you with tax season, here is a discount just for ProAdvisors. As we get close to tax time, we wanted to remind you that QuickBooks ProAdvisors save 30% on W-2 and 1099 tax forms with their ProAdvisor Discount.

The forms provide software compatibility and great value with the all-inclusive, IRS-approved W-2 and 1099 kits. Kits are available in quantities as low as 10, and payroll information will print onto the correct section of each form.

Next Step: Learn more or order tax kits here, or call 1-800-433-8810. To secure your 30% discount, be sure to enter special offer code C39738 when you check out on our Web site or mention it when you call.

 INTUIT ACADEMY

Free Training at the Intuit Academy

QuickBooks Focus. Did you know that all Intuit Academy training is free this year, so you can refresh and expand your QuickBooks skills at no cost? [2]

Next Step: Review QuickBooks Training here and bookmark this page.

Stay Tuned: We currently have three online courses available for registration (see more below). New courses are being added on an ongoing basis.

Online Focus. Many of Intuit's resources are available online, 24/7 available for you at any time. You can take them online from the comfort of your desk.

These include self-paced CPE courses that become available in your Course Locker after you've registered. [3] Courses remain in your course locker online for one year from date of registration.

Next Step: Review Online Learning here and bookmark this page.

Intuit Academy to Go and Podcasts

Intuit Academy is going where you’re going with its new podcast series. 

Inaugural PodCast: Amy Vetter on New Features in QuickBooks 2009. This podcast covers Client Data Review and Intuit Statement Writer.  Intuit’s Trae Harris talks with your fellow ProAdvisor and active QuickBooks Trainer, Amy Vetter. 

Next Step: Listen here and subscribe to future podcasts. 

iTunes Version: Listen here.  

We're Looking for Podcasters

Do you have QuickBooks training topics developed (or a topic idea) that would be appropriate for our PodCast series? If so, we'd love to hear from knowledgeable ProAdvisors to explore opportunities.

Next Step. Please tap a note to Stephanie Morris at Stephanie_Morris@Intuit.com to propose a topic or learn more about this opportunity.

 BE A HERO TO CLIENTS

ProAdvisor Discount on Top of Deep Discount for Intuit Online Payroll

Help Small Businesses Save as they Pay. For a limited time only, Intuit Online Payroll is available to you as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and your clients with three months free and only $7.96 a month thereafter, compared to a regular price of $29.95 a month. [4] This is more than a two-thirds savings over the regular monthly price, but with three free months, your clients could run payroll for less than $100 in the first year.

Elsewhere accounting professionals have access to this offer at the deep discount of $9.95 a month. As a ProAdvisor your discount is even deeper.

Intuit Online Payroll saves you and clients time because it integrates with QuickBooks, allows for eFile, and lets your clients be in control of entering data or employing employees. From your side you can easily update their QuickBooks data.

Learn more about this limited offer for Intuit Online Payroll here. [5]

MyCorporation Offer: Free Offer Runs Five Days Only

Starting Next Week...

If any of your clients have been looking to establish their business as a corporation or LLC, please alert them about a very limited offer from Intuit MyCorporation.

Dec. 1 through Dec. 5. During these five days, your clients can request these services and avoid paying the current service fee (a $149 value).

Next Step: Copy the information below, or modify the introduction as needed, to share with clients.

I'm sharing the following free offer with you for your information only, as I know you are exploring incorporation or formation of an LLC for your business.

MyCorporation, an Intuit company, is offering FREE incorporations and LLCs — eliminating its service fee of $149 — for only five days next next week,: from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5, 2008. The free offer excludes other fees that may apply, such as document shipping, state, publication, and additional product fees. These will be charged at regular rates.

To Do: Call MyCorporation at 1-888-692-6771, or visit http://www.mycorporation.com. Use coupon code MYGIFT to save $149 on the formation of a new corporation or limited liability company.

Disclaimers: You must use coupon MYGIFT to obtain discount. Discount valid for orders placed for a new corporation or limited liability company from December 1 to December 5, 2008 only. Prices subject to change without notice. Limit one discount or coupon per order. Coupon is not valid on any other product or service. You must enter/mention the coupon code at the time your order is placed. Coupon or discount is not valid on previous orders. Refunds/credits/adjustments will not be issued on prior orders.

 NOTES

1. For background, Joe Gibbons is certified in QuickBooks Point of Sale and Enterprise Solutions, too, and both he and a colleague from the firm opened up their profiles for reviews. Joe and his colleague both went to their clients to ask them to write a review.
2. In some cases the Intuit Academy partners with accounting organizations to offer training. For sessions offered in conjunction with our partner organizations, a fee may be charged to cover their costs. Courses are open to you even if you are not in the market for CPE credits. When events are scheduled for a specific time, we ask that you register in advance.
3. To view recorded Webcasts, you will need to download the WebEx player. A link and further instructions appear in the listing of Recorded Webinars.
4. Offer valid from November 10, 2008 to February 1, 2009. The first three months (starting from the date of enrollment) of subscription to Intuit Online Payroll are free. Offer is valid for new Intuit Online Payroll customers only. Customers who participate in this offer as ordered by QuickBooks ProAdvisors will automatically be billed at $7.96/month starting with the fourth month of service. Customers will be asked to present a valid credit card account for authorization when they enroll. Cancel at any time by following instructions found within the application. There is no charge to cancel. Offer cannot be combined with any other Intuit Online Payroll offer. Terms, conditions, pricing, features, functionality, service and support are subject to change at anytime without notice.
5. QuickBooks ProAdvisors must be logged into the QuickBooks Member site before the ProAdvisor prices will appear in the link shown in this article.

QuickBooks ProAdvisor Newsletter
Editor: Bill Teague
Publisher: QuickBooks ProAdvisor Team
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