QuickBooks 2011: The Missing Manual

About the EasyStep Interview

Keeping books requires accuracy, attention to detail, and persistence, hence the customary image of spectacled accountants hunched over ledgers. QuickBooks can help you keep your books without ruining your eyesight or your posture—as long as you start your QuickBooks company file with good information.

UP TO SPEED: The Fastest Way to a New Company File

The proud owners of brand-new businesses face a dilemma: They have more important things to do than muddle through setting up a company file in QuickBooks, but money is usually as short as free time. Even so, if you don’t know much about bookkeeping or accounting, a few hours of your accountant’s time is a worthwhile investment. You’ll not only save untold hours of tedium and confusion, but also know that your books are set up properly. Accountants well-versed in QuickBooks can create a flawless company file without breaking a sweat.

If you plan to do without an accountant but you want some help setting up your company file, once you get past the “Welcome to QuickBooks” screen, you can choose Help→Find A Local QuickBooks Expert. By answering a few questions on the Local QuickBooks Expert website (http://tinyurl.com/find-qbadvisor), you can locate someone in your area to help you get started.

In QuickBooks 2011, the Interview is relatively short and sweet; it takes about 30 minutes. All it wants to know is some company information, the industry you’re in, and the features you want to use. QuickBooks then sets your preferences and creates a few accounts (like basic income and expense accounts and your checking account), but you have to do the bulk of the setup work later.