QuickBooks® is an all-in-one solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses to help manage and organize their finances. QuickBooks assists with the accounting function for many companies but includes a wide range of advanced features that go beyond basic bookkeeping tasks.
For example, the time-tracking functionality in QuickBooks captures the hours spent on a specific project and makes it easier to bill clients in real-time. In addition, third-party data feeds and integrations can reduce your administrative burden.
Below are some of the lesser-known functions and capabilities of the program:
Mobile app. You can download an app for smartphones and tablets to access your financial data anywhere, anytime. This feature allows you to track your business finances in real-time and quickly pivot as needed.
Reminders and alerts. You can set up automatic reminders for recurring bills and alerts that tell you when cash balances fall below a specific threshold or inventory levels are nearing the reorder point.
Profitability reporting. The software can help you determine profitability by tracking project-related time, expenses, and revenue. This makes it easier to bill customers quickly and accurately.
Customer and vendor tracking. You can store customer and vendor information, including contact information, transaction and payment history, and notes.
Customized invoicing. Custom invoices can be created with your logo. The software also can facilitate customer payments with credit cards, the Automated Clearing House (ACH), and online payment platforms, such as PayPal or Venmo.
Purchase and sales order management. Built-in purchase and sales order management systems allow you to track incoming orders and outgoing shipments more effectively.
Bank and credit card data feeds. You can import transactions from bank accounts and credit cards, then classify each transaction within your accounting records. In addition, you can enable system-generated classifications for recurring transactions or create rules manually.
Payroll administration. Users can administer payroll data within QuickBooks, making it easier to manage payroll processes on one platform and comply with tax laws.
Third-party integrations. Many third-party applications — including payment processors, payroll systems, and e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon Business, PayPal, Square, and Shopify — work with QuickBooks.
We Can Help
If you understand QuickBooks’ full functionality, it can streamline your accounting processes, improve the accuracy and timeliness of your reporting, and make it easier to do business with your company. It also can facilitate communications between in-house and external accountants. In addition to providing your CPA with direct online access to your organization’s books, QuickBooks allows your accountant to send requests for information and documents through the platform. Contact us with any additional questions you have about QuickBooks and other accounting software solutions.