QuickBooks Corruption Errors

QuickBooks files "hit the wall" so to speak after a few years. A reasonable life-span for one database is 3 years. Some clients are pushing 7 years. I've never seen one last longer than 10 years. Most likely, it will "hit the wall" due to data corruption. Electronic data gets corrupted, that's just a fact of life. You'll probably notice it first when you try to run a backup, which is ironic.

DATA CORRUPTION PROBLEM SOLVING

First you run "Files" -> "Utilities" -> Rebuild to try and fix a data problem. If that doesn't work, send your data file into Intuit for a few days to see if they can repair it. Intuit charges for this service, except they waive fees for Enterprise users, Pro Advisors, etc. If Intuit can't fix your database, your remaining option is to create a new database, i.e. company file. 

CREATING A NEW DATABASE

It's easy to get lists from your existing database to the new shell, but it's harder to get transactions. My way is to purchase 3rd party add-on software, QB Data Transfer Utility  to move transactions from one data file to another. The software wants all the relations between lists intact, so move data first, clean up lists afterwards. The ability to clean up lists, and start payroll new are other compelling reasons to create a new database, or at least a silver lining.

PROACTIVE SOLUTION

Ideally you'll create a new company file for Jan, so that you can start off the year with clean data entry.  In that case, I can use QB Data Transfer Utility to transfer open invoices, unpaid bills, and uncleared checks. And then you can start fresh with all your other transactions! Whatever your needs, I will do whatever I can to help your business run smoothly.

Peachtree Conversion to QuickBooks

Did a Peachtree conversion to QuickBooks this week and here is the latest gossip:

First of all, people get the "software year" and the "year of data they've entered" mixed up. You might have only entered in data for 2011, but you are using Peachtree 2012 (the software). The Peachtree 2012 is what the person doing the conversion cares about, not your tardiness.


Peachtree 2012:  If you've got your data in Peachtree 2012 software, then you'll have to send it into Intuit for conversion. You can pay or hire a Certified Pro Advisor to use his/her credit.  You must convert to a QB 2012 product, (albeit Pro, Premier, or Enterprise.)


Your New Converted QB 2012 Database: I'm very disappointing in Intuit because QB 2012 has been out for over 7 months, and your new data file will only have closing balances--one closing balance for each account---and no transactions. I don't even consider that a data conversion; more like a list conversion. Please complain to Intuit. They're a giant software company; they can certainly make their conversion software work properly as a way to earn your business. It seems as if it would be money better spent than on another TV ad. 


Peachtree 2011 or earlier:  You must convert to a QB Software Product that's the same year or more recent than the Peachtree version you're in. For example, if you're in Peachtree 2011, you can convert to QB 2011 or QB 2012. Intuit offers downloadable software to make the conversion work. Here is the link: Download the Free QB Peachtree Conversion Software.  You have to have the Peachtree software, QB Software, and special conversion software program all on the same computer! Theoretically the transactions will convert. I did this awhile back and the data converted just fine, but it was badly formatted for QuickBooks, It required so much clean-up that my favorite way to do this would be to do the conversion for historical reasons. Get your Peactree data into QB, and then create a new QB data file with all the lists to start the year fresh. What do you think?

Go Payment Merchant Processing is FREE now

Go Payment is the product name for a credit card reader that attaches to your smart phone (Apple & Android's) to swipe credit cards. The product includes the software App too. It was developed by a small business that charged for it. Intuit bought them out and is now giving it away for FREE.

If you have a merchant account---an account whereby your business can accept credit cards---use Go Payment to swipe credit cards in the field with your smart phone.

• If you want a merchant account, please contact me. I work with a specialist who can get you setup so that you can process credit cards inside QuickBooks, which is awesome. 
• If you have a merchant account, and are shopping for better rates, please contact me. So far, my specialist has been able to undercut everyone else's rates, to save your business money.
•  If you don't want a merchant account, you can still use Go Payment this for the occasional credit card processing. 

 Go Payment Sign Up Link

If you have more questions, click on the above link. Have a profitable day!

Shop Locally

Shop locally is usually used in terms of farmers, but it's also appropriate for bankers.

The people at the local branch want to keep their jobs. They are more likely to give you the help you want than someone from another country, or even another state. Go to your local branch office for any problems or questions or to learn new features, such as the following:

• Back bank statements at no charge
• Copies of checks or deposits at no charge
• Bank Fee reversal
• To find out how you can reduce or stop paying bank service charges in the future?
• Setup a new way of paying, like bill pay or an automatic check.
• New deposit and other electronic options.

If you're a local business owner, ask for the branch manager. He or she is a good person to get to know in your community.

Financial Institutions and Email

I've moved again--finally settling down in Issaquah!

I changed my address for all my financial institutions today. The salesrep asked me if I wanted to give my email address so that they could email me important information? I said, "No, thanks. I prefer you use U.S. mail to contact me."

I know if any email coming in "looks" as if it's from my bank or credit card company, it's spam, because none of my financial institutions have my email address. That's one way I protect my security.

WA State B&O Taxes, Small Business Credit

Lots of small business owners will overpay this year, because the first familiar B&O Small Business Credit page has the old credits. The new better credits are on the 2nd and 3rd pages, Table 2.

Here's the deal. If 50% or more of your taxable B & O Income is reported under Service, and your B & O tax is anything up to $841, you get a credit for ALL OF IT. It steps up from there to $1681.

Look for it. You deserve a (tax) break today.

East West Bookstore Seattle Event

Saturday, Feb 4th at 7:00 - 8:30, at East/West Bookstore Seattle, I presented a talk on "Making Peace with Your Finances".

http://www.eastwestbookshop.com/events/3325

East West Bookstore sells the physical book, "Radically Simple Accounting" for the same price as Amazon.com, so you can have your copy today!


My plan on how you can "Make Peace with your Finances" is to understand a few spiritual laws of money. One is that money is currency, it flows, so if you want to hold onto it you need a container--an accounting system.

The next one is...well, you just had to be there. I'll do this every year in Jan, as a way to give back to the community that has so richly supported me. Naturally I answered questions, and there were lots of questions on filing systems, and how to improve income.

We covered how to create categories to setup up an accounting system. Accounting is software independent, so you can use QuickBooks, Excel, or any software you chose.What counts is that you've "Got Numbers".