Where to begin vol. 6

It is time to begin your lessons! Take notes, and always write down your ideas. Even if they seem irrelevant at the time, they could be a great tool later!

Starting with your own books
The first place to start is with your own books! This will give you the best insight to what you are about to create for other companies. Whether or not you have opened a business checking account, or you are using your personal checking account to start up your company, you still need to keep track of your expenses if you want to write them off at the end of the year.

Start with your expenses. Keep a running expense log handy for all the costs you encounter setting up your company - whether it is for gasoline, this instruction book, computer software or business cards.

Your general startup expenses will be from your personal cash, checking, or credit cards. Keep good records! You are not only doing this for yourself, but for other companies. They always say a mechanic drives a junky car. so donlt ever fall into that category!

Go through the tutorial if you don't know QuickBooks® or Peachtree. They will both take you through a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up a new company. The best thing about QuickBooks Pro® is that you can set up a multitude of companies. You aren't excluded to only one. I suggest if you have never used Quicken®" Microsoft Money, or something similar like that, take the tutorial in QuickBooks® to show you the functions of the software. It will help you to learn the program: however, if you need help understanding QuickBooks® and want the best layman's way of setting up companies as well as understanding bookkeeping, my other book. "I Have QuickBooks. NOW WHAT?" (formerly Computerized Bookkeeping in Laymen's Terms?>). will open your eyes to many misunderstood questions and will be the easiest and quickest resource on setting up QuickBooks®. QuickBooks® was designed for non-accountants. It really does all of the work for you. Peachtree® has been redeveloped so the business owner and bookkeeper could use its powerful tools. However, as a bookkeeper or accountant, you will double-check the entries and work.

Keep in mind that this book does not teach you QuickBooks Pro® or Peachtree® step by step: rather it teaches you step by step what a bookkeeping service provides.