Replies

1. 
   Gary_Weisenburger | Oct 13, 2000 02:49am | #1

   *
   You know, Intuit makes that program pretty user friendly. Like any software, it's going to take some time to learn. Although I wouldn't mind trying to answer specific questions, I suggest you employ a QB friendly accountant to help get you up and running. Its a breeze from there. I did, about two years ago, and its pretty easy now. I maintain QB's "Premier Support," at about $100 or so per year, but I think I don't need it after this year and will probably drop it. With the plan, they'll answer unlimited, more-or-less specific questions.

1. 
   Steve_Mickley | Nov 02, 2000 01:56am | #2

   *Carl;I agree with Gary's recomendation that you seek the services of an accountant. I have been using QB Pro for three years and it is a great tool. Consider carefully the use of the inventory feature before you begin. Also, it has been my experience that the estimating feature is not useful in my business. I prepare estimates either from my cabinet making software or based on experience.Steve

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   bobl_ | Nov 02, 2000 05:27pm | #3

   *I wandered in here from FHB. I generally read two great sets of forums, FHB and JLC. JLC has a forum you might find interesting, even though its aimed at constructionhttp://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/webbbs/qbpro/webbbs_config.pl

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   Sgian_Dubh | Nov 08, 2000 06:55am | #4

   *Steve, I tend to agree with you that the estimating function, as it is formatted by Intuit, is poor for the furniture designer/maker. However, with some tinkering it can be useful and I use it. To cut a long story short I have a long list of Items. These include a short Inventory of standard stock, such as board materials and a few species of timber, three categories of Non Inventory Items, i.e., Timber, Board, and Proprietary items such as polish or hardware, and a whole host of Jobs. For instance, outwith charges for materials, my method of estimating means I price by charging an hourly rate per job, e.g. one M&T, to which I attach a monetary value to in QBPro. Each multiple of the same joint is discounted by 5% up to a max of 30%. All this informationb can be listed as Items and then you just pull them up and use them in the estimate (or final bill.) In addition, I don't detail all my charges to clients; it's none of their business as far as I'm concerned so I hide it all in Groups. Essentially I have a Group for materials, and a Group for labour. At the end all the client might see is a total for materials, a total for labour, (often less info if I decide to hide the lot in just one single group) and a grand total before tax.But I generally agree with you that the estimating function is not good. I mentioned that I estimate by the hour, and this means multiplying the hours by the labour rate to establish the charge. In QBPro I have to do it sort of backwards, with the estimate based on monetary values attached to a job, get a final figure for the labour rate, then divide this by my hourly rate to see how many hours my programme has decided a job should take. This sometimes results in me 'fiddling' the figures, to match my experience and other factors, if you get my drift.One function I would like to see in the programme with regard to estimates and billing is a 'key' that allows you to choose what you show per each individual estimate or bill just what information the client sees, and what you want to hide. For instance, say you have 60 line items that go up to make an estimate. It would be nice to able to print one copy for the client that shows no more information than the total, and one for your own records that shows all the details. Reading a full print out would be far easier than trying to scroll up and down a screen to see how your charges were derived for an old project that you now need to repeat. Sliante.

1. 
   Gary_Weisenburger | Nov 11, 2000 10:22pm | #5

   *I agree with Sgian: QBPro estimates aren't very useful, except for bookeeping. Since before using QB, I kept my books and estimated with self-written spreadsheets. I still use the now more elaborate spreadsheets to estimate cabinets and furniture, as well as a MS Word document I call my "Proposal/Contract." I import the Excel spreadsheet numbers into the "Proposal/Contract." Then, if my client accepts my proposal, I transfer the bottom line to a QBPro estimate, reference the contract, and log the estimate as accepted. This allows me to use the QB's progress payment invoicing as well as time and material tracking, although I gave up on tracking.

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   robert_coles | Jun 05, 2001 07:16am | #6

   *I agree: QB stinks in customizing estimates, then create an invoice that somewhat differs from it. Especially if we figured out one piece that the client ordered, then we had to substitute for something else - with better or worse or negative margin.I now create all my estimates in Excell. I added some hidden columns which help me figure out "Quoted, Bought, Profit, Invoiced, Paid"Then, I cut and paste in a new QB invoice. But all profitability factors and my time is kept in Excell.

3. 
   Dan_Bloomer | Jul 15, 2001 10:22pm | #7

   *Robert,Get a copy of QuickBooks Pro for Contractors. You will have to do some translation to fit the concept to your business but it offers an organizing system for time and expense accounting that is far beyond anything I've been able to find elsewhere.The key is setting up the "items" category to fit the way you do your estimates. Spend enough time with the book to uynderstand how the items work in the sample contractor file. Also there is a detailed and realistic description/appraisal of the estimating portion of QuickBooks Pro. You may continue to do your estimates in Excel, but by properly organizing your thinking/system Quickbooks will automatically generate the info on job profitability. It all has to do with equating the "items" with the cost expense categories in your estimates. The learning curve is a bit steep, but once you get this program working for you it's a very powerful tool. If you have employees, or sub out portions of jobs it is also very good. Good luck Dan Bloomer