Presentations - Friday October 26, 2007
The Seven Irrefutable Rules of Business Growth
Fri, 8:00-9:15 AM - Session G30 - Steven Little
Today, businesses interested in growth are looking to improve their customer relationships to increase sales, lower costs and maximize profits. Short on theory, long on practical advice, Steve examines how today's most successful organizations are transforming the way in which they acquire and retain customers. Through concepts such as "touches," "telepathy" and "timebombs," this no-nonsense discussion will help your group build customer-centric processes that lead to sustainable growth.
Microsoft Office Accounting 2008 - New Features, New Opportunities
Fri, 9:20-10:40 AM - Session 711 - Bob Lewis
Learn about the newest versions of Office Accounting. Discover how free Office Accounting Express is changing the accounting software landscape with more than 1.8 million downloads since its launch in late 2006. Learn how to leverage Microsoft in your practice to take advantage of these new opportunities. Also get an update on the award-winning Microsoft Professional Accountants' Network.
Sage MAS - Knowing When You've Outgrown your Current Accounting Application
Fri, 9:20-10:40 AM - Session 803 - Gerald Beaulieu
Make the move from off-the-shelf accounting to flexible Sage MAS ERP providing a wide array of financial, operational and business management solutions. Sage MAS is recommended by more CPA firms than any other product in its class. In this session, you'll see a live demonstration of the power of the Sage MAS solution. See firsthand how this product can help your growing clients stay ahead of the curve with comprehensive, accounting, distribution, manufacturing and business intelligence applications.
Chuck Vigeant's Custom Report Development Lab
Fri, 9:20-10:40 AM - Session 302 - Chuck Vigeant M.Ed.
This lab session allows participants to bring their own laptops and learn about Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), QuickBooks Data Structures, and how to use ODBC with Excel to create custom reports from QuickBooks data. We'll explore how the ODBC driver works, what you can and can't do and how to extract data from QuickBooks using ODBC. We'll create several real word reports within Excel and provide finished examples you can take home for further practice or implementation with clients.
RealTime Bookkeeping Building and Managing a Virtual Bookkeeping Practice
Fri, 9:20-10:40 AM - Session 703 - Robert Chandler
This session will show how we built a profitable "virtual bookkeeping practice" servicing over 350 clients across 18 states from a single location with 4 bookkeepers on staff. For practitioners looking to generate ongoing revenue through the provision of active bookkeeping services who also wish to maximize their ability to undertake consultancy work, this session will explain the technology and process platform available to do so profitably and effectively. Remote Access, the Paperless Office, and Automated Workflow will be covered as well as how to increase operating efficiency at the same time as billing higher rates.
BankServ - Electronic Payments
Fri, 9:20-10:40 AM - Session 709 - David Keenan
In an age of automation, "electronic payments" has emerged as a dynamic and growing field within the banking industry. Technological advancements in electronic payments, including the launch of remote deposit capture systems such as DepositNow, have brought efficiency to everyday small business by integrating payment and accounting tasks. In this session you will learn how small businesses have the capability to both improve cashflow, by eliminating deposit runs to the bank, and streamline check deposit and accounting procedures. The session will include a demonstration of how DepositNow runs within QuickBooks and Peachtree to simultaneously match outstanding invoices to scanned checks and update accounts receivable while depositing funds to any U.S. bank account. By the end of the presentation, you will hopefully see that DepositNow truly does open the door for an advanced level in remote deposits.
PDG Software - Shopping Cart Solutions
Fri, 9:20-10:40 AM - Session 710 - Karen Snyder
As the top-rated ecommerce storefront provider for QuickBooks, PDG Software has made selling online easier than you ever imagined. Could you or your merchants benefit from an ecommerce solution that performs real-time synchronizations with QuickBooks or QuickBooks Point of Sale? This session will offer insight into setting up a PDG storefront and syncing it with a QuickBooks company file. We will demonstrate how merchants can save significant time and money and eliminate error prone duplicate data entry by choosing a solution that works directly with QuickBooks-- all without complicated manual imports or the need to purchase additional software.
Intuit Academy - Top 100 QuickBooks Tips and Techniques*
Fri, 10:45 AM-12:00 PM - Session 902 - Joe Woodard
Written and presented by Joe Woodard, this fast-paced course is designed for anyone who uses QuickBooks either for their clients, for their own offices, or both. Come and learn essential power user tips and tricks that are not included in the manual, as well as powerful reporting techniques to better harness the data in QuickBooks. We will cover in depth the top five power user tips, and the accompanying handbook will walk you through the remaining tips. *Session repeated from Wednesday.
Innovations in Online Bill Payments
Fri, 10:45 AM-12:00 PM - Session 205 - Rene Lacerte
Industry veteran René Lacerte will review how online bill payment (OBP) works, and why consumer usage has skyrocketed while business use remains stagnant. While highlighting innovations that will change this paradigm, we will discuss the three big reasons why businesses have not adopted OBP, why they should and how the coming changes will affect the accounting profession.
Internal Controls for Your Clients - The Sarbanes-Oxley Impact
Fri, 10:45 AM-12:00 PM - Session 601 - Kevin Kimball
Imagine that you were recently hired to perform a full QuickBooks installation at one of your small to medium-sized clients. You already know QuickBooks and you already know your client, but do you know SOX (i.e. the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)? Many owners of small to medium-sized private companies mistakenly believe that SOX is irrelevant to them as they are not currently publicly traded. Although it is true that "non-issuers" are not legally subject to SOX regulations, current best practices related to internal controls are being pushed down to private companies through two main avenues: 1) their current and future funding sources 2) their external auditors. The purpose of this session is to summarize the ramifications of SOX internal control requirements on non-issuers and to help you increase your ability to provide internal control consulting services to your clients.
Networking Best Practices - Installing and Configuring the Network for Multi User Environments
Fri, 10:45 AM-12:00 PM - Session 104 - Andrew Abrams & Mario Nowogrodzki, CPA.CITP
The most effective accounting software consultants have strong skills in the IT area. This session presents several best practices for setting up, configuring, and maintaining networks for your accounting software clients. This session will help you understand the best network environment for each of several client situations. Learn to configure the network and the QuickBooks database server to achieve the best performance on the network. Also, this session will discuss hosted application servers (ASPs), and how they can help you deploy QuickBooks and other applications across multiple locations (anytime/anywhere access), and how to effectively work with clients remotely.
Intuit Academy - QuickBooks at Year End*
Fri, 10:45 AM-12:00 PM - Session 905 - Amy Vetter, CPA.CITP
Learn essential best practices to prepare client QuickBooks files for the tax return, year-end, and financial statement presentation. Find out how to efficiently locate and correct client errors. Realize ways you can reduce time spent on preparing data for tax returns and financial statements. Receive a year-end procedure checklist and understand the advantages of integrating QuickBooks data with Lacerte or ProSeries tax preparation software. *Session repeated from Wednesday.
Windows Vista*
Fri, 10:45 AM-12:00 PM - Session 204 - Randy Johnston
Vista - Microsoft's newest operating system - has arrived, so now what? While Vista promises more stability and security and provides better performance compared to previous versions of Windows, there are potential pitfalls that you must be aware of before upgrading or migrating to Vista. In this session, learn about the new features of Vista and how to reap the benefits of using them; best practices for upgrading and migrating to Vista; and specific upgrade considerations, including potential hardware and software conflicts. With Vista, Microsoft promises "WOW".this session prepares you to take advantage of all that Vista has to offer. *Session repeated from Wednesday.
QuickBooks Data File Management - Tools to Shrink Files
Fri, 1:15-2:30 PM - Session 106 - Leslie Capachietti
In this session you'll learn how to diagnose and fix QuickBooks data file issues resulting from an incorrect set-up, data file damage or simply a large file size. You'll learn ways to work with your client's list information outside of QuickBooks (to make corrections or modifications) and what you can do to help your clients maintain the "health" of their QuickBooks data files. We'll also introduce you to a variety of time saving third party tools that will help you easily remove unwanted transactions from a large or improperly maintained QuickBooks data file or, if necessary, help you start a new data file by transferring selected list and transaction data from one QuickBooks data file to a new one. If you've got clients with large or rapidly growing data files or with chronic list and data issues, you won't want to miss this session.
How to Profit and Gain Client Loyalty Through Financial Statement Analysis
Fri, 1:15-2:30 PM - Session 301 - Gregory L. Lafollette, CPA.CITP
Accounting firms all across the country are turning to technology tools in their quest to maintain and build client loyalty. A relatively new genre of software and services has emerged to assist them. This presentation takes a high-level look at "financial statement analysis," examines the reasons for and against offering the service, reviews the products most often used, and helps participants make solid decisions about adaptation.
Wholesale, Distribution & Manufacturing Solutions - Expectation of Mid-Market Clients
Fri, 1:15-2:30 PM - Session 502 - Ron Souder
As the small businesses in your client base grow and mature and as the traditional small business accounting products gain presence and credibility in the mid-market space, it is important to understand how expectations differ between the small business owner and the management of mid-market businesses. This session will discuss these differences, why they exist, the product features that address them and the consulting opportunities that arise from them.
Becoming An Expert Construction Consultant
Fri, 1:15-2:30 PM - Session 501 - Leslie Shiner, MBA
There are over 350,000 contractors on QuickBooks. Yet, most contractors do not understand how to run their business using QuickBooks. Learn the five tools you need to master to become an expert consultant to specialize in this unique industry. Explore the specific needs of the contractor who uses QuickBooks. Understand how to job cost and measure gross margin. Learn the difference between Markup and Margin. Learn about Work In Process (WIP) and why is it so important for contractors. Understand the meaning behind construction specific issues such as retention, cost to complete, progress billing, and T&M jobs. Explore the tools built into QuickBooks specific for construction. Learn to speak "construction" to communicate to these clients and make yourself an invaluable asset to their company.
Joe Woodard's QuickBooks Expert Lab
Fri, 1:15-2:30 PM - Session 107 - Joe Woodard
This interactive lab is your chance to get your specific QuickBooks questions answered by Joe Woodard. Bring your toughest questions and troubleshooting challenges and we'll work through the issues with you and the audience. Bring your hardest questions and client issues to this "lab" session where Joe will answer as many issues as time allows. Bring your laptops, sample reports, and specific questions so everyone can learn from your questions and hear the answers.
Troubleshooting QuickBooks and Data File Analysis*
Fri, 2:35-3:50 PM - Session 102 - Joe Woodard
In this session, we'll drill in to some of the more technical mysteries of QuickBooks and the difficult problems presented by client data entry errors. We will discuss both data file setup errors and data entry errors and we'll present methods for quickly locating both types of errors. We will discuss the most common types of errors made by QuickBooks users as well as some of the more rare and difficult to handle issues that arise from time to time. This session is designed for QuickBooks consultants as well as for tax preparers who need to salvage as much reliable data as possible from QuickBooks files for income tax preparation. *Repeated from Thursday.
International Versions of QuickBooks
Fri, 2:35-3:50 PM - Session 201 - Andrew Holmes
QuickBooks has a strong customer base in the US, Canada and the UK. In each of these markets the product has been localized to meet the tax, accounting and language needs of that country. In this session we will review the differences and the similarities between the QuickBooks products that are sold in each country. Canadian and UK advisors will benefit by seeing some of the latest features in the US product that will make their way into their local versions of the product. For US advisors, the review of these products will assist them in servicing international clients. The session will look at the core differences in the sales tax area, multi-currency and payroll as well as identify the latest US improvements in the Centers, Accountant's Copy and Database.
Non-Profit Update
Fri, 2:35-3:50 PM - Session 503 - Anna Sheets, CPA
Whether you have one or hundreds of Not-for-Profit clients, you know they require diverse solutions. Not only is it imperative to know the accounting tricks of the trade, but NFPOs test your dexterity as a Software Consultant. Often the biggest question is where to draw the line between accounting and management solutions. This year we will demonstrate solutions that enhance QuickBooks, Peachtree, MAS and other software products to serve the NFP community. We will also share answers to the most Frequently Asked Not-for-Profit Questions. And we will have our updated advice on best practices for handling in-kind donations, programs, grant funds, restrictions, and allocations.
QuickBooks Integration - Explore the Possibilities
Fri, 2:35-3:50 PM - Session 103 - Chuck Vigeant, M.Ed
Third party applications and custom developers use the Intuit Software Development Kit (SDK) to integrate their solutions and move data in and out of QuickBooks. However not all integrations adhere to the best practice rules. In this session we explore:
- What the SDK can and can't do
- The three keys to a proper QuickBooks Integration
- 10 common integration problems and how they can be avoided
- How to determine if a third party application adheres to best practices
- 12 things you need to know about custom integration projects for your clients - in "plain English."
Market and Selling Yourself, Your Firm, and Your Services*
Fri, 2:35-3:50 PM - Session 402 - Leslie Shiner, MBA
Why are some consultants very busy and others always begging for work? Learn different methods to grow your practice and your business. Learn the secrets of building long-term relationships. Uncover ways to focus your practice to achieve increased billing rates and better client quality. Discover ways to market on a small budget, explore business opportunities, and ask for referrals. We will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of working on your own as well as becoming part of a larger firm. *Repeated from Wednesday.