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QuickBooks Help for Your QuickBooks File 3 Ways to Get It
By: Jennifer A Thieme
As an entrepreneur, you may need help with your QuickBooks file. Calling somebody who specifically supports QuickBooks is an excellent way to get that help. Did you know there are several ways your QuickBooks support person can perform work in your QuickBooks file?
1. Make a QuickBooks Backup File - Email Backup as an Attachment
This method is ideally suited for entrepreneurs and other small businesses, who do not need to work in the file while the QuickBooks support person has it. You can even choose a QuickBooks support person who is not in your local area with this option. Simply email the backup file as an email attachment.
To use this option, first determine the size of the QuickBooks backup file:
Both email providers (the business' and the QuickBooks support person's) must allow for email attachments that are larger than the size of the QuickBooks backup file.
If the backup file is larger than what your email provider allows, use an file transfer service, such as www.yousendit.com. File transfer services work like this: upload your QuickBooks backup file to the file transfer service. The file transfer service then sends an email to your QuickBooks support person, informing him/her of the file. He/she goes to the file transfer site and downloads the file.
When using this option, always append the current date to your backup file. For example, I use the company's initials and current date on all backups. They look something like this: abcinc11052006 (ABC Inc, November 5, 2006). Have your QuickBooks support person do the same, always using the current date as part of the name of the backup. Store QuickBooks backups on a specific folder on your desktop, called QB Backups. Appending the current date to the backup name, helps stop older backups from being restored.
You cannot work in the QuickBooks file as long as the QuickBooks support person is working in the backup. If you do, the changes you made to the file will be overwritten when the backup is returned and uploaded to your computer.
When emailing QuickBooks files, make sure they have strong passwords. Sending anything via email is not automatically secure.
Option for QuickBooks 2006 and 2007 Users: Email the Portable Company File
The portable company file is usually much smaller than the traditional backup. Whenever possible, QuickBooks 2006 and 2007 users should email the portable company file to the QuickBooks support person who is helping you.
2. Remote Access
This is a relatively new way of allowing your QuickBooks support person to help with your QuickBooks file. When this option is used, the QuickBooks support person will access your QuickBooks file from his/her own computer. Remote access services are very reasonably priced.
Remote access services vary - some allow only the QuickBooks file to be accessed, while others, such as www.gotomypc.com, allow the entire computer to be accessed.
This option is a good choice for several reasons:
3. QuickBooks Support Person Works at Your Business
Your QuickBooks support person can travel to your place of business and work in the QuickBooks file there. This is probably the most expensive option for most entrepreneurs or other small businesses, since it can be the least efficient.
Final Thoughts
Choose the best method for your situation and budget. Having the QuickBooks support person come to your office seems easy, but there are other good alternatives that give you a greater range of QuickBooks support people to choose from. Take advantage of today's technology, make life a little easier on yourself, and possibly save some money too.
Jennifer A. Thieme is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor who enjoys helping people with their QuickBooks, tax, or other accounting issues. Her QuickBooks blog has interesting tidbits about various small business issues. Visit http://www.jenniferthieme.com to find out more about the range of services she offers. |  |
