The Baseball Trade Show 2013

Submitted by Will on December 19, 2013

It was a great delight for Will English to be invited for the third consecutive year to the annual Baseball Trade Show. This year it was in sunny Orlando, FL. He was able to just miss the cold spell we had in San Diego, CA.

The Baseball Winter Meetings is the annual gathering of members of The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Inc. (d/b/a Minor League Baseball), Major League Baseball, and their affiliated parties. http://www.milb.com/milb/events/wintermeetings.jsp 

The Baseball Trade Show is an opportunity for some of the leading folks in the baseball business to come together in one location; from owners and general managers, stadium operations and buyers, to sales and marketing representatives. Attendees included Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball (MLB) representatives. The exhibiting companies included manufacturers and distributors of apparel, gift items, baseball souvenirs and promotional products, service companies, and much more.

Will English had the privilege of showcasing the QuickBooks Point of Sale (QBPOS) software and speaking with several team managers about the benefits of the QBPOS system for their business needs. Several MLB teams have already implemented the QBPOS system and are finding it invaluable. The San Diego Padres, LA Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers are clients of ours using the QBPOS system.

I’ve shared this quote from a MLB team Assistant Clubhouse Manager once before but would like to include it again here as it encompasses the importance of the client’s satisfaction with the product and customer service:
"We have used the QuickBooks Point of Sale system for over three years now. With English Management’s fantastic customer service and training along with the excellent product QuickBooks offers, I couldn't see us managing our inventory any other way. I would compare it to having power windows on a car, then later buying a car without power windows! One of the major benefits this system offers to us is at any time we can look into our previous history and see what equipment we have issued to our players. So whenever we have a player that was with us at some point, then goes to the Minor Leagues and returns at a later time, we can just go into his past history to see all the items he was issued and then we can issue him new equipment before he even arrives.”
Jason Shawger
Milwaukee Brewers, Home Clubhouse

We are pleased to offer the Major League Equipment Managers an affordable fully implemented QuickBooks (QB) inventory management solution using Intuit’s Point of Sale (POS) software. In an effort to support an important program, for every system purchased, EMS will donate $100.00 to the Major League Baseball Clubhouse Managers Association (MLBCMA) Bat Boy Scholarship Program.

IRS Tax Changes Notification for QB Customers

Submitted by Will on December 05, 2013

On Wed. of this week, QuickBooks customers who are on unsupported versions of the software received a critical notice from Intuit regarding a 1099 printing issue. They notified customers on QuickBooks Pro/Premier/Mac/ES 2007-2010 that there is a 1099 printing issue due to an IRS change; customers need to upgrade to QB 2014 if they want to continue to print 1099s and will get a 20% discount off the upgrade.

Here is an update regarding the critical notice that began going out to QuickBooks customers on Wednesday.  The communication prompted a few customer questions and we wanted to clarify the following information:   
• The IRS changes to the Tax Year 2013 1099-MISC tax form did not include adding any boxes.
• However, the IRS changes did include changing the format, size and/or position of a number of boxes.
• It is this reformatting of the boxes by the IRS that will cause the alignment issues when customers on unsupported versions of QuickBooks print their 1099-MISC forms.
• ONLY customers on QuickBooks 2010 or prior are impacted by these IRS changes and need to consider upgrading or handwriting the forms.
• Customers on QuickBooks 2011-2014 are NOT impacted by these IRS changes. They will be able to print their 1099s correctly from QuickBooks.

As previously mentioned, impacted customers have two options:
• OPTION 1: Complete the 1099-MISC forms by hand and submit them to the IRS. The IRS will accept handwritten forms. Customers can go to http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099gi.pdf, section G for IRS guidelines and details on filing by hand.

• OPTION 2: Upgrade to QuickBooks 2014. Upgrading to QuickBooks 2014 will help save customers time by allowing them to print 1099s directly from QuickBooks, with no alignment issues. Their QuickBooks data will print directly from QuickBooks 2014 onto the correct section of their 1099 forms.
For customers choosing to upgrade to QuickBooks 2014, we are offering 20% off Pro, Premier, and Mac 2014, as well as 20% off QBES 14.0 (5/10/30 users licenses only).

Contact us at English Management Solutions, Inc. today for pricing and more information on the latest version of QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions, V2014. Speak to our Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor Consultant who is a nationwide expert. You can have peace of mind that you will receive accurate answers to all of your valuable questions.

Units of Measure in QBPOS

Submitted by Will on November 21, 2013

Q&A with Will English

A fellow Intuit QuickBooks ProAdvisor posed the following question to Will about her client who has a sewing/fabric business.

Q: I have a POS question. One of our customers has a sewing/fabric business and buy like 10 yards of fabric at a time. Then, cut a yard of fabric off then cut that yard into Quantities and sell them at different prices depending on how the Quantities are cut. Would this need to be set as multi-unit of measure? If so, how would I set this up? I hope you can help.

A: Yes, you would set up multiple units of measure. Your base unit would be the smallest quantity that you sell in... in this example yards. Then you can set up bolts= so many feet. If you need more help call the office at 858 467-0400 to set an appointment.

QuickBooks POS and the Holiday Season

Submitted by Will on November 20, 2013

We’re quickly moving into the holiday season! Many of you have been using the QuickBooks Point of Sale (QBPOS) system for a while now while others have implemented the system as recently as this month. With all of the holiday frenzy and shoppers a buzz, it’s a crucial time to make sure you are ready for this busy season. It’s also highly advisable to develop a rapport with a knowledgeable and friendly QuickBooks advisor so that when you need assistance, you have a trusted resource handy.

Some questions to consider:
1. Is your staff properly trained to use the QBPOS software? QBPOS has a practice mode that allows users to practice using the software without affecting the actual system and data. No transactions are actually recorded. We also offer onsite and remote training so that you and your staff know how to manage the various types of transactions and QuickBooks functions. If the staff isn’t comfortable and correctly trained in using the system, neither your company nor customers will benefit. As we know, most shoppers tend to be a bit impatient and you don’t want to lose their business due to untrained or improperly trained employees.

2. Are you offering gift cards? You can process gift card transactions easily, increase store traffic and sales encouraging more repeat business, and let’s not forget that they make a great gift, especially for shoppers who don’t know what to give or need to make a quick purchase. Gift cards never go out of style.

3. Does your customer loyalty or rewards program need fine tuning? You want to build relationships with your customers and ensure profitability.

4. Do you have plenty of receipt paper, pricing labels and tags? This will not be the time to run out and have to wait for a delivery, or pay expedited shipping costs.
Is your equipment working correctly or is it on the brink of expiration? Take inventory and order ahead so that you’re ready to take advantage of every customer opportunity!
Contact us today with any questions, inquiries and to place your orders!

Granting Access to Your QuickBooks Online Account

Submitted by Will on October 10, 2013

When you purchase the Intuit QuickBooks Online edition, you can purchase the Simple Start, Essential or Plus edition. The Essential comes with 4 users; 3 for you to use and 1 so your accountant can have access to your account.  The Plus comes with up to 5 users with 2 for the accountant's use. If you want to invite your Accountant to have access to your account, follow these simple steps.
All you have to do is login to your QB Online account. 

Go to the Company Tab, then Manage Users. On the bottom half of that page will be a blue button for Invite Accountant. You’ll put in their company information including the accountant’s email address. It’ll prompt you as to what information to enter and where. After you’ve done this, your accountant will get an email confirmation with link so s/he can create a user name & password for their company. If you have additional questions, contact Intuit at 877-683-3280.

Practice Mode in QBPOS V2013

Submitted by Will on October 08, 2013

Practice Mode in QuickBooks Point of Sale allows you to train yourself and your new employees along with experiment with program features without affecting your real data, making no permanent changes to the file.

To switch to practice mode, just go to File, Company Operations and choose Practice Mode.

Intuit QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions V2014

Submitted by Will on September 25, 2013

Intuit released a new version of QuickBooks Enterprise! This year they have made a few changes and given Enterprise Solutions a whole new level of flexibility, with the familiar QuickBooks look and feel.

Some of the latest features and enhancements are:
Communicate more efficiently
QuickBooks 2014 streamlines communication with customers and other business contacts, so you can share the latest information more easily and reduce errors. New customizable email templates let you auto-populate QuickBooks data like invoice number and amount due, helping to ensure accurate communication. Plus, with the new income tracker you will always know the status of your money coming in, so you can stay on top of your receivables and over dues.

Accomplish more with new exclusive features
You can now do more to manage your end-to-end workflow right inside QuickBooks. The new Work-In- Progress and Committed Costs reports make it easier to manage your jobs. You can now use the BOM cost as your assembly cost, and the Where-Used report helps you save even more time managing assemblies. Our improved Auto POs turn purchasing into a two-click operation without worrying about minimum or maximum stock levels. And now, with our improved search technology, you can find your data 60% faster than ever before.*

Add-On tools help the software work harder for you
You already know about Advanced Inventory, and we are now pleased to announce our latest Add-On, Advanced Pricing. With the Advanced Pricing Add-On, you can take charge of your pricing and make it work harder for you–and for your bottom line. Easily change, customize and automate your pricing right inside QuickBooks. You can create thousands of sophisticated price rules based on any combination of customers, items, vendors, classes, custom fields and more. In addition, you can manage price rules with great flexibility: apply multiple price rules at once and change which price rules apply before completing the transaction.

A few things to note:
Full Service Plan:  After the initial purchase of QBES, Customers will continue to receive the benefits of the latest version of QBES thanks to the annual FSP.Each year after the initial purchase, Intuit will notify you of your upcoming renewal. If you choose to continue with the subscription, Intuit will automatically debit your account for the amount of the then current annual renewal fee. You may choose to cancel your subscription at any time. Some of the additional benefits are unlimited Intuit tech support, automatic product upgrades of any new versions upon release along with updates to your current version, integrated apps & services, etc.  You can read more about what it includes here.

Customers who have the Full Service Plan received the newest version of QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions with all the latest features and enhancements earlier this week.

Intuit has made it easy to download. Tip from Intuit: Want to make your upgrade smoother than ever before? We recommend installing R9 before installing Enterprise Solutions 14.0. You can install R9 by clicking here or look for a popup within QuickBooks.

Via email- you should have received an email with a direct link to retrieve your software.* 

Within QuickBooks– you will see alert messages within QuickBooks with quick and easy steps to access your upgrade.

*For Intuit QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions Hosting Service customers, you will receive a separate email with details on how Right Networks will install 14.0 for you.

Customers Who Did Not Maintain the FSP:  If you want to upgrade to the newest version of QBES, you will purchase the software for the appropriate amount of users for your business needs. This purchase will include the first year of FSP. The FSP pricing has remained unchanged: $950 (1-5 users), $1450 (6-10 users), $2450 (30 users).

And Don’t Forget: Now, QBES is offered in single user increments from 1-10 users, so you only have to buy exactly as many users as you need.  Down the line, you can affordably add users to support your growing business. QBES is still available in 5, 10, and 30 user increments.

Creating Donations & Store Coupons in QBPOS v13

Submitted by Will on September 24, 2013

In today’s Q&A with Will English, he answers a few key questions from one of our clients using the QuickBooks Point of Sale (POS) V2013. They manage a national park with a visitor center retail shop.

Q: We are thinking of doing some sort of "Donate your change" or “Donate $1 to the Association.”  Could I easily do this by creating an Item # in POS and tell it to be non-inventory and non-taxable? Then, let the associate key in the donation amount when they have someone who would like to donate?
A: Yes, agreed.

Q: Why is it that when I create store coupons that they still are not actually occurring at the stores?  I am going to Price Manager, creating the Coupon, I tell it how much and to whom and give it a date and save. It shows that it is "Active" but yet they tell me at the stores it's not happening. I'm baffled by this.
A: You need to go into your Preference under Discounts and select it. Or are you saying that it is not there?  If it is not there, you can create your own coupon. We can discuss further if you need my help in doing this. 

Q: The laptop I use for store exchanges at our remote store is toast.  We are discussing replacing it next fiscal year.  I would like to know is QBPOS compatible yet with I-Pads or tablets or are they too new for this yet?  Otherwise I will stick with a new laptop. 
A: QBPOS is not yet compatible with the I-Pads or tablets.

What is a Solution Provider & Certified ProAdvisor Consultant?

Submitted by Will on September 23, 2013


Are you looking to implement a software system for your business or update and expand your current one? As a Solution Provider and certified Intuit ProAdvisor Consultant, clients and other Consultants seek the advice of Will English. But what is a Solution Provider and a ProAdvisor Consultant? You may have heard these terms but aren’t sure what they mean or better yet, why this should this be important to you, the consumer. Let’s take a look.

Solution Providers comprehensively handle the project needs of their clients from concept to installation through ongoing support. This normally begins with a discovery call and/or onsite visit to evaluate the client's current infrastructure, business needs and goals, and to determine the hardware and software required to meet project goals. From there, orders are placed, the hardware and software are installed at the client's site(s), and software training is provided to the staff. We provide ongoing customer support. Whether it’s a question here and there or more training is required, we’re here to guide the client.

Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors have expertise in accounting and bookkeeping services for small-to-medium sized businesses. Will is a certified consultant who has been tested and certified by Intuit to help businesses learn and use QuickBooks and other Intuit products. As Will says, “The only reason to have a system in place is to efficiently manage your finances, sales, and inventory and to do that, you need to use your QuickBooks system effectively.” It’s crucial to have your system and financial records set up properly from the beginning. Unfortunately, many people doing it themselves, without the help of a Certified ProAdvisor Consultant, either don’t set it up correctly or don’t use it accurately. This leads to bad data which causes poor decision making. We help our clients feel that the whole process is easy and manageable, not overwhelming as it may seem.

One additional Intuit title to note is that we are also an Intuit Premier Reseller. The Premier Level is the top tier within the Intuit Reseller Program and is designed for members with consistent and robust sales who provide the highest level of customer service.  Premier Resellers have expertise in technology and solutions integration for small-to-medium sized businesses. They are certified to resell, implement, and support QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions, QuickBooks Point of Sale, and other Intuit and third-party products. With high-performing, high-commitment resellers in the Intuit Premier Reseller program, organizations have to perform at exceptionally high levels to be recognized among outstanding performers.

Implementing QBPOS at a Restaurant

Submitted by Will on September 17, 2013

Q&A with Will English:  We received the following question from a CPA and Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor. Will provides support to other consultants across the nation, and EMS has received national recognition within the Intuit Community for our role in teaching others at a national level.

Question: I have a client that operates four franchise restaurants that currently use QuickBooks for accounting and payroll.  We are considering implementing QB Point of Sale for each individual store. I have read that this particular system might not be a good choice for fast food restaurants. I am not highly experienced with this product and would appreciate any additional information or reference material you can provide, and would be willing to compensate you for your time should you desire. Thank you.

Will’s answer: I would be more than happy to discuss some of the drawbacks at no charge. We have implemented POS in a coffee bar setting as well as consulted with several others who have installed it. If you and the client understand the drawbacks, it can work. Let me know what your schedule is over the next few days and we can make a time.