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Table of Contents
November/December 2004
 
QuickBooks 2005 Training
Why Should I Upgrade to 2005?
QuickBooks News
QuickBooks 2005 Product Comparison
QuickBooks 2005 Trial Software
 
QuickBooks 2005 Training
 
FREE QuickBooks New 2005 Features - Online Course
This course highlights the new 2005 QuickBooks features and major improvements. Learn how these new features and improvements help you use QuickBooks more effectively. For more information or to register, click here.
 
 
Why Should I Upgrade to 2005?
 
For 2005, the QuickBooks product development team concentrated on improving the features that you use the most. They also added interactive tutorials to make it easier for users to get the most out of QuickBooks. For example, in QuickBooks: Pro and Premier, customers can now create and print FedEx and UPS labels right in QuickBooks to help save time and reduce errors. No need to re-enter names and addresses that are already in QuickBooks.

Since some QuickBooks users don't upgrade their software every year, its important to also consider the features from previous releases that may be new to those upgrading to 2005. For example, if you are considering an upgrade from QuickBooks 2002 to QuickBooks 2005, you will not only receive the features added in 2005, but those added in 2003 and 2004.

 
QuickBooks News
 
New QuickBooks: Simple Start Edition
QuickBooks 2005 - New Versions Of Basic, Pro, Pro for Mac, and Premier
QuickBooks Premier and Enterprise Solutions 2005 Industry-Specific Editions
Discontinuation Of Healthcare Editions
QuickBooks: Premier Accountant Edition 2005
QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 5.0
QuickBooks Point Of Sale 4.0
New QuickBooks Payroll Solutions

New QuickBooks: Simple Start Edition
QuickBooks: Simple Start Edition is a new product designed to help new businesses or very small and simple "paper and spreadsheet" businesses get started with software to more accurately track business information. If you are in the early stages of forming a business or considering bookkeeping software for the first time, Simple Start could be the right solution to help you. Simple Start features give new businesses the ability to:
  • Get started with simple tools to manage money coming in and going out of the business
  • Organize information in one place
  • More accurately track sales and expenses and keep complete, organized records
  • See the financial picture with basic reports

In recent years, Intuit's research with thousands of small business owners and accounting professionals revealed the need for simple software to help new and "paper and spreadsheet" businesses keep more accurate, organized records.

In developing Simple Start, Intuit relied on extensive input from small businesses and accounting professionals, through a combination of one-on-one interviews, surveys, "follow-me-home" visits and Beta user programs. With this feedback, Intuit has developed a richer understanding of the needs of the "small and simple" business segment - and delivered a product specially designed to address this group's needs.

Two Simple Start Editions
QuickBooks: Simple Start is available in both desktop and online editions, QuickBooks: Simple Start Desktop Edition and QuickBooks: Simple Start Online Edition. Both platforms include nearly the same features. The decision of which version to purchase primarily comes down to preference for you.

If you purchase Simple Start from Intuit, or through retail, you will receive one software box that gives you the choice of which edition to start with (online or desktop). If you choose the Online Edition, the amount paid for the software covers the 1st year of subscription. Subsequent usage of the Online Edition after the first year will require a renewed subscription to the service.

Desktop Edition uses the existing QuickBooks financial software 2004 database. Data can be automatically transferred to Basic, Pro, or Premier 2004 Financial software. Desktop Edition will continue to be updated to maintain data file compatibility with the most current year QuickBooks Editions.

The Simple Start Edition is for first-time QuickBooks users only and cannot use information from QuickBooks 2003 versions or earlier.

You can purchase Simple Start for $79.95, 20% off the $99.95 suggested retail price.

To start directly with the Online Edition, go to this link, http://proadvisors.intuit.com/cgi-bin6/DM/y/eW2y0ItgGb0Fx10lHk0AC or you will not get the 20% discount.

There are two trial versions, Desktop and Online. The Desktop trial CD can be ordered by calling Intuit. You can sign up to use the Online Edition for a 30-day trial period at:
http://proadvisors.intuit.com/cgi-bin6/DM/y/eW2y0ItgGb0Fx10lHk0AC. Direct access to the Online Edition is only available from this link.


QuickBooks 2005 - New Versions Of Basic, Pro, Pro for Mac, and Premier
QuickBooks Basic, Pro, and Premier have all been updated for 2005 with an emphasis on making frequently used features even easier:

  • New Report Navigator makes finding and generating reports easier
  • The management of customer payments is easier
  • The process of entering downloaded transactions from financial institutions is improved
  • Integration with Microsoft Word has been enhanced (Pro & Premier only)
  • Ability to now ship with UPS directly from QuickBooks, in addition to FedEx (Pro & Premier only)
  • New Learning Center to help your clients use QuickBooks better

QuickBooks: Pro 2005 for Mac has received numerous enhancements including improvements to how Mac data can work with Windows-based QuickBooks products, including the Accountant Edition.

QuickBooks 2005 Basic Edition

New Feature:

  • Use in-product tutorials in the Learning Center to gain confidence with key QuickBooks tasks

Improved Features:

  • Enter downloaded transactions from over 500 financial institutions more efficiently
  • Manage payments more quickly, including credits and refunds
  • Integrates with QuickBooks Payroll with new options for up-to-date tax tables, the latest federal and new state forms, and direct deposit
  • Find the right reports faster - more than 120 to choose from
  • Search for help by topic, keyword or question. Get more relevant answers

QuickBooks 2005 Pro Edition

New Feature:

  • Use in-product tutorials in the Learning Center to gain confidence with key QuickBooks tasks

Improved Features:

  • More easily create letters and now envelopes in QuickBooks with Microsoft Word
  • Process shipments and print shipping labels for UPS, in addition to FedEx

QuickBooks 2005 Premier Edition

New Feature:

  • Use in-product tutorials in the Learning Center to gain confidence with key QuickBooks tasks

Improved Features:

  • More easily create a customized business plan and save as a PDF file
  • Updated Expert Analysis Tool for clients to compare their business against industry standards

QuickBooks Premier and Enterprise Solutions 2005 Industry-Specific Editions
All five industry-specific editions of QuickBooks Premier have been updated for 2005:

  • Premier Contractor Edition. New Job Costing Center & Job Costing Reports, and Time and Materials Billing
  • Premier Nonprofit Edition. Now Turn Pledge Forms into Acknowledgement Letters In A Few Clicks, Plus a New Nonprofit Learning Center
  • Premier Manufacturing & Wholesale Edition: Improved Assemblies Functionality and Customizable List Views
  • Premier Professional Services Edition: now set billing rates by employee, client, or service
  • Premier Retail Edition: manage customer payments and deposits faster, new project costing reports, and convert invoices to Microsoft Word letters

Plus, all industry-specific editions include all the features of Basic, Pro, and Premier 2005 in addition to their respective industry-specific functionality.


Discontinuation Of Healthcare Editions
After hearing from many Healthcare Edition customers, Intuit determined that the Healthcare editions of QuickBooks do not satisfactorily meet their needs. Consequently, Intuit will no longer offer Healthcare-specific Editions of QuickBooks (QuickBooks: Premier Healthcare Edition and QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions: Healthcare Editions).

All existing Healthcare-specific versions of QuickBooks continue to be fully supported per Intuit's standard support policy and sunset policy. If you have clients using a Healthcare Edition product, they will be notified. They will also receive a special offer to upgrade to QuickBooks: Premier 2005.

If you use QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions: Healthcare Edition with an active Full Service Plan, you will receive the non-industry-specific edition of Enterprise Solutions as your product upgrade.


QuickBooks: Premier Accountant Edition 2005
The new Accountant Edition 2005 contains advanced accounting modules such as the built-in Financial Statement Designer, an integrated Working Trial Balance tool, and Fixed Asset Manager.

Accountant Edition 2005 Feature Highlights:

  • Enjoy unlimited customization of professional financial statements with Financial Statement signer
  • Format statements to meet specific client needs using built-in spreadsheet-like tools
  • Create title pages, notes to financial statements, supporting schedules and compilation letters using the integrated document editor
  • Review and adjust balances with integrated Working Trial Balance tool
  • View beginning balance, current period transactions, adjustments for the period and the ending balance, all in one place
  • Enter workpaper references with accounts during your review

QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 5.0
QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 5.0 is Intuit's top-of-the-line business management software designed to help more complex businesses, including those with several locations, work together more efficiently and plan for future growth. It includes all of the features found in QuickBooks Basic, Pro, and Premier, plus:

  • Twice the simultaneous user capacity (10 licenses included)
  • Twice the capacity for customers, items and vendors
  • Higher performance
  • Consolidated reporting from multiple locations
  • Custom tools and services
  • One year of unlimited support and upgrades

Enterprise Solutions 5.0 also contains a number of exclusive improvements not found in other QuickBooks products. Most notable for Version 5.0 is the introduction of new user permissions, roles, and administrative controls that give business owners greater control over access to critical information.


QuickBooks Point Of Sale 4.0
QuickBooks Point of Sale 4.0 is Intuit's retail management system that allows retailers to track merchandise, purchases and sales, record customer information, process payments, and run insightful business reports based on real-time inventory information.

New features for Point of Sale 4.0 include:

  • Redesigned to look and feel more like QuickBooks financial software, making it more intuitive and easier to use
  • 30-days of Support now included
  • Processes PIN debit card transactions directly within Point of Sale using the QuickBooks POS Merchant Service
  • Save time by emailing purchase orders directly to vendors
  • Track employee commissions

New QuickBooks Payroll Solutions
QuickBooks Do-it-Yourself Payroll is now called QuickBooks Standard Payroll. QuickBooks Standard Payroll for QuickBooks 2005 now includes Form 940-EZ and improved handling of overtime. The price is now $199 per year for this service.

In addition, Intuit, the makers of QuickBooks, is introducing a new in-house payroll service:

QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll Plus - this service builds on the Standard service by adding features designed to make processing payroll more efficient and less painful, and features:

  • State Forms - Up-to-date State payroll forms are now included, and filled in with the data residing within your clients' QuickBooks software
  • QuickBooks Upgrades Included - As a part of the payroll service, upgrades to either QuickBooks Pro or QuickBooks Premier Software are included to keep your clients on the most recent version
  • Workers Compensation Tracking, Net to Gross Calculation and Rapid Time Entry
 
QuickBooks 2005 Product Comparison
 
Compare QuickBooks 2005 Products

Compare QuickBooks 2005 Products
To compare the new QuickBooks 2005 products, click here.
 
QuickBooks 2005 Trial Software
 
QuickBooks 2005 Trial CD
QuickBooks Online Edition Trial
QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 5.0 Trial CD
QuickBooks Point of Sale 4.0 Trial
QuickBooks New Business Starter Kit

QuickBooks 2005 Trial CD
One CD contains trial versions of QuickBooks Simple Start, Online, Pro, and Premier Editions, plus all 5 Industry-Specific Editions of Premier. Good for 30-days per product. These trials can be unlocked to the full versions as well. To obtain a free trial, click here.

QuickBooks Online Edition Trial
Get setup with a 30-day trial of QuickBooks Online Edition to get them started. If you choose to continue your subscription, you'll enjoy an ongoing discount of 15% off the full price. As with all QuickBooks Online Edition subscriptions, support is included. To obtain a free trial, click here.


QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 5.0 Trial CD
Includes all Industry-Specific Editions. Good for 30-days. To obtain a free trial, click here.


QuickBooks Point of Sale 4.0 Trial
Includes Basic, Pro & Multi-Store. Good for 30-days. To obtain a free trial, click here.


QuickBooks New Business Starter Kit
CD for new businesses, or those considering starting a business. CD contains essential tools and resources to help you build your business right. CD also includes trial versions of the QuickBooks products best suited for new businesses. To obtain a free CD, click here.

 

This Newsletter is not produced or endorsed by Intuit®, the maker of QuickBooks.

QuickBooks® is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc.