1.2 How to Get Started with QuickBooks

The Setup

QuickBooks offers multiple products to meet the needs of a variety of industries. The classic QuickBooks desktop version is primarily what we will be dealing with in this instruction. The same principles apply to the online version of the software, although the format is different. The security and accessibility needs of each company vary. Therefore, it is essential to determine which product is most applicable for the intended use.

Once purchased, Intuit provides clear instructions for installation and setup of the software. After QuickBooks is installed, a company file can be created. The QuickBooks window should display a screen that allows you to create or open a company file.

If you are new to QuickBooks, you will not have any files in the “previously opened” listing. Click on the “Create a new company” option to begin. The setup wizard will help create optimal settings for the company, based on a series of questions regarding the business. The general information screen will appear similar to this:

The wizard can assist with defining the industry and business type of the company. These are important for determining the most beneficial QuickBooks layout. After clicking the industry “Help me choose” option, a dialogue box will appear with a list of industries. The list will also include accounts that are associated with that industry. Once the industry is selected, a business type should be selected. This should match the legal identity of the company. For example, if the company is registered as a corporation, it should also be considered a corporation in the QuickBooks file.

After all the information is entered, QuickBooks will create the company. The basic shell of the company has been created. Congratulations! Now it’s time to test your knowledge of the initial set-up of a QuickBooks file.