What’s New In QuickBooks 2008: Part I

Before going into the new features, it’s important to note that QuickBooks
comes in several different editions, each of which is targeted to a different
business type. For small businesses just starting out, QuickBooks Simple Start
Edition (free) is available as a single-user only, basic accounting product.
This edition does not have Inventory, Accounts Payable, Budgets or Multi-User
capability, but it has great features for the small business just starting out,
including Payroll, which is a new addition to Simple Start this year. The next
in the QuickBooks line is Simple Start Plus Pack, which includes 250 checks
and 12 months of online backup service for the Simple Start users. Moving up
the line is QuickBooks Pro, which adds Inventory, Accounts Payable, Multi-user
capabilities, time tracking, estimates and budgeting. Next up the line is QuickBooks
Premier and all of the vertical “flavors” (industry-specific editions)
of the Premier product. While each of the flavors is based on the same core
features, each differs slightly by having different default settings, reports
and Help screens. The one all accountants should have is QuickBooks Premier
Accountant Edition because, with this edition installed, the accountant can
“toggle” between all of the other flavors of the software. So essentially,
the Accountant edition is a superset of all the other editions.

QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions is the high-end of the line. The versions
are different, though — we’re now at version 8 while the Pro and
Premier editions are up to version 2008. With the Enterprise Solutions product,
you get all the features of the other editions, but you can also have up to
20 users and an unlimited number of customers, vendors and items. As features
are discussed in this article, the product name QuickBooks is used generically
because, unless specified, the features or behaviors are the same or similar
in the whole product line.

New Features of QuickBooks 2008 and Enterprise Solutions 8.0

Improved Program Launch Speed
The program launch speed is somewhat improved in QuickBooks version 2008.
In our non-scientific test, it took one minute and 15 seconds to open QuickBooks
Premier: Accountant Edition 2006. In the same environment using QuickBooks
Premier: Accountant Edition 2008, it only took 50 seconds. The 25-second increase
translates to a 33 percent increase in speed. For QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions,
the difference was even more dramatic: 45 seconds to open Enterprise Solutions
6 and only 5 seconds to open Enterprise Solutions 8. Obviously, hardware specifications
and other software currently running on the system, etc. will affect results
dramatically for individual users.

Accountant’s Copy Enhancements
This feature is available in QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition 2008 and
Enterprise Solutions 8.0. The main purpose of the Accountant’s Copy,
is to create a separate copy of the client data file that allows the accountant
to make changes while the client continues working in the original data file.
Then, when the accountant finishes, the changes he or she made are “imported”
back into the client’s original data file.

In 2008, this feature has been revised to offer an online data transfer
alternative (in addition to creating the file locally) as well as several
enhancements to improve the overall experience for both the client and the
Accountant.

Note: QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise Solutions can create an Accountant’s
Copy to send to the user’s Accountant. This is not available with Simple
Start or QuickBooks for the Mac. Only Premier: Accountant Edition or Enterprise
Solutions: Accountant Edition can open the Accountant’s Copy file.

Dividing Date
To expand the accounting professional’s access to the client QuickBooks
data, QuickBooks (version 2007 and above) allows the client to add a “dividing
date” to the Accountant’s Copy. When clients create an Accountant’s
Copy, they enter a date, such as 12/31/2007. The accountant can make significant
modifications to the file that affect the General Ledger data before the dividing
date, and the client can continue to work in the file with few restrictions
as long as the entries affect the General Ledger after the dividing date.

This feature has gone one step further with QuickBooks 2008 as shown in
Figure 1 on page 37 by offering several choices to aid the client in setting
the dividing date. The advantage to instructing the client to choose a more
recent date is that it gives the accountant more flexibility when working
with the Accountant’s Copy of the file. For example, if the client selects
a dividing date of “2 Weeks Ago,” that would allow the accountant
to edit transactions up to that date. At the same time, this does not limit
the client’s ability to work with the file, assuming the client only
needs to enter new transactions, dated after the dividing date.

Online Data Transfer Option
With QuickBooks 2008, you can now transfer the Accountant’s Copy of
the data file over a secure Internet connection that uses Intuit servers.
When you create the Accountant’s copy, there are now two options:
1. Save File. This will create a file and save it locally to be transferred
to the Accountant via e-mail, flash drive, CD, etc., as was available in prior
versions.
2. Send to Accountant. This is the new online data transfer option. Creating
the file is the same, but then there is a window to enter and confirm the
Accountant e-mail address … and, finally, to enter an encryption password
as shown in Figure 2. The file is then uploaded to the secure Intuit server,
and a confirmation e-mail is sent to both the client and the Accountant.

Other 2008 Enhancements For The Accountant’s Copy
Below is a list of other enhancements available in 2008:

• QuickBooks Premier: Accountant Edition 2008 will work with an Accountant’s
  Copy created with version 2007 or 2008 products.
• The accountant can perform bank reconciliations, and the cleared status
  will be sent back to the client for any transactions prior to the dividing
  date and any new transactions (without the cleared status) subsequent to the
  dividing date. While an Accountant’s Copy exists, the client can perform
  bank reconciliation work, but it will be undone when the Accountant’s
  Copy is imported to avoid any potential conflicts. Note: The cleared status
  can only be sent back to the client when both the client and Accountant are
  using QuickBooks 2008 products. If the client is using QuickBooks 2007, the
  cleared status will not be imported back into their file.
• No more guess work on what will be sent back to the client: Those fields
  that will be transferred back to the client are highlighted with a background
  color. Those fields with a white background will not be transferred to the
  client.
• Both the client and the accountant can add to most of the lists. The exception
  to that is that the accountant cannot add, edit or delete payroll items, workers
  compensation, memorized transactions and reminders. If the accountant adds
  a list element while using the Accountant’s Copy, he or she can edit
  or delete it. The exceptions are the terms list and the class list, both of
  which can be added to, but not edited.
• The client “owns” most of the lists (Customers, Vendors, Employees,
  Items, Memorized Reports, Forecasts, Budgets and the “other” supporting
  lists), and they can add or edit elements
  in the lists, but not delete or merge. The exception is the chart of accounts,
  which the client can only add “main” accounts to, not “sub-accounts.”
  The accountant can add or edit accounts (includes merging).
• Conflict resolution has been improved in 2008.
  

  New Customer Credit Card Protection Features
  This feature is available in all QuickBooks products.

  QuickBooks has implemented a Payment Application Best Practices (PABP) as
  it relates to credit card security. This feature can be turned on to meet
  the PCI requirements for securely handling and storing credit card information.
  As part of the process, QuickBooks will be certified by an independent auditor
  to be PABP compliant.

  To enable the feature: First log in using the Admin password; and then
  choose Company > Customer Credit Card Protection. The pop-up window will
  offer the choice of enable protection if currently turned off, or disable
  protection if currently turned on. The next screen will require the secure
  password and reminder question as shown in Figure 3.

  Within QuickBooks, once the credit card protection feature has been enabled,
  all users who have access to credit card information will be required to
  use a complex password (requires at least seven characters, including one
  number and one upper case letter), which is changed every 90 days. The four
  most recent passwords will not be available to be used again. For purposes
  of documenting customer credit card protection use, there is a new report
  in the Accountant & Taxes section that provides a Customer Credit Card
  Audit Trail.

Next Generation Help & Coach Tips
These features are available in QuickBooks Pro and higher products.

QuickBooks 2008 has a completely redesigned Help system. Open Help, and it
will appear on the right side of the QuickBooks software window. As a user
moves from activity to activity, the Help screen is automatically updated
to an appropriate topic.

For example, when the Help screen is opened, followed by displaying an invoice,
the information in the Help window changes from “There are no relevant
topics for this window” to appropriate topics relevant to invoicing
(see Figure 4).

A “coach” feature is also available and is designed to help
end users with QuickBooks workflows. With the Coach Tips turned on, there
are circles with a letter “i” in them that provide the workflow
name when the cursor is placed over them. Click on the icon, and the workflow
will be highlighted as shown in Figure 5 for invoices.

Remote Access via Webex Improvements
This feature is available in QuickBooks 2008 Pro and above. Remote Access
using Webex in QuickBooks 2008 has several enhancements including the following:

• Launching the Remote Access feature has moved to a different menu. You
  now access it via File > Utilities > Remote Access in QuickBooks Pro.
• Improved speed when remotely accessing client computers.
• Revised pricing (free version now includes remote printing):
  • six months free access to QuickBooks Pro 2008;
  • 12 months free access to QuickBooks Premier 2008;
  • $7.95/month for access to all files, programs and e-mails;
  • QuickBooks only access included from QuickBooks Premier Accountant
    Edition for three clients ($3.95/month for each additional client or $29.95/month
    for 10 additional clients).

Summary
Although the 2008 version is a relatively minor upgrade, I think the product
is steadily improving, and I’m excited about using some of the new features.
Intuit is not standing still with features, and the company continues to improve
the product to defend its position as the market leader in the small business
accounting market. See my column next month for part two of these new features.

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