QuickBooks makes it easier to handle all those financial chores you have to do for your small business, and this handy reference makes it easier to use QuickBooks! You'll find minibooks on setting up QuickBooks for your business needs, using it for accounting, bookkeeping, and business planning, keeping your data safe, and much more.

• Accounting 101 — Book I covers the basics of accounting if you don't know a debit from a credit

• Ready, set, go — learn to set up the program, load files, and customize QuickBooks in Book II

• All about bookkeeping — in Book III you'll see how to invoice customers, pay vendors, track inventory, and more

• Channel your inner accountant — take on activity-based costing, preparing a budget, and job costing in Book IV

• Explore financial strategies — Book V digs into advanced strategies like ratio analysis, EVA, and capital budgeting

• Plan to succeed — find out in Book VI how to write the business plan that can help you find your niche

• Keep up with upkeep — Book VII shows you how to do things that will keep you working productively in QuickBooks

• Extra help — Book VIII covers additional resources, an Excel primer, accounting terms, and more

Open the book and find:

• How to read a financial statement

• Steps for tracking accounts receivable and payable

• Tips for managing cash and bank accounts

• How to set up lists of customers, vendors, and payroll items

• How to produce common financial statements and reports

• What you can learn from ratio analysis

• How to create and use a business plan workbook

• Ways to simplify tax preparation

Stephen L. Nelson, MBA, CPA provides accounting, business advisory, tax planning, and tax preparation services to small businesses. He belongs to the American Institute of CPAs and holds an MBA in Finance and a Masters in Taxation. His 100-plus books have sold more than four million copies.