The wait is over! - the entire QuickBooks 2006 product line is now available for sale (save up to 20%, get free shipping, 30 days free support from Intuit, and free learning guides from me when purchased through my web site).

Over the next several issues, I'll give you an overview of the new and improved features of QuickBooks 2006 to help in your purchase or upgrade decisions. (REMEMBER: Support for QuickBooks 2003 will end April 30, 2006. Support has already ended for any version of QuickBooks 2002 or older).

Let's dig in to the goodies (all features listed below can be found in QuickBooks Pro and above):

• Simplified Home Page
- The home page of QuickBooks has been completely redesigned for easier access to critical information. It can also be customized for the type of business you have (i.e. service vs. manufacturing). Long story short - the new home page has been designed to provide access to your most important and frequently used tasks in one place.
• Customer Center Organizes Information for Rapid Access
- see all customer information in one place along with contact information and the entire transaction history in one window.
• Improved Search and Filter of Customer and Vendor Information
- this improved feature will allow you more control and faster access to customer information - for example, customers with open balances. You'll be able to export this filtered information into Excel, where you can then prepare targeted marketing campaigns.
• More E-Mail Options
- In QuickBooks 2006, you'll now be able to store multiple e-mail addresses per customer and retain a default "CC" e-mail address to simplify the handling of your outgoing e-mails (for example - you can "CC" yourself on each message you send!). In addition, you will be able to enter a "Bcc" (blind carbon copy) for each outgoing e-mail message and set a default "Bcc" as well.
• Multiple Shipping Addresses (Finally!!)
- This long awaited feature now provides the capability of storing UNLIMITED shipping addresses per customer, and these addresses are easily accessible via the use of a handy drop-down list.

These features are just the beginning - there are many others to discuss too. In case you want to know all of them NOW, follow this link to get all the details, product comparisons, screen shots and more for the QuickBooks 2006 product line.

Did I mention that I'm giving away free QuickBooks consulting time for purchases made through my web site?

Order QuickBooks via my web site, and reap the following rewards:

• Savings up to 20%!
• Free shipping!
• 30 days free support directly from Intuit!
• 3 free learning guides directly from me!
• Free QuickBooks consultation time! (for Premier and Enterprise purchases)

Not sure which version of QuickBooks is right for your business? Eliminate the uncertainty right now and review the product comparison table.

Do you have friends who still track their business finances with crude spreadsheets or even worse, with paper and pencil? Tell them to stop the madness and join me for:

"Is 2006 The Year to Automate Your Bookkeeping?"

When: Tuesday, January 10, 2006. Continental breakfast at 8am. Workshop runs from 8:30 until 10am.
Where: Radisson Hotel, Eastlake, Ohio
Cost: FREE
What's in Store: There has never been a better time to banish paper and spreadsheet based accounting and simplify business bookkeeping. I'll be discussing:

• Why it's not as hard to automate as you might think
• How you can be better prepared to provide what your accountant needs by using accounting software
• One click access to critical business reports
• How easy it is to track money in and out of your business
• The ease of writing checks and tracking credit card purchases
• Software currently used by over 100,000 small businesses

For more information or to register, please e-mail or call Lynda at (440) 255-4654. Register TODAY for this workshop!

Question #1: Does QuickBooks have sample files where I can test things out without messing up my real company file?

A: Yes, QuickBooks includes these sample files at no extra charge with your purchase of the software. The idea behind the sample file is simply to allow you to practice and/or experiment with different QuickBooks features. By doing this, you eliminate the risk of goofing up all of your hard work in your "real" file (and getting the boss annoyed too!).

To access these built-in sample data files, click on File, then Open Company. Depending on the version of QuickBooks you have, you should at least see "Sample Product-Based Business" and "Sample Service-Based Business" files. To open one of them, just double-click on it. Your existing company file will close, and the sample will open. When you are done with the sample file, click on File, then Open Previous Company, and your "real" file should be listed there for easy access.

Question #2: I have multiple bank accounts, but want to set one of them as the default when writing checks. Can I do that?

A: Absolutely! QuickBooks makes it a snap to default the bank account in use when writing checks, paying bills, making deposits, and paying sales tax. Here's how to do it - click on Edit, then Preferences, then the picture that says "Checking". On the "My Preferences" tab, select the account you'd like to use from the drop-down list, and then click OK. It's that easy!

Is your computer screen starting to look like a disaster - icons all over the place, etc.? Bring order to the chaos quickly. Here's how...

Find a blank spot anywhere on your computer desktop, and RIGHT click your mouse. Then LEFT click on "Arrange Icons By" and choose to arrange them by various methods - name or type are two of my favorites. Click on your choice, and watch your desktop get cleaned up in a flash!

Do you find the collection of time data for payroll processing a challenge at best and a real pain in the rear at worst? What if I told you that you could simplify this process immensely by having your employees track their time on a cell phone or BlackBerry device? The cost? As little as $15 per month - it will pay for itself in no time flat!

It's true - if you work in a service business, for a contracting or construction company, or professional services firm where employees are out of the office frequently, you'll want to investigate the power of the WorkTrack service from Aligo.

Designed to work on either the Nextel or Sprint networks, WorkTrack takes the hassle out of time collection. But it does so much more too!

For your own personalized demo of WorkTrack, call Tom Young at (415) 593-7157 or complete the on-line form (Please be sure to type in "Scott Gregory" in the comment box to ensure you get the quickest attention to your inquiry!)

Boost your sales and slash your travel expenses - meet your customers online. Anytime. Anywhere.

The "QuickBooks: News You Can Use" newsletter is written and distributed monthly by Scott Gregory. Scott is a Certified QuickBooks Advisor, CPA and Microsoft Certified Professional.

Scott is also the president of Bond Technology, a firm that specializes in helping small businesses use QuickBooks effectively and profitably. Feel free to drop Scott an e-mail if you'd like to learn more about the services his company can provide.

QuickBooks is a registered trademark of Intuit. Bond Technology and The QuickBooks Cafe' are not affiliated with Intuit in any way.

Please forward this newsletter to those friends and associates that have an interest in QuickBooks software.

The Internet community is constantly evolving, so exercise diligence in your research as you would any other purchase. Bond Technology, Ltd. is not responsible for any third party links or the misuse of those links. They are presented solely for informational purposes.

This newsletter is issued free of charge. Please take a look at the products and services offered in the newsletter to help defray the costs of publication. This publication Copyright 2001-2005 Bond Technology, Ltd. All rights reserved.

Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.

E-mail: newsletter@bondtechltd.com

Phone: 440-527-5696

Web: http://www.BondTechLtd.com