QuickBooks 2013 - List of New Preferences and How to Use Them

Our QuickBooks accountants put together a list of 3 new preferences, which are now available in the 2013 version of QuickBooks accounting business software. We will discuss all 3 here in this article. Default Classes – Available in QBES only In QBES v13, the Accounting Company preferences tab has a new option when it comes to classes. Now, when you turn on Class tracking, you have the option to have QuickBooks automatically assign a specific class to names in either the Names, Item or Account lists. (Keep in mind that you have to choose one list only). When you choose the Name list, when you add a new Customer, Vendor or Employee, there will be an option in the Additional Info tab that has a Class dropdown. By assigning a class to the name, every time you create a transaction for this name, QuickBooks will pull the class in automatically. Similarly, if you select Items in the preference you will find a class field in the item record. Just like the names list classes, whenever you create a transaction using an item that has a default class, QuickBooks will automatically add the class. Keep in mind that if your template does not have a column for class, the class is still assigned in the background and will appear as being used on reports. Lastly, if you set the preference to Accounts, you will see a class field in Income, COGS and Expense accounts. Whenever you create a transaction using an account (such as a check, journal entry or bill) the class will auto-populate. Mark All Expenses as Billable – Available in all versions There is now a checkbox in the Time & Expenses Company Preferences tab that allows you to Mark all expenses as billable. There is not much to explain here other than now you don’t always have to click the “billable” box on your checks and bills. You just need to be careful that if you have this preference set and something is not supposed to be billable, you uncheck the box. Sounds like to me that you have to decide which one you have more, billable or non, and adjust for the lesser of the 2 evils. Item Description on Reports – Available in all versions In the Reports & Grafts Company preferences, there is now the option of showing both Name & Description on item driven reports. Huge improvement if you ask me. This allows you to change how the items are listed in reports such as: • Inventory Status by Item • Inventory Stock Status by Site • Sales by Item Summary and Detail • Sales by Customer Summary and Detail • Open Sales Order by Item • Item Profitability • Item Estimate vs. Actual • Inventory Valuation Summary and Detail • Pending Builds • Pending Builds by Site • Open Purchase Order Details • Purchase by Vendor Detail • Purchase by Item Summary and Detail Overall, I really like these preferences updates in the new QuickBooks bookkeeping programs and I hope you'll like them too and implement them to reap the benefits.