Computerized Bookkeeping in Laymens Terms [Spiral-bound]

Julie A. Mucha-Aydlott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2003

Computerized Bookkeeping in Laymen's Terms a QuickBooks® and small business instruction guide was written for the small business owner who wants the convenience and cost-savings of setting up and running their own bookkeeping system using QuickBooks® but don't know where to start. There are many books that explain bookkeeping, accounting and QuickBooks®, but their explanations begin with the assumption that you the reader already knows accounting. They fail to address the small business owner's questions in understanding the laymen's term -the how, why and what of accounting. Aydlott quickly helps the reader understand such fundamentals spelling out that a balance sheet is a financial statement that reports assets, liabilities, and owners equity on a specific date – by translating it in Laymen’s Terms so the reader understand that a balance sheet is a "How much money do I have, How much money do I owe, and How much money am I worth report?" Thus this guide overcomes the biggest problem of other accounting books that tell you how to set-up QuickBooks® accounts, how to run reports, but they lack in the language and the "That’s nice to show me how to set-up an account, but with what?" by answering the questions that are most commonly asked such as ""What do I need, what are financial reports and how do I get there in steps?" Aydlott makes clear "You need to know the why you are setting up your books a certain way, where the entries come from and go to on your reports, and most importantly, how much money you need over the long haul to make your business work".

Over 340 pages of basic computerized bookkeeping instructions with QuickBooks® graphics that can be used with QuickBooks® versions 2002 to the most current version and translated explanations for the Small Business, Home Based Business and Entrepreneur in Laymen’s Terms. The reader can forget learning each accounting function separately because they won't be remembered anyway. Instead Aydlott shows how to set up your books from point A to point B and keep on top of it throughout the year. The book includes a very important CD that has an Excel or Works compatible Personal Budget, Business Budget, and Business Cash Flow Projection. A Cash Flow Projection is just a clever budget that explains what you think your business will earn, spend and have left over throughout the year. It also includes a basic laymen’s chapter on Business Taxes, how to estimate your tax liability and mistakes to avoid. This instruction guide was written for the Authors clients in mind, giving a greater resource for the most common questions and problems using QuickBooks® and understanding accounting. Throw in the Authors sense of humor and honest approach to bookkeeping, and you won't be board with this informative business book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Aydlott succeeds in making an uninteresting subject interesting, breaks down the computerized bookkeeping process into steps, without using confusing lingo. -- Home Business Magazine January 1, 2004

The value of this book gives you an understanding of how the software works, what the terminology means. -- Entrepreneur Magazine Home Business Radio Show with Paul & Sarah Edwards, Dec 17, 2003

From the Publisher

The only QuickBooks® and bookkeeping training guide your small business cannot afford to be without. Aydlott succeeds in filling the gap of the most commonly asked questions that are missed by other QuickBooks® instruction guides. This informative book is not a run off of any Intuit supplied instruction guide. It translates the QuickBooks® and bookkeeping process into steps from creating a Chart of Account to invoicing, bank reconcilliation, job costing, payroll, budgeting, estimating your taxes and much more. The small business owner will not feel like they still don't understand what a Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss statement is after reading this book. Computerized Bookkeeping in Laymen's Terms has given the small business owner a greater resource in understanding their bookkeeping and QuickBooks® by allowing the user to feel as though they are being trained from Point A to Point B in a language that they can understand.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 341 pages
• Publisher: San Diego Business Accounting Solutions (November 2003)
• ISBN-10: 0974609307
• ISBN-13: 978-0974609300
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,015,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Saved by the book!", August 26, 2004

By 

Thomas (Fort Collins, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computerized Bookkeeping in Laymens Terms (Spiral-bound)

As corny as this sounds, reading this book saved me two thousand dollars making only one point on donations. Being self employed, I need every right off I can get. I give quite a bit to charity, but when it came to buyng a new car, I thought I would donate my old car to charity for a tax deduction - it sounds so good, right? WRONG! The book value of my car was $3,800. I was in the process of giving my car away while I was reading this book, and I couldn't believe was I was reading. After talking to my CPA, I discovered that my $3,800 car would have been worth just over $500 in tax reduction to the IRS. It made me sick! I don't mind helping charties, but I am not made of money. I sold the car for $2,500, which is obviously a much better deal than a $500 tax reduction. I would have never known about this until after the fact. I am so glad I read this book!

This author is very funny, sarcastic, and a matter of fact. I got very upset reading the chapter on taxes, but the truth is the truth. The IRS get's there share - and the author makes her jokes. It is refreshing. This book is more than explaining Quick Books, it gives so much more information - especially for small businesses. I have a mortgage company and want to keep my books as simple as possible. This book is very easy to read and understand. I would recommend this book to everyone - especially the small business owner!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You completed my education in bookkeeping, April 30, 2004

By 

Frank Lovell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computerized Bookkeeping in Laymens Terms (Spiral-bound)

Julie:

I started to read your book and I found that I could not put it down. When I told myself that, I felt like a nerd. What kind of person gets their kicks out of reading tax and bookkeeping stuff.

Well I guess I do! Your book is candy for someone that is interested in bookkeeping.

This book is just the thing to let me have the confidence to face that bad bookkeeping world out there. I knew 95% of everything that I was reading but, I read all of it anyway and you had things in there that I was completely unaware of. When I read these I just sat in awe of what I had just learned.

I went through a wonderful bookkeeping course that taught me everything there is about bookkeeping and the course even had something about getting bookkeeping business but I always felt as if something was missing. I kept searching all over the place for months and I eventually came upon this book.

I have re-read this book a couple of times and use it constantly as a reference. I do not know what my confidence in this business would do without it.

I cannot thank you enough for writing this.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lifesaver - love this book!, December 16, 2004

By 

Lori L. Moore - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Computerized Bookkeeping in Laymens Terms (Spiral-bound)

This book is a lifesaver. Our accounting was in such a disarray that we couldn't even give our books to an accountant. We ordered Computerized Bookkeeping in Layman's Terms - it's in plain english and so easy to understand that and we were able to clean up our books ourselves. Now our balance sheet actually balances!