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“Cloud computing” is a term that’s been slowly but surely gaining momentum. From Amazon and Google to HP and Intuit, companies of all shapes and sizes are now offering cloud-based services. But what exactly is the cloud? And how it improve the delivery of Intuit’s Quickbooks accounting software?

The cloud is somewhat of a catch-all term used to describe applications and services hosted on remote computers (known as servers). These servers deliver the applications and services to clients via the Internet.

Here’s an example: in the old days, companies were forced to purchase individual floppy disks or CD ROMs of software to use on their workers’ computers. Once purchased, the disc was placed into the computer for installation. Cloud computing differs in the sense that it does not require a physical copy of the software. The worker simply accesses the software over the Internet, without having to worry about discs.

One of the main advantages of using cloud-based software as opposed to traditional software is the simple fact that it can be accessed anywhere, anytime — assuming you have access to the Internet. Whether you are sitting in the office or lounging hundreds of miles away on vacation, you can access cloud software via the Internet. Just log into the secure terminal, at which point you’ll have full access to the software.

Another advantage of cloud software is automated backups. If your main computer was ever lost, stolen, or suffered a data crash, would your business stay afloat? Thankfully, using cloud-based software means that your data is automatically backed up. Let’s hope it never happens, but in the event that something happens to your main computer, you can rest assured knowing that your data is backed up to the cloud.

If you want to leverage the power of cloud computing with Quickbooks, you should sign up for Hosted Quickbooks, such as the service offered here at MyVao.com. We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that Hosted Quickbooks is actually the Desktop version that’s hosted on the cloud by an authorized third-party organization. This means you get all of the features of Desktop Quickbooks, which trumps Quickbooks Online, while still being able to take advantage of the cloud. You simply log into a portal to access your account, at which point you’ll have full access to Desktop Quickbooks.

Are you an independent contractor working in the U.S.? Well, you aren’t alone. According to the Freelancer’s Union report, there are more than 42.6 million contractors. What’s even more interesting is that experts suggest this trend will continue in the years to come, adding even more workers to this ever-growing demographic. Independent contractors should take advantage of Intuit’s versatile Quickbooks account software to save money and streamline their operations, which is something that we’re going to discuss in today’s blog post.

Choosing the Right Version of Quickbooks

First and foremost, you’ll need to decide which version of Quickbooks is right for you. Many contractors feel overwhelmed at the multitude of different choices. Generally, however, the software can be broken down into one of three different types: Quickbooks Online, Quickbooks Desktop, and Hosted Quickbooks. To reap the full benefits of Intuit’s Quickbooks accounting software, it’s recommended that you choose Hosted Quickbooks, which is actually the Desktop version “hosted” by an authorized third-party entity.

Covering Your Expenses

As an independent contractor, it’s your responsibility to keep track all business-related expenses. If you are an Uber driver, for instance, you may want to deduct your car, gas, and any maintenance that you’ve had performed. Thankfully, Quickbooks makes these deductions a breeze. Using the Wizard tool, it will walk you through the steps of deducting business-related expenses. So when tax time rolls around next year, you’ll have an easier time preparing and filing your taxes.

Learn the Shortcut Keys

If you aren’t using the shortcut keys in Quickbooks, you are missing out on one of the easiest ways to streamline your accounting. There are literally dozens of shortcut keys, each of which has its own unique purpose. Clicking Ctrl+W, for instance, will open up the write checks window, while Ctrl+A will open up the chart of accounts.

For a complete list of shortcut keys supported by Quickbooks, check out Intuit’s help page by clicking here.

Run Regular Reconciliation Reports

Try to get into the habit of running reconciliation reports on a regular basis. Each time you withdraw money, deposit money, purchase something for your business, etc., it needs to be recorded in Quickbooks and then cross-referenced with your bank account records. Known as reconciliation, this process is essential to maintaining accurate records. Quickbooks has a relatively simple and straight-forward reconciliation process, so take advantage of this feature.

Want to make two or more vendors inactive in your Quickbooks account? If you are reading this post, I’m assuming the answer is yes. But how exactly do you set a vendor as inactive? There’s no “bulk” option for this task, but there is a quick and easy solution that we’re going to explain in further detail.

When choosing a category for vendors and customers, you’ll have the option to place them in the “inactive” category. All Quickbooks installations come with this category by default. Initially, the “inactive” category is empty. As you begin to add customers and/or vendors to it, though, it will fill up. The purpose of placing a vendor in the inactive category is to exclude him or her from your business reports, which in turn simplifies the process. Doing so will also help to reduce confusion when handling a larger list of vendors and customers, some of whom you may no longer do business with.

Now let’s get back to the topic at hand: how do I make multiple vendors inactive in Quickbooks? Go ahead and launch your Quickbooks program and choose the “Customer Center” option from the main menu. This will reveal a new list of options associated with customer contacts. From the Customer Center menu, click “All Customers or Active Customers” from the drop-down menu, followed by right-clicking the top of the column and choosing “Customize Columns.” You can then add “Inactive” to the “Choose Columns” menu on the right hand side of the page. Lastly, tick the “Inactive” box for the customer whom you wish to make inactive.

There’s no bulk feature to set multiple vendors or customers as inactive. With that said, the steps mentioned here should allow you to set multiple vendors and/or customers as inactive with relative ease.

The instructions listed above involve setting a customer as an inactive. However, the same process can also be used to make vendors inactive, just go to the vendors section instead. Sorry if you were expecting more, but that’s all it takes to make a vendor inactive in Quickbooks!

Did this tutorial work for you? Let us know in the comments section below!

Quickbooks maker Intuit has announced plans to retire its Docstoc service, effective December 1, 2015. If you currently use the service to present and/or access documents, you’ll have to seek an alternative solution.

Originally launched by by co-founders Jason Nazar (CEO) and Alon Shwartz (CTO) in October 2007, Doctstoc is an online document repository and storefront. Using the service, users can upload, give away, or sell their documents. Granted, Doctstoc isn’t the first online service to provide document sharing and sales capabilities, but it’s quickly grew into one of the most popular services.

This begs the question: why is Intuit pulling the plug on Doctstoc? According to VentureBeat, a spokesperson for Docstoc simply said the decision to shut down was made by Intuit, and that it plays to support the site’s existing customers but will not allow any new registrations or subscriptions.

Docstoc was acquired by Intuit back in December 2013 for a rumored price of $50 million. Just one year prior to this acquisition, Doctstoc had launched a service called License123, which helped small business owners obtain licenses and permits in the United States. The service was meant to be a referral service, but License123 quickly adapted its own internal methods for connecting business owners to their needed licenses and permits.

With Doctstoc closing its doors in just a couple months, you might be wondering what alternatives are available. Well, the good news is that there are several different services which offer similar document uploading and sharing capabilities, one of which is Scribd. Scribd is the brainchild of former Harvard student Trip Adler. It functions in a manner similar to that of Doctstoc, allowing users to upload documents, as well as audio clips. According to the company’s Wikipedia page, it now hosts more than 60 million documents.

Of course, you can also publish your documents to the cloud via Google Docs or Microsoft OneDrive. Keep in mind, however, that cloud-based data storage services such as this are not public, meaning you won’t be able to distribute and/or sell your documents on a large-scale level.

What do you think of Intuit’s decision to shut down Doctstoc? Let us know in the comments section below!

Coming just one month after the release of Windows 10, Intuit has announced a new Quickbooks Online app for PC users.

Intuit is describing the new product as a means to bring the power of cloud computing to desktop PCs. Reports indicate the new Quickbooks app will support Windows operating systems, including keyboard shortcuts, toolbars and menus. The app will also feature all of the normal Quickbooks tools, such as expense tracking, sales tracking, vendor relations, itemization, and other tasks related to business accounting.

“The new QuickBooks app for Windows was designed to seamlessly integrate with the native PC interface, and provides all the QuickBooks Online functionality customers expect,” said Richard Clark, senior product manager for Intuit.

Granted, there’s no rule stating that you must use the new app to access Quickbooks from a Windows PC, but doing so will enhance the functionality of Intuit’s signature accounting software. The app has been optimized specifically for the Windows PC ecosystem; therefore, it’s able to provide a smooth, fluid experience for the end user. Don’t take my word for it, though. See for yourself why so many people are talking about the new Quickbooks app for Windows.

Intuit has stepped up its game in recent months, launching several new products while creating key partnerships with other companies. The launch of the Quickbooks app for windows is just one of the many ways in which the company is seeking to grow and expand its business.

So, when will the new Quickbooks app for Windows be available? You might be surprised to learn that it’s already available and can be downloaded by visiting http://quickbooks.intuit.com/apps/. Assuming you already have an active Quickbooks Online membership, you can log into the app using your existing account’s username and password. If you do not have an Quickbooks Online membership, you’ll need to create one before using the app. The cost for Quickbooks Online ranges between $8 and $30 per month depending on the plan you choose.

Running a successful business is no easy task. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), nearly half of all U.S.-based businesses with two or more employees fail within within the first five years. That’s a pretty shocking number that attests to the difficulty of starting a new business. But the first step towards ensuring your business is a success is to understand why businesses fail in the first place.

Lack of Passion

One all-too-common reason why startups fail is because the entrepreneur behind it lacks passion. Some entrepreneurs are drawn to the allure of running their own business simply for the money. But when they realize it isn’t something that they actually enjoy doing, their business suffers as a result. If you’re going to embark on starting a new business/venture, make sure that it’s something you are truly passionate about; otherwise, the business is doomed for failure before it even starts.

Hiring the Wrong Employees

Another reason why startups fail is because the owner hires the wrong employees. Employees are the backbone of any successful business; they streamline everyday processes, communicate with customers, and keep the business running as normal. When a “bad apple” is hired, though, it can have devastating consequences, discouraging customers from purchasing the business’s products and/or services, while creating internal conflicts within the business itself. The bottom line is that business owners should choose their employees carefully.

Disaster

It’s not something most business owners want to think about, but disasters are a very real possibility. Whether it’s fire, flood, theft, or cyber attacks, these are all things that can send an otherwise profitable business into the red zone. Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict when a disaster will occur, nor can you always prevent them. However, purchasing insurance for your business will ensure that it stays afloat in the event of such disasters.

Poor Accounting

When you’re busy performing all of the everyday tasks that go into running your business, it’s easy to overlook accounting.  If you struggle with accounting, consider signing up for Intuit’s Quickbooks software. There’s a reason why Quickbooks has become the world’s leading accounting software for businesses: because it’s efficient, versatile and easy to use. Don’t take my word for it, though. See for yourself why so many business owners place their trust in Quickbooks.