Course updated to match the latest QuickBooks Online upgrades - as of 12/2023
COURSE INCLUDES FREE ACCESS TO
Successful students will not only master QBO program where they can competently manage the day-to-day bookkeeping for their own company or those of others, but will be prepared to take Intuit's Certification Exam and provide professional bookkeeping services for clients, or themselves.
Throughout the entire course, quizzes and actual working "homework assignments" are used to reinforce the lessons as well as aid the student in understanding what they are grasping or needing to restudy.
Read more
Course updated to match the latest QuickBooks Online upgrades - as of 12/2023
COURSE INCLUDES FREE ACCESS TO
Successful students will not only master QBO program where they can competently manage the day-to-day bookkeeping for their own company or those of others, but will be prepared to take Intuit's Certification Exam and provide professional bookkeeping services for clients, or themselves.
Throughout the entire course, quizzes and actual working "homework assignments" are used to reinforce the lessons as well as aid the student in understanding what they are grasping or needing to restudy.
Course updated to match the latest QuickBooks Online upgrades - as of 12/2023
COURSE INCLUDES FREE ACCESS TO
Successful students will not only master QBO program where they can competently manage the day-to-day bookkeeping for their own company or those of others, but will be prepared to take Intuit's Certification Exam and provide professional bookkeeping services for clients, or themselves.
Throughout the entire course, quizzes and actual working "homework assignments" are used to reinforce the lessons as well as aid the student in understanding what they are grasping or needing to restudy.
Some of the many areas covered in the course include:
Starting off, students will first learn what QuickBooks actually is and how it works to record and store information. This helps the user realize how to set up or restore data files with information. From there, an entire section explains how to navigate to the different functions and tools within the program and what they are all used to accomplish.
Moving on, the next section of the course is devoted to the several options on how to record sales into the books. Whether it's recording a cash sale and issuing a Sales Receipt, or it's creating and invoice and follow up account statements for customers purchasing on credit, each step in the individual processes are explained with examples shown.
Of course, there can't be sales and income, without there also being expenses so an entire section of the course is devoted to that process. Learn what the Vendor List is and how it works, along with learning how to enter and pay Bills, both using your checking accounts, as well as paying with debit or credit cards.
MANY other lessons are included such as:
How do you set up additional users and passwords?
How do QuickBooks backups work?
Can you still use a Journal Entry to record data?
And, most importantly, how do you actually get started using QB for your company.
What's inside
Learning objectives
- Understand setup and operation of quickbooks online™ to be used in small business settings.
- Feel prepared to pass the intuit quickbooks online™ certification exam
- Manage daily, weekly, and monthly use of qbo systems
- Complete 9 separate projects using the information learned in the course
- Understand setup and operation of quickbooks online™ to be used in small business settings.
- Feel prepared to pass the intuit quickbooks online™ certification exam
- Manage daily, weekly, and monthly use of qbo systems
- Complete 9 separate projects using the information learned in the course
Syllabus
Project 1 - Introductions
Let's kick off the course with a general overview of what we're going to be doing!
Tips for the Experience
To understand how QBO works, it really helps to actually understand what the system is doing behind the scenes.
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Syllabus
Let's kick off the course with a general overview of what we're going to be doing!
To understand how QBO works, it really helps to actually understand what the system is doing behind the scenes.
Unlike manual bookkeeping where the same action needs to be recorded in several places, QBO allows you to record a transaction once and it handles putting it in all the different places.
Watching the video is fine, but let's make sure you have the ability to get in and actually play and work with QuickBooks Online™.
Our goal is to make sure you learn and retain the materials in this course. With that in mind, this lesson will explain how the quizzes and homework assignments will work.
QBO has an EXTENSIVE set of Help functions both from the developers and from an international community of users. Let's take a look at how you access "your backup team."
Confused on what you're seeing on the screen? Make sure and take your time on this lesson to avoid any problems during the course.
The first step in learning QBO (or any program) is to figure out how to get around what you're seeing. We'll start here with the basic tools and structure of the user-friendly interface.
The last lesson started us in this journey of understanding what you're seeing on the screen. This lesson wraps it up!
Whether you're using QBO for yourself or for clients, the process that happens is setting up the file to begin recording activity.
Once the QBO file is created, customizing it to your specific situation saves time, energy, and confusion!
It's always best to have more than one person with access to QBO, even if it's just for emergencies.
Save time and stress by connecting your QBO file directly to your financial institution's online platform. Let the system download data so all you have to do is review and approve transactions.
To make your linked accounts even more effective, learn to set up some "rules" which allow QBO to pre-filled certain pieces of transaction information.
One advantage of QBO is the ability to use add-on applications developed by third-parties. These Apps can do everything from expand what you're seeing in reports, to help collect money from Customers.
As a database, QBO uses pre-setup lists to save time and reduce confusion. This lesson explains how those processes (and those lists) work.
Let's begin learning about how Lists work in QBO by starting with the most important one of all... the Chart of Accounts. It's the perfect place to learn how to add new entries to any list.
Things change in this world... And because of that, you'll need to understand how to change and edit information you've already entered into list items.
Not only do things change, sometimes they just go away. This lesson will explain how to remove/merge items within any list.
If you already have information in another system that you want to use in QBO, save yourself some hassle - import items into most of the major lists.
Whether you sell "stuff", or services, or bundles, or something else, learn how to get your QBO system set up and organized to be efficient and knowledgeable.
To keep sales organized and increasing, it definitely helps to understand how to organize and track customer data.
You've received a check in the mail from a customer, but it's not in the bank yet. Where do you track it in QBO that reflects that "limbo" status? Undeposited Funds!
The best part of running a business is recording that you're making sales and bringing money in. This lesson begins the explanation of which system we use for which type of sale.
This lesson wraps up the multiple different methods that can be used to record sales from your customers.
There will always be a time you need to give a customer some money back, either as cash, check, card, or a credit on their account.
Learn to use the information in your system to prepare Estimates for potential customers, or to set up charges that will automatically post onto their account when the time is right.
Whether it's because they purchase a lot from your company, because their a senior citizen, or just because you want to be nice, it's important to be able to offer discounts to your customers if/when you want to...
Remember those "things" we sold in the last project? Well, most of them you need to buy before you can sell them. This lesson explains how those same items work from the purchasing perspective.
Just as building and maintaining your Customer list is vital to a smooth business operation, doing the same with your Vendor list is just as crucial.
While Purchase Orders are optional in QBO, learning about how they work provides a good structure for learning about purchasing everything in QBO.
You've prepared the Purchase Order, sent it to your Vendor, and now the order has arrived (or it hasn't!) What do you do next? This lesson will explains.
Not everything your company purchases will involve a Purchase Order. Learn how to record all the expenses that pass through your books.
Whether you're handwriting a check, or printing it out of QBO, this lesson will walk you through the steps you need to understand and use.
In today's world, electronic payments are more common than checks. Learn how QBO can handle tracking any purchase you make.
You've purchased something but it's the wrong color... or the wrong size... or it didn't work. When you return it, your Vendor will provide you with credit in some form.
Many businesses purchase items that are on behalf of their customers. Perhaps a custom-designed front door for your renovation client. Learn how to track those expenses and make sure everything gets billed.
Getting information into QBO is no good unless you can get it back out. In this lesson, we'll look at what "Financial Statements" are and the difference in accounting methods.
Want to understand the financial "health" of a business? The Balance Sheet is the most important report to help you grasp it.
You've recorded Sales (income) and you've recorded Purchases (expenses). But did you actually make a profit?
Even with the best of computerized bookkeeping systems, there are still going to be times when information needs to be entered in a basic journal entry. Learn how they work in this lesson.
Account names in the Chart of Accounts can be short, long, simple, or confusing. This lesson explains how using an organized numbering system can save trouble and work.
The year is completely wrapped and the financial documents and tax returns have been filed. How do you keep from accidentally changing any of the numbers? Find out in this lesson.
As clear as QBO reports are, sometimes it helps to just look at lists of what's been recorded.
There are 1,000's of variations of QBO reports. Learn how to tweak and customize them to show exactly what you want (and how you want them to look.)
Understanding your customer's actions and business can always boost sales and reduce trouble.
Which vendor really is giving you the best deal and is that the one you're spending most of your money with? Figure it out using Vendor Reports.
Who owes you money? Who do you own money to? This lesson holds the secret of understanding that QBO information.
Set up your custom reports to be emailed out on a regular basis.
Learn how to export report information into spreadsheet format to help you work with and share it.
The smoother and quicker you can get using QBO, the less time you will actually have to spend using it. The less time you spend using it, the less of a "chore" it will feel like.
Does the business have more than one location that it works from? Find out how to keep it all organized in this lesson.
Tracking specific threads or pieces of information - coming in and going out - can help you maximize your profits and understand the business. Creating and using Classes can make that happening.
Make sure your forms carry the information you need, and the look you want, to your customers, vendors, employees, and more.
Let's finish up learning how to customize specific forms in QBO.
Do you really want to retype that same entry in each month? Learn how to memorize and/or have QBO automatically enter the information.
USE THE TAB KEY!! Don't use the mouse anymore than you have too! That's this lesson boiled down. And it's GREAT advice. Watch and find out what that means.
Use technology to snap pictures of your purchase receipts so QBO can do the work for you.
So, QBO has entered the information from your receipts. Learn how to check and make sure everything is correct.
Reconciling accounts (bank accounts, credit card accounts, etc.) ensures there are no mistakes in your financial activity and reduces the possibility of loss and/or theft.
Wrap up how to reconcile accounts in QBO.
Do Independent Contractors provide services to your company? Find out how to track that activity so you can issue the IRS-required forms at the end of the year.
A payment to a vendor gets lost in the mail. What do you?
Don't cut yourself with the scissors when we go digging through the Junk Drawer of QBO.
Need to restart over with your QBO setup? You have a limited amount of time to wipe it clean and start over.
Who did what to what and when did they do it? Find out using the Audit Log.
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Reviews summary
Quickbooks online certification prep
Instructor explains concepts clearly and effectively.
Practical projects and homework solidify learning.
Excellent resource for QBO certification exam.
Activities
Review Basic Accounting Principles
Show steps
Strengthen your understanding of fundamental accounting principles before diving into QuickBooks Online. This will provide a solid foundation for understanding how QBO automates and simplifies the bookkeeping process.
Browse courses on
Double-Entry Bookkeeping
Show steps
-
Review the basic accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity).
-
Practice journal entries for common business transactions.
-
Familiarize yourself with the different types of accounts in a chart of accounts.
Read 'Bookkeeping for Dummies'
Show steps
Gain a solid understanding of bookkeeping principles before starting the course. This book offers a user-friendly introduction to the subject.
View
Bookkeeping For Dummies
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the chapters covering basic accounting principles and financial statements.
-
Work through the practice problems and exercises in the book.
Practice Entering Transactions in QBO Trial Version
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of QBO by practicing data entry. This will help you become more comfortable with the software's interface and workflow.
Show steps
-
Set up a free QBO trial account.
-
Enter sample sales transactions, including invoices and sales receipts.
-
Record vendor bills and payments.
-
Reconcile a bank account.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Cheat Sheet for QBO Shortcuts
Show steps
Improve your efficiency in QBO by creating a cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts and frequently used features. This will save you time and effort in the long run.
Show steps
-
Identify the most common tasks you perform in QBO.
-
Research keyboard shortcuts for those tasks.
-
Organize the shortcuts into a clear and concise cheat sheet.
Read 'QuickBooks Online for Dummies'
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of QuickBooks Online with this comprehensive guide. It provides step-by-step instructions and practical examples.
View
QuickBooks Online For Dummies, 2025 Edition
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the chapters relevant to the topics covered in the course.
-
Follow the examples and practice the steps in your own QBO account.
Simulate Bookkeeping for a Fictional Business
Show steps
Apply your QBO skills to a realistic scenario by managing the books for a fictional business. This will help you solidify your understanding of the entire bookkeeping process.
Show steps
-
Create a fictional business with a specific industry and business model.
-
Develop a set of realistic transactions for the business over a month.
-
Record all transactions in QBO, including sales, purchases, and bank reconciliations.
-
Generate financial statements and analyze the business's performance.
Explore Advanced QBO Features on YouTube
Show steps
Expand your knowledge of QBO by watching tutorials on advanced features like inventory management, payroll, and reporting. This will help you become a more proficient QBO user.
Show steps
-
Search for YouTube tutorials on specific QBO features you want to learn more about.
-
Follow along with the tutorials and practice the steps in your own QBO account.
-
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Review Basic Accounting Principles
Show steps
Strengthen your understanding of fundamental accounting principles before diving into QuickBooks Online. This will provide a solid foundation for understanding how QBO automates and simplifies the bookkeeping process.
Browse courses on
Double-Entry Bookkeeping
Show steps
- Review the basic accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity).
- Practice journal entries for common business transactions.
- Familiarize yourself with the different types of accounts in a chart of accounts.
Read 'Bookkeeping for Dummies'
Show steps
Gain a solid understanding of bookkeeping principles before starting the course. This book offers a user-friendly introduction to the subject.
View
Bookkeeping For Dummies
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read the chapters covering basic accounting principles and financial statements.
- Work through the practice problems and exercises in the book.
Practice Entering Transactions in QBO Trial Version
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of QBO by practicing data entry. This will help you become more comfortable with the software's interface and workflow.
Show steps
- Set up a free QBO trial account.
- Enter sample sales transactions, including invoices and sales receipts.
- Record vendor bills and payments.
- Reconcile a bank account.
Create a Cheat Sheet for QBO Shortcuts
Show steps
Improve your efficiency in QBO by creating a cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts and frequently used features. This will save you time and effort in the long run.
Show steps
- Identify the most common tasks you perform in QBO.
- Research keyboard shortcuts for those tasks.
- Organize the shortcuts into a clear and concise cheat sheet.
Read 'QuickBooks Online for Dummies'
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of QuickBooks Online with this comprehensive guide. It provides step-by-step instructions and practical examples.
View
QuickBooks Online For Dummies, 2025 Edition
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read the chapters relevant to the topics covered in the course.
- Follow the examples and practice the steps in your own QBO account.
Simulate Bookkeeping for a Fictional Business
Show steps
Apply your QBO skills to a realistic scenario by managing the books for a fictional business. This will help you solidify your understanding of the entire bookkeeping process.
Show steps
- Create a fictional business with a specific industry and business model.
- Develop a set of realistic transactions for the business over a month.
- Record all transactions in QBO, including sales, purchases, and bank reconciliations.
- Generate financial statements and analyze the business's performance.
Explore Advanced QBO Features on YouTube
Show steps
Expand your knowledge of QBO by watching tutorials on advanced features like inventory management, payroll, and reporting. This will help you become a more proficient QBO user.
Show steps
- Search for YouTube tutorials on specific QBO features you want to learn more about.
- Follow along with the tutorials and practice the steps in your own QBO account.
- Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
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Accounting Clerk
Tax Preparer
Accounting Manager
Office Manager
Audit Assistant
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Business Consultant
Financial Analyst
Controller
Payroll Specialist
Data Entry Clerk
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