Business Discussions

I have been using QuickBooks for many many years.  I am not sure if anyone else absolutely dreads call for support.  It is a complete nightmare on every level. In November 2025, I had an issue with my financial institution closing one of my accounts without notice.  I processed my bi-monthly payroll as I always due.  The transaction bounced.  I was contacted by Intuit stating that I needed to wire transfer the funds to Intuit to cover the transaction,as well as a small fee.  No problem, I did this instantly as I did not want to not disrupt my business.  I dealt with my back, updated my accounts in my QuickBooks software and thought all was resolved. WRONG!!!!  To this day, it is now March 19th, 2026, I can not send payroll, vendor payments or my taxes.  I have called several times and have talked to many "experts" and literally have gotten NOWHERE.  Each "Expert" tells me the exact same thing.  "they are escalat

Welcome back to the Business Discussion board! Today I'm stopping by to share a list of a few common mistakes small businesses make for you to keep in mind... Not knowing your competition Constant Self-promotion Setting unrealistic goals Not strategizing Not checking for grammatical errors Not measuring your efforts No interaction with customers Not too painful! But keeping these fresh in your mind will certainly help in daily small business life. What would you add? What's a mistake that you made that you wish someone would have told you about? Let's talk about!

Hello Community! Thanks for joining us here in the Community for today's Business Discussion post. Today I'm sharing a post from the QuickBooks Blog that talks about how to protect your work as a small business owner and get the credit you deserve.     Terms to take note of: Intellectual property: Intellectual property (commonly referred to as IP) is anything you’ve created with your mind, like an invention, a work of art, or a brand name. Patents, trademarks, and copyright are all examples of intellectual property protections. Trademark: Trademarks apply specifically to the language and designs you use to identify and market your product, like a brand name or a logo. Unlike copyrights and patents, trademarks never expire. Copyright: Think of copyright as a patent for written and visual works, like novels, poems, art, and architecture. These protections begin from the moment you create your work, whether or not you’ve gotten around to publishing it. A copyright generally la

Good afternoon everyone! We've reached the end of another work week. Before leaving for the day, I invite you to take a look at this article from inc.com that talks about switching things up to get your desired results.Do you remember the show "Seinfeld?" The writer of the article talks about a particular episode where the characters are at a coffee shop when this exchange happens, The waitress comes over to take their order and says to George, "Tuna on toast, coleslaw, cup of coffee." George's response? "Yeah. No, wait a minute, I always have tuna on toast. Nothing's ever worked out for me with tuna on toast. I want the complete opposite of tuna on toast!" The episode goes on and situations continue to look up for George as he changes his every day strategies.See where we're going with this? Small businesses undoubtedly cut back during times of economic uncertainty. The article presents the idea of going bold instead.The first suggestion is to double-down on marketing. "Most small bus

It's hump day! We're halfway through another work week and I'm here to share some ideas that are sure to boost your business.   1. Learn Content Marketing (SEO)2. Pin on Pinterest3. Grow a Following on Facebook4. Share Graphics and Pictures on Instagram5. Start Building an Email List6. Learn Affiliate Marketing7. Post on Craigslist8. List Your Business in Directories9. Publish in Local Newspapers10. Post on Bulletin Boards   These are simple, budget friendly, ways to promote your business. What would you add? Let's hear your ideas in the comments.

Welcome back to the Business Discussion board! I hope you all are doing well and the work week is off to a great start. Today I'm dropping by to share an article from the QuickBooks Blog that breaks down some frequently asked questions about eChecks. Let's take a look...     "eChecks, also called electronic checks, are a digital alternative to paper checks that are designed to process payments electronically."eChecks vs. ACH transfers"eChecks are a type of ACH transfer that mimics the process of writing a paper check. eChecks require the payer to provide their bank account number and routing number, and the payee must authorize the payment. They’re safer than paper checks, as they reduce the risk of fraud and bounced checks. eChecks are also faster and cheaper than paper checks, as they eliminate the need for printing and mailing."eChecks vs. Wire Transfers"Wire transfers send money directly from one bank to another, usually within the same day, making them much faster than

As a small business owner, when you're your own boss, I'm sure it can be tempting to do all of your banking within one account. This article from bankrate.com breaks down the reasons why that may not be a great idea...Key features    Personal Personal checking accounts are designed to meet everyday financial needs with straightforward features and easy access to money. A personal checking account provides essential tools for everyday money management such as check-writing, ATM access, debit card purchases and direct deposit for your paychecks. These accounts may also have features like automatic bill-paying, easy transfers to other accounts and the ability to send and receive funds electronically.     Business Business checking accounts offer the same features as personal accounts, but they are designed to help you run and grow your business. Some banks offer merchant services that let you accept credit card payments. They may also provide access t

Hello Community! You've reached the Business Discussion page and I'd say you’re ready to discuss... business! Today I want to share an article I found posted on the QuickBooks Resource Center that outlines some tips for marketing a service based business.     Marketing is important for sales as we all know, and marketing for a product can be a breeze. But how do you achieve the same when what you're selling is a service? Service-based business owners, this one's for you! Here are a few pointers to recall the next time you're working on a marketing campaign...Reel In Customers With IncentivesHaving a hard time reaching new customers? This may be the perfect time to offer incentives. Incentives can come in many forms such as, a giveaway, coupons, discounts for new customers. Be mindful of where you need your prices to be to still profit but be prepared for a growth spurt! There are also several providers available that will help you distribute your incentives to both new, pote

Greetings and salutations my friends. I hope this week has treated you well. Today I'd like to share an article from inc.com that discusses why businesses hit a "revenue ceiling" and what you should do if that happens. Let's find out...They Max Out Their Personal ReachWhat happens: The list of personal and professional contacts has come to an end. Customer acquisition takes a toll on their bank account because it's difficult to sell to someone you don't know.Why it happens: Often times, startups will lean solely on their own network instead of asking themselves a few make-or-break questions: Does this idea have legs and is the product any good? How much is the product worth? How should I market and sell it? Will customers adopt and use it? What to do: Remove sales data for people in your network and figure out why strangers are buying from you and build from that.They Exhaust Their Early AdoptersWhat happens: For every product that goes to market, a portion of that market w

Good afternoon ladies and gents! Thanks for checking out the Business Discussion board. Have you ever been in a job interview and you get asked one of those "tell me about a time when ______." questions? And all of sudden your palms get a little sweaty and you start rambling a bit. Here's a handy way to help you answer those tough questions. Just remember to SOAR!   SituationThe setting. Where were you and what was going on.ObstacleThe problem you were faced with.ActionWhat you did to solve the problem.ResultThe results of your actions.Answering the question with the SOAR method allows you to present a great answer without overwhelming your audience (or interviewer). Just a quick tip to remember the next time you're asked a similar question. How about you? Do you have any interview tips? Let's chat about it in the comments!

Hello hello! I hope you all are doing well. I'm dropping by to share an article from the QuickBooks Blog that covers 5 quick steps to file small business taxes in 2026. Let's take a look... 1. Gather your records for tax filing At the most basic level, you need to file your tax return each year through the IRS to figure out your tax liability. As a business, you might have to pay taxes that include: Estimated tax: Quarterly federal and state tax payments made throughout the year for income that isn't subject to tax withholding. Self-employment tax: Social Security and Medicare taxes for independent contractors and self-employed individuals. Sales tax: Taxes collected from taxable goods and services. 2. Know what IRS forms you need to file The types of IRS forms you'll need to fill out to file small business taxes primarily depend on your business structure. These forms can include Schedule C (attached to Form 1040), Form 1065, Form 112-S, and more.3. Fill out your small business tax

Happy Friday! Before you leave the office today, I wanted to share an article with you from inc.com. This post offers simple phrases that can change how you do business for the better. We've all heard the saying, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Although cliché, it's very true. The same can be said about asking for things that you need. You'll never get them if you don't ask.Three magic wordsThe writer explains a simple phrase they've learned to rely on in the business world - "Is it possible _____?" Fill in the blank for yourself and you may be pleasantly surprised at the answer you receive.Before you askAsking some pointed questions takes guts, there's not denying that. To be sure you have the best chance at a positive answer you need to nail down what your business needs. "Knowing your business strengths, priorities, and shortcomings is essential for pinpointing opportunities as they arise and making them a reality. All you need is the confidence to ask, "Is it poss

​Is it just me, or is automation creating overconfidence?Bank feeds match.Rules auto-categorize.Reports generate instantly.But I keep seeing files where:Loan balances are wrong.Owner draws are misclassified.Stripe income is double counted.Payroll liabilities do not match filings.The books look clean on the surface. Until you reconcile.Has automation improved accuracy overall, or has it made people assume the system is correct without review?Curious how others are seeing this play out.

I see this constantly:A client says, “QuickBooks is wrong. My deposits don’t match my sales.”But most of the time, QuickBooks isn’t the issue — the workflow is.Here’s what’s usually happening:Gross vs Net ReportingPayment processors collect gross sales, processing fees, refunds and chargebacks, then deposit the net amount to the bank.If income is recorded as the net deposit instead of gross sales, revenue is understated and merchant fees get buried inside deposits. That creates distorted reporting.Missing Clearing AccountsMany files do not use a clearing account for Stripe, Shopify or Square.Without a clearing account, deposits appear random and reconciliation becomes guesswork.The cleaner structure is:Sales recorded to a processor clearing accountFees recorded separately as expenseNet deposit matches the bank feedWhen structured correctly, reconciliation becomes mechanical instead of investigative.Timing DifferencesProcessors batch deposits. Weekend sales may hit Tuesday. Refunds may

Thanks for joining us here in the Business Discussion space! I hope this week is treating you well! Today I'm going back to the basics to remind employers and new potential employees of a few skills that all-star workers display.   CommunicationClear speaking, active listening, and concise writingOrganizationCategorizing, sorting, and prioritizing physical and virtual environments in the workplacePunctualityManaging your time, showing up on time, meeting deadlines, and completing important tasksTeamworkWorks well with others, relating to colleagues, and managing conflictEmotional IntelligenceRecognizing one's own and other people's emotions and using it to guide thinking and behaviorCreativityThinking out-of-the-box by seeing things differently and proposing novel solutionsAdaptabilityAdjusting to abrupt change, managing multiple tasks in a fast paced environment, and persevering through difficultiesYou may feel like you have most of these memorized, but some you may have unintent

Hello, and welcome back to the Business Discussion area of the Community. I hope you all are doing wonderful! Today I'm sharing an interesting post I came across on the QuickBooks Blog that covers some interesting financial literacy statistics. Let's take a look.To start, here's a good definition of financial literacy: "Possession of skills and knowledge to make informed and effective financial decisions."Now, onto the stats... Only half (54%) of small business owners say they had a good understanding of financial management before starting a business. 1 in 5 small business owners say they taught themselves financial literacy. Less than half (48%) of small business owners are confident they’re paying taxes correctly. 71% of small business owners say being a business owner has improved their financial security. 48% of small business owners plan to build personal wealth by growing their business. 45% of small business owners say stability, not growth, is the long-term

Hello ladies and gentlemen! Thanks for joining us here in the Business Discussion area of the Community. Today I'm dropping by to share an article from sfgate.com that talks about the importance of your target audience as well as how to find it. Let's take a look."A target audience is a specific group likely to be interested in your company's products or services. These individuals share certain characteristics, such as demographic and psychographic traits, that make them the most probable purchasers of your offerings."Identifying your target audience allows you to: "Tailor your marketing messages to meet your audience's specific needs, wants, and characteristics." "Increase the cost-effectiveness of your marketing efforts by focusing resources on the most likely buyers." "Strengthen customer relationships by engaging with them on a more personal and relevant level." How to find your target audience: Conducting Market Research Utilizing Tools and Resources Identifying Target Audienc

Welcome back to the Business Discussion board! Today I'm stopping by to share a list of a few common mistakes small businesses make for you to keep in mind...   Not knowing your competition Constant Self-promotion Setting unrealistic goals Not strategizing Not checking for grammatical errors Not measuring your efforts No interaction with customers Not too painful! But keeping these fresh in your mind will certainly help in daily small business life. What would you add? What's a mistake that you made that you wish someone would have told you about? Let's talk about!

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for tuning in for another segment of the Business Discussion page. Today I'm sharing an article from forbes.com that offers some pointers on how to successfully tell your brand's story. Include the elements of good storytelling. Character(s), tone, plot, etc. Be relatable. Showing even the not so great aspects of your story allows for a deeper human connection. Niche down. Don't be everything to everyone. Cater to your specific audience. Test your story. "Write a few variations of your story and review them internally. After choosing your favorite options, run them past a focus group." Show and tell. "We love written brand stories, but the future of the web is in multimedia content. Once you’ve honed your story, it’s time to share it in multiple formats." Live your story. Skepticism is alive and well in today's day and age. Your story shouldn't be full of claims you can't backup. Incorporate feedback. "You don’t need to change your brand story every

Hello again! Welcome to the Business Discussion board. I've previously shared a few ways to answer tough questions and how deal with difficult situations as a small business owner. This post is a new edition - how to politely respond to people asking for your product or services for free. Here are a few ideas:  "Thanks so much for considering me! Please follow this link to the services and price packages that I offer. Let me know if you have any questions."   "This sounds like a great opportunity, thank you for thinking of me! Are you able to confirm that this is a paid opportunity?"   "I appreciate you thinking of me for this opportunity. Unfortunately, I'm unable to take on any unpaid projects at the moment but I'll get back to you if that changes!"   "Thanks for reaching out! I typically charge a flat fee for this kind of advice so I'm unable to answer this via DM but I'll drop a link below so you can schedule a consultation with me."   These are just a few

Hello everyone! Thanks for taking a minute to check out the Business Discussion page. Today I'm sharing an article from the QuickBooks Blog that offers a few options to improve your business efficiency during times of economic downturn.   If you've read any of my posts in the past, you know I'm a fan of starting off with a definition. Business efficiency can be defined as, "how effectively a company uses it's resources (money, labor, materials) to produce an output (products and services)." It also answers the following questions: How productive are my employees? How much waste does our company produce? Are we seeing a positive return on the tools, materials, and talent we invest in? There are several ways to gauge business efficiency. Here are a few of the main areas to focus on: Financial efficiency Overall profitabilityFixed asset turnoverReceivable turnoverInventory turnover Operational efficiency ManufacturingSupply chain managementCustomer serviceAccounting, finance, a

Good afternoon, Community! It's the end of another workweek and I'm stopping by to share a post from inc.com. This article shares insight about how leaders can ask better questions. I have a feeling asking better questions leads to receiving better answers. Let's take a closer look...   In order to ask better questions, you first need to be asking the right questions. Here are some focus points:   Navigating Complexity: Why are we doing the things that we are doing? How are others doing it? And could we do it a different way? Fostering Innovation: Thoughtful questions spark creativity and innovation. They challenge the status quo, inspiring you to think beyond conventional boundaries and explore new avenues for growth. Enhancing Decision Making: Strategic questions form the foundation of sound decision making. They prompt you to consider various perspectives, weigh alternatives, and make informed choices that align with your business objectives.   In addition to a

Hi friends. Welcome back to the Business Discussion board. Today I have a bit of insight to help you be more productive. Let's talk about how to deal with task paralysis.What is task paralysis you ask? Also referred to as overwhelm freeze, task paralysis is when your mind sees your to-do list as a threat. When we encounter threats, we either fight, flight, or freeze. With a larger to-do list the threat may be recognized as potential failure or letting others down.Here are some tips to help you unfreeze and tackle your tasks: Acknowledge your negative emotions. Think of ways to add reward and accountability to your task. Do something to increase your dopamine like listening to music while you're working or eating a snack before you get started. Move your body for a little while before you get started to get your mind out of the frozen state. Work in a different area. Start small with something that feels the most doable. Don't wait until you have "more time" or it "feels right." Starti

Hey Community! Today I want to talk about an article I read on the QuickBooks Blog. This particular post discusses ways to fund your business without relying solely on your own pockets. Here are a few examples:  Fundraising is a skill As a business owner, it's pretty safe to say you have a large skillset. One of those skills can actually be fundraising. This comes with practicing your pitch, taking advice on how to better convey your message, and creating documents to back up your statement. "Fundraising, like any skill, is one that can be learned, one that can be improved, and one that can be perfected over time."   Learning from "no""You either win or you learn. There's no such thing as losing." This is what the writer had to say about receiving the answer "no" when requesting money. Using no as an opportunity to learn and better perfect your approach.   People invest in people, not companiesBuilding your network and relationships is key to business ownership. Wh

Hello, Community! I hope you're doing well and ready for a great weekend. Before you leave for the day, I wanted to share an article from inc.com that talks about making your brand AI visible. Let's take a look at it...   SEO (Search Engine Optimization) hasn’t disappeared, but AI visibility is now the new layer of discovery. Here are five strategies to make sure your brand shows up in AI‑generated answers.   1. Write citation-ready content blocksYou want your content to be fact-dense and modular, meaning you’re prioritizing definitions and quick comparisons. Adding or converting to step-by-step guides and decision helpers gets your content noticed. You’re outlining how your audience can decide between their choices.   2. Strengthen your entity signalsAI models need to understand who your brand is. Align your brand name consistently online by using similar descriptions and categories when highlighting products or services and founders. You can build