While you think you are happy with QuickBooks Pro or Premier, I suggest that business solutions are always worth looking for. You may find that Enterprise could simplify life in your business due to the additional features. I have a comparison table that helps highlight where the differences are. So before you skip this article, take the time to see what features are new in 15 and whether or not they would be useful to you. Several of the new Enterprise features have been on the wish lists of many for some time. The new features are divided into 4 main areas:
1. More Data controls (a defined force of Enterprise)
2. More Possibility of customization (another strength of Enterprise)
3. More Efficient workflow
Four. More reporting options – this one is huge!
More data controls
Do not allow negative inventory – In the past, QuickBooks allowed you to sell inventory even if you didn’t have any (according to QuickBooks). I can’t tell you what a mess this creates with your financial statements and how tedious (and expensive) it can be to fix it! Now there is a preference that will allow you to prevent that from happening in the future. You can use the item on estimates and purchase orders, but not on sales orders, invoices, or sales receipts. If you have 1 handy, you cannot write a number greater than 1.
Do not allow sales to customers with overdue payments – Definitely a good practice not to continue working, selling products to someone who has not paid you. However, if you tolerate slow payment with some of your customers, there is no option to choose who or how many days (perhaps in a future release).
More ways to personalize transactions
Total columns in forms – This has been on my list for a long time! You can total Quantity, Cost, Price or Amount (or all four) in buy and sell transactions using the Subtotal item. In the past, you could only subtotal amounts. You can also use this on the Items tab for expense transactions
Print footer on last page only – Have you ever received an invoice for more than one page and would like to be able to show the total only on the last page? Now you can! Customize the template and click the Print tab (not the footer) and select the option to show the total only on the last page
Show cost column in sales forms as a column – Have you ever wanted an easy way to make sure your asking price is higher than your cost? With this new feature (found in the template customization columns section), you can see the cost. Note that while you can see the cost on your screen, you cannot print the cost column on an invoice. (With the new Totals columns feature, you could total your costs!).
Do your job more efficiently
Sort by columns in transactions – Have you ever wished you could sort the columns in a quote or invoice? You can sort on any column (ascending or descending) by clicking on the column heading AND the document will also print in that sort order. This can be of great help when you have a long bill.
Shadow lines on printed forms or reports – While this may seem minor, if you have a long invoice or report this can make it much easier to read! When you click the Print button on the Invoice ribbon bar, you can check “Shade alternate rows in table”
Search within transactions – Have you ever needed to see if there is something on an invoice and have trouble finding it? Now you can search!
Shortage reports for assemblies It was time! If you are dealing with assemblies, you want to know if you have everything you need to build the assembly or not. While one may not be a big deal, when you have multiple nested assemblies and assemblies, keeping up with what you need to order can be a challenge. You can now view a report by vendor or by item!
Stock status report now includes pending builds for subassemblies
Excellent reporting options
Get the reports you want with Advanced Reporting – If you have complained about reports that you cannot get in QuickBooks, then Advanced Reporting may be the solution. This powerful reporting tool not only gives you more customization capabilities (including charts), but also access to data that you previously couldn’t include in reports. I was also excited to learn that it is included with your Enterprise purchase, not a J add-on.
For database users used to designing reports, they will love having easy access to QuickBooks tables! If you haven’t designed reports before, you’ll want someone to help you with this. I hope that in the next version or two this module will be easier to use, but anyone who has designed reports in MS Access or Crystal Reports or some other reporting program will have no problem. If you don’t have someone who can help you, please contact our office; If we can’t get the report you want, we can put you in touch with our QuickBooks reporting consultants.
