How to Implement QuickBooks Training
in your Practice
Intuit Canada ULC
Course Objectives
• Why offer QuickBooks Training to your clients?
• Client Needs Analysis
• 1 on 1 Training versus Group Training
• Training Resources available to QuickBooks ProAdvisors
• Guidelines for Establishing QuickBooks Engagements and
Proposals
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Intuit Canada ULC
Why offer QuickBooks Training?
Financial
Planning
Tax
Preparation
3.5 Million
QuickBooks
Users
QuickBooks
Support
Services
Reviews and
Audits
Business
Consulting
Tax Plannning
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Intuit Canada ULC
Why offer QuickBooks Training?
• To Market your Practice
• Provide a Turnkey Accounting Solution
•Monthly Visits to Client’s Premises
•Update QuickBooks
•Correct Client Errors and Provide Product
Training
•Uncover Other Revenue Opportunities
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Intuit Canada ULC
Client Needs Analysis
Intuit
Intuit Canada
Canada ULC
ULC
QuickBooks Needs Analysis
Begin with a Client Interview to Determine:
• How much setup information the client has readily available
• Trial Balance
• Bank Reconciliations
• What QuickBooks version is right for their needs
• Management reporting requirements
Data File Setup Complexity:
• Level 1 – COA, Customers and Vendors Only
• Level 2 – Add A/R and A/P
• Level 3 - Add Inventory, Sales Tax and/or Payroll
• Level 4 - Add Customized Reports & Forms, Industry Specific
Configuration
• Level 5 – Add Integration with Other Solutions
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Intuit Canada ULC
QuickBooks Training Needs Analysis
• Interview the client to assess their current QuickBooks
skill level and condition of QuickBooks file
• You may need to re-visit the interview regularly
• Initial meetings with a prospective client are bi-directional
– clients are also evaluating you-- your reputation, your
experience, your personnel and your skills
• Make sure the organization is the type you want to do business
with
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Intuit Canada ULC
1 on 1 Training versus
Group Training Classes
Intuit
Intuit Canada
Canada ULC
ULC
Training Options
– Onsite Training (One on One)
– Group Training
– Web Training
– Outsource
– Bill client based on training time, not learning objectives
– Use a published training resource
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Intuit Canada ULC
QuickBooks Training Classes
Hands on versus Lecture Style
Hands On Training
•Most effective teaching
method for new users
Advantages
•More marketable than
lecture style
•Variety of skill level on
computers
Disadvantages •More expensive
•Less students = less leads
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Intuit Canada ULC
Lecture Style Training
•Faster pace – cover
more material
•No computers needed
•More students = more
leads
•Students may not
retain as much than
hands on
Training Assessment
From your Client Interview determine:
• Number of trainees in organization
• Current level of QuickBooks and accounting expertise
• Group class or 1 on 1 training recommendation
• Onsite or offsite training required
• Hands on or lecture style training needed
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Intuit Canada ULC
Training Assessment
Course Length
• Full Day Seminars – 1 or 2 Day’s
• Half Day Courses
• Other - weekly, quarterly, semester series
Considerations for Scheduling training • Scheduling –Daytime or Evening Courses
• Avoid holidays including school holidays and dates close to tax
deadlines
Time of Day
• Daytime (make sure to provide lunch or breakfast)
• Evening options
• Weekend classes
Training Rates
• For 1 on 1 training offer blocks of time instead of hourly rates
• For group classes, vary the pricing for onsite (per person)
versus offsite training (daily pricing)
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Intuit Canada ULC
QuickBooks Support Services
Remote Client Support
• Telephone Support
• Email Exchanges
• QuickBooks Remote Access
• Journal Entries and Adjustments
• Shared Bookkeeping Responsibilities
• Small Training Objectives
• Small Troubleshooting Objectives
• Report Customization
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Intuit Canada ULC
Training Resources Available to
QuickBooks ProAdvisors
Intuit
Intuit Canada
Canada ULC
ULC
Acquiring Necessary Skills & Knowledge
E-learning Modules
www.proadvisor.ca
• Basic and Advanced (soon to be Expert and Payroll)
Intuit Education Program
www.intuiteducation.ca
QuickBooks In the Classroom (Instructor Book and Student Guide)
• 15 Lessons with data files
Discovery Tours
• Accounting Conferences and trade shows
Third Party TextBooks
• CCI, Pearson Publishing
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Intuit Canada ULC
Guidelines for Establishing QuickBooks
Engagements and Proposals
Intuit
Intuit Canada
Canada ULC
ULC
Pre-Engagement Strategies
Engagement Letters and Proposals
• Avoid any misunderstandings and protect yourself
• Have one of the following written agreements for every
consulting service you perform:
– Engagement Letter -- fairly simple and narrow in scope
– Proposal -- a more detailed engagement letter
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Intuit Canada ULC
Pre-Engagement Strategies
Engagement Letters are appropriate for:
– QuickBooks Data File Setup of Easy Start, Pro, Premier,
or Enterprise Solutions
– QuickBooks Data File Analysis
– Annual or Monthly QuickBooks Support Plans
– QuickBooks Training
Proposals are suitable for:
– QuickBooks Data File Setup of Enterprise Solutions
– Integration of QuickBooks with Third-Party Software
Solutions (Inventory Control, Time & Billing)
– Extensive Repair of the Client’s Existing QuickBooks Data File
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Intuit Canada ULC
Engagement Letter
The Engagement Letter confirms:
– Terms & objectives of engagement
– Nature & limitations of the
services provided
– Financial information
– Setup & installation of
QuickBooks software
– Fees for service
– Onsite training & remote support
– Licensing, permissions & third party
disclosures
– Agreements and signatures
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Intuit Canada ULC
Engagement
Letter
Proposal
Overview of Service
QuickBooks Assistance
3rd Party Software if applicable
Crossover Services
Estimate of Software &
Implementation Costs
• Remote Support Overview
• Disclaimers, Privacy & Legal
Information
• Authorization
•
•
•
•
•
Proposal
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Intuit Canada ULC
Remote Engagement Strategies
• Special Strategies for Specific QuickBooks Consulting
Engagements
• Clients will call you with QuickBooks questions
• It is not a matter of “if” but “when”
• Establish the value proposition for telephone (remote)
support before the client’s first call
• Include remote support time in each engagement helps
establish the value proposition
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Intuit Canada ULC
Pricing and Promoting
QuickBooks Support Services
Intuit
Intuit Canada
Canada ULC
ULC
Pricing QuickBooks Services
• 1 on 1 Hourly training rates range from $60 hour to $150
hour
• QuickBooks Group Training Class Rates range from $129 to $375 for
a 1 day class, depending on what is included
• Use fixed fees instead of a hourly rate if you think you can be
profitable
• Include one hour of telephone support with initial engagement or
Group training class
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Intuit Canada ULC
Remote Engagement Strategies
Ways to bill for ongoing remote support
– Pre-paid blocks of time
– Monthly support plans
Differentiate Billing for Remote Services vs. Onsite
Services
• Pre-Paid Blocks of Time
– Remote Support (4, 6 or 10 Hours)
– Onsite Support (4, 8 or 16 Hours)
• Benefit from the time value of money
• Businesses use 60-70% of the support pre-purchased
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Intuit Canada ULC
Thank You
Intuit
Intuit Canada
Canada ULC
ULC