QuickTips: Tips & Tricks For Bookkeeping Success
A few months ago I attended Scaling New Heights in Atlanta, Georgia. At this conference, I had the opportunity to learn about some affordable technology specifically designed for small businesses. As a small business owner myself, I know that finding the time to understand and master technology, especially new technology, can be a challenge – but I also know that it’s time well spent.
We all want to achieve an optimal work-life balance. Small business owners have a particularly hard time in this area. But if we sprinkle in a little technology, all of a sudden it becomes possible for to step away from work to focus on our families or (gasp) maybe even ourselves!
A lot of you use QuickBooks Online and that’s great, but there are quite a few businesses that continue to use QuickBooks Desktop. Most QuickBooks Desktop users either use the program because it fits snuggly into their comfort zones (I’m in this camp) or they have they type of business that simply demands the desktop version of the program. Whatever your reason, you don’t have to feel like you can’t benefit from many of the time-saving technological advances that are out there. In fact, I’m here to tell you that there is some great tech out there that can help you gain more flexibility while making it easier to collaborate with your accountant.
Is Right Networks A Fit For Your Business?
I spend a lot of time driving from one client to another. For example, this past week I logged about 450 miles. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending this one-on-one time with my clients, most of whom are like family to me, but driving can steal a lot of time that could be more effectively spent consulting more clients or spending more time troubleshooting specific business issues. Fortunately, I have found a program that has helped me cut down on mileage while increasing the amount of time I can spend working with my clients.
For a small monthly fee, Right Networks takes your QuickBooks Desktop program and hosts it in the cloud. This powerful program facilitates ease of client collaboration and allows me to be part of the client’s multi-user environment through QuickBooks. As a result, we no longer mess with wonky backups or accountant copies – nor are we months behind. Instead, we are providing clients with up to date real-time information.
Read Also: QuickBooks: Not Just A One-Trick Pony
In addition to improved collaboration, Right Networks also addresses a lot of IT issues. For example, you no longer have to worry about how much memory your computer has to run the software or how secure it is from theft or loss from natural disasters or fire because the data is stored off-site.
Right Networks Features
- Advanced Security: It uses the same caliber of security that the big banks do.
- Unlimited Data File Storage: There are no limits on QuickBooks cloud company data files, in any plan.
- Disaster Protection: Data is backed up nightly and stored for 90 days.
- 24/7 Support: Seriously, their customer support is AWESOME!
So, with all these bells and whistles, you’re probably thinking that it’s going to be super intimidating. But you’d be wrong. Right Networks looks and performs just like the QuickBooks Desktop version you know and love! The only change is that an icon is added to your desktop, which will allow you to log into the Right Networks program. Then you simply log in to your QuickBooks Desktop like you normally would. (And yes, you can continue to send an email directly through the program.)
Finally, if you are using any other third-party applications, its likely Right Networks can easily host those too. You’ll just need to speak with your advisor to confirm. Right Networks hosting plans start at about $55 per month/per user, which makes it more cost effective than maintaining your own server – especially if you are looking to expand your business into multiple locations.
By Matt Long (Wooster office)