This week we will answer your questions on getting started with QuickBooks. Learn best practices for installing, setting up, and using QuickBooks to improve profits and cash flow.

After changing the invoice using a template, how do you make it the default invoice, so you don't have to chose it each time? Thanks Bill.

• dantelayton (Apr 23, 2007 12:07 pm)

Hi Bill,

The only default templates that can be set for forms are the packing slips for invoices, and the packing slips and pick lists for sales orders. In the other forms, the template that opens is the one that was used for the last form of that type.

As a sole proprietor do I set myself up as an employee? How about a vendor so I could record my start up cost?

• dantelayton (Apr 23, 2007 12:15 pm)

As a sole proprietor you do not set yourself up as an employee. However, you can set up yourself as an Other Name to record draws and contributions of capital.

Do I enter discount percentages as a item?

• dantelayton (Apr 23, 2007 12:23 pm)

A discount item applies a discount (a percentage of a fixed amount to the preceding line on a sales form. If this is your objective then yes.

The first screen in Pro asks me if I want to open an existing company, create new company etc. I messed up when installing QuickBooks and have two companies listed that don't exist. How can I delete them?

• dantelayton (Apr 23, 2007 1:14 pm)

This is a common problem. Although you've deleted the data files their names still show in this window. The only way I've seen this fixed is by opening new company files to replace the ones listed in the window. You can do this by both opening sample company files and using your new company file.  If you open enough unique data files they will go away.

Hi Dante,

I have just installed QB PRO 2007. I have about 4 months of transactions downloaded from my bank that are in .QIF format. I need to import them to QB to have all of my 2007 transactions. I aksed the bank and they can provide my downloads in the correct format going forward but they cannot provide these back to January. How do I import these Jan-April transactions that are .qif files?

Thanks

Mar

• dantelayton (Apr 23, 2007 1:21 pm)

If you want to export these transaction from Quicken Interchange Format into QuickBooks. Start by doing some research on google.com. Do a keyword search for qif into QuickBooks several third party solutions will be provided, however I cannot personally endorse any of them.