Forget Quickbooks - learn basic accounting first

I recently wondered why I couldn't get my accounting package to do something as simple as write a receipt for a cash payment. The package had all these nifty bells and whistles but for my tiny, home based business all I really needed was some way to record expenses and income, write receipts and produce a monthly report. In fact I have come to realize that the fancy accounting package was causing me to waste time that could be better used on projects that make me money.

If you don't know at least rudimentary accounting practices diving into QuickBooks or any other accounting package is not going to do you any good. A simple register in a spreadsheet or on paper will take less time and cost you far less in the long run. After all posting journal entries on paper has been practiced successfully since at least the 1300s.

I recently started a series of free Accounting for Small Business classes run by the Small Business Development Center and held at the Pleasant Hill Public Library.

I cannot recommend these classes and the services of the SBDC enough. If you are thinking of starting your own business I recommend learning Basic Accounting so that you are able to create Income and Balance Statements.