How to Set Up QuickBooks for a Daycare

By Alec Preble

QuickBooks accounting software includes an Easy Setup Interview that allows users to set up and begin using a company file in minutes. During the process you may choose an industry and allow QuickBooks to set up common income and expense accounts automatically. Though child-care facilities or day-care centers are not specifically listed, you may choose a general service industry and still allow QuickBooks to do most of the work for you.

Open QuickBooks and click "Create a new company." Allow the setup interview to guide you through the company creation process.

Type your business information into the applicable fields. Include your name, address, phone and fax numbers and e-mail and Web addresses.

Choose "Other service-based industry" from the "Industry" drop-down menu. Select an entity type such as "Sole proprietor," "Partnership or LLC" or "Corporation" and a fiscal year from the applicable drop-down menus. Save the file.

Answer the next phase of questions pertaining to your business operations. Questions include topics such as number of employees and the types of invoices or statements you intend to send to clients. Any changes that take place after the setup interview can be made by editing the company preferences.

Choose any income and expense accounts used in your business from the drop-down menu. You may add new accounts at any time. The setup interview is complete.

Add each employee, vendor and customer to the applicable QuickBooks centers. Click the "Lists" menu, choose "Chart of Accounts" and add a new account each time you incur an expense in a new category.

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