How to Run the Easy Step Interview in QuickBooks 2018

During this QuickBooks 2018 tutorial, we will demonstrate how to set up a company file using the EasyStep Interview.

Company Information

The first thing you will do is enter some basic information about your company. Your company name is the only mandatory field on this screen. However, we recommend filling this page out completely in case you plan on communicating with business-related correspondents through QuickBooks.

Note: You may choose to leave the Tax ID blank. The only reason that QuickBooks may need this information is if you decide to use the Intuit Payroll service.

Select Your Industry

On the next page you will Select Your Industry. If you don’t see your industry you can choose the General Product-based Business or General Service-based Business from the bottom of the list.

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There is no wrong answer here. Whatever you choose, QuickBooks is going to take that information and create a generic chart of accounts for you to use.

How is your company organized?

If you are a company that does your own taxes (using TurboTax or another form of software) go ahead and select one of the options available. If an account handles your company’s taxes, select the Other/none option.

Select the First Month of Your Fiscal Year

This option is automatically defaulted to January. Unless you need change this for some reason go ahead and click Next.

Set Up Your Company Administrator

The person who sets up the Company file is typically the administrator. The administrator has access to all of the Company files. QuickBooks does allow up to 5 users on the account. We’ll go over how to set that up at a later time. For now, create an Administrator Password.

Customizing QuickBooks for Your Business

You are now done creating your company file! You can choose to save this file anywhere you’d and even leave the Easy Step Interview process, although we highly recommend completing the interview.

The next steps are customizable options for your business. It includes questions like:

• What do you sell?
• Does your company charge sales tax?
• Do you want to create estimates in QuickBooks?
• Will you use billing statements?
• Do you want to use progress invoicing?
• Do you want to keep track of the bills that you owe?
• Do you want to track inventory in QuickBooks?
• Do you want to track time in QuickBooks?
• Do have employees?

Select a Due Date for Tracking Your Finances

Next you will select a date to start the Fiscal Year. QuickBooks defaults this date at the beginning of the New Year, but you can select the date that makes the most sense for your company’s accounting.

Review Income and Expense Accounts

On the last page of the Easy Step Interview you can review all of the accounts generated based on your answers above. Review the list and feel free to check and uncheck the services and accounts you want to keep track of in QuickBooks.

Congratulations you have completed the Easy Step Interview!

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Cindy McGuckin

Cindy McGuckin is an IT trainer with over 20 years of experience. Cindy currently manages the IT Training Department at Trident Technical College, she's a Member of the Association of IT Professionals, Charleston, SC chapter and the Treasurer of the South Carolina Association of Continuing Higher Education. Cindy is a Microsoft Office and QuickBooks expert and her online courses have received hundreds of 5-star reviews. Her no-nonsense approach to teaching complicated topics makes her classes engaging and interesting.