Welcome to

QuickBooks 2017
Instructor
Course Guide

Must Read
Read the instructions on how to use the
program and prepare for the
QuickBooks Certification Exam.

Flash drive is located in the

back of the Spiral book.
Elaine Levidow, M.Ed.
Training Domain
12761 World Plaza Lane, Suite 2
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 278-3833
elaine@thetrainingdomain.com
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 How to Order your Free Download of
QuickBooks 2017 Desktop
(If you already have the software installed, proceed to the next page.)

LINK TO THE REGISTRATION PAGE: QuickBooks Registration

Or key in the address manually in your browser:
http://www.intuiteducationprogram.com/signup/desktop

Before filling out the registration form, make sure to fill-in the
entries correctly.
• Enter the total number of licenses you need.
For example: 10 Licenses = 10 Computers

• Choose the answers above to enter the correct version and type.

• Within 3 business days, you will receive two emails:

Email #1 - Intuit Order Confirmation
Email #2 - Download link to install the software.
• After Installation, Register the software

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 Install QuickBooks in the Classroom
1. Install QuickBooks 2017 Software on each computer
FYI: You will receive an email with 1 License number.
The License number installs the number of copies ordered.
For Example, if you ordered 10 licenses, the 1 license number
will give you 10 software installations.

Note: If you didn’t order the correct number of installations, go

back and do the registration again.

2. Register the QuickBooks Software

• Register the software when prompted.
• You have 30 days to register the software.
• Register the software using the SAME REGISTRATION
INFORMATION for EACH WORKSTATION.
• Registration info (Name, address, location, phone etc.) can be the same
for each workstation.
• After the installation, close QuickBooks and re-open the program.
• Close all pop-up windows.

Elaine Levidow, M.Ed.

Training Domain
12761 World Plaza Lane, Suite 2
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 278-3833
elaine@thetrainingdomain.com

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 Classroom Setup
1. Restore the Sample Backup File on each workstation.
o Open and restore the Sample backup file, Larry’s
Landscaping, to use as the “company” file in the course.
o The file “BACKUP SAMPLE FILE - LARRY'S LANDSCAPING” is located
on the Flash Drive

2. Options on How to Restore the Sample File

Option 1: Restore the File on each Computer before the Course
You and your IT professional can assist with restoring the Sample
backup file to each workstation before the first day of class.
Steps
a. Copy the Sample Backup file from the flash drive to
each workstation.
b. Go to Page 5 in this handout to complete the steps to
Restore the Sample file.
Option 2: Restore File as a Classroom Group Exercise
You have the option to Restore the Sample Backup file as a group
exercise with the students.
Steps
a. Copy the backup file onto each classroom workstation
before the first day of class.
b. Go to Page 5 in this handout. Have the students follow
the steps to Restore the Sample file.

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Steps to Restore the Sample File
1. Open QuickBooks
2. At the “No Company Open” window,
choose “Open or restore an existing company”
If a company file is already open in QuickBooks, choose File menu, Close
Company. This will take you to the No Company Open Window.

3. Select “Restore a backup copy”

4. Next
5. Local Backup, Next
6. In the Open file window, open the Instructor or Student Folder on the
flash drive, select BACKUP SAMPLE FILE - LARRY'S LANDSCAPING
7. Select Open.
8. Follow the rest of the steps to restore and save the sample file.
9. You will be asked to Update the file. Click OK
Wait while the file updates.
A screen will appear before opening the sample company file.
This window is telling you the sample file is to be used for practice only.
The sample file also starts on a programmed date, 12/15/2019, for all
transactions.

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10. Click OK to open the sample file.

11. The sample file should open on the Home Page. If it opens on the “Insights” page,
select the Home Page Tab (to the left of the Insights tab) to activate the Home page.

Larry’s Landscaping & Garden Supply

is now your QuickBooks Company File

Welcome to the
QuickBooks Home Page

This is your general starting point for all transactions.

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 QuickBooks Home Page
Company file - Larry’s Landscaping

Next Step…Edit the Sample File

Now that the Sample file, Larry’s Landscaping, has been
installed, it needs to be edited.

Continue…

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3. Edit Larry’s Landscaping before Starting the Course
There are certain features in the sample file, Larry’s Landscaping,
that must be edited BEFORE using the company file.
Do this lesson as a group exercise with the students.

Turn Off the “Class Tracking” Feature

The feature “Class Tracking” is on by default. In this exercise we are going to turn off the “Class
Tracking” feature. (Refer to page 47 for a description of Class Tracking)

1. Edit pull-down menu

2. Preferences
3. Accounting
4. Company Preferences tab
5. Under the Class heading,
deselect “Use class
tracking for transactions”
6. OK

Turn Off Pop-up Messages

1. Edit pull-down menu
2. Preferences
3. General
4. My Preferences
5. Place a check mark in
the “Turn off pop-up
messages for products
and services”
6. OK

4. Copy the Student Folder (from the flash drive) to each

computer
• Copy the Student Folder, located on the Flash Drive, to each
computer.
• Students must have access videos to complete each lesson.
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 The Power of the QuickBooks
Training & Certification
Program

Increase your test score by listening to

the training videos!
The videos are a vital part of QuickBooks Program.
Following the textbook is one half of the QuickBooks training program. The
other half is the information covered in the videos lessons. Each video
expands on the text, adding essential information to understanding
QuickBooks and passing the exam.

Text + Videos = Certification Success!

Class in a Flash™
Videos

Text Certification Success!

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 How to Use the QuickBooks Program
Open the Student folder to view the contents:
• Student Book .PDF file
• Lesson Videos Lessons 1-16 - Each lesson is narrated in the video.
• Exam Prep Videos The exam prep videos must be viewed before
taking the QuickBooks Certification Exam.

Start the QuickBooks Lessons….

1. Read the Lesson First
• Read the text only. Do not complete the hands-on activities.
The hands-on activities are completed while watching the video.
• The lesson must be read first to understand the context of the video.
2. Play the lesson Video on flash drive
• Open QuickBooks
• Open Video.
• Follow the video instruction to complete the hands-on activities.
• Toggle between QuickBooks & Video to complete each lesson.

The way to toggle between programs depends on the size of the monitor.

Widescreen vs. Small screen Monitors

• Wide screen monitors can arrange the QuickBooks program and video
side-by-side.
• Small screen monitors must toggle between QuickBooks and video via
the taskbar.

How to Toggle Between programs on a small screen monitor:

a. Open the QuickBooks program. (Close all pop-up windows and screens.)
b. In the “No Company Open” window, open the Sample Service Based Business.
c. Minimize the QuickBooks Program.
d. Open the “Instructor Edition Class in a Flash” folder on the flash drive.
e. Play the lesson video.
f. Follow the video. Pause to open QuickBooks to do the hands-on activities.

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Remember….

1. Read the lesson first

2. Play the video. Follow the instruction to complete the
hands-on activities.

Get Ready for the Exam

Focus on the Yield Signs
Yield Signs feature an exam objective.
• The Yield Signs are in the left margin of the book.
• Pause at the Yield Signs (exam objectives) to
prepare for the exam.

Pause

Exam Practice
Objective Review

Exam Prep Videos Review the Objectives

Play close attention to the simulation video.

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 Increase your exam score
• Listen to the Exam Prep Videos before taking the QuickBooks 2017
Desktop exam.
• The Exam Simulations are tricky and can make or break a test score.
The simulation video shows you how to strategically navigate through
the simulation to save time and complete the exercise.

The QuickBooks 2017 Certification Exam

• A combination of Multiple Choice & Simulation
• 50 minutes
• 47 questions

Exam Score - Pass/Fail Passing score 700 - 1000

Failing score <700

Exam Score Report

After completing the
exam, the score report Student 2017
appears letting you 2017
know if you passed or
failed.

PASS

12
 How to Prepare for the QuickBooks User
Certification Exam
It’s all about the EXAM OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
DOMAINS Objective Domains (Headings) with objectives are covered on the exam.
(HEADINGS) 1. QuickBooks Setup Page
1.1 What information is required before setting up a QuickBooks file 42
1.2 How to start a new company data file in QuickBooks (Easy Step Interview) 42-46
OBJECTIVES 1.3 How to keep the lists and preferences from an old file while removing old 69
(TEST
QUESTIONS
transactions
) 1.4 How to customize the home page 6
1.5 How to set up lists (customers, vendors, items, etc.). This includes understanding 94, 108,
which names and items should appear on which lists 148
2. QuickBooks Utilities and General Product Knowledge Page
2.1 How to navigate or move around QuickBooks (use home page, menus, icon bar et 8
OBJECTIVES 2.2 How to back up and restore a data file 66, 67
(TEST 2.3 How to determine the release number and how to update QuickBooks 4
QUESTIONS 70
)
2.4 How to use QuickBooks in a single-user and multi-user mode
2.5 What versions and editions of QuickBooks are available for a specific year (desktop 2
version)
2.6 How to password protect QuickBooks 61
2.7 How and why to use preferences 49
3. List Management - Chart of Accounts, Customers, Vendors & Items Page
3.1 How to manage lists
3.1.1 Adding new entries 34, 99,
3.1.2 Deleting entries 34, 97, 110
3.1.3 32, 96-97,
Editing entries 112
3.1.4 Merging entries 38, 105, 117
4. Items Page
4.1 How QuickBooks uses items to perform the necessary accounting entries 140, 148
4.2 The different types of items and when to use each type 141
4.3 How to use items for different types of scenarios. These include companies that sell:
4.3.1 Products for a specified price 150
4.3.2 Services for a specified price 149
4.3.3 Unique products or services that have different prices for each sale 155
4.3.4 One service or product 149,150
5. Sales Page
5.1 Who should be listed in the Customer Center 94
5.2 How to navigate and use the Customer Center 95
5.3 How to complete the workflow (from the sale to making the deposit) for:
5.3.1 Invoicing (A/R) 125
5.3.2 Sales Receipts (no A/R), 129
5.4 How QuickBooks uses the Undeposited Funds, Accounts Receivable, and checking 152
accounts in the invoicing cycle
5.5 How and why to record a customer credit 168-169
5.6 How and why to create statements 104
5.7 How to handle bounced (NSF) checks 82
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6. Purchases Page
6.1 Who should be listed in the Vendor Center 108
6.2 How to navigate and use the Vendor Center 109, 112
6.3 The different workflows for making purchases:
6.3.1 Entering and paying bills (A/P) 115
6.3.2 Writing checks 77
6.3.3 Using a Credit Card 88
6.3.4 Using a Debit Card 76
6.4 How to record the transactions in the purchase workflow 115
6.5 How and why to record a Vendor credit 176
6.7 How to set up, collect and pay sales tax
6.8 Bank reconciliation 85
7. Payroll Page
7.1 The differences between the Payroll Services available from QuickBooks 232
How to set up Payroll (including employees, Federal and State taxes and basic
7.2 233
Payroll deductions) using the Payroll Setup Wizard
7.3 How and why to setup Payroll Schedules 237
7.4 How to run Payroll 239
7.5 How and why to pay Payroll Liabilities 245
8. Reports Page
8.1 Why and how to use the Report Center 217
How to customize reports
8.2 221
(Report modifications, collapsing subaccounts, etc.)
The basic question that each report answers
8.3 216
(Basic understanding of each report)
8.4 How and why to process multiple reports 218
How and why to send reports to Excel
8.5 225
(Understand and use the basic and advanced tab)
8.6 How to memorize reports 227
9. Basic Accounting Page
What the basic financial statements are and have a basic understanding of what 13, 16,17,
9.1
they mean 19
9.2 The difference between cash and accrual reports 20-21
9.3 How and why to set a closing date 64
9.4 How to enter a Journal Entry if asked to do so by an accountant 18
10. Customization/Saving Time and Shortcuts Page
10.1 How and why to memorize transactions (automatically enter) 190
10.2 How to set up multiple users and what level of access can be granted or denied 61-62
10.3 How and why to create custom fields (customers, vendors, and employees) 102
10.4 How to customize an invoice 182

-End of Exam Objectives List-

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 Seamless Integration of
Exam Objectives
Using the Yield Signs
(Objectives)
The objectives covered in each lesson are
pulled from the big list and placed at the
bottom of the Lesson index page.

The Yield signs, in the left margin, reference the objectives listed on the
index page.
Advantages of Using the E-book:
• The objectives, listed index page, link to a Yield Sign
• The Yield sign links back to the list of objectives.
Objectives are Hyperlinked to Prepare for the Exam
• The links in the eBook allow the student to quickly study and
review the related objectives for each lesson.
• The practice of linking to the objectives in each lesson should be
reviewed before taking the Certification Exam.
Exam Prep Compilation of Objectives
• For quick exam prep, I have extracted the objectives for each
lesson and put them in the Exam Prep Videos. (See page 12)
• Only the objectives are reviewed in the Exam Prep videos

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Focus on the Yield Signs in the left margin of the book.
While you are learning QuickBooks, the Exam Objectives are
included in the lesson as an alert to pause and study the exam
objectives covered on the exam.

• Yield signs are located in the left

margin of the book.
Exam • Yield Signs refer to the exam
Objective
objectives.
• The objectives are questions on the
exam.
Each Yield Sign is linked to an Exam
Objective
The Yield Sign references
1.1
• Domain (Heading)
• Objective

Domain 1 - QuickBooks Setup

Objective 1 - What information is required before setting up a QuickBooks file
1. QuickBooks Setup Page
1.1 What information is required before setting up a QuickBooks file 42
1.2 How to start a new company data file in QuickBooks (Easy Step Interview) 42-46
1.3 How to keep the lists and preferences from an old file while removing old transactions 69
1.4 How to customize the home page 6
1.5 How to set up lists (customers, vendors, items, etc.). This includes understanding which 94, 108,
names and items should appear on which lists 148

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 What’s on the QuickBooks 2017 Certification Exam?
• A combination of Multiple Choice & Simulation
• 50 minutes
• 47 questions

Exam Score - Pass/Fail

Passing score 700 - 1000
Failing score <700

Exam Score Report

After completing the exam, the score report appears letting you know if you
passed or failed. A sample score report appears below.

20174

Student 2017
2017

PASS
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 How to Interpret your
QuickBooks Exam Score Report
All exam questions are grouped under general headings called
Objective Domains.
• The exam results only list the Objective Domains on the score report.
• Each Objective Domain is scored by percent correct.
• You do not see the specific exam question. You only see the percent of the
answers you answered correctly.

About the Score Report

The Objectives (exam questions) are not listed under the Domain.
Only the Objective Domains are listed and scored by percent correct for
that heading.

Objective Domains

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 Identifying the Objectives to Improve your Score

EXAM OBJECTIVES
(TEST QUESTIONS)

OBJECTIVE
DOMAINS
(HEADINGS)

EXAM OBJECTIVES
(TEST QUESTIONS)

EXAM OBJECTIVES
(TEST QUESTIONS)

How to Improve your Exam Score Any score lower than 100% in a
domain means you got one or
“Objective Domains” more questions wrong.
Solution: Look up the Objective
Domain. Study the objectives
listed. Each objective listed under
the domain is an exam question
you could have you missed.
For example, this student scored
80% on the Objective Domain
QuickBooks Utilities and general
knowledge: The student got one
exam question wrong.
Review the list of objectives for
that domain to figure out which
exam question you got wrong.
If a student scores 30% on one or
more domains, review the
objectives listed for that domain
to improve your score. There is no
need to study the entire course.
19 Review the objectives only for the
Domains where you scored low.
Questions? Comments? I would like to hear from you.
Contact me by phone or e-mail.
Elaine Levidow, M.Ed.
12761 World Plaza Lane, Suite 2
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 278-3833
elaine@thetrainingdomain.com

QuickBooks Tech Support

1-800-316-1068
- Registration
- Installation
- Validation Code

Certiport Customer Service

To order additional books or exams,
Contact your Certiport
Territory Sales Manager.
(888) 999-9830
Telephone support is available Monday – Friday, 6am - 5pm MT (Mountain Time)

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