May 2020 Meeting Notes- Liscio

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May 7, 2020 Meeting Notes (Virtual via Zoom Meetings)

By Linda Lagraff       

Liscio 

May 7, 2020

President Kim Boaz opened the meeting with introductions.  Due do the coronavirus and Stay and Home requirements, the meeting was held remotely on Zoom.

Liscio

Chris Farrell, CEO of Liscio gave a presentation on the software and how it was made for accountants. 

Banks have moved to a comprehensive online software platform and Liscio offers the same abilities for accountants.   Easy to use, invite only network and ideal for remote working.

It gives the ability to email clients to a dedicated space, so the emails aren’t lost in the multitudes of other emails.  Emails can be sent individually to each client or by bulk messaging.  You can also text the client, if information is needed quickly.  Documents can be scanned and saved.  The program has an app for the phone and shows everything sent to Liscio.  This is good audit tool, as it has what was sent, when and how.  Can see current and past documents.

Liscio offers training for the accountant and our clients.  Giving end user support for everything, hand-holding for us and our clients.  They train the accountant first and work with us to help getting clients onboard and using the program.  They have email and social media templates.

They are offering us ½ price deal, just mention All-Stars Accounting.

Email either chris@liscio.me or sales@liscio.me

Another good meeting with active, informative discussion

Future meetings:

·       June 4th meeting will be a presentation by a Tax Attorney.  The meeting will be a Zoom meeting, 11:30-1:00 pm.

·       Third Thursday of every month we are hosting a Zoom Happy Hour, 4-5 pm

April 2020 Meeting Notes- App Recommendations (virtual via Zoom)

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April 2, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 virus the meeting was held via Zoom. 

President Kim Boaz opened the meeting with introductions and notices. 

Technology was the focus of the meeting:

Jaydra shared a project management program Hubspot.  Basic program is free

            The program was developed for Sales teams and has a sales project orientation. It is easy to use, just need to adjust to sales terminology. 

 Dashboard – runs reports and has an analytics component,

            Sales tab – is for projects

                        Can add what you are doing into the pipeline and then have each stage of the project.  You can add anticipated timeline and cross off when done. 

            The program tracks what you have done, what is left to do, can add notes, emails, calls

The system is to help yourself now, keep you on track to what needs to be done. System can set reminders, you can set them up for how you do work and what you need reminders.  For example, if you don’t have documents from a client by a certain date you can set a reminder to call the client. 

It can also help yourself in the future, easy to find past information.

It is an easy program to change and adjust to your needs.

Chrome brower has the Hubspot link.

Alicia – showed us the new tags coming soon to QBO

It will be under the gear, labeled tag.

Each group can have its own name and color

An example used:

            Construction company can have groups  New and Remodeling

            Type: New

                        Repairs

                        Remodels

            Employees

They can then track projects with more details. 

Tags can be added to all transactions: invoices, banking, sales receipts, etc

Tags will work like classes in reports.  Currently they do not work with rules

The can be used only when needed.

Melissa shared three apps that can be found in Chrome Browser

Edge:  The web ruler.  It is a ruler for the screen.  It is great when trying to read and enter bank and credit card statements.  Those who have used it highly recommend it,

Loom for Chrome:  Easy for crating little videos/trainings.  Create videos for teaching clients something.  It also has drawing tools

Streak:  Project management:  It will tell you when someone has looked at an email.  There are lots of videos to learn how to use.

·       May 7th meeting will be a presentation on Liscio.  Meeting will be held via Zoom 11:30-1:00 pm. 

February 1st 2018 Meeting Notes

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February 1st Meeting Notes Bulleted By Linda Lagraff

Technology: What's Working and What's Not.

February 1, 2018

Vice President Melissa Barton opened the February 1st meeting with a discussion of what is working and what isn’t with technology.  She told about a small manufacturing company that was trying to do too much in QB, when what they needed was to only track finance in QB and move everything else out.  She got them using ShipStation.

  • Discussion followed regarding other programs
  • LightSpeed was recommended for restaurants and small to medium size retail businesses. It integrates with QBs
  • Adobe, at the paid dues level, allows you to transfer pdf files to either excel or word programs.
  • The pdf2qbo program makes transferring bank statements to QuickBooks easier
  • com was highly recommended. It has authorizations features and allows clients to set up systems to assure those that need to see and approve bills prior to payment can.

Discussion then turned to 1099s and what worked or changes to consider for 2018

  • Have all vendors fill out a new W9 in Jan every year. This way all information is current and not waiting until a vendor reaches the $600 limit before remembering to collect a W-9
  • Clients should set up a policy that vendors will not be paid until the W-9 is received

As tax season is upon us questions were presented to the CPAs in attendance for their advice

  • Most liked to receive back-up or portable QB files.
  • Most liked that their clients used account numbers
  • Most also agreed that they like to be able to discuss things with a client’s bookkeeper. If your clients allow it, introduce yourself to their CPAs

March 1st meeting will be a demonstration of XERO software.  Presented by staff from XERO.  There will be time for questions.   Meeting will be at Meals on Wheels locatons at 7710 SW 1st Ave., Portland, OR 97219.  11:30-1:00 pm and it is a bring your own lunch style meeting.

Meeting Minutes May 5, 2016

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The meeting this month was held at the WeWork Offices in downtown Portland.  Kim introduced our group.  Renee Trump facilitated the meeting.  Renee’s first question for the group was “What has been your strategy to keep up with apps and technology?” Melissa mentioned that she reads “Leader Report”.  Other sources included Charlie Russell, Linked-In Groups, QBO Power Hour and Sleeter Group.  Kevin Minkoff reads the Technology Today Magazine.  Renee uses HubDoc – a bank feed version.  HubDoc doesn’t work with On Point but integrates with QuickBooks online. Receipt bank software was discussed.  The client helps describe the transaction and take a picture of the receipt with their phone.  Alicia stated that she uses T-Sheets.  It is an app that can assist classifying timesheets including employee’s time and phone calls.  It integrates with your desktop computer. Next Renee mentioned a quote from Mike Michalowicz’s book “Profit First”.  The theme of the quote related to the fact that software is changing so quickly that to survive, the accounting industry will need to be more consultative and less transactional.  Although it is true that software enables consumers more tools to do things previously relegated only to bookkeepers and accountants, proper use of the software requires skills and understanding not held by many consumers.

The next All Star Accounting Professional meeting will be held on June 2, 2016 at Kevin Minkoff’s office on the Eastside of Portland.  Diana Chung will facilitate the meeting.