- - And the Lord direct your heart in the love of God as you continue to faithfully serve Him - -

Links on the www.bcidot.org Web Site include:      HOME  |  ABOUT  US   |    OUR PURPOSE   |   SITEMAP   |  COMPUTER FUND ACCTG  |  HELPS

         TO:  Interested Onliners                                                                                                                     FROM: Jim Bramer, Retired CPA-Auditor
                                                                                                                                                                        
   
         RE: J I Ms  J R N L  for the month of February 2005                                                                             FILE:  0202-05/jrnl        

QuickBooks Versions: (4)

  Onliner:  Over on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/churchadmin/   there has been a question about the use of the QBooks Non-Profit Version.  In light of your QBooks interests as expressed within http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qbunch  what do you believe about this product.
     Jim Bramer:  Thanx for asking.  I have nothing against it per se, but it is my understanding that it advocates Fund Accounting Method 4 as defined within  0601  whereas  I believe Method 1  therein better serves most Ministries.  Also they integrate donation processing within this product while I believe it is better to use a separate database for the reasons explained within  0021.  
  Onliner:  Also along these lines  ---  do you think that new users of QBooks need to buy the more expensive new versions?
     Jim Bramer:  No, I strongly feel that the needs of most Ministry users of QBooks can be met by using inexpensive older versions like QBPro2002; QBPro2003.  I see no need to even use  QBPro2004, and definitely not any of the 2005 versions.  When you buy Online ---like at www.eBay.com -- be sure you can ultimately do all of the needed Intuit registrations etc.

Use of Debit Cards vs writing a Check: (3)

    Some pluses and minuses about Ministries and individuals using Debit Cards (see  0114  for more info) as compared to the normal process of writing a check, etc.

            Pluses:         >> Parallels an ATM card -- you often do not need both a Debit Card and an ATM Card   
                                >> You do not have to write and process a paper check, or it functions like an ATM charge to your bank account,
                                >> Like a check it can go to a specific vendor -- particularly a certain retail store.
                                >> A check often needs to be approved by the vendor before purchase -- not so with a Debit Card.
                                >> Assists in making gifts (prepaid plastic/cards, etc.) when you are uncertain as to what to buy, etc..            

            Minuses:       >> Hits your bank account now and is not delayed like a check, etc.
                                >> User is not as likely to keep the needed purchase documentation.
                                >> Since you do not use Credit Cards you are not getting perks, or rewards like Freq Flyer Miles, etc.

Brad Pendable's Helps and Articles, etc.(7)

        This very special person (bdpendable@hotmail.com) is a supposed former CPA partner of mine.  He serves a larger Church, with a number of associated Ministries, as their Chief Financial Officer (CFO) but he also is one of their Missionaries as he helps (mostly Online) various Small Churches and Missionary Organizations in their Ministry Finance endeavors.  As you read his articles when you  Click Here , as divided up by various Ministry groups,  you will note that I have allowed him to use web pages at  www.bcidot.org  in his Ministry. 

How we help New QuickBooks Users at Ministries: (5)

  Onliner:  Jim, I have been told that you are available to help new users of QuickBooks (QB) as used at Ministries. Just how do you do this?
    Jim Bramer: The usual steps include what is contained within the xxxx web link contents below:

>> You digest the contents of the web links below as you decide which QBooks Fund Acctg method  to use and how you are going to process Donations. 0041   0601   and  0021
>> Most of you go through the recommended tutorial process as set forth at 0079  
>> You establish your Chart of Accts -- see  0063   for some helps
>> You conclude how you are going to do your payroll (especially Clergy). see 0607  for helps in use of QBooks.
>> You input your beginning balances -- the ideal is to begin with your new fiscal year
>> You conclude which QBooks reports you need; be especially careful about the proof reports described within 0610
>> You process and proof the first month's transactions
>> You work out the kinks so that things are normal thereafter
>> With any of the above steps, we interact together by Email/phone and exchange/discuss QB files via www.GoToMyPC.com  as explained within  0130  

  Onliner: I need to better understand this www.GoToMyPC.com  thing. For example, do I have to have a fast Internet connection, etc?
    Jim Bramer: The general idea is that you efficiently send us your QBs file. In/around this process we invite you so that the both of us can view my desktop which includes your QBs file contents -- it is just as if you were viewing your own desktop. We together look at your QBs file contents and you make entries and we discuss, etc. It helps you to have a fast connection, but not essential.
  Onliner:  What do you charge for such services?
    Jim Bramer:  If we exchange files, there is an initial fee of $50.00. Other than that the Ministry decides what, if anything, they pay me, etc. See   0100   for more info
  Onliner:  Please provide me with some info about recent Ministries to whom you have provided QBs helps like this so I have the option of contacting them.
    Jim Bramer:   Please see info below

	Onliner:		Ministry/QB Version		How I help	Email Address
Peggy			Church  QBPro2003		Weekly interaction	Peggy@riverpark.org
Nancy.			Church & School
				QBPro2002	As needed & year end	NMWTUDE@msn.com
Lyndon			Church
				QBooksOnline	As needed & year end	LyndonWilson@comcast.net
Cathy			Church  QBPro2003		As needed & year end	CDamon@aol.com
Jason P			Mission QBPro2003		Recent QB Setup	jpittman@cbfnet.org
Nancy.			Mission QBPro2003		As needed & year end	Nmoelk@yahoo.com
Tom P.			Church QBPro2002		As needed & year end	preples02@insightbb.com

Personal Finance Self Evaluation  (6):

    Please review the 10 items below and evaluate yourself concerning Personal Finance Essentials.  If you have too many in the No or the Partial columns, then perhaps the resources found at  0400  will help you.

	PERSONAL FINANCE ESSENTIALS	No	Partial	Yes
1	You set life style spending limits before
	you do any spending.	_____	_____	_____
2	You give a minimum of a tithe of your income
	to your home church.	_____	_____	_____
3	You know at least weekly how much you can
	spend by category	_____	_____	_____
4	And you carefully adhere to these spending
	limits.	_____	_____	_____
5	You set aside money for known or even
	unknown future non-monthly expenditures	_____	_____	_____
6	You make maximize use of contemporary spending
	control tools (especially those resources
	provided by the Internet)	_____	_____	_____
7	You minimize your cash transactions, since this
	is not conducive for accountability and safety.	_____	_____	_____
8	Or you do the bulk of your buying using checks
	and charge/plastic accounts (Retail Stores and
	Credit/Debit cards)	_____	_____	_____
9	An absolute --- all charge/plastic accounts are
	paid off interest free each month	_____	_____	_____
10	At least monthly, you verify that your financial
	records are in agreement with your bank and
	charge/plastic account records.	_____	_____	_____

Potentially Helpful Links for JIMs JRNL Readers  (1):

What is different about Church Accounting --  http://www.thechurchreport.com/content/view/206/32/
Church Administration via a BLOG  --  http://www.churchadminpro.blogspot.com
ECFA 4th Qtr 2004 Publication  --   http://www.ecfamembers.org/pdf/Newsletters/FOCUS_4Q_2004.pdf
Christian Computer Magazine Links -- http://ccmag.gospelcom.net/OurFavoriteLinks/index.htm
Online Giving --- http://ccmag.gospelcom.net/0205/0205coverstory.pdf
Christian Foundation Info -- http://www.bcidot.org/brad/beth/11-ChrnFound/ChrnFoundationInfo.html

Chosen Ministry Finance Truism: (2)

        Below is one of my Ministry Finance precepts/beliefs/principles, or  "rule of thumbs".  Please go to  0069  for our complete TRUISMS list.

    UNIFIED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM  - The idea here is that all of the dollars handled by a Ministry flows through a single set of books with one common bank account.  This TRUISM is especially meaningful in a Church setting where there are a number of Auxiliaries who want to do their own thing and have their own bank account.  Being a part of a Unified Acctg System demonstrates that they are responsible to the Church Board.
 

Prayerful Thots:

     Heavenly Father,  my heart is heavy for "Christian Young Adults" who need to have "Righteous Personal Finance" foundations.  My prayer is that resources like that found at QBUXBOX  will be effectively utilized.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.