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I’m sure one of the reasons you started using accounting software, among many others, was to save time, and QuickBooks has complied. When you create a record for a customer, vendor, item, etc., you rarely — if ever — have to enter that information again; you simply choose it from a list. Time is no longer wasted searching through endless piles of papers to find the one you need; you just do a computer search. And when you need reports on monthly sales, inventory purchases or your payroll liabilities, you don’t have to create a spreadsheet or locate paper records; you just click a few times in QuickBooks to create the report. Memorized transactions can be another major time saver. You can use them to:
It’s easy to create memorized transactions. QuickBooks provides an icon for them in the toolbar of every transaction form that’s supported, like invoices, bills, and purchase orders.  Figure 1: When you see the Memorize icon in the toolbar of a transaction form, you know that you can create a template to use over and over. STEPS FOR CREATING MEMORIZED TRANSACTIONS: 1. Create a transaction that you know will be repeated – even if the amount will be different every time (you’ll still save time because you won’t have to fill in or select absolutely every detail). Let’s say you’re doing some social media consulting for a customer, and you’ve contracted for eight hours every month. Create the invoice for that billing. 2. Then click the Memorize icon. This window opens:  Figure 2: In the Memorize Transaction window, you’ll tell QuickBooks how often the transaction will be created, in addition to providing other information.
3. Your customer will already appear in the Name field. Next, choose from among three options so that QuickBooks knows how to handle this recurring form: Add to my Reminders List. If you choose this by clicking on the button in front of the option, QuickBooks will add this transaction to your existing Reminders List. Do Not Remind Me. We don’t recommend this option unless you have an exceptionally good memory, few memorized transactions, or a tickler file in another application. Even then, reminders are a good idea. Automatic Transaction Entry. This absolutely saves the most time. It’s also the riskiest option. If you select this, QuickBooks will send the transaction through at the intervals you’ve defined. You’ll have to enter a number that indicates how many times you want the form sent and how many days in advance it should be entered. Please consult with us if you are planning to automate transactions. We don’t want you to have unhappy customers or vendors or an unpredictable cash flow. 4. Next, you’ll tell QuickBooks how often this transaction needs to be created by clicking on the down arrow to the right of How Often. Click on the calendar icon in the Next Date field to select the exact day this should occur next (you’ll have an opportunity when you work with the Reminders List to specify how much advance warning you want). 5. When you’re done, click OK. Once you start memorizing transactions, QuickBooks will store them in a list. When you get a reminder that one is due soon, open the Lists menu and select Memorized Transaction List. You’ll see this screen, populated with your own work:  Figure 3: You’ll open the Memorized Transaction List to enter one or to work with one you’ve already created.
Highlight a transaction in the list and click the down arrow next to Memorized Transaction in the lower left corner to see your options here. You can also click Enter Transaction, and your original form will appear. If you’ve saved it with a permanent amount, you can just save and dispatch it. Otherwise, enter the correct amount before you proceed. If you’re fairly new to QuickBooks and don’t feel like you’re well acquainted with its time-saving features, give us a call at 256-337-5200, and we’ll set up some training. Better to do that up front than to have to untangle a jumbled company file. We’re always happy to help. The “QB Bob” Team |
