Accounting & Bookkeeping & Small Business Forum

[Nathon]

I am considering investing two grand into the Professional Bookkeeping and Quickbooks Training courses.

What has been your experience with Universal Accounting's Professional Bookkeeping (PB) program? I'd like to know what it has done for you and what kind of experience you have had with it.

:arrow: Please participate in my poll on this post, as well. You will see it at the top of the first page of this topic.

Thank you.

P.S.-
I'm curious why my question has been up for 5 days and has 83 views, but not one person has taken my survey, much less written out a response.

If after reading my question and deciding not to respond, please reply anyway and let me know why you decided to move on to the next posting.

Thank you,
Nathon

[Ken]

When you have the poll, I don't know if people know that they can also reply.

[dp1903]

I haven't invested in it yet, but it looks like a good program to me. I'm a non-certified accountant with 10 years experience, 3 of those years with publicly held company. I don't think I need someone to hold my hand, but it looks like there is plenty of help available via their website and by phone if you need help with about anything. I'm currently trying to study for the CMA exam (Certified Management Accountant) and after that seriously considering purchasing their program.

[DBCarter]

I am responding because you asked for it. Currently, I am working my way through the program. I am in Module II. I am reserving judgment until I complete it. The reason I clicked on this link was because I was hoping to read others' posts who have completed it.

[RobJ]

Nathon wrote: I'm curious why my question has been up for 5 days and has 83 views, but not one person has taken my survey, much less written out a response.

If after reading my question and deciding not to respond, please reply anyway and let me know why you decided to move on to the next posting.
Nathon,

As for myself, I have not been through the program and didn't feel it was useful to say that.

Rob

[TonyDent84]

I have beeen through the entire program and feel that it was an excellent refresher. It also gave me opportunities to work on projects based on certain industries that I was never exposed to (like a gas station or a bakery). The program teaches you basic bookkeeping from beginning to end, but it does leave out some things like processing payroll, setting up a worksheet, and a few other minor things that you can learn from reading an article or two online. Other than that, the whole program was excellent, you get a designation, you have them to back you up every step of the way for like a year (wish it was life-time), they focus on you getting your OWN business instead of working for someone else, and so forth. I think it was worth the two-grand. But what I found MOST useful was their quickbooks program. That was what I was really looking for. The QuickBooks specialist program prepares you for doing the entire bookkeeping process using a computerized system and it surely does shorten the time it takes you to do the books. It took me about two or three days to do the bookkeeping for one company, but when I used QuickBooks, it took me a few hours, maybe a day (I had to prepare the system, etc.).

[stasia2003]

TonyDent84 wrote: I have beeen through the entire program and feel that it was an excellent refresher. It also gave me opportunities to work on projects based on certain industries that I was never exposed to (like a gas station or a bakery). The program teaches you basic bookkeeping from beginning to end, but it does leave out some things like processing payroll, setting up a worksheet, and a few other minor things that you can learn from reading an article or two online. Other than that, the whole program was excellent, you get a designation, you have them to back you up every step of the way for like a year (wish it was life-time), they focus on you getting your OWN business instead of working for someone else, and so forth. I think it was worth the two-grand. But what I found MOST useful was their quickbooks program. That was what I was really looking for. The QuickBooks specialist program prepares you for doing the entire bookkeeping process using a computerized system and it surely does shorten the time it takes you to do the books. It took me about two or three days to do the bookkeeping for one company, but when I used QuickBooks, it took me a few hours, maybe a day (I had to prepare the system, etc.).

Another thing about UAC is that you only did the books for 1 month maybe 2 for each company. The accounting cycle is 12 months plus year-end close and I think there should have been at least one project that required a full 12 months of bookkeeping. It would have been time-consuming but very important. The reason for that is because alot can happen in 12 months and UAC only scratched the surface. If it wasn't for my work experience and university education, I would probably have been quite lost. One of my clients has a $3 million per year online business and it's not UAC that has helped me get through this. I had to go back to what I already knew about accounting from college and prior work experience.

As far as QuickBooks, I taught myself how to use it and just entered the transactions into the system that came with the program. I had used QuickBooks before the program but I wasn't using it correctly.

The PB program is good for those who are just starting out but I suggest working for someone else before going out on your own. :D

[moneymom]

I've just completed the course. I found it very helpful in clarifying things my college education really didn't. It is much more hands-on. That said, I haven't begun trying to get clients. I am very nervous about that. So I can't tell you if I think it's worth the money yet or not.

[David]

Moneymom,

Do not forget to use your coaching. Having the help and coaching of those who can help and coach you is invaluable. The worst thing you can do is to let fear stop you.

Contact your UAC coach and ask start wprking. Good Luck!