The newly updated Computerized Farm Record Keeping with Quicken 2006 Self-Study Manual is now available as on online OSU Extension Bulletin in pdf format at:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b920/
This Quicken self-study manual has been developed due to the demand of Ohio producers seeking assistance on using an inexpensive, easy to use program for farm record keeping. The objective of the authors is for Quicken users to begin keeping farm records on their home computer by following the step by step procedures outlined in each chapter of this manual. The manual will also be useful to experienced Quicken users as they upgrade to a newer version and continue to improve their record keeping skills.
A commonly asked question is, “Which version of Quicken should I purchase for my farm records?” Quicken offers five different versions for 2006, Quicken Basic 2006, Quicken Deluxe 2006, Quicken Premier 2006, Quicken Home & Business 2006 and Quicken Mac 2006. While each product has different features, our experience is that the basic program, Quicken Basic 2006, will perform most farm record keeping tasks adequately.
This manual is written for Quicken 2006 Basic. Future manuals and updates will be available on the OSU Extension Ohioline web site http://ohioline.osu.edu. In most cases the basics needed to begin your farm record keeping will not change with a newer version.
We also receive questions about the use of the Quicken Home & Business version versus the use of Quicken Basic for farm record keeping. If your farm business requires you to create customer invoices and statements and to have accounts for payables and receivables, you need to be using the Home & Business version of Quicken. The Home & Business version can also generate accrual-based profit and loss statements if the program is set up and used properly throughout the year. However, for the majority of cash-basis farm record keepers, Quicken Basic will provide more than enough information for management decisions and income tax planning.