How to use Bank Accounts and write checks

One place for every dollar in and out, across as many accounts as you like — plus petty cash.

about 7 min to read

1. Setting up your accounts

1Open Bank Accounts and click Add account.
2Give it a name, the account type, and the balance showing today.
3Repeat for every account — checking, savings, a second business account, a card.
4Click Add petty cash to create a cash drawer, and put in the cash you are starting with.

1Each account has a lined register. Type straight into the highlighted line: date, payee, category, amount.
2Type a payee you have used before and the last amount and category fill themselves in — tab past to accept or type over.
3Press Record. The running balance updates down the right-hand side.
4Anything you record elsewhere — sales, invoice payments, checks, payroll, bills — lands here automatically.

1To simply write a check to pay for something, open Bank Accounts and click the Write a check button beside the account pills.
2The check number comes up automatically, and the payment is recorded as you print.
3To fix or delete a check you already wrote, use the pencil beside it in the checks list — or click the pencil on its line in the register. Change what you need and press Update check, or press Cancel edit.
4The trash icon beside a check removes it and the matching expense from your books.
5When the cash drawer runs low, click Replenish on the petty cash card — it moves money from checking and records both sides.

1Click Import transactions on any account to load a QFX, OFX, QBO, CSV or Quicken QIF file.
2Anything already in your books is skipped, so you cannot double up.
3Then run Auto reconcile each month to tick everything off against the statement.

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