CPA and QuickBooks ProAdvisor Sandra McIlvain recently recommended that all her clients upgrade to QuickBooks 2005. To encourage those who are afraid of losing their data or preferences, she says, "I just reassure them that I haven't had problems." McIlvain says this year's significant revision made it easy to recommend that her clients upgrade.

QuickBooks does most of the upgrade work for you in minutes, but there are a few things you may want to consider before you begin.

When is the Right Time?
Upgrading to a new version of QuickBooks is so easy that there really isn't a bad time to do it. Many business owners prefer to upgrade around now, in the first few months of the year. That way, they can close out their books for the previous year, send their information to their accountant, and start the new year fresh with a new version of QuickBooks.

Other timing considerations may include your company's fiscal year, your inventory cycle, and your payroll cycle.

What About My Accountant?
If you share your company file with your accountant, you should verify with your accountant that he or she has also upgraded. So if you share files with your accountant, you'll want to double check that your accountant will also be using 2005.

Consider New Features.
We often receive product improvement suggestions from customers using older versions of QuickBooks-and we've already added it in a more recent version! Every year, when we create the new version of QuickBooks, we start our planning with a list of all your feature requests. Be sure to check out the new version. We may have added the very thing you need. Take a look at recent improvements based on customer feedback.

Back Up Your Files.
It's always a good idea to keep back up versions of all your computer files, not just your QuickBooks files, and not just when you upgrade. However, just before you upgrade is an especially good time to archive. You can copy your files to a server, or burn them to a diskette or CD so you can keep them in a safe place along with your other financial records.

Help is Always Available!
If for any reason you have questions about upgrading, there are many resources available to help:

• Step-by-step instructions on how to upgrade from the QuickBooks Help and Support web site.
• QuickBooksGroup.com community web site, where you can meet other QuickBooks users, ask questions, and share information.
• Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Database, where you can find a local ProAdvisor to help or advise you on the right edition for you:
• QuickBooks Customer Support: 1-888-320-7276. We've improved our Customer Care policy, and now offer support for installation and upgrade at no charge. (Keep in mind that fees may still apply if you have other questions.)