brought to you by Minutesmatter

February 2003 - Vol. 1 No. 2

Want Great Photographs - Follow These Simple Steps!

A picture is worth a thousand words (or dollars in this industry)!   How true; it can be worth ten thousand dollars. Photographs that are dark or blurry don't reflect well on your image. Photographs are a vital part of our business.  That makes a digital camera a must!  They are so affordable today; by spending under $400 you're able to purchase a great business tool.  When selecting a camera, be sure the camera has at least 3.1 mega pixels (4 mega pixels & over is even better).  A huge advantage to digital cameras is the ability to take as many photographs as needed with no extra cost.  Remember, when measuring take photographs of each window; to recall the space when it is time to fabricate the job.  Don't forget to take a picture of the finished treatment to add to your portfolio!  Here are a few tips when taking digital photographs:

1. Adjust window treatments & bedding to be picture perfect; remove ALL distracting items.

2. Look through lens to study desired shot.

3. Add extra lighting, if possible.  (Check at your local camera store; a set of 3 lights are available for under $60 and are easy to transport.)

4. Hold camera steady; reducing camera shake.  Use a tripod or hold your breath.

5. Remember not to include too much ceiling or floor.

6. Take close-ups of special features.

7. Set camera on high resolution & compressed file size.

8. Reduce backlight problems with windows:

   1. Center camera partially on window & on treatment.

   2. Press shutter button halfway to lock auto focus & exposure setting.

   3. Reposition camera to center shot & snap.

9. Take several different shots. (Auto focus some shots on the treatment & wall without any glass in view finder.)

10. Take pictures of windows during the day.  (Windows appear black in night pictures.) 

Q u i c k B o o k s T i p . . .

Sales Tax - We don't like talking about it; but we all deal with it (unless you are strictly  wholesale).

We will feature a 4-part series on sales tax starting this month.  The second article will be entitled "All sales tax due when a payment/deposit is received"; the third article, "Pay sales tax only on a payment you receive"; the fourth "Pay sales tax after the job is complete".  Consult your state's tax agency to find out what your sales tax law requires and use the appropriate payment method. The payment method you choose is not your choice; your state dictates the payment method. Listening to a colleague without reviewing the state law yourself is dangerous.  You are the one responsible to the government, not your colleague.

General Tips for Calculating Sales Tax

1. Make sure you have the Sales tax feature turned on in QuickBooks. Click Edit, click Preferences, scroll to locate the Sales Tax icon & click (icon on left side), click Company Preferences tab, click Yes  to answer "Do you Charge Sales Tax?"

2. When it is time to pay sales tax print two reports from QuickBooks.

3. Sales tax liability report: Click Reports, click Vendors & Payables, & click Sales Tax Liability. Double click on Non-Taxable sales, if any, to view detail (print this report also).

4. Monthly/Quarterly Sales Tax Report:  Click Reports, click Sales Reports, click Sales by Customer Summary, click Customize/Modify Report, & choose Accrual or Cash.

5. Once you have paid sales tax on a previous month/quarter do not make changes on any of those invoices.  This will affect your future sales tax.  To add additional items, issue a new invoice or if money is due a client, issue a Credit Memo.  The two report totals should match.

6. QuickBooks 2002 & 2003 now have an easy way to adjust sales tax.  Some states require a company to round up amounts or a state may offer a Vendor Compensation for paying on time.  Either of these require a general journal entry; QuickBooks has now made this procedure easy.  When you are ready to pay sales tax, click Pay Sales Tax, click Adjust, choose last day of tax period you are paying, enter the agency you pay sales tax, choose an income account if you are reducing your tax or choose a expense account if you are increasing your tax.  Select Increase or Reduce & enter the amount.

If you are wondering whether to upgrade to QuickBooks 2003, I would definitely upgrade if you have QuickBooks 2001 or earlier.  There are a few good changes but not enough to justify the upgrade from 2002 to 2003.  One of the new changes in 2003 is that you can now send a proposal, invoice or statement as a pdf document. (I do like that!)

Remember to purchase the Pro version, the Pro version offers a much better estimating feature than Basic.  Pro also offers a few extra features in the Item Codes.

View more QuickBooks Products

New Product . . .

NEW 2003 Work Orders!  Minutes Matter Work Orders have had a total make over.  They are now double-sided and include 1/4" grid graph paper on the front allowing you to sketch treatments to scale.  There is now more room to record more information regarding treatments with less writing!  Remember, it only takes a few minutes to record your thoughts.  A completed work order then becomes a permanent record in your client's file.

See the new Work Order Layout  See More Workroom Photos!

D e s i g n S t y l e s . . .

Each month we will feature a company's window or bed design in our newsletter.   Each person will receive a $20 gift certificate good toward any Minutes Matter purchase.  To have your treatment considered, please submit the picture & details of the treatment to treatment@minutesmatter.com.

Treatment Details . . .

• Master Bedroom:  King size bed with tufted comforter.  An iron cornice was installed over the bed and a silk chiffon was used to drap in & out of the iron cornice to achieve a truly unique look.  The iron cornice was purchased from Ironart.

• Broomstick silk was railroaded to create these unusual pleated balloon shades. Balloons were installed under Ruche top draperies.  Balloons function with a Roll-Ease clutch system.

• All treatments were lined & interlined.

• Since the window was 90" wide, two custom tailored cushions were made for the window seat.  The fill was down/feather with a foam core.

•  Window was tinted to prevent excess rotting from the sun.

• Draperies break 2" on the cushion.

Please e-mail suggestions@minutesmatter.com telling us what topics you would find interesting to read in the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

Special Notice: Our fax number has changed to 615-826-0832.

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