Mid-Shore Financial Management Workshop Shannon Potter Extension Educator, AGNR Maryland Cooperative Extension Talbot County 2005 Extension Risk Management Education Conference
Background Farm Business Management Risk Area: Financial Conduct a Financial Management Workshop using QuickBooks Software Held Saturday March 27, 2004 Funded by NERME grant $1,000
Targets – by the end of the project Participants will understand basic items on a balance sheet, cash flow and income statement Participants will increase financial record keeping knowledge Participants will learn the basics of journal entries and QuickBooks software
Targets - after the project Participants will increase usage of financial documents on the farm Participant will increase usage of financial software
Homework Purchase software and get familiarized QuickBooks Pro 2004QuickBooks Pro 2004 Search for an available lab Check costsCheck costs High school, community collegeHigh school, community college Attend a QuickBooks course Gather resources and materials Develop handouts/evaluations
Design 6-hour course held on a Saturday Local community college computer lab Class agenda IntroductionIntroduction Financial StatementsFinancial Statements QuickBooks IntroQuickBooks Intro QB EasyStep InterviewQB EasyStep Interview Q & AQ & A EvaluationsEvaluations
Market This is essential to a successful QuickBooks course Articles in newsletters, newspapers, flyers, direct mailing…. Received calls from QuickBooks users
Audience Diverse Small business, farms, corporations, ag lenders Participants were from the 5 county area 10 participants (15 registered) Various computer knowledge
QuickBooks
QuickBooks
QuickBooks
QuickBooks
QuickBooks
Evaluation Designed for impact measurements End of class 90% received considerable new information on farm records90% received considerable new information on farm records 90% increase knowledge on QB entries90% increase knowledge on QB entries 100% received considerable new information on setting up accounts100% received considerable new information on setting up accounts 100% received considerable new information on how to navigate QB100% received considerable new information on how to navigate QB
Evaluation Comments “Learned how to open an account”“Learned how to open an account” “Keep record of finances”“Keep record of finances” “Setting up a QB account”“Setting up a QB account” “Power of QB”“Power of QB” “How to use a mouse”“How to use a mouse” “It is simpler with pencil and paper”“It is simpler with pencil and paper” All but one participant were interested in an advanced class
Evaluation Follow up – 6 months later Received 4 backReceived 4 back 2 have purchased QB2 have purchased QB 1 has thought about it1 has thought about it 1 is not going to purchase QB1 is not going to purchase QB Of the 3 interested in using QBOf the 3 interested in using QB “it will increase the efficiency of the farm”
Tips Computer lab is a necessity Have an additional, computer literate, person as a helper Be available for one-on-one questions and time Market as many outlets as available Don’t give up
Resources The QuickBooks Farm Accounting CookBook by Mark Wilsdorf, Flagship Technologies, Intuit website QB help function Chesapeake College Office of Continuing Education and Workforce Training
Thank You