Problem

Sound Works Productions is a successful audio, video, and lighting production company based in Illinois. They have several account managers who work with clients, vendors, equipment, labor, venues, invoices, timesheets and more. They have a FileMaker system that manages all the details of running the business except the accounting, which is handled by QuickBooks Online and an external accounting firm. This led to spending about 20 hours each week doing duplicate data entry between FileMaker and QuickBooks with very little detail about each transaction being entered into QuickBooks – which caused a lot of problems when it came time for quarterly reporting and tax preparations, not to mention the uneasy feeling that comes with not knowing all the financial details of a business that you’ve built from the ground up.

Solution

Sound Works turned to Geist Interactive to create a FileMaker custom app that would integrate with QuickBooks online accounting software using Geist Interactive’s fmQBO connection software. Now, orders and invoices are created in FileMaker and sent automatically to QuickBooks, with no additional data entry. Payments can be categorized and recorded in either their FileMaker custom app or in QuickBooks and are synced both ways.

Result

Sound Works has gone from spending 20 hours per week in QuickBooks to spending just 1 hour – freeing up, Eric, the business owner to focus on growth and other process improvements. Account managers feed input into fmQBO, and it does the rest of the work for them. The peace of mind that comes with knowing that his business is in complete control and full financial details are completely up to date at all times has made an incredible difference in the business and individual lives of all involved.