QuickBooks setup checklist
The setup sequence — company settings, chart of accounts, opening balances, bank feeds — in the order that avoids a cleanup later.
OpenCalifornia · QuickBooks Setup
California QuickBooks setup, done right the first time.
A QuickBooks ProAdvisor sets up your California file properly — a CA-correct chart of accounts, CDTFA district sales-tax items by location, AB5 contractor tracking, the $800 franchise-tax accrual, and California payroll — so the books are right from transaction one. Fixed-fee, all 58 counties.
QuickBooks setup: $750–$5,000+What sets the price
If your file needs our paid diagnostic first, its fee is credited in full against the cleanup. Either way, you get a fixed fee in writing before any work starts.
State rule
California rule: a business must register with the EDD as an employer within 15 days once it hires employees and pays more than $100 in wages in a calendar quarter; QuickBooks Payroll carries that EDD account number. Source: EDD, register as an employer.
§ The short version
California QuickBooks setup builds your QuickBooks Online or Desktop file right from day one, for a fixed fee of $750–$5,000+. That means a California chart of accounts, CDTFA district sales-tax items by location, AB5 contractor tracking, the $800 franchise-tax accrual, and California payroll set up with your EDD account number.
They took something that felt overwhelming to me as a first-year business owner and made it simple.
What stood out the most was TechBrot Inc’s attention to detail.
Intuit QuickBooks Certification Level 2 and QuickBooks Workforce Certification,
§ 01 · California tax realities we build into the setup
Three California facts the setup gets right from day one.
A generic QuickBooks setup misses these — and fixing them later is a cleanup. We configure them up front.
$800
California’s $800 FTB franchise tax
Every LLC and corporation owes the Franchise Tax Board $800 a year to do business in California — even at a loss — plus an income-based LLC fee.10.25%+
District sales tax by location
California’s statewide rate is 7.25%, and local district add-ons push the combined rate past 10.25% in places. The file is set to apply the correct combined rate by customer location, not a flat statewide rate.AB5
AB5 worker classification
The ABC test reclassifies many core-work contractors as employees. The file is set up to separate W-2 from 1099 cleanly so the exposure is visible; EDD disputes go to your CPA or counsel.§ 02 · What a California setup includes
A file built for how California taxes.
Setup decisions made now shape years of bookkeeping — so the California specifics go in from the start.
01
California chart of accounts
A chart of accounts built for your California industry — structured for the reporting and tax positions you actually need.QuickBooks accountant
02
District sales tax by location
CDTFA sales-tax items configured to the correct combined rate by customer location — the single most-missed California setup step.Sales tax compliance
03
AB5 contractor tracking
Vendor and payroll setup that separates W-2 wages from 1099 contractor pay so the classification position is clean from day one.California overview
04
$800 franchise-tax accrual
The FTB minimum tax and LLC fee set to accrue so it’s planned for, never a year-end surprise.California overview
05
California payroll config
QuickBooks Payroll configured for California SDI, PIT withholding, and EDD reporting, coordinated with your provider.Payroll
06
Setup, the right way once
A clean go-live with reporting, integrations, and opening balances right — or migrated cleanly from another system.QuickBooks migration
§ 03 · The scope
What we do — and what we don’t.
What TechBrot does
- Configure a California-correct chart of accounts
- Set CDTFA district sales-tax items by customer location
- Set up AB5 contractor tracking (W-2 vs 1099)
- Accrue the $800 franchise tax and configure CA payroll (SDI/PIT/EDD)
- Set opening balances, integrations, and reporting cleanly
- Train your team on the new file if you want it
What your CPA does
- File California or federal income, franchise, or sales-tax returns
- Represent you before the FTB, CDTFA, or EDD
- Resolve worker-classification disputes or audits
- Provide legal or tax advice
- Step 1
Free scoping call
A QuickBooks ProAdvisor reviews your business, entity, payroll, and industry to scope the setup. - Step 2
Written fixed-fee scope
A written scope and fixed fee within 3 business days — QBO or Desktop, with the California specifics listed. - Step 3
Build & configure
We build the chart of accounts, district sales tax, contractor tracking, franchise accrual, and payroll. - Step 4
Go-live & handoff
Opening balances set, integrations connected, and your team trained — or straight into monthly bookkeeping.
§ 05 · The advisory line
Automation handles the data entry. We handle the judgment.
A California QuickBooks setup is the cheapest insurance you’ll buy — getting district sales tax, contractor classification, and the franchise accrual right at setup avoids the cleanup that costs many multiples later.
Once the file is built right, the same preparer can keep it clean in monthly bookkeeping and extend into fractional-CFO advisory when you’re ready.
§ 06 · Around this page
Around California.
California QuickBooks ProAdvisor & bookkeeping
The state page: services, industries, cities and the California tax terms in one place.QuickBooks setup, nationally
The national engagement this page is the California version of — same scope, same written fixed fee.Also in California
California cities
Not sure where your file stands? Start with the free QuickBooks file review · how California compares: state-by-state tax quirks.
§ 07 · Around the engagement
Before you engage anyone.
QuickBooks Online plan selector
Which QBO plan actually fits — including whether you need Plus for project profitability and job costing.
OpenCalifornia QuickBooks training
A file set up correctly still has to be run correctly. Training covers the day-to-day for the person who will actually be in it.
Open§ 08 · Common questions
California QuickBooks setup questions.
What does California QuickBooks setup include?
A QuickBooks ProAdvisor configures a CA-correct chart of accounts, CDTFA district sales-tax items by customer location, AB5 contractor tracking (W-2 vs 1099), the $800 franchise-tax accrual, and California payroll (SDI/PIT/EDD), with opening balances, integrations, and reporting set cleanly — in your own QuickBooks Online or Desktop file.
Why does a California setup need a ProAdvisor?
Because the California specifics are either configured at setup or fixed later as a cleanup. District sales tax has to be applied by location rather than a flat statewide rate, contractors have to be separated for AB5, and the $800 franchise tax should accrue from the start. A generic setup misses all three and turns into an expensive cleanup.
Should I use QuickBooks Online or Desktop?
Whichever fits your business — we configure either in your own file. QuickBooks Online suits most California small businesses, SaaS, and agencies; Desktop or Enterprise can suit inventory- or job-cost-heavy operations. We recommend on fit based on your needs and set it up.
How much does California QuickBooks setup cost?
Fixed-fee against a written scope, never hourly — typically $750–$5,000+ depending on entity complexity, payroll, inventory, and integrations. You get the exact fee in writing within 3 business days of a free discovery call and the file information needed to quote.
Can you set up California payroll too?
Yes — we configure QuickBooks Payroll for California State Disability Insurance (SDI), Personal Income Tax (PIT) withholding, and EDD reporting, coordinated with your payroll provider. The uncapped SDI in particular is a common surprise we set up correctly from the start.
Do you keep the books after setup?
If you want. You can move from setup straight into monthly bookkeeping with the same preparer, so the file stays as clean as the day it went live. A setup-only engagement is also fine.
Can you migrate my old data into the new file?
Yes — if you’re coming from Desktop, another QuickBooks file, or another platform, we handle the migration as part of or alongside setup so opening balances and history land cleanly. See our California QuickBooks migration service.
California businesses start here