Everything Beginners, Owners & Managers Need to Know
At DRIVE EXPO 2025, Instructor and Shop Owner Chris Probst Delivers a Must-See Preview Session on Getting Financially Grounded – No Accounting Degree Required
Let’s be honest: if you’re like most shop owners or managers, QuickBooks Online might feel like one of those tools you know you should be using better… but somehow never find the time to master. You log in, click around, maybe check your bank balance or run a report or two – but beyond that? It’s a bit of a guessing game.
That’s about to change.
At DRIVE EXPO 2025, you’ll have a chance to hit reset on your shop’s financial clarity with “QuickBooks Online Essentials: Everything Beginners, Owners & Managers Need to Know,” a practical, 45-minute preview presentation led by Chris Probst – DRIVE instructor, shop owner of Bill’s Crestmoor Automotive and someone who’s been exactly where you are.
Whether you’re brand-new to QuickBooks Online (QBO), have been using it casually for years, or simply want to feel more confident when looking at your shop’s numbers, this session is designed with you in mind.
No spreadsheets, no jargon, no fluff – just real skills, real tools and real clarity.
Why This EXPO Session Matters Now
Let’s face it – running a shop means juggling a thousand details a day. Customers, estimates, repairs, parts delays, team management, vendor calls… it never ends. But behind all that hustle is one simple question that must stay at the center:
Do you actually know where your money is going?
If you’re relying on your gut or a part-time bookkeeper to make sense of your business finances, you’re not alone. But it’s a dangerous game – because the truth is, profit leaks happen fast when you don’t have the right systems in place. Missed transactions, untracked expenses, improperly categorized income and sloppy payroll setups can eat away at your margins.
QuickBooks Online is the tool many shops already use – but few fully understand. That’s exactly why Chris Probst is bringing this essentials-focused session to DRIVE EXPO 2025.
It’s time to stop guessing and start knowing.
Meet Your Instructor: Chris Probst
Chris Probst is a seasoned shop owner, DRIVE instructor and financial systems expert who brings real-world experience and advanced working knowledge of QuickBooks Online to the stage. As someone who uses QBO daily to manage and grow her own successful shop , Chris has developed a clear, proven approach to organizing, tracking, and understanding shop financials. She’s helped countless owners move from confusion to clarity – teaching them how to use QBO not just for bookkeeping, but as a strategic tool for making smarter, more profitable decisions.
What You’ll Learn in This 45-Minute Power Session
In just 45 minutes, Chris will walk attendees through the core foundations every shop needs to get right inside QuickBooks Online.
Whether you’re doing your own bookkeeping or working with an outside accountant, these are the must-know essentials that will help you understand what’s happening in your business – so you can make better decisions, faster.
Here’s what the session will cover:
Chart of Accounts: Your Shop’s Money Map
Think of your chart of accounts as the blueprint for your business’s financial house. Every dollar that comes in or goes out should have a place. In this segment, Chris will break down how to organize your chart of accounts the right way.
You’ll learn:
Why generic charts don’t work for your shop.
How to set up income and expense categories that actually make sense.
How a clean chart of accounts helps you make faster, smarter decisions.
This is where financial clarity begins.
Banking: Link Your Accounts and Watch the Cash Flow
Manually entering transactions? Cross-checking your bank statement at the end of the month? There’s a better way.
Chris will walk you through how to properly link your bank and credit card accounts in QuickBooks Online so your cash flow updates in real time. You’ll also learn how to:
Review and categorize transactions without making a mess.
Spot fraud or unusual spending early.
Reconcile accounts with confidence and accuracy.
Transactions: Log It, Track It, Keep It Tidy
Small mistakes can add up fast – especially when you’re entering expenses, sales, or customer payments. Chris will teach you the best practices for entering day-to-day transactions in a way that keeps your books clean, your reports accurate and your stress levels down.
Topics include:
Avoiding double entries or misclassifications.
Tips for handling sublet work, shop supplies and parts returns.
Using rules in QBO to automate repetitive tasks (a serious time-saver).
Payroll: Pay Your Team Right – Every Time
Payroll is one of your biggest monthly expenses. Mess it up and you’re in trouble with both your team and the IRS. This portion of the session covers:
Setting up QBO Payroll (if you’re using it).
How to track hours, pay rates and taxes correctly.
Making sure paychecks go out on time and error-free.
Even if you’re using a third-party payroll service, understanding how it connects to QBO is crucial.
Designed for Non-Accountants
Here’s the best part: this session is built for people who run shops – not spreadsheets.
You don’t need a degree in finance to benefit from this presentation. Chris knows how to explain things clearly, using real shop language and examples that make sense to owners and managers who are focused on the floor, not the financial statements.
This is not about turning you into a bookkeeper. It’s about giving you the skills and confidence to read your numbers, spot problems early and make proactive decisions that improve your profitability.
It All Starts with a Strong Foundation
As Chris will emphasize during the presentation, without a strong financial foundation, it’s easy to miss critical details that directly impact your profits.
This session is about building that foundation.
You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how QBO works, what you should be doing weekly and monthly and how to avoid common mistakes that cost real money. Even better – you’ll walk away with a renewed sense of confidence in your ability to lead your shop from a place of financial strength.
QuickBooks Online Essentials:
Everything Beginners, Owners & Managers Need to Know
LIVE at DRIVE EXPO 2025 – Las Vegas
Presented by Chris Probst
45-Minute Preview Session – Open to all registered attendees
Let’s get your financial foundation in order – together.
Stop winging it. Start leading with clarity. Join us for this game-changing session at DRIVE EXPO 2025.
Register today!
Westgate Resort & Casino
Las Vegas
Thursday September 18 – Saturday 20, 2025
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Carolyn Gray, DRIVE
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