Topic: General Posts
Subject: QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 10-10-13 1:27 pm
Message:
I am doing a bit of consulting with a small but growing company that has 3 years of history on the desktop version of QuickBooks. We are considering a change to QB Online to allow remote access, and am looking for any tips or warnings from anyone who has converted TO the online version.
Their operation is a pretty straightforward 501c3 that receives contributions in large chunks, and standard operating expenses, but no invoicing or inventory needs. The key need is remote access to pull data, and the ability to easily dump reports and data into Excel.
Any reason NOT to make this move?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Message:
I am doing a bit of consulting with a small but growing company that has 3 years of history on the desktop version of QuickBooks. We are considering a change to QB Online to allow remote access, and am looking for any tips or warnings from anyone who has converted TO the online version.
Their operation is a pretty straightforward 501c3 that receives contributions in large chunks, and standard operating expenses, but no invoicing or inventory needs. The key need is remote access to pull data, and the ability to easily dump reports and data into Excel.
Any reason NOT to make this move?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Replies
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 10-10-13 5:42 pm.
Message:
Mike,
Intuit is now offering free tools to enable you to make this evaluation for yourself, in the form of the "Cloud Pro Advisor" program. You will have access to the Accountant's version of the app, and training materials. They seem to be doing this because the online version usage is accelerating, and they want to encourage this. Really, its free. (BTW, this has the the desktop and enterprise pro advisors a little annoyed as they must pay for the equivalent program.)
https://accountants.intuit.com/cloud-proadvisor/login.jsp
Regards,
Barbara Crofts
Message:
Mike,
Intuit is now offering free tools to enable you to make this evaluation for yourself, in the form of the "Cloud Pro Advisor" program. You will have access to the Accountant's version of the app, and training materials. They seem to be doing this because the online version usage is accelerating, and they want to encourage this. Really, its free. (BTW, this has the the desktop and enterprise pro advisors a little annoyed as they must pay for the equivalent program.)
https://accountants.intuit.com/cloud-proadvisor/login.jsp
Regards,
Barbara Crofts
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 10-10-13 5:59 pm.
Message:
As you described your needs the QBO platform should work just fine. The only suggestion I have is to check out the reporting capabilities and make sure you will be satisfied with the reports provided.
FYI, QuickBooks Online is a completely different product than QuickBooks Desktop versions even though they share the same QuickBooks name.
Regards,
Bryce Jones
Message:
As you described your needs the QBO platform should work just fine. The only suggestion I have is to check out the reporting capabilities and make sure you will be satisfied with the reports provided.
FYI, QuickBooks Online is a completely different product than QuickBooks Desktop versions even though they share the same QuickBooks name.
Regards,
Bryce Jones
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 10-16-13 10:57 pm.
Message:
Depending on what functions you use in QBW, the QBO edition might provide less functionality. So use a trial QBO account and make sure it has the functions you need.
The other option is to put your QBW file in a hosted environment such as those services offered by Right Networks.com. Then you will have access remotely.
Hope that helps
Also - for all members - do not buy QBW 2014 until they release 3.0 later this month. Version 1.0 has issues and Intuit is working to fix in release 3.0.
Message:
Depending on what functions you use in QBW, the QBO edition might provide less functionality. So use a trial QBO account and make sure it has the functions you need.
The other option is to put your QBW file in a hosted environment such as those services offered by Right Networks.com. Then you will have access remotely.
Hope that helps
Also - for all members - do not buy QBW 2014 until they release 3.0 later this month. Version 1.0 has issues and Intuit is working to fix in release 3.0.
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 10-17-13 7:17 am.
Message:
One caution, depending on which version they are currently running, you may lose the ability to load excel files. Data uploads were still not available for the remote access version of Quickbooks a year ago. Credit cards will still autoload if you have set them up for that but you would not be able to upload, for instance, your extracted UPS charges or other invoice detail from a third party that has large volume and/or that bills frequently.
Feel free to call me if you'd like.
Sincerely,
Tara Ashmore
Message:
One caution, depending on which version they are currently running, you may lose the ability to load excel files. Data uploads were still not available for the remote access version of Quickbooks a year ago. Credit cards will still autoload if you have set them up for that but you would not be able to upload, for instance, your extracted UPS charges or other invoice detail from a third party that has large volume and/or that bills frequently.
Feel free to call me if you'd like.
Sincerely,
Tara Ashmore
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 10-30-13 7:15 pm.
Message:
Instead of QBO, a firm I work with uses QB on a Citrix Virtual Server. That gives us all the functionality of QB and the ability to work remotely from any internet connection. It's a very workable and affordable alternative.
Dan Wallace
Orlando, FL
Message:
Instead of QBO, a firm I work with uses QB on a Citrix Virtual Server. That gives us all the functionality of QB and the ability to work remotely from any internet connection. It's a very workable and affordable alternative.
Dan Wallace
Orlando, FL
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 10-31-13 1:33 pm.
Message:
My synagogue changed to QBOL in July 2012 and it's been generally good. Two things, though, that it can't do:
1. It cannot issue checks like QB pro used to do. I have to generate checks through our bank and then record them in QBOL.
2. There is no "backup" of QBOL. If you want to import data from some questionable other program and it gets messed up, you are out of luck.
Good luck,
Jay Tepp, MBA, CPA
Message:
My synagogue changed to QBOL in July 2012 and it's been generally good. Two things, though, that it can't do:
1. It cannot issue checks like QB pro used to do. I have to generate checks through our bank and then record them in QBOL.
2. There is no "backup" of QBOL. If you want to import data from some questionable other program and it gets messed up, you are out of luck.
Good luck,
Jay Tepp, MBA, CPA
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 11-02-13 10:09 pm.
Message:
Hi Mike,
I am not sure why Jay Tepp said there is no QBO back-up. QBO is back-up in several ways. Below is back-up information as quoted from the QBO Answers section. I hope you will now have confidence in this regard.
Respectfully, Mark
"QuickBooks Online (QBO) has several backup procedures in place.
First, all of our data is stored on "mirrored" disks. Each time you add or edit your data, it is written to two hard drives, so that if one fails you will never notice as a user.
Second, we periodically copy all data to a third hard drive in order to protect against any problems that might affect the first two.
Lastly, we perform backups to tape each night. These tapes are periodically moved offsite to a secure location. The security of your data is our number-one goal, and we've put a great deal of thought and resources to ensure that we have a completely reliable system.
Of course, first and foremost, we have designed our application and our server architecture to help make sure we never need any of these backups."
Message:
Hi Mike,
I am not sure why Jay Tepp said there is no QBO back-up. QBO is back-up in several ways. Below is back-up information as quoted from the QBO Answers section. I hope you will now have confidence in this regard.
Respectfully, Mark
"QuickBooks Online (QBO) has several backup procedures in place.
First, all of our data is stored on "mirrored" disks. Each time you add or edit your data, it is written to two hard drives, so that if one fails you will never notice as a user.
Second, we periodically copy all data to a third hard drive in order to protect against any problems that might affect the first two.
Lastly, we perform backups to tape each night. These tapes are periodically moved offsite to a secure location. The security of your data is our number-one goal, and we've put a great deal of thought and resources to ensure that we have a completely reliable system.
Of course, first and foremost, we have designed our application and our server architecture to help make sure we never need any of these backups."
Subject: Re:QuickBooks Online Functionality?
Submitted on 11-04-13 3:07 pm.
Message:
I think what Jay is trying to point out is that if he needs to perform a back up prior to a data import, etc., there is not a way to back-up his data, then run the import. If it crashes, or otherwise does not work, there is no way to "start over" with a data restore.
The disk array systems and built in redundancy is an excellent way of preventing data loss, and is very recommended. Speaking from someone who has lost servers or Hard Drives mid-day or over night. Rebuilding even from one day to the next is a pain.
Charlie
Message:
I think what Jay is trying to point out is that if he needs to perform a back up prior to a data import, etc., there is not a way to back-up his data, then run the import. If it crashes, or otherwise does not work, there is no way to "start over" with a data restore.
The disk array systems and built in redundancy is an excellent way of preventing data loss, and is very recommended. Speaking from someone who has lost servers or Hard Drives mid-day or over night. Rebuilding even from one day to the next is a pain.
Charlie