Assisted migration results may vary based on business complexity and file size. Terms and conditions, features, support, pricing, and service options are subject to change without notice. These include the ability to track raw materials and finished products and automate order management, among other functions. It also has barcode how to calculate net book value scanning capabilities — business owners can download the QuickBooks Desktop mobile app and use their mobile device as a scanner. QuickBooks Desktop is more traditional accounting software that you download and install on your computer, while QuickBooks Online is cloud-based accounting software you access through the internet.

This comprehensive comparison of the features — and limitations — of QBD versus QBO will help you understand what each of these options can bring to your business. So it’s been quite stressful because your living circumstances and your daily routines are all totally upended. And so even though we already had the setup to be working from home, it has still been a huge adjustment. But I won’t say it hasn’t been without challenges or without stress. Even if your computer crashes, all of your accounting documents in QuickBooks Online are safe.

  • This QuickBooks Online vs Desktop comparison will help you decide which QuickBooks product is right for you based on pricing, features, ease of use, and more.
  • Plus, share real-time access to the books with clients and your team members.
  • Stay up to date on all things Lady Pros and have the chance to join our monthly online meetups, raffles, and more.
  • QuickBooks Online Advanced is slightly better than Plus and the other QuickBooks Online plans in A/P and A/R because of its batch invoicing and expense management features.

Once your bookkeeper receives all the necessary documentation, they’ll typically complete your cleanup within 30 days. In some cases, your cleanup may take longer depending on timeliness of documentation and the complexity of your books. Run payroll on any device with taxes, compliance & reporting built-in. You can switch from QuickBooks Online to Desktop, and many users who are used to traditional accounting and working with QuickBooks tend to do so after giving QBO a try. Ultimately, your specific business’s size, type, and needs are the real deciding factors in determining which of the QuickBooks versions is best for your business.

Send Invoices and Get Paid Quicker

Pay us a monthly fee and then you can get all the software updates every year. But a lot of people still walk into Office Depot and buy the box. There are some other accounting software platforms that we have worked with. Sunrise is a newer accounting software platform that just entered the market a year or two ago that’s also up and coming. Those are appropriate for very small businesses that are cash based, money in, money out.

  • Getting assistance with your Desktop bookkeeping is difficult since you must save an Accountant’s Copy of your company file and send it to your ProAdvisor.
  • For instance, QuickBooks Online Plus only costs $85 per month for up to five users as opposed to Desktop’s Premier, which costs around $2,000 per year for five users.
  • Head to our detailed QuickBooks Payroll review to see if it fits the bill.
  • Though there is a Mac version of QuickBooks Desktop, it’s not as well liked as the Windows version.

If you don’t need the advanced features offered by the Desktop plan, the Online version will save you money. QuickBooks Desktop is a good choice if you need specialized features such as inventory tracking or forecasting, and you don’t mind paying more for them. However, QuickBooks Online will suffice for most small businesses. Its highest-tiered plan is the Advanced option, which costs $100 per month for the first three months, then $200 per month after that. QuickBooks Online can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection, and because it’s web-based, you can work with your accountant in real time. The QuickBooks mobile app is also available for free and lets you manage your account on the go.

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise

But there are some general guidelines to know which version might be the one for your business (and your budget). In comparison with QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online is cloud-based, cheaper, easier to use, supports more integrations, and is unlikely to be discontinued by QuickBooks. Live Bookkeepers aren’t responsible for errors resulting from incorrect information that you provide, or if you re-open the books by overriding closure after a Live Bookkeeper completes the month-end closure. Alternatively, you can hire a QuickBooks ProAdvisor to help with your bookkeeping needs. To help you get started, we prepared a guide on how to find a QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

Access All Your Clients Data

When subscribing to a QuickBooks Online plan, you can elect to purchase add-on services and enhancements to better suit your needs, found at The software-only QBDT versions are fully functional and useful at the time you purchase them. However features present in editions older than three years are subject to planned obsolescence, removal, and discontinuation to “incentivize” you to purchase a new release. These versions are further differentiated by how you purchase the product. Ironic, then, that choosing a QuickBooks product can be difficult, if not downright confusing.

Key differences between QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online

This is compounded by the fact that the rules list is not really well organized and could have hundreds if not thousands of rules. Non-Plus editions of QuickBooks Desktop put the responsibility of backing up files entirely on you. This can be accomplished in much the same way you’d back up other files. This is by saving them to other locations on your PC, other sorts of media (such as flash drives), or uploading them to the cloud (using apps like Dropbox or Drive).

QuickBooks offers a free one-on-one meeting with a QuickBooks ProAdvisor for new users. Your ProAdvisor will help you set up your company file, including adding your business information, setting up accounts, and connecting your bank accounts. It’s a great fit if you’ll be doing the bookkeeping yourself and don’t need inventory accounting. If you choose to cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription, you will still have access to your QuickBooks Money account and data.

With QuickBooks Online you can easily link to your client’s bank accounts to automate the collection of bank transactions, statements, and receipts. All of their transactions and statements are downloaded to the server nightly, which means all the necessary data will be available when you need it. Plus, you can set up bank rules within QuickBooks to define how each transaction should be treated, and the system will categorize them for you. With data coming straight to you in real-time, you’ll never have to chase down a client for paper receipts and statements again.