QuickBooks Online Overview
What is QuickBooks Online?
The QuickBooks Online solution puts small businesses in complete control of their accounting and provides free online support, from setup to support. No additional software is required as all accounts are viewed via the online login portal, with custom feeds and charts, custom invoice creation, customer 'Pay Now' button, mobile website allows photographic references and all with auto-synchronization.
QuickBooks Online automatically syncs a complete business finance profile to one single dashboard where multiple users can view in-depth reports and accounts of company finances. The platform creates trade, profit and loss sheets as well as billing and invoice solutions that are all mobile compatible and print friendly. Users can create their own custom reports and feeds from within the dashboard so businesses only see what matters the most to them.
By navigating through the QuickBooks Online dashboard users can track payments, sales history, invoice details, add users and edit permissions. QuickBooks Online is completely integrated with QuickBooks Online Payroll and Intuit GoPayment.
QuickBooks Online Overview
Pricing
Pricing options
30-day free trial, no credit card required.
Independent contractors:
Self-Employed: $10/month
Small businesses:
Simple Start: $20/month
Essentials: $40/month
Plus: $60/month
QuickBooks Online Features
Screenshots
QuickBooks Online Reviews
QuickBooks Online Reviews
The most complete small business accounting solution
Overall I am beyond happy with my choice to put QuickBooks Online at the core of my businesses accounting functions. The cost is extremely reasonable for the power and huge capabilities it has.
A constantly moving target, but works well for basic SB accounting needs...
We initially moved from QuickBooks Pro Desktop to the Online version to allow for our new Online Service Management System (RazorSync) to easily export invoices into QB for processing. In that regard, QB Online has worked well and met expectations. It's obviously an evolving product and there have been many changes to it over the time we've been on the service; some good, some not-so-much. The reporting module is very limited and unless one of the canned reports is close to what you want it's a struggle to obtain some information in a format that's useful. All those issues aside however it's been a good solution for our company and we expect we'll continue to use it.
A must-have for business owners
The auto-bank download is a must-have in any tax software. The Desktop version requires some steps to manually visit the bank for the download but can be done. QBO is a solid software for small businesses.
Quickbooks Online
The app is slow to manually process data. There are major limitations when attempting to modify data within the software or correct recording errors. They advertise that any business owner can do everything themselves in the software but in practice most of the things business owners do are inaccurate.
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The most complete small business accounting solution
Pros
Easy to use whether you have no accounting experience or you are a pro.
The user interface is logically laid out so you can get where you need intuitively.
Between the very complete built in functionality and a robust App Store of add-ins for specific needs it Quickbooks Online can provide a solution to any accounting need
You can go it alone or seamlessly incorporate external accounting services depending on your strengths, comfort level and desire to directly engage in specific accounting processes
It’s cloud based so you do not have to deal with local computers and storage that have to be maintained and backed up to secure your business critical data. This also means your can access your data from anywhere you like.
Two step verification for log in so your data is very secure.
The Quickbooks Online mobile app is excellent and lets you input receipts and expenses easily and immediately so you never get behind.
Cons
I had very few issues. Mostly surrounding my inexperience with accounting. It would be nice if Intuit would have some General Accounting Practices videos to get complete accounting novices up to speed on the basics like setting up a book of accounts and how to categorize expenses properly.
A constantly moving target, but works well for basic SB accounting needs...
We initially moved from QuickBooks Pro Desktop to the Online version to allow for our new Online Service Management System (RazorSync) to easily export invoices into QB for processing. In that regard, QB Online has worked well and met expectations. It's obviously an evolving product and there have been many changes to it over the time we've been on the service; some good, some not-so-much. The reporting module is very limited and unless one of the canned reports is close to what you want it's a struggle to obtain some information in a format that's useful. All those issues aside however it's been a good solution for our company and we expect we'll continue to use it.
Pros
It's wonderful to have access to our accounting system from any Internet-connected device. Integration with our Service Management System (RazorSync) has allowed us to turn Service Orders into invoices and send them via QuickBooks Online quickly and easily, which has absolutely improved how quickly we get paid on jobs. The Payroll module makes it easy to pay our employees and calculate the necessary withholding and taxes due.
Cons
The reports in the Online version are clunky and horribly limited. Recently Intuit modified what was included in the package we were in and limited the number of accounts we're allowed to have in the Chart of Accounts without paying a higher fee, so we're stuck not being able to add new accounts unless we want to go to the "next tier". Last year we needed to reprint some older tax forms that weren't showing up so we were forced to contact support for assistance. We finally got what we needed done but it took contacting two different support reps as the first one obviously wasn't familiar with the product and made changes to our accounting data that had to then be fixed by the second rep.
A must-have for business owners
The auto-bank download is a must-have in any tax software. The Desktop version requires some steps to manually visit the bank for the download but can be done. QBO is a solid software for small businesses.
Pros
Good tutorials available, auto-banking transaction download (though it does not work for some banks or credit unions in BC) is a great feature, easy to MATCH or TRANSFER funds. Easy to set up bills and to invoice out of the program.
Cons
A little bit glitchy - sometimes fields get lost, or report titles get shifted and cut-off. Multi-currency requires the user to go online externally to grab exchange rates. It's confusing to issue customer refunds. The tax module (GST, PST) works okay. Bank reconciliations are difficult when there's anything done out of the ordinary, whereas a manual reconciliation would get the job done quicker.
Quickbooks Online has changed our whole model
Pros
Quickbooks online has allowed our organization to update, modernize, and change the way we approach our finances. Within a few months, we moved from a fairly archaic book keeping system to one that is completely modernized, online, and easier to use. Our whole team has saved time and frustration after making the change to QBO.
Changing to Quickbooks online has helped us to improve our record-keeping, issue payments faster, made it easier for us to prepare for an annual audit, and provides many different options for planning, budgeting and reporting for a Board of Directors.
With a small team, we are very appeciative of the Help features and online support available.
Cons
The only issue I have run into so far with Quickbooks Online is that there is a limit to the number of automatic reports that can be generated. For example, we would love to have the option to pull a variance report automatically from our records. Luckily, Quickbooks Online does provide you the features needed to build custom reports - so we got what we needed with a little bit of work.
Quickbooks Online
The app is slow to manually process data. There are major limitations when attempting to modify data within the software or correct recording errors. They advertise that any business owner can do everything themselves in the software but in practice most of the things business owners do are inaccurate.
Pros
I like that you can log into the software from any location. I like that I can talk to my clients while both of us are using the software in real time.
Cons
I do not like that QBO is constantly increasing their rates. They have made the software substantially more expensive since they came out with the product. Every feature of the software is now an additional charge.
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QuickBooks Online Pricing
QuickBooks Online Pricing
30-day free trial, no credit card required.
Independent contractors:
Self-Employed: $10/month
Small businesses:
Simple Start: $20/month
Essentials: $40/month
Plus: $60/month
30-day free trial, no credit card required.
Independent contractors:
Self-Employed: $10/month
Small businesses:
Simple Start: $20/month
Essentials: $40/month
Plus: $60/month
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QuickBooks Online Features
QuickBooks Online Features
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Categories
Categories
Video Tutorials
Video Tutorials
Additional information for QuickBooks Online
Additional information for QuickBooks Online
Key features of QuickBooks Online
- ACH payment processing
- Account reconciliation
- Accounting management
- Actionable insights
- Activity dashboard
- Ad hoc reporting
- Automated online banking
- Automatic backup
- Automatic tax calculations
- Bank reconciliation
- Banking data synchronization
- Billable hours tracking
- Billing & invoicing
- Budgeting
- Cash flow management
- Cash flow statement
- Categorization
- Charting
- Check printing
- Create & manage invoices
- Create custom invoices
- Create estimates
- Credit card integration
- Credit card processing
- Custom fields
- Custom forms
- Custom invoices
- Customizable billing
- Customizable branding
- Customizable categories
- Customizable reporting
- Customizable templates
- Dashboards and feeds
- Data import/export
- Deadline tracking
- Deduction management
- Direct deposit
- Discount management
- Document templates
- Drag & drop interface
- Electronic payments
- Email integration
- Enhanced payroll
- Enter & manage bills
- Estimating
- Expense claims
- Expense tracking
- Export data to Excel
- GPS
- GPS integration
- Geolocation
- Income & expenses management
- Income statements
- Inventory tracking
- Invoice management
- Invoice processing
- Location tracking
- Mileage tracking
- Mobile integration
- Mobile receipt capture
- Multi-currency
- Multi-device document sharing
- One-click reporting
- Organize expenses
- Outstanding invoices
- PCI DSS compliance
- Paperless receipt tracking
- Pay online link in invoices
- Payroll integration
- Payroll management
- Print checks
- Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports
- Profit / loss statement
- Purchase order management
- Purchasing management
- Real time data
- Real time reporting
- Real time updates
- Receipt management
- Receiving
- Recurring billing
- Reoccurring payments
- SSL security
- Sales tax management
- Sales tracking
- Synchronization management
- Taxes management
- Third party integration
- Time & expense tracking
- Track payments
- Track sales & expenses
- Trend analysis
- User management
- Vendor management
- eCommerce integration
Benefits
GetApp Analysis
GetApp Analysis
QuickBooks online is a cloud-based financial software for small businesses that takes care of accounting, billing and invoicing – all in a single platform. It allows you to create and manage invoices, print checks, reconcile banking and credit card transactions, track payments, enter and manage bills, create estimates, among others.
Created for freelancers and small businesses, QuickBooks Online offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, with mobile tools for iPhone, iPad and Android devices for more flexible and time-efficient invoice creation, expense tracking and accounting experiences. Some of QuickBooks Online’s main features include easy invoice creation, online banking integration, app integrations, mobility and built-in reports that can be run in just a few clicks.
What is QuickBooks Online?
Launched in 2001, redesigned in 2013 and now serving more than 683,000 users, QuickBooks Online is a web-based small business accounting software that saves users time while keeping their finances organized. Depending on the plan you’re subscribed to, it combines a number of features in one platform: estimates, invoicing, time tracking, accounts payable, bank/credit card reconciliation, reporting, inventory, contacts, sales tax, tax forms, location and class tracking.
It also has a user-friendly dashboard that emphasizes overdue and open invoices, account balances, cash flow, and other tasks, affording you the ability to see important activities at a glance.
QuickBooks Online Main Features
Invoice Creation
On the top middle section of the QuickBooks Online dashboard, there are three buttons that allow users to search for transactions, create invoices and other financial forms, and view recent transactions. To create a customer invoice, click on the plus (+) button and select Invoice from the drop-down menu. You will be taken to the Invoice page where you then will be required to input the invoice’s particulars such as customer name, email address, billing address, payment terms, invoice date, due date, and others.
Product/service line items can be manually entered or selected from pre-defined fields. Tax calculations and discounts are automatically deducted from the invoice amount shown in the top right corner of the screen. Invoices can be personalized by adding your company logo, a background image, choosing your own font and designating custom fields. Invoices can also be sent in batches or individually.
Online Banking Integration
With QuickBooks Online’s banking integration feature, you can securely connect your online bank to automatically download financial transactions, so you won’t have to manually input the necessary data. Once synced, using the information your bank stores with the money going in and out of your account, like amounts, transaction dates, the places where the transactions occurred, and such, you can either accept or delete transactions, and categorize and assign them to suppliers or customers.
To connect your bank with QuickBooks Online, you will need your online banking username and password ready. This allows QuickBooks Online to establish a secure connection with your bank or credit card company. From the QuickBooks Online dashboard, choose Transactions, then Banking. On the upper right hand side of the screen, you will see a blue button marked Add Account. You will be prompted to enter your bank or credit card company’s name or URL, or choose from a list of popular financial institutions. Once your login credentials are verified to be working, simply follow the prompts to continue.
App Integrations
Integration with other software systems is one way to enable a seamless information flow between applications, thereby reducing data entry requirements and simplifying the way companies run their businesses.
QuickBooks Online doesn’t only integrate with QuickBooks Online apps and other add-ons. Through the Intuit Partner Platform, it also allows third-party app developers to create custom application systems that can benefit its base of small business users.
Mobility
It happens even to the best of us. You purchase a spare part for your customer, and make a mental note that you need the receipt for later but end up losing it one way or another. With QuickBooks Online’s mobile apps, expense reporting is made easier through mobile receipt capture. You can even add photos and notes so you don’t forget the relevant details.
While the mobile versions are still lacking in terms of the full software’s functionality, QuickBooks Online’s mobile apps let you review your transactions even when on the go, see customer balances, and mark invoices as paid. Electronic signatures also enable you to immediately approve estimates.
Built-In Reports
QuickBooks Online has a long list of pre-built reports that show the overall financial health of your business. These reports fall into several different buckets: Business Overview, Manage Accounts Receivable, Manage Accounts Payable, Accountant Reports, Reconciliation Reports, Manage Products and Inventory, Review Sales, Review Expenses and Purchases, Manage Sales Tax and Manage Employees.
To run a report, go to Reports from the QuickBooks dashboard and select the type of report you want to run. Next, customize your reporting fields, if needed. Select a transaction date from a drop-down menu or specify your target date range. After clicking on Run Report, you are ready to print, email, export the report as an Excel file, or save customizations.
QuickBooks Online Integrations
Aside from easy integration with other QuickBooks applications such as QuickBooks Payments and QuickBooks Payroll, QuickBooks Online offers add-ons such as [Method CRM] (http://www.getapp.com/method-crm-application-1), [Time Tracking by TSheets] (http://www.getapp.com/tsheets-online-time-tracking-application), [Bill.com] (http://www.getapp.com/bill-com-application), [Jobber] (http://www.getapp.com/jobber-application), [Shoeboxed] (http://www.getapp.com/shoeboxed-application) and [Mavenlink] (http://www.getapp.com/mavenlink-professional-services-automation-application).
And then, there’s the QuickBooks API that provides app developers the ability to integrate their products with QuickBooks Online and expose their products to a large pool of small business owners. The QuickBooks API client allows them access to their customers’ data via a REST-based API that works with QuickBooks Online. Also, Intuit’s Apps.com is a place where third-party apps can be published and found by businesses looking for systems to further simplify their processes.
QuickBooks Online Pricing
QuickBooks Online offers three pricing packages: Simple Start, Essentials and Plus. Simple Start is priced at $9.99 a month and allows one user to reconcile bank transactions and create estimates and invoices. The data can be shared with two accountants.
Essentials is pegged at a monthly $19.99 and includes all the functionalities of Simple Start, with an accounts payable feature that allows up to three users to track and pay bills. With inventory and 1099 preparation included to the regular Essentials plan, Plus is at $29.99 per month and supports up to five users.
QuickBooks Online Bottom Line
- Accounting, invoicing, billing, estimates, and more – all in a single platform
- Has native mobile apps for Android devices, iPhones and iPads that allow users to keep track of the financial health of their businesses anytime and anywhere
- Allows easy collaboration with your accountant or bookkeeper
- Easy to set up and highly customizable
- Automatic syncing with your bank and credit card accounts
QuickBooks Online FAQs
QuickBooks Online FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions for QuickBooks Online.
Q. What type of pricing plans does QuickBooks Online offer?
QuickBooks Online offers the following pricing plans:
Starting from: US$10.00/month
Pricing model: Free, Subscription
Free Trial: Available
30-day free trial, no credit card required. Independent contractors: Self-Employed: $10/month Small businesses: Simple Start: $20/month Essentials: $40/month Plus: $60/month
Q. What are the main features of QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online offers the following features:
- ACH payment processing
- Account reconciliation
- Accounting management
- Actionable insights
- Activity dashboard
- Ad hoc reporting
- Automated online banking
- Automatic backup
- Automatic tax calculations
- Bank reconciliation
- Banking data synchronization
- Billable hours tracking
- Billing & invoicing
- Budgeting
- Cash flow management
- Cash flow statement
- Categorization
- Charting
- Check printing
- Create & manage invoices
- Create custom invoices
- Create estimates
- Credit card integration
- Credit card processing
- Custom fields
- Custom forms
- Custom invoices
- Customizable billing
- Customizable branding
- Customizable categories
- Customizable reporting
- Customizable templates
- Dashboards and feeds
- Data import/export
- Deadline tracking
- Deduction management
- Direct deposit
- Discount management
- Document templates
- Drag & drop interface
- Electronic payments
- Email integration
- Enhanced payroll
- Enter & manage bills
- Estimating
- Expense claims
- Expense tracking
- Export data to Excel
- GPS
- GPS integration
- Geolocation
- Income & expenses management
- Income statements
- Inventory tracking
- Invoice management
- Invoice processing
- Location tracking
- Mileage tracking
- Mobile integration
- Mobile receipt capture
- Multi-currency
- Multi-device document sharing
- One-click reporting
- Organize expenses
- Outstanding invoices
- PCI DSS compliance
- Paperless receipt tracking
- Pay online link in invoices
- Payroll integration
- Payroll management
- Print checks
- Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports
- Profit / loss statement
- Purchase order management
- Purchasing management
- Real time data
- Real time reporting
- Real time updates
- Receipt management
- Receiving
- Recurring billing
- Reoccurring payments
- SSL security
- Sales tax management
- Sales tracking
- Synchronization management
- Taxes management
- Third party integration
- Time & expense tracking
- Track payments
- Track sales & expenses
- Trend analysis
- User management
- Vendor management
- eCommerce integration
Q. Who are the typical users of QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online has the following typical customers:
Freelancers, Non Profit, Small Business
Q. What languages does QuickBooks Online support?
QuickBooks Online supports the following languages:
Chinese (Traditional), English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Q. What type of pricing plans does QuickBooks Online offer?
QuickBooks Online has the following pricing plans:
Free, Subscription
Q. Does QuickBooks Online support mobile devices?
QuickBooks Online supports the following devices:
Android, iPhone, iPad
Q. What other apps does QuickBooks Online integrate with?
QuickBooks Online integrates with the following applications:
3dcart, Bill.com, Bill4Time, Payment Evolution, ProWorkflow, QuickBooks Payroll, SalesNexus, Shopify, VerticalResponse, Zoho CRM
Q. What level of support does QuickBooks Online offer?
QuickBooks Online offers the following support options:
FAQs, Forum, Knowledge Base, Online Support, Phone Support, Video Tutorials
Overall I am beyond happy with my choice to put QuickBooks Online at the core of my businesses accounting functions. The cost is extremely reasonable for the power and huge capabilities it has.