How to Mac for QuickBooks to QuickBooks Online
A few months ago Intuit, the manufacture of QuickBooks, released a new version of QuickBooks Online that runs with the Safari web browser. The new version of QuickBooks offers a multiuser alternative for users of QuickBooks in a Mac environment. It is currently possible for Mac QuickBooks users to run multiuser versions of QuickBooks for a reasonable monthly price, and have unattended backups and software updates included in the monthly price.
Besides the Safari interface, QuickBooks Online has been optimized for the iPhone. The iPhone app is basically a read only application, however some added features exist for customer, vendor and employee information as well as the ability to create and send invoices. Another benefit for Mac users of QuickBooks is that there is no longer a wait for updates to the Mac version of QuickBooks.
Installing QuickBooks Online (without the need to convert QuickBooks for Mac files to QuickBooks online files) is relatively easy and straightforward. However, it gets a bit complicated when you need to convert an existing QuickBooks for Mac file to a QuickBooks Online file. Intuit does a reasonably good job of facilitating the online installation.
In order to manually convert your QuickBooks Mac file to QuickBooks Online, it is not that difficult, providing you hereto and follow the instructions. This process takes about 30 minutes. However,you will not be able to directly convert your QuickBooks Mac file to QuickBooks Online. There is an intermediate step that requires you to convert your QB Mac file to a QB Windows files and, starts with the drop down menu in QuickBooks Mac. You are able to begin this process by selecting the File menu and then selecting Back U p to QuickBooks for Windows option that is within the QuickBooks Mac software. After you complete this process, the file is automatically uploaded to the Intuit servers and you receive a notification when the process for converting the QuickBooks Mac to QuickBooks Online is done. At first, I was surprised to see that this process is carried out at the Intuit level, rather than the local hard drive level. A recommendation to to save some time during this process, is that in the event, you do not receive a quick e-mail, indicating completion of this process from Intuit, it is suggested that you call Intuit tech support and ask them to look into the status of your conversion and further request that they facilitate it for you. Generally, when I have contacted tech support, and they are very helpful. They will expedite the process, although they do not give any assurance that they can expedite the process and will blame the delay on their busy servers.
The manual conversion process takes almost 30 minutes (not including the subsequent Intuit conversion) and my Mac clients have been pleased with QBO.Unfortunately, one client was disappointed that the vendor type classifications are not available with QuickBooks Online. I was able to confirm this shortcoming with QuickBooks support and they suggested the following workaround. To use one of the fields in the vendor profile as the vendor type. So far, my clients are happy to have multi-user access, the ability to work from anywhere with automatic backups free software updates, even with the slower performance speed that results from a web connection.
Two words of caution, the first of which is that QuickBooks Online currently does not provide inventory applications with comprehensive features ordinarily included with desktop versions and the second, that the conversion may require the services of your accountant or CPA to affect a smooth and orderly transition to the QuickBooks Online platform.
One final caveat,that if you were willing to understand from the beginning, the inherent limitations of QBO, then, you may find the QBO platform an acceptable alternative,more importantly, a helpfully financial tool to operate and monitor your business and make timely business decisions.
Sandor Lenner,C.P.A.-M.B.A. has been providing accounting services for over 35 years. He is also a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and offers discounted QuickBooks software. QuickBooks Online Edition ” Starting as low as $9.95 a month. Subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. I will not share your email with anyone.