QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Hosting – Which is right for you?

The question of “Which is right for me?” comes up when people are looking at, or comparing QuickBooks Online with QuickBooks hosting. The fact of the matter is, although QuickBooks Online is consistently adding features and capabilities that bring it closer to the desktop version, there are still many reasons to stick with the desktop version you know. If you’re looking to access your QuickBooks remotely, or give multiple people the ability to access the same data files regardless of geographical location, then hosting your QuickBooks is the route you probably want to take. Though there are benefits to both, the question comes down to what capabilities you need and what your plans for the future are.

First, the pros of QuickBooks Online. It’s great for small businesses or individuals with income producing hobbies. It’s fast to set up and get working with. Intuit has also recently added many features that make QuickBooks Online competitive with their desktop versions. Mainly, the ability for multiple users to access it. Online now also has inventory tracking, purchase order sending, analytical tools and it integrates better with Excel. In short, QuickBooks Online is going to be great for small businesses with basic bookkeeping and accounting needs. The decision to go with hosting comes up when an individual or business thinks that they will need additional features now or in the future, since the most advanced version of QuickBooks Online still barely competes with QuickBooks Pro.

When you move your desktop version of QuickBooks to the cloud via a hosting provider, you’re simply giving yourself the ability to access your currently owned software over the internet. Since it is your desktop version, you have the same interface and functionality that you are used to and familiar with. You also have the ability to use additional software that syncs with your QuickBooks for deposits, payments, scanning and more. This includes being able to integrate with popular applications like ACT! and Outlook. These are major selling points that the Online versions don’t offer.

Yet another compelling reason to go with QuickBooks hosting instead of using the online version is storage, back up and data transferring. With a hosted version of QuickBooks, your applications and data are stored in secure data centers and then also backed up off-site. You also have the ability to backup and save files or data on your local machine. This is not only an extra safety feature that may be enticing for some, but it also becomes important when considering what you will do if/when you no longer want to work in the cloud. With QuickBooks hosting, you can easily copy files down to your local machine. This way you can either continue working locally, or you can move to another accounting solution. With QuickBooks Online you not only cannot backup and store files locally, but when you decide to upgrade to a desktop version (hosted or local), the ability to transfer data is limited and difficult.

In summary, there are benefits to using both QuickBooks Online and having your desktop version hosted by an expert application hosting provider. Although Intuit is slowly bridging the gap, there are enough major differences between the desktop and online versions to consider what your accounting needs are before making a decision. For small enterprises, QuickBooks Online might be all that is needed. But if a business needs anywhere, anytime access to QuickBooks Pro, Premier or Enterprise, along with supporting applications, making the move to a hosted version of their QuickBooks is an obvious choice that will allow them grow, expand and easily work in the cloud with QuickBooks and other desktop software.

QuickBooks In The Cloud & iPads

A Great Backup Option To Have

Occasionally the question comes up…What happens when a person is on the road or unable to use their laptop or PC but still needs to access QuickBooks? Although it would be too difficult and time consuming for a person to try and do all of their work with an iPad, some situations allow the popular tablets to be used for a variety of QuickBooks related tasks in the cloud to keep business moving.

A CPA with a growing firm in Arizona was using QuickBooks in the cloud to work on client files from a single office location. Although he knew that using his hosted QuickBooks on an iPad was possible, he didn’t have cause to try it until a client contacted him while he was on the road. The client was about to make a major purchase, and wanted to know how it would affect his taxes. The CPA was able to pull over, bring up the client’s QuickBooks file on the iPad, and in less than a minute provide the client with financial advice that helped him make a better purchasing decision.

Although the client could have waited until the next day to get the financial advice he was looking for, the CPA was able to come off looking like a rock star by getting the info right there on the spot. The client was happy, and the CPA was able to offer the type of service that guaranteed him a client for life. All because the CPA was able to simply look at a QuickBooks file on the fly.

Another person, a Florida-based bookkeeper using InsynQ as her QuickBooks hosting provider, found herself up a creek when her computer started having problems right as several clients needed their payroll processed. While waiting for her PC to be fixed at a store, she was able to use her iPad with a keyboard accessory to connect to her hosted QuickBooks and run payroll for her clients. By the time her computer was done getting fixed, her client’s payroll was done.

Although it won’t solve every issue, it never hurts to have a backup, plan-b or a spare. When you have applications like QuickBooks hosted, you essentially turn any internet connected PC, laptop or tablet into your backup option for accessing software and files. Most financial professionals would agree that their computing demands require a desktop PC with multiple screens. But in a pinch, it never hurts to have the option of using an iPad to access your hosted QuickBooks in the cloud.

Learn more about application hosting solutions and cloud computing options that will allow you to access QuickBooks in the cloud at http://www.insynq.com/application-hosting.html.

Upgrade to QuickBooks 2013 in the Cloud

Upgrading to QuickBooks 2013 with a hosting provider gives people the features of the latest version of QB along with the safety, security and anytime access of cloud computing. Whether you move your current QuickBooks to a hosted platform, or make the move while upgrading to QuickBooks 2013, combining the popular accounting software with the latest in cloud computing technology offers a variety of benefits.

Cloud computing has been proven to increase productivity, reduce costs, and when combined with the new features of QuickBooks 2013 make managing the financial side of a business easier than ever. As a general design upgrade, QuickBooks 2013 implements naming conventions, navigation structure and icon designs that are similar to popular online websites and tools. This makes finding the right path to completing your tasks easier and faster. The toolbar at the top of each transaction displays the most commonly used elements for direct access, so you don’t need to dig for them.

Managing customer information is an aspect of the software that desperately needed an upgrade. With all information located in tabs that are found in the middle of a Customer record, you can handle almost any aspect of receiving or making a payment. Now you can process invoices, set “To-Dos”, run reports and make notes that are easy to find for each of your accounts. As a time saving feature, the new way of managing notes in QuickBooks 2013 reduces the need to use a separate CRM or SFA tool.

Along with easy to understand and use Customer screens comes an improved way to edit your Customer information. Add, edit or delete a variety of information in fields found in any one of the main tabs including address info, setting selections for payment and taxes, and more. With QuickBooks 2013, you can quickly make changes while working with an account contact.

When it comes to making the move to the cloud, whether you are upgrading or not, the question of licensing usually comes up. So here are your options for QuickBooks 2013. Supply an authorized hosting provider like InsynQ with the licensing information you currently have for the version of QuickBooks you use on a local device. Or, purchase a QuickBooks 2013 license, give it to the hosting provider, and they will deploy you with QuickBooks 2013 in a hosted environment. A third option that is increasing in popularity is renting a license. If you require multiple versions of QB, or plan on upgrading often, leasing your QB license will save time and money.

Learn more about moving your QuickBooks to the cloud or upgrading your current hosted services to include QuickBooks 2013 today. www.insynq.com | 866.207.1781

What a Virtual Desktop Is and How it Pertains to Running QuickBooks in the Cloud

Professionals often have questions about what exactly it means to run a hosted version of QuickBooks on a virtual desktop. A large chunk of the confusion stems from the question: What exactly is a virtual desktop? A virtual desktop looks just like the desktop you are used to seeing when you start up Windows on a PC. It has applications, icons, a start menu and quick launch icons on the task bar. Your QuickBooks programs and accounting files are saved, stored and accessed similar to the way you would on a local device. The difference is that your applications are securely run and stored on a remote server instead of your local PC.

Your virtual desktop is accessed via the internet and is therefore available from any computer or device from anywhere in the world. It doesn’t require any fancy software, complicated installations or expensive machines to ensure smooth performance. All that is needed is a machine or device with an internet connection and you will be able to access the same desktop you’re used to seeing with your QuickBooks software and data files. It doesn’t matter if you are using a PC, Mac, smartphone or iPad. Everything will look identical to what you’re used to working with.

There are many advantages to operating QuickBooks on a hosted desktop. With InsynQ’s QuickBooks hosting for example, you are given an entire custom-built virtual desktop featuring vital software such as the Microsoft Office suite. The ability to use necessary supporting applications gives people working in the cloud a huge advantage. All financial professionals will agree that the two most frequently used programs in their lives are QuickBooks and Office. However, many have other applications they would like to access from any machine or device they happen to be near at the time. Virtual desktops give professionals the ability to move these other programs to the cloud. Hosting QuickBooks integrations and add-ons on a virtual desktop opens up the option of accessing the files and data you need at anytime and from anywhere, on a platform that is easy to use.

The familiar environment housing your accounting software and data, means you are always ready to access and edit files in real-time and share between clients and co-workers instantaneously; that is what virtual desktops are all about.

Click here to learn more.

Accountants Drive QuickBooks to the Cloud

The market for QuickBooks cloud hosting is growing. Cloud services in general are being adopted by more and more businesses and organizations in an effort to gain infinite agility, reduce IT spending and streamline growth. Businesses and financial professionals need to be able to respond quickly and efficiently to the ever-changing needs of their company and clients. When working in the cloud you are utilizing a subscription-based service which means that not only will the up-front cost of installation by eliminated, but companies will also be given the ability to adapt and change the applications they use in the cloud as need be.

Adding users and programs is incredibly simple when using a hosting provider such as InsynQ. This gives financial professionals and businesses alike the ability to add a software suite such as Microsoft Office or Intuit’s QuickBooks to their cloud whenever it is needed. The list of hosted programs doesn’t stop there, as InsynQ currently hosts over 300 applications. The possibilities this flexibility offers companies is limitless and also incredibly affordable. No longer must a business drop gigantic sums of money into software and in-house IT services.

Mobile computing is currently growing faster than any other platform or tool has in the history of technology. Morgan Stanley estimates that by 2015, mobile web will be bigger and more widely used than typical desktop internet usage. What does this mean for financial professionals using programs such as QuickBooks to best assist their clients? It means that they need to be able to access the files and information stored in their QuickBooks software from the road in order to best assist their customers. With QuickBooks in the cloud this becomes instantly and easily possible. Subscribers are able to instantly access their software and data from the road using any computer or device connected to the internet including laptops, desktops, smartphones or tablets.

This is quickly becoming the norm, and accountants who choose to ignore the cloud are finding that more and more of their clients are seeking other financial professionals who are utilizing a hosted QuickBooks service. To better illustrate this point, one needs not look further than the current statistics and projections of the cloud computing industry itself. In 2010, Gartner estimated the cloud computing market to be at roughly $54 billion, escalating at a rate that would have the industry pushing $150 billion by 2013. So far, the estimates are well on their way to becoming a reality. This is due to the fact that businesses are quickly realizing the benefits of managed IT services. As the cloud continues to rise and QuickBooks hosting becomes the norm, it is increasingly important to consider adopting your business to this growing trend.

QuickBooks 2013 Now Available in the Cloud

Intuit has released new editions of QuickBooks 2013 including Pro, Premier and Enterprise, each of which are currently available to be hosted on InsynQ’s cloud computing platform. QuickBooks 2013 adds an entirely new user interface as well as numerous functional enhancements. Each of these improvements were added with the intention of saving financial professionals time by simplifying workflow navigation. Intuit refined QuickBooks 2013 by giving accountants the ability to batch-enter transactions such as deposits and credit card charges while also integrating a variety of other new time-saving features.

QuickBooks 2013 Leasing Available
It’s now easier than ever to get started using a hosted version of QuickBooks 2013. Financial professionals seeking to reap the benefits of moving QB to the cloud can choose to lease the program and get started immediately with no upfront costs. QB 2013 Pro and Premier licenses are currently available in the US, and Canadian financial professionals can also rent QB Enterprise 2013. This provides accountants and businesses that upgrade their version of QuickBooks each year with an incredibly affordable way to upgrade to the newest version.

Why Move Your QB to the Cloud?
With the popularity of QuickBooks hosting projected to continue growing throughout 2020, it’s no wonder that moving 2013 versions of QB to the cloud is already a popular choice among financial professionals interested in saving time and money. The ability to access and edit QuickBooks data over an internet connected device offers many advantages. Hosting with an Intuit authorized provider offers increased levels of security. Plus, with the option of being able to use your QuickBooks add-ons on a hosted platform, moving your QB to the cloud is an easy choice to make.

Learn more about moving your QuickBooks to the cloud and see how much hosting other applications will cost at www.insynq.com.

How To Move Your QuickBooks Data Files To The Cloud

from the August issue of the CPAASP Practice Development News

Different Intuit authorized hosting providers may have different platforms for delivering your QuickBooks applications and data in the cloud, but the process of transferring your data from a local machine to a virtual one tends to generally be the same.

Since virtual desktops communicate with the local machine it is being accessed with, one of the most common ways to transfer a data file is to copy and paste from a local drive to a virtual drive. For PC users, an example of this would be saving your data file on a local C drive, browsing to it from your virtual desktop, right-clicking and selecting Copy. You can then browse to one of your virtual drives or client files and Paste your data file. In many cases, sorting through drives can be avoided by simply copying the file from your PC desktop and then pasting it directly into the virtual location of your choice.

In short, transferring a data file is basically a Copy and Paste process. One thing to be aware of though, is that the ease of transferring data over the internet depends on how much data you have and what your internet connection is like. Small data files with a good internet connection can take as little as a few minutes. Larger files coupled with poor connectivity could result in a data upload taking as long as an hour.

Some providers offer additional services to assist with larger than average data file transfers. File upload tools can reduce the amount of time a transfer can take, and some firms with many client files may opt to send their provider data files on a disk or drive for uploading. Be sure to let your hosting provider know the total amount of data you plan on moving to the cloud ahead of time to ensure a successful transition.

Learn more about QuickBooks hosting at www.cpaasp.com.

Isn’t your business worth at least 50 bucks per month?

or: Penny Smart, Pound Foolish

There is an age-old problem when it comes to small businesses and technology: small business owners have a hard time finding value in paying for IT services to support their businesses, and they spend a lot of money not addressing the issue.  For a wide variety of reasons, small business owners just seem to have a hard time justifying the costs of outsourced and/or managed IT services.  Strangely, many business owners end up spend more money and time trying NOT to outsource – they just won’t acknowledge this reality.

Let’s consider that a business has been operating for a few years, and maybe has revenues approaching $1M annually. A million dollars in annual revenues isn’t anything to sneeze at.  Now let’s also consider that this small business has a small computer network which supports their operations.  This network is likely made up of older machines, legacy desktop software, and a few random little applications or software constructions they’ve acquired over the years.  Is this business focused in properly securing the network with firewalls and security software, and is this portion of the network monitored regularly?  How about data management and backups?  Does the business frequently back up data offsite, and then test those backups to verify that the data can be properly restored?  Is the system protected from virus or intrusions?  Is it monitored?  Is it tested?  Is someone actually responsible for all of this stuff?  If this business is like most small businesses, the answer to most of these questions is “no” or “not really”.

It’s not unusual for small business owners to fail to fully recognize the real value of their business technology (as opposed to the purchase price), and the necessary costs to manage and maintain it properly.  There’s an old saying in the IT world that there are only two types of business – those who have lost their data and those who will.  The business who has lost their data understands the value of IT management, because they have had to bear the cost of repairs, replacements, lost productivity, and lost revenue.  Once they realize the cost, they understand the value of mitigating that risk.  Unfortunately, it often takes just such an experience to get the small business owner to really recognize that not spending on IT management is actually a decision to spend more later when bad things happen.  And bad things will happen.  Count on it.

Now, let’s talk about the ability for that business to have their IT solutions hosted and delivered to them as a subscription service.  The security, including firewall monitoring and virus protection are part of the service.  Regular data backups are part of the service, as is technical support.  While the business still pays for (and owns) their software license assets, the rest of the system – the engineering and technical labor, the platforms, the network – are all part of the subscription, and are under the care of skilled engineering and technical personnel.  As an example, InsynQ CPAASP QuickBooks hosting solutions are priced at around $50 (ish) per user per month, depending on service, and provide a comprehensive managed IT approach for small businesses.  For a business owner who knows that they will spend (lose) far more if their systems are out of service, or if their paid workers aren’t able to work, that 50 bucks proves to be a pretty small price to pay.

 

Why would a business want to host their QuickBooks in the Cloud?

With all the talk today about cloud computing and working online, you’d think that huge numbers of business owners are migrating their entire operations to Internet applications and platforms.  The value statements of “no upfront costs”, “pay as you go”, and “better collaboration” are the marketing speak for these online solutions, but the actual reasons for adoption may be very different from what you’d expect.  And yes, businesses are moving in droves to the “cloud”, but not necessarily to true web-based applications.

One of the primary drivers for “cloud” adoption is the growing complexity of software and services designed to support the business.   Folks usually don’t mind paying for products, but paying for the services to install, implement, and manage those products isn’t something most small businesses businesses like doing.  Even a solution like Intuit QuickBooks, which was once viewed as a very simple to install and maintain product, has become quite complex in terms of its networking and database manager requirements, connected services offerings, and application integration options.  This increasing complexity in the technology is driving businesses to seek outside IT help to implement, support, and manage software products and computing platforms that were once manageable from within the company.  Rather than paying IT personnel or contractors on a regular basis, businesses are finding that it may be far more affordable (and effective) to totally outsource the IT – infrastructure and all.

Mobility is another huge driver for the adoption of cloud computing and online services.  Application hosting was initially a great approach for businesses with multiple locations that needed to work together, but the model has been extended to address the needs of highly mobile individuals as well as the distributed organization.  Just because a business has only one brick and mortar location doesn’t mean it doesn’t wish to do business from other places, too.  With smart phones getting smarter, and pad computing being a reality, business users know they can have way more than just email on their mobile devices.

While “better collaboration” is also a strong part of the value proposition for a cloud-based or online application approach for the business, the type of collaboration may not be what you’re thinking.  For years there have been tools, solutions, and services which enable “better collaboration” among coworkers and team members (read=document sharing).  However, the online working model potentially enables another type of collaboration – collaboration with outside parties and electronic data exchange with other systems.  Interactions with vendors, customers, even professional service providers, may be more fully enabled through an online working model.  Clearly, public accountants recognize this benefit, and are leveraging it to generate and capitalize on new service opportunities with their clients online.

What’s interesting about the current wave of adoption of online services by small businesses is the realization that some of the fundamental needs of the business – messaging and productivity – are not the drivers for “moving online”.  Certainly, many of these elements were the initial focus for cloud computing vendor offerings – like Google Docs, hosted MS Exchange mail, etc. – but the reality is that businesses are heavily invested in the operational software tools and products currently embedded in the market and are reticent to leave them behind.   Desktop-based solutions, like Intuit QuickBooks for example, are still the cornerstones of many SMB (as well as enterprise) business operations.  Even though there may be web-based alternatives, they often lack the options, flexibility, or usability of these tried-and-true products.  And, sadly, they lack the integrations.

The market wants their familiar software and systems, but they now want them in a new, simple to access and easy to implement manner.  Further, the market demands (continues to demand) that their business solutions integrate, share data and work together… and they want options, lots of options.  This is why businesses want to host their desktop editions of QuickBooks in the cloud, and why so many businesses are electing to use InsynQ-CPAASP for their QuickBooks hosting.

Make Sense?

 

There’s a lot to be said for inertia… Intuit QuickBooks in the Middle East

A recent article on itp.net reveals that businesses in the Middle East are now more frequently seeking out high value solutions for business accounting, such as Intuit QuickBooks, rather than purchasing “premium brand” solutions… and the reseller channel is feeling the pinch.  The issue is largely one of brand-recognition, and it’s a tough issue to fight.  As the article says, “..when potential customers realise that one-third of all US SMEs run their businesses on Intuit’s QuickBooks software, they begin to appreciate the value of the software”.

It’s also possible that cloud-hosted QuickBooks (such as from cpaasp.com) has made the solution much more available and recognized in other markets… particularly since many of those markets are on the forefront of providing outsourced processing services for US-based businesses.

“Value enterprise publisher Intuit is stealing market share from its more established rivals, as businesses in the region look to cut unnecessary costs, its master partner in the MENA region has claimed.”

“Speaking about the state of the market, managing director of TransNational Computer Middle East, Vijendra Singh said that every week, more and more companies in the region are switching to Intuit-based solutions.”

“More and more people are becoming price sensitive,” he revealed. “Even some of the biggest companies in the market are looking at their bottom line and asking ‘do we really need this premium brand?’”

read the rest of the article on itp.net

Particularly with the ability to have Intuit QuickBooks hosted in the cloud by providers like cpaasp.com, and with the plethora of integrations available to extend the solution, larger businesses are finding that QB actually can do the job for them.

It’s not always about the superiority of the solution… sometimes it’s simple inertia in the market, momentum that has built up over many years and which extends from software developers to consultants and trainers.

It’s also important to consider that tough economic times force folks to sometimes go for less than they may need just because it’s more affordable.  I wouldn’t imagine that the Middle East is immune to economic issues, eh?