QuickBooks Online Reviews

QuickBooks is a popular accounting software that was launched in 1992. The initial version of QuickBooks was based on a previous project developed by Quicken, a subsidiary of Intuit. The software is designed for small and medium-sized businesses, but it is now used by more than 4.5 million businesses worldwide.

Intuit QuickBooks

Intuit is a corporation based in the United States. It was founded by Scott Cook and Tom Proulx in 1983 in Palo Alto, California. The company generates most of its revenue from financial services software such as TurboTax, Mint, Credit Karma, ProConnect, and QuickBooks, commonly used by businesses of all sizes in the US market.

QuickBooks Online Review

QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software that simplifies financial management for small to medium-sized businesses. Whether you’re tracking income and expenses or preparing for tax season, QuickBooks Online offers a full stack of tools to manage your company’s finances from virtually anywhere.

Unlike traditional desktop software, QuickBooks Online allows business owners and accountants to access their data in real time across multiple devices, making it a flexible solution for teams working remotely or on the go.

Due to its ease of use, automated features, and integrations with popular business apps, this software has become a go-to choice for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and growing businesses.

The platform offers various subscription plans, such as QuickBooks Online Essentials and QuickBooks Online Advanced, each tailored to different business needs, ensuring that whether you’re just starting out or managing a growing team, there’s an option to suit your requirements.

Additionally, QuickBooks Online integrates seamlessly with other Intuit products and third-party applications, allowing users to create a custom accounting system that fits their unique business processes.

With constant updates and new features added regularly, it’s no surprise that QuickBooks Online remains a popular choice for businesses looking to streamline their accounting operations.

How to use QuickBooks Online?

The accounting software is incredibly user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and learn even for beginners. It comes packed with numerous tutorials to help you master every feature quickly. We highly recommend the online version, as it allows you to start using the product right away without any need for installation.

Create an account

So, to use QuickBooks online, you have to sign up for the service and start with the 30-day trial version, which gives you more than enough time to learn all its features.

If you are new to the accounting software, you will first be asked to fill out your company’s information, such as the legal name, business type, how long you have been in business, and how you would describe your business.

The purpose behind these questions is to get an idea of what features might be the most suitable for your business, which leads us to the second point: Choose what you want to do with Intuit QuickBooks.

However, whatever you choose here will not affect the software. It will only settle everything for you the first time you get there.

There is nothing permanent there. After you complete that, you will be asked to take a quick tour to familiarize yourself with all the features.

Configuration

The third step is to start adding data to the accounting software. Start by connecting your bank account. Remember that you can check if all is okay by checking if the figures you have in QuickBooks match your bank account figures.

You are not limited to one bank account, so keep adding all of them.

Fourth, you will need to go to the upper right corner, click the settings section, and start setting up all your company information and the advanced settings to set up the correct first month of the financial year.

So, now you are all settled in and set up with Intuit Quickbooks; you can start setting up your income, creating invoices, tracking miles, and all the other aspects.

We hope this clarifies using Quickbooks. For more detailed information, we advise you to check out their tutorial.

QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop

QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online are both accounting solutions by Intuit, but they cater to different needs and preferences.

Desktop:

Online:

While Desktop might appeal to those wanting robust features and a one-time purchase, Online offers flexibility, remote access, and ease of collaboration.

So, let’s examine the most apparent differences between the software’s online and desktop versions.

One of the most notable benefits of using the online version of QuickBooks Online is its flexibility. You can also access first-hand updates and new features without purchasing the latest product version.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the features of the Intuit QuickBooks cloud-based version.

Benefits of QuickBooks Online

Using Online QuickBooks at its full potential can save you time that would be better spent developing and growing your business. So, let’s take a look at this QuickBooks review of some of the most relevant benefits of using QuickBooks online and on the desktop for SMEs.

This has the potential to save you about 45 minutes of your precious time every week. How does it do that? Sales transactions involve lots of data, such as invoices, recipes, and other aspects. Therefore, accounting and bookkeeping have become a piece of cake for keeping things neat and organized in sales tax filing.

To enjoy the full benefits of QuickBooks, integrate your CRM software to have a complete overview of your purchase history and complete customer information. This will save you about 58 minutes per week.

Online QuickBooks Detailed Features

Let’s take a closer look at the features of the online version and what each one can do to keep track of your accounting and invoices. Furthermore, this section of the QuickBooks online review will give an excellent overview of the software’s functionalities and technical aspects.

Cloud Accounting

The benefits of working with cloud accounting are multiple, one of the most important being flexibility. First, you can access all your information from anywhere and on any device.

Second, you can share and collaborate with accountants’ clips without compromising security. Last, you can take your data with you anywhere you go and make decisions based on real-time data.

Online invoicing

QuickBooks Online streamlines invoicing, allowing users to send custom, professional invoices via email or even text messages​. It integrates with QuickBooks Payments for fast, secure payment processing. You can set up recurring invoices, send payment reminders, and accept various payment methods, including credit cards and ACH transfers​.

Customize Invoice

QuickBooks invoice allows you to customize your invoices by adding brand-related elements such as logo and signature. Furthermore, you can choose multiple templates and make your invoice represent you. Nothing special so far, you would. Well, well, don’t throw in the towel just yet. This had plenty more to give.

Second, create quotes that include discounts, payment terms, prices, and many more to speed up your invoicing procedure and maximize optimization.

Track Payment

Thirdly, you can track your payments in real time. This means that you can check from any of your devices if customers are late on their payments and set up automatic reminders to speed up the process.

Additionally, don’t forget about the fantastic integrations that can help you optimize the invoice payment process and make it as easy as possible for your clients to pay your invoices.

Fourth, automate your invoicing process to gain time to focus on other essential aspects of your business. For example, you can send recurring invoices to customers you bill regularly. Last, QuickBooks invoice will automatically track your taxes, discounts, and shipping if appropriately set. Also, it will provide you with a P&L, so you never have to be blind-sighted.

Last, let’s look further into this Quickbooks review at reporting and another critical feature for commerce and e-commerce: inventory.

Accounting Reports

QuickBooks Online offers a unique feature of customizable accounting reports. This feature allows you to access and review your financial data online and create custom reports that are tailored to your business needs.

The tool utilizes the data you have shared, such as invoices, banking information, and inventories, to generate accurate profit and loss statements, customer balance sheets, and company snapshots.

The profit and loss statement is a valuable tool for entrepreneurs, business owners, and freelancers. It provides an easy-to-use report that shows whether your business is profitable.

Additionally, QuickBooks Online’s custom balance sheets feature is generated based on the data gathered from all your financials, which can be considered your company’s “health check.”

Advanced users can leverage QuickBooks Advanced features like detailed reporting and workflow automation. 

Inventory Management

Inventory management is one of the unique features of Quickbooks. It can synchronize with online sales platforms such as Amazon, BigCommerce, and Shopify. Each one of them comes with a fantastic set of custom integration facilities.

For example, Amazon has a master inventory list, while with Shopify, you can import all your orders and manage refunds.

Now, moving on to what you can do in this Quickbooks review of functions and features section, let’s begin with keeping track of your quantities on hand.

This feature will ensure you are always aware of when your stock comes in and out with its auto-update function. This will make it a piece of cake to see what is selling and what’s not.

Second, tracking stock value in real time will update your balance sheet when the value of your stock changes.

Time Tracking

QuickBooks Online integrates with QuickBooks Time, enabling businesses to track billable hours and employee time accurately. Managers can approve timesheets and link them directly to payroll and invoicing.

Mobile Access

The mobile app allows users to manage their finances on the go, providing access to invoicing, expense tracking, and reports, making it easy to handle financial tasks remotely​.

Third-Party Integrations

QuickBooks Online integrates seamlessly with numerous third-party applications like Shopify, PayPal, HubSpot, and Square, allowing businesses to expand their accounting capabilities without switching platforms.

QuickBooks Online Essentials vs. QuickBooks Online Advanced

Online QuickBooks offers multiple subscription plans, with Essentials and Advanced catering to different business needs.

QuickBooks Online Essentials

Essentials is ideal for small businesses that need basic accounting tools, such as invoicing, bill management, and the ability to track income and expenses. It supports up to three users and includes features like time tracking and integration with QuickBooks Payments for easier client billing.

QuickBooks Online Advanced

Advanced is designed for larger businesses or those with complex needs. It includes everything in Essentials plus enhanced reporting, custom workflows, and access for up to 25 users. Advanced users also benefit from a dedicated account team and premium support.

For businesses requiring advanced automation, custom roles, and detailed financial insights, QuickBooks Online Advanced is the better choice. However, if you’re just starting out or run a smaller business, Essentials offers all the core features at a lower price point.

QuickBooks Accountant Online – Tools for Accountants

QuickBooks Accountant Online is specifically designed for accounting professionals who manage multiple clients. This version provides specialized tools like Client File Review, enabling accountants to review, adjust, and correct transactions quickly.

It also supports batch processing for reclassifying transactions or making multiple adjustments at once, which saves significant time for accountants managing high client volumes.

Additionally, accountants get exclusive access to QuickBooks Online Accountant ProAdvisor, which includes training, certifications, and support to help enhance their services.

Who Should Use QuickBooks Online?

QuickBooks Online is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that need flexible, cloud-based accounting software. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and growing businesses that require real-time access to their financial data across multiple devices.

For companies managing a few clients and employees, Essentials or Plus may be sufficient, while Advanced is best for larger businesses or those with complex accounting needs. Additionally, accountants can benefit from the QuickBooks Accountant version to manage multiple clients with ease.

QuickBooks Cost

QuickBooks Online offers four main pricing plans:

All plans offer a 50% discount for the first three months or a 30-day free trial.

Alternatives to QuickBooks

Some of the most popular alternatives to Intuit Quickbooks are:

There are many more Quickbooks alternatives, but I believe these are the most competitive in their segment. Check out the alternatives section for more information and an in-depth Quickbooks review vs. competitors.

Detailed QuickBooks Integrations

QuickBooks Online can connect with many other apps, such as Shopify, PayPal, Square, and Stripe, to make transactions and data flow smoother. It also works with CRM tools, payroll software, and inventory management systems, so it’s really versatile for different industries.

Moreover, the QuickBooks App Store features numerous apps for further customization, helping businesses create a more tailored accounting solution. This flexibility ensures that QuickBooks Online can fit into nearly any business workflow.

The platform also added the DocuSign feature, which allows small businesses to sign estimates directly from the platform, making it even more work-friendly.

Additionally, QuickBooks introduced an AI-powered software called D, which helps users to process bills, manage expenses, capture receipts, and run all reports from one location using several apps. This integration greatly reduces the need for business owners to navigate through multiple apps to access reports.

Pros and Cons of QuickBooks Online

Quickbooks Review Conclusion

In conclusion, we believe that QuickBooks Online is a smart, easy-to-use accounting tool that helps businesses manage their finances. From sending invoices to tracking expenses and managing payroll, it has everything you need to keep your books in order.

Whether you’re running a small business or growing a larger team, it’s flexible enough to grow with you. Plus, its cloud-based platform means you can manage your money from anywhere!

While learning all the features might take some time, it’s worth the investment for most businesses.

Ready to take control of your business finances? Give QuickBooks Online a try today! Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, QuickBooks offers all the tools you need to simplify accounting and grow your business.

Sign up now for a QuickBooks Online free trial and experience how QuickBooks can save you time, reduce stress, and help you focus on what matters—growing your business!