What is QuickBooks?

Quickbooks used to have a desktop version that was massive in the USA and Australia – but always played second fiddle to Sage in the UK. Whilst Sage was recommended by all accountants – and anyone accountancy trained, QuickBooks desktop was the underdog, usually supported by bookkeepers or those who didn’t have an accountant to advise them, opting for a more DIY bit of software. If you’re considering using a QuickBooks accountant, keep reading for more information.

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A Closer Look at QuickBooks

In our experience, QuickBooks has always been far more non-accountant friendly than Sage, offering more usable reporting and reconciliation functions.

In late 2013, QuickBooks released an online version which would eventually replace the desktop version. However, its initial offering fell well short of all of its competitors, whether online or desktop-based and for us at MNE certainly, we decamped for a couple of years whilst it made improvements for the dedicated QuickBooks accountant.

The current version of QuickBooks online is far better than its predecessors, and we recommend it to our clients all the time. Similar to Xero, it’s very much a non-accountant’s piece of software, enabling anyone with a basic understanding of accounts to operate it with little accountant input.

QuickBooks tends to offer more aggressive discounts than Xero – and its functionality is as good, but different. This means we’re able to offer QuickBooks as very much an alternative in its own right, not just “if Xero doesn’t work out for you…”.

Who’s it suitable for?

QuickBooks Online is great for the smaller business. Owner-operated businesses work really well with QuickBooks online as it has a user-friendly interface. It speaks to companies in a language that’s as layman as possible, meaning the more entry-level user can get on with it reasonably well.

QuickBooks online links to third-party software almost as well as Xero does, so doesn’t have limitations on this front.

We recommend QuickBooks online to businesses who need users of the software to be fairly senior. Its access levels aren’t as strict as Xero, nor are its levels of authorisation – so it suits businesses whose owners are the only users of the software best.

Small Business Accountants

Why is Quickbooks Good?

QuickBooks has two huge advantages over its competitors. Firstly its reporting is very malleable compared to its competitors. This means that users are able to see exactly what they want or need to see, without having to scratch around for the right reports. They can make adjustments to standard reports or even design their own, should they wish.

Secondly, the reconciliation function in QuickBooks is absolutely unchallenged amongst its competitors. As long as the nominal code in question is a balance sheet one, the user is able to mark individual transactions as reconciled. This works best for our clients who have, for example, client money accounts where they need to be on top of the reconciled items all the time. Similarly, accounts like invoice factoring or net pay can be combined to keep the user on top of the reconciliations.

Want to Speak to a QuickBooks Accountant?

For more in-depth information regarding any of our services, call 0116 255 2422. Alternatively get in touch by completing the form below which will go directly to one of our accountants.

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