Easily Convert QuickBooks Desktop to
Online: Steps Involved
If you are a regular QuickBooks user, you might be familiar with the different QB
variants. From QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Enterprise, Intuit has provided
different versions to suit specific business requirements. In case you are already using
one QuickBooks version and want to convert to another, there is an easy data transfer
process. You need to follow some basic system requirements and perform the
conversion process. If you want to convert QuickBooks Desktop to Online then,
this article is for you. We will help you successfully move to QuickBooks Online with
the help of a few easy steps.
If you are having issues while performing the conversion process or are
unable to convert your QB data, you can reach out to us at 1.855.738.2784
and get assistance from our technical team.
What Does Converting to QuickBooks
Online Mean?
When you migrate to QuickBooks Online, it simply means transferring your business
data from one QB variant to another. This is a fairly simple process that can be
performed by following a step-by-step procedure. You can convert QuickBooks by
following the steps provided below.
Why Should You Convert to QuickBooks
Online?
There can be many reasons for choosing QuickBooks Online over QuickBooks
Desktop, a few of which are given below –
1. With QuickBooks Online, you get a lot of add-on features that are not available in
the desktop version.
2. QuickBooks Online offers ease of accessibility and you can access your business
data from anywhere, at any time.
3. Your company data is stored in a cloud environment, which provides data safety.
4. The entire conversion process doesn’t cost a penny, and you can transfer your
data free of cost.
5. It is easier to compare reports from one year to another and draw a comparison
with QuickBooks Online.
Prerequisites to Consider Before Migrating
QuickBooks Desktop to Online
You need to adhere to some system requirements before you convert QuickBooks
Enterprise to QuickBooks Online.
1. While performing the conversion process, the entire data might not get converted.
You will need to export any custom reports you have created in QuickBooks
Desktop before making the data switch.
2. The pricing structure also differs between QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks
Online. You will be charged a monthly subscription fee instead of a one-time fee for
software purchases.
3. It might take a while for your team to get used to operating QuickBooks Online. For
this, try to make the switch during a slow period so that your business operations
are not affected.
Data that Does Not Get Converted While
Transferring to QuickBooks Online
It’s important to know about the company data and reports that might not get
converted with the QuickBooks conversion process.
1. Credit cards and account reconciliation reports for banks.
2. Your past audit trail can only be kept in a duplicate format.
3. Recurring credit card charges will only get transferred if you choose to rebuild
them.
4. If you are using QuickBooks for Mac, inventory will not get converted.
5. Some custom reports might not be converted to QuickBooks Desktop.
Methods on How to Convert your
QuickBooks Desktop File to QuickBooks
Online
When converting data from QuickBooks Desktop, you need to perform the following
three methods –
Method 1 – Data Verification
The first step is to verify your QB data from the File menu. For this, you need to go to
the Utilities drop-down and select the Verify Data option. Verify your QB data and
rebuild the damaged data with the Rebuild Data tool.
Method 2 – Make the Company File Compatible with QB Online
Next, you need to ensure that your QB company file is in the correct format as per
QuickBooks Online. To change the format, you need to go to the File menu and select
Utilities to click on the Copy Company File option. Save the file on your Desktop and
create a new company file with the OE.qbw extension.
Method 3 – Import the Data Files to QBO
Now, you can easily import QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online through
Internet Explorer. For this, go to the Company menu and select More to choose the
Import QuickBooks Data option. From the File menu, choose the file you want to
import and let the importation process complete. You will get a confirmation mail once
done and your data file is ready!
Effective Steps to Switch to QuickBooks
Online Successfully
Now, let’s follow the procedure given below to perform the QuickBooks Online
conversion process –
1. The first step is to check the file size requirement and ensure that it adheres to
QBO. You can only import your data within 60 days of the subscription, and you
can extend the subscription to 180 days by contacting a QuickBooks Pro Advisor.
2. Get a QBO subscription and verify your data before converting it to QBO. Finish all
the pending tasks and reports and remove all the unnecessary data for a smooth
conversion process.
3. Before converting, ensure to take a backup of your company data in the data file
by going to the File menu. Select Backup Company and click on the Local Backup
option to finish the backup process.
4. Now, create a QuickBooks Online account and provide all the necessary details to
get started. Once the account is created, log out of QuickBooks and open
QuickBooks Desktop again.
5. Make sure that you are running the latest QB Desktop version before exporting the
data, and if not, go to the Help menu and update your QuickBooks.
6. Select the Company menu and click on Export Company File to QuickBooks
Online to initiate the process.
7. Log in to the new QBO account and review if you want to export your existing
inventory into the online system. If you do, keep in mind that QBO uses the FIFO
method to measure inventory, and your values might differ from QuickBooks
Desktop.
8. Recalculate your inventory by selecting the start & end date, and once done, select
the QBO Company from the drop-down menu.
9. Once you have selected the company file, copy the data file and wait for the
process to finish. Once the data is copied, you will get a confirmation email
regarding the same, asking you to complete the setup.
10. Click OK and check the exported data before starting to operate the QBO account.
For this, you can run your various reports, like the P&L account and balance
sheets.
11. Compare the data between QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online, and
don’t delete the previous data before ensuring that there is no data mismatch or
accidental data loss.
12. Once your data is ready, complete the setup by selecting the button to log in to
QBO and review your data.
The amount of time it will take to convert your QuickBooks data will depend on the
size of your company file. Make sure not to interrupt the QuickBooks online
conversion process, no matter how long it takes.
Conclusion
You can easily convert QuickBooks Desktop to Online by following the conversion
process provided in this article. If you face any issues while you migrate to
QuickBooks Online, you can reach out to us at 1.855.738.2784 and get professional
assistance from our team of QB experts.