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Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

  • 1.  Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 04-27-2025 07:16 AM

    Hello,

    Our church and school is still using desktop software for QuickBooks. We use it on a VPN so multiple people can access it. It's expensive almost $1000 a year and we can get nearly free options if we move to cloud. 

    Can anyone share their experience of transitioning from the desktop version to the cloud? We're thinking that it's going to be very difficult to move our chart of accounts over and maybe there will be some other issues.

    All of the w is done by our treasurer, financial secretary, and /school secretary.

    We do not use any professional financial resources.

    Thank you for your advice on this.

    Scott



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    Scott Sweeney
    Messiah Lutheran Church
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  • 2.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 04-28-2025 12:55 AM

    Hi, Scott:

    I can't tell from your original message: are you aware that Intuit has tools that automate the conversion for you? If not, check out this article: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/move-quickbooks-desktop-file-quickbooks-online/L6af3Z0Fb_US_en_US.

    Something to keep in mind is that it behooves Intuit to ensure that things convert smoothly from their old product to the new one they're trying push you towards. So, they will be motivated to help you. If you're not comfortable with handling the conversion process yourself, get on with their support and they'll help you along the way.



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    ✝️ Peace,
    Joshua Jones
    President, Atonement Lutheran Church and School
    Glendale, AZ
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  • 3.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 04-28-2025 05:28 AM
    Thanks Joshua. Would you repost the link. It got truncated.
    Scott





  • 4.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 04-28-2025 11:36 AM

    We are in the process of migrating to the on-line version. Here's a couple things we've learned:

    1. The data migrated fine, but our memorized reports did not. We're still trying to figure out how to recreate them.
    2. You can use only 40 classes in the online version. We had to deactivate (not delete) a lot of them to be able to migrate.

    Also, the desktop version we used was set up specifically for non-profits, so there were no vendors, suppliers, customers, invoices, etc. The on-line version includes all these which kind of muddies the water.

    We are also interested in what others have learned about migrating to the cloud.



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    Jerry Francis
    First Lutheran Church
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  • 5.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 04-28-2025 12:57 PM

    We just recently transferred our desktop version to online. We had the old 2017 version and moved to the online version so that we could operate on MacBooks rather than Windows based computers. 

    The transition was VERY smooth. It takes a few days for it to complete, but QB transfers all your information over. Our chart of accounts and all vendors transferred with ease. I found there is a little bit of a learning curve, but QB has many, many how-to videos if you have a question. Also I found their customer service to be very helpful when I had questions. 

    We got our subscription through TechSoup.org, which was much cheaper than paying retail price. If you are not using TechSoup, the Simple Start version WILL NOT work for you if you need to have a budget or most reports. We have the Plus version, where you can have 5 unique log-ins. 

    Praying your move to the cloud version is smooth!

    Jessica B



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    Church Treasurer
    St Mark Lutheran
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  • 6.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 04-28-2025 02:23 PM
    Thank you Jessica! Sounds great!
    Scott





  • 7.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 04-28-2025 03:06 PM
    Edited by Scott Gregory 04-28-2025 03:07 PM

    Hi Scott:

    Some thoughts to share:

    • Assume when you say "move to the cloud", you're referring to QuickBooks Online (QBO).
    • You are correct - Intuit is raising the prices each year for the desktop versions to "force" users into QBO
    • There is a process to follow when moving from QB desktop to QBO - it is outlined here - Move your QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online
      Intuit remove preview
      Move your QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online
      We made some changes to our terms for QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Gold and Platinum editions. Visit camps.intuit.com today to review and consent. These steps are for QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. If you use QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, check out Move from QuickBooks Desktop for Mac to QuickBooks Online .
      View this on Intuit >


    Be sure to run all reports (i.e. balance sheet/profit and loss) before the conversion and after to make sure all the balances match as they are supposed to.

    My experience as a former QB consultant is that the process goes well about 90% of the time (especially if there is no inventory involved). The other 10% can go off the rails and get messy. No way to tell ahead of time other than to do a practice run and then delete the data from QBO after the practice run is complete - Delete your data and start over in QuickBooks Online

    Intuit remove preview
    Delete your data and start over in QuickBooks Online
    Sometimes you need to start fresh with a new QuickBooks Online company. If you're a new customer, you can purge your data and start over. If you've used QuickBooks for a while, you need to create a new company. For a better experience, open this article in QuickBooks Online.
    View this on Intuit >


    Also, be sure to understand that QBO is NOT just the desktop version of QB moved online. It is a completely different version that looks different and has different functionality in some areas depending on your specific needs.

    Hope this helps...

    Scott Gregory



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    Scott Gregory

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  • 8.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 06-04-2025 06:45 AM
    Hi everyone, thanks for your comments.

    Our tech support at church is suggesting purchasing the data migration support $350, VIP webinar series $349 and QuickBooks made easy for nonprofits $109 in addition to the annual license.

    Did anyone purchase any of these in their migration? If so, was it necessary and helpful ?

    Thanks again. We will be discussing this at our Sunday at our council meeting on Sunday.
    Scott

    On Apr 28, 2025, at 3:23 PM, Scott Sweeney <sweeneyscott39@gmail.com> wrote:

    Thank you Jessica! Sounds great!
    Scott





  • 9.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 06-04-2025 09:58 AM

    Hi Scott:

    "Our tech support at church is suggesting purchasing the data migration support $350, VIP webinar series $349 and QuickBooks made easy for nonprofits $109 in addition to the annual license."

    Just curious - who are you purchasing these services from? Intuit directly?

    I'm asking only because there are so many bogus QB sites out there these days that it's easy to be duped into thinking they are the real thing.

    Keep in mind that you can always do a trial run of the conversion from desktop to QBO on your own at no cost (the process is pretty easy). If it works (i.e. balances before and after conversion match), great. You're on your way with QBO. If not, you can delete the data from QBO (within 60 days of the conversion) and then look into hiring the support for the added fee. I wasn't aware that Intuit was offering a paid support service for these conversions.

    As always, just make sure you keep a good backup copy of your desktop file - just in case. Nothing is supposed to be done with it at all during the conversion process. so you can always keep using it until you're ready to try again...

    Scott G



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    Scott Gregory

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  • 10.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 06-04-2025 10:13 AM
    Thanks Scott!  I think our team is very cautious, and we have lots of time to do this, since we (unfortunately)just renewed our desktop version at the end of May. There nothing to lose to try it for free first!

    Scott





  • 11.  RE: Quickbooks Desktop to Cloud migration

    Posted 06-05-2025 05:56 PM

    Good Evening,

    We switched from Quickbooks desktop to Quickbooks online about this time last year.  It was a nightmare!  If I had to do it over again, I would have waited until January 1st to go live, and I wouldn't have migrated all of our information over.  Good luck!



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    Stephanie Howe
    Emmanuel Lutheran Church
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