| The purpose of this article is to help a typical | | | | 2. Includes up to 3 simultaneous users plus your |
| small business owner understand the differences | | | | accountant. The cost to add another 25 users is a |
| between using the remote access capabilities with | | | | little more than $3 per month per user. |
| QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Online Plus. A | | | | 3. Offsite daily backup at Intuit servers |
| less expensive QuickBooks Online version is also | | | | 4. Automatic software updates and support |
| available, however that software is not considered | | | | included in cost |
| for this analysis. I did consider a more robust | | | | 5. Quicker and simpler sign in - Just press your |
| version called, QuickBooks Online Plus. Before we | | | | Web shortcut key |
| address the differences, its first important to | | | | Some of the major drawbacks are summarized |
| understand the term remote access. The term | | | | and ranked by level of importance as follows: |
| remote access has been with us for a long time | | | | 1. Does not handle inventory and purchase orders, |
| and has emerged to mean, according to | | | | this rules out retail, manufacturing and distribution |
| Wikipedia, a form of communication with a data | | | | type companies |
| processing facility from a remote location or | | | | 2. Lacks multi-currency functionality |
| facility through a data link. One of the more | | | | 3. Unable to open multiple QuickBooks windows in |
| common methods of providing this type of | | | | QuickBooks |
| remote access is using a virtual private | | | | 4. No Company snapshot/dashboard in one |
| network(VPN). The definition is further enhanced | | | | desktop view |
| by the term remote desktop, which also | | | | In summary, the importance of having |
| according to Wikipedia refers to a software or an | | | | simultaneous access from any location, allows |
| operating system feature allowing graphical | | | | employers, employees, owners, investors to |
| applications to be run remotely on a server, while | | | | collaborate, share and make informed and timely |
| being displayed locally. Remote desktop | | | | decisions because everyone gets the same |
| applications have varying features. Some allow | | | | information in real time, by simply using a typical |
| attaching to an existing user's session (i.e. a | | | | web based sign-on. There is no time learning the |
| running desktop) and "remote controlling" it in | | | | remote access interface for sign on, for use with |
| front of the user's eyes. Whereas, according to a | | | | the remote software. Furthermore, your |
| Google definition, online accounting relates to | | | | accountants can review your financials, journals, |
| accounting that can be done on the World Wide | | | | general ledgers, from their own office and answer |
| Web. I agree with both definitions, however there | | | | your questions or even correct mistakes in real |
| are important differences that an owner or | | | | time. Further, you can easily outsource some of |
| accountant for a small business or even a midsize | | | | your accounting functions with QuickBooks Online |
| business needs to consider and they are | | | | Plus, as long as you set up a system to review |
| addressed below. | | | | the work product of the outsourced employee. |
| Generally speaking, QuickBooks Pro with remote | | | | I am very impressed with the above mentioned |
| access gives you access to your desktop | | | | benefits and for these reasons if there is not a |
| QuickBooks Pro accounting program and data | | | | need to account for inventories or multi-currencies |
| while the QuickBooks Pro and data resides on | | | | then my inclination is for QuickBooks Online Plus to |
| your server in your office or your local hard drive. | | | | handle a typical small businesses accounting needs. |
| Whereas QuickBooks Online Plus is a web enabled | | | | A more detailed analysis of the functionality and |
| accounting package with some advantages and | | | | data entry capabilities and performance processing |
| some disadvantages, specifically less functionality | | | | will be the subject of another blog topic. Even if |
| for one of the most important parts of a | | | | such analysis existed, I would recommend that |
| business namely, no inventory capabilities. To | | | | you consult with an accounting professional who |
| some of you this could be important and to | | | | can best evaluate whether the QuickBooks Online |
| others not so important. Simply said, the benefits | | | | Plus or remote access platform is best suited for |
| and drawbacks with a general ranking of each | | | | your particular situation. When evaluating this |
| benefit or limitation of "online accounting" with | | | | software, its also important to determine how |
| QuickBooks Online Plus as compared to | | | | your employees will use the software in their to |
| QuickBooks Pro is analyzed below. | | | | day to day activities and during a test period you |
| Some of the major benefits are summarized and | | | | should evaluate the speed in which the employees |
| ranked by level of importance as follows: | | | | are able to enter the data and the computer/web |
| 1. No wired network required - you can connect | | | | processing(performance) speed of each relevant |
| with WIFI from anywhere in the world that has | | | | accounting process i.e. paying vendor bills, |
| internet access and you can connect different | | | | customer invoicing, record deposits, etc. |
| department or offices in multiple locations. | | | | |