Blog

The Intuit Hosting Program allows businesses to host their licensed copy of Quickbooks (desktop versions) on a server owned and/or maintained by an authorized third-party vendor like MyVao.com. There are a number of key advantages to choosing hosted Quickbooks. If you’re still on the fence and can’t seem to choose between installing Quickbooks on your own computer or signing up for hosted Quickbooks, keep reading to learn more about the Intuit Hosting Program and some of the unique benefits it offers.

Reason #1) It’s Faster

Does your desktop or laptop computer run at a snail’s pace. It’s hard to perform basic accounting tasks when your computer spends most of its time loading. Thankfully, hosted Quickbooks eliminates this problem by using high-end servers and remote computers to execute processes. This translates into faster speeds and better performance for the end user.

Reason #2) Better Customer Support

A second reason why you should choose hosted Quickbooks is because it offers a higher level of customer support. If you ever need help with a particular task or function, you can call up the hosting provider. They’ll be able to walk you step-by-step through the process, answers your questions while offering you their expertise. Of course, Intuit is also just a phone call away, offering another level of customer support for Quickbooks users.

Reason #3) Easy To Use

It’s a common assumption that hosted Quickbooks is more difficult to use for the simple fact that it’s installed on a third-party server, but this isn’t true. On the contrary, it’s actually incredibly easy to use, requiring nothing more than a basic remote desktop terminal. Once the terminal application is set up on your computer, you can log into your hosted Quickbooks to access your account.

Reason #4) Reputable Hosting Companies

Intuit doesn’t allow just any fly-by-night company to participate in their commercial hosting program. In order to participate in the program, hosting companies must submit an application and independent accreditation. Only then will Intuit decide whether or not the company is suitable for the Intuit Hosting Program.

Reason #5) Available With Any Desktop Version

The Intuit Hosting Program is available for any version of Quickbooks desktop. Whether you use Quickbooks Pro, Premier, Enterprise, Accountant or Point of Sale, you can install the software on an authorized third-party host to take advantage of all of these benefits and more. Note: Quickbooks online is not available for use with the Intuit Hosting Program.

Portable Document Format (PDF) is one of the most widely used file formats for documents. One of the features that makes this universal file format stand out from the rest is its ability to preserve font styles, font sizes, formatting and even images, all of which are critical when running a business. And being that Adobe offers a free PDF reader (Acrobat® Reader®), there’s really no reason why business owners shouldn’t use this format for their files.

If you manage your business using Intuit Quickbooks, you might be wondering if it’s possible to save your files in PDF format. Quickbooks doesn’t save files in PDF format by default, but it’s certainly capable of doing so with a little work on your part. In fact, Intuit (the makers of Quickbooks) will automatically include a download link to Acrobat® Reader® in all emails containing a PDF file, allowing clients and associates to easily read the respective documents.

Email Forms

While documents saved locally are not automatically converted to PDF format, Quickbooks does in fact convert emailed documents to this universal format. Whether you’re emailing a sales receipt, purchase order, sales order, memo, bank statement, etc., Quickbooks will automatically convert the document into PDF format. In addition, it will also include a download link to the free Adobe PDF reader.

It’s the small things such as this that attract so many business owners to Intuit Quickbooks. There’s no need to manually convert your files to PDF format before emailing them, as Quickbooks takes care of this for you. Sure, this may only save you a couple of minutes, but those minutes will quickly add up over the course of your business. And in the highly competitive free-trade marketplace, that extra time can mean the difference between success and failure.

What About Local Files?

In order to save Quickbooks files locally in PDF format, you need to specify the format beforehand. Start by pulling up the form you wish to save in PDF format. Next, click on the tap labeled ‘File,’ followed by ‘Save as.’ You should now be able to choose from a wide variety of format options. Scroll through the available formats until you see PDF. Select PDF as the file format, choose a destination on your computer or storage disk and click ‘Save.’ Voila, your Quickbooks file will now be saved in PDF format to the specified location.

Hosted Quickbooks is a versatile accounting platform for businesses of all sizes. Whether you run a small, medium or large-sized business, it will take the burden of management and accounting off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on the more important aspects like growth and expansion. Far too many business owners fall victim to micromanagement, which eats through their time and resources. Hosted Quickbooks is designed to eliminate this problem with its hands-off approach to business management and accounting.

But trying to determine which Quickbooks program is right for your business can be a daunting task. Technically, there are three different categories of Quickbooks programs: Quickbooks Online, Desktop Quickbooks, and Hosted Quickbooks, each of which has its own unique features.

Quickbooks Online Is Not The Same as Hosted Quickbooks

Some people assume Quickbooks Online and Hosted Quickbooks refer to the same program. While they may share some of the same features, they are two different types of accounting products offered by Intuit. Quickbooks Online is subscription-based accounting solution that requires the user to log in to their account through a web browser. If you aren’t completely satisfied with Quickbooks Online, simply cancel your subscription and you’ll never be billed again. Many users prefer the simplicity and freedom it offers, but it still comes up short when compared to Hosted Quickbooks.

Hosted Quickbooks is where an authorized third-party vendor, such as MyVao.com, hosts a desktop version (not online) of Quickbooks for its client. The client then uses a remote desktop connection terminal to access their Quickbooks while it’s stored on a third-party server.

Sure, you can download and install desktop versions of Quickbooks to your own computer, but allowing an Intuit-authorized third-party company to handle this task offers several unique advantages. For starters, they typically have bigger, faster and more powerful computers, which translates into better performance. Third-party Quickbooks hosts can also assist their users with setup, maintenance and general tech support.

Intuit currently supports the following versions of Quickbooks for use with its commercial hosting program:

• QuickBooks Pro
• QuickBooks Premier
• QuickBooks Accountant Edition
• QuickBooks Enterpise Solutions
• QuickBooks Point of Sale

So, is Hosted Quickbooks the right choice for you? There’s really no easy answer to this question, as everyone’s situation is different. With that said, Hosted Quickbooks offers all of the same benefits as typical self-hosted Quickbooks but with a few added benefits. I recommend test driving it to see for yourself whether it’s the right fit for your business’s needs.

Running a business shouldn’t get in the way of running a business. Unfortunately, however, this leads to the downfall of hundreds of new businesses each year. When the owner is forced to spend all of his or her time performing accounting work, they aren’t able to grow and expand the business; thus, sending it spiraling downwards. Hosted Quickbooks Pro is designed to simplify the process of business accounting so you can focus on the real things that matter — like creating strong professional relationships and growing your business.

Hosted Quickbooks Pro is part of the Intuit Hosting Program, meaning the software is hosted on super computers, known as servers, which are operated and maintained by licensed third-party companies. Intuit has a very strict set of rules and requirements in order for a company to participate in their Hosting Program. The official Intuit Quickbooks website stated the following:

“To become Intuit-Authorized, the hosting company must undergo an application process and an independent third-party accreditation for each selected host.”

Quickbooks Pro is available in both desktop and hosted versions. To achieve the greatest level of productivity and efficiency offered by this versatile accounting program, you’ll probably want to stick with the hosted version. Having your copy of Quickbooks Pro hosted on a third-party server means you can access it from anywhere, anytime, regardless as to whether or not you have access to your personal computer. Just log in to the server using a remote desktop connection tool and you’ll be granted full control over your Quickbooks Pro software.

Top Features of Hosted Quickbooks Pro:

• Simplified customer forms.
• Contact information for customers, vendors and employees automatically stored.
• Track and follow sales leads using Quickbooks Pro ‘Lead Center.’
• Document Center allows users to attach and store related documents.
• Access to a wide variety of report templates.
• Ability to track bounced checks.
• Track sales and revenue.
• Download financial information from bank and/or credit card accounts directly into Quickbooks Pro.
• Import Excel, Quicken and Microsoft Office Accounting data.

One of the decisions you’ll have to make when signing up for Quickbooks Pro is whether to purchase the desktop or hosted version. The actual software for both of these options is the same; however, the difference is that Hosted Quickbooks Pro offers a greater level of support along with better computing power. Take your time to familiarize yourself with the both the hosted and desktop versions to determine which one is right for you.

Can’t seem to choose between Intuit’s Quickbooks Online and Hosted Quickbooks? While both of these products offer tons of business accounting features, there are some notable differences between the two that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Whether you’re looking to take the plunge into Quickbooks or simply upgrade your current version, you should familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of both Quickbooks Online and Hosted Quickbooks. Only then can you make the smartest decision possible regarding which one is right for your business.

Hosted Quickbooks

The Intuit Hosting Program allows licensed third-party companies to host their clients’ Quickbooks software. The software is installed and hosted on a server maintained by the company, and the client uses a virtual desktop application, such as Windows Remote Desktop Connection, to log in and access their software.

Because clients’ Quickbooks applications are hosted by licensed third-party companies, there are several unique advantages to choosing Hosted Quickbooks versus Quickbooks Online. See the list below for some of the top benefits of Hosted Quickbooks:

• Higher level of customer and technical support (especially beneficial for first-time Quickbooks users).
• Uses the high-tech computing power of professional servers rather than relying on your desktop PC or laptop.
• Data is protected through digital encryption.
• Can access Quickbooks through any computer with a remote desktop application and active internet connection.
• Backups are no longer necessary since Hosted Quickbooks doubles as a remote backup service.
• Access your Quickbooks account anytime, anywhere.

Quickbooks Online

Quickbooks Online differs from the Hosted Quickbooks in a few different ways, primarily being the fact that there’s no third-party company there to answer your questions and offer technical/help support. If you run into an error or problem with Quickbooks Online, you’ll either have to solve it yourself or contact the official Quickbooks support team.

There are some advantages of using Quickbooks Online, some of which includes:

• Ability to access your Quickbooks account anytime, anywhere.
• Inexpensive (starts at just $12.95/month for Quickbooks Online Simple Start).
• Automatic company file backups.
• Expense tracking.
• Sales and income tracking.
• Create and send invoices with the click of a button.

The truth is that you really can’t go wrong with Quickbooks Online OR Hosted Quickbooks. They are two incredibly powerful and equally versatile tools for your business accounting needs. With that said, many users prefer Hosted Quickbooks because of its additional tech and customer support. If you happen to run into any problems (which is bound to happen at some point), you can rest assured knowing that help is just a click away.

Quickbooks Online Backup is an add-on service which allows Quickbooks users to create and store backup copies of their account online. I know what you’re probably thinking: why should I pay to store my backups online when I can store them locally for free? Yes, you can certainly store backup copies of your Quickbooks account either on your computer, USB flash drive, DVD, etc. for no additional charge. However, Quickbooks Online Backup is a versatile tool that offers a number of surprising benefits. To learn more about it, and whether or not it’s right for your business, keep reading.

Better Security

One key benefit of Quickbooks Online Backup is the increased security it provides. You can rest assured knowing that all of your sensitive financial data, including bank accounts, is safe thanks to the advanced encryption techniques utilized by Quickbooks Online Backup. Only individuals with the appropriate username and password can access your backups, preventing unwanted prying eyes.

Greater Flexibility

Of course, there’s also a greater amount of flexibility with Quickbooks Online Backup. Here’s a scenario to consider: you’re away on a business trip and need to perform some accounting tasks — only you forgot to bring your Quickbooks computer with you. Assuming you have Quickbooks Online Backup, you can download and install a mirror copy of your account straight to your computer.

Storing your Quickbooks files on a remote cloud-based server opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or sitting on a beach hundreds of miles away, you can access your files using nothing more than an internet connection.

How Much Does It Cost?

Quickbooks Online Backup is an add-on service that’s offered with all versions of Quickbooks. Here are the current pricing options:

• 5 GB: $4.95/month or $49.95 annually
• 25 GB: $14.95/month or $149.95 annually
• 75 GB: $24.95/month or $219/95 annually

Note: Quickbooks offers a 30-day free trial on all of their Online Backup services. If you aren’t satisfied with the Online Backup service, you can cancel within 30 days to avoid future billing. With that said, most people love the sheer freedom and flexibility of this service, as it’s far more convenient than having to store your backup files locally.

You can sign up for Quickbooks Online Backup by visiting the accounts page and filling out all of the details. Remember to use the same information that’s associated with your Quickbooks account.

Vendor refunds are found to happen at some point in time. Let’s say you paid for a product or service but the vendor failed to deliver. In most cases such as this, they will simply refund your money. Assuming you are vigilant with your accounting, however, you probably have the amount paid already recorded in Quickbooks.

This new refund creates a troubling scenario for beginners, especially if you’ve never handled them before. But the truth is that recording a refund from a vendor is a quick and easy process that should only take a couple minutes tops.

Steps To Recording a Vendor Refund

1. Access the banking portal in your Quickbooks account.
2. Click on the menu labeled ‘Make Deposits’
3. Click the ‘Deposit To’ drop-down menu and select the appropriate the client.
4. Select the ‘Received From’ option by clicking the blank line.
5. In the ‘From Account column,’ choose the expense used on the original bill.
6. *Important* In the column labeled ‘Amount,’ enter the total amount of the refund.
7. When you are finished, click ‘Save & Close’ to complete the refund recording by saving it to your Quickbooks account.

What About Refunds That Are More Than Credit Owed

Here’s a scenario to consider: a vendor wants to show their good faith by refunding you more than the original credit that was owed to you. Some vendors do this to keep their clients happy and encourage them to come back for future purchases. Assuming you followed the steps mentioned above, however, you may run into some hurdles trying to record a refund that’s more than the credit owed. This doesn’t necessary mean it’s impossible, but it will stake a couple extra steps to complete.

When recording vendor refunds that are more than the original credit owed, enter the difference on the second line of the deposit using the respective vendor’s information. For instance, if the original credit owed was $750 and the vendor refunded you $1,000, you would enter $250 on the second line along with the vendor’s name, accounts payable and original refund amount. This allows Quickbooks to account for both the original refund plus the additional credit owed.

Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding on how to record vendor refunds in Quickbooks. Whether you use Quickbooks Online, Premier, Plus or any other version, you can follow the steps outlined here to record vendor refunds.