QuickBooks Online was designed to help users, bookkeepers, accountants and trusted advisors do their work easier. In keeping with that premise, there are several features or functionalities that are incorporated into QBO that can do just that.
The Audit Log
QuickBooks Online keeps a running record of every change you make in the system, called the Audit Log. It’s a great way of seeing every single activity performed, and by whom.
You can click on most of the items to open them. You can see all the edits made to a single transaction, and compare before-and-after changes. You can also filter the Audit Log for by date, by user, and by type of activity!
Third-Party Apps
QuickBooks Online can’t do everything that QuickBooks for Desktop can, but that’s partially by design. One of the hallmarks of being web-based is that there is a rich ecosystem of plugins that extend QBO’s abilities.
There are Apps for PayPal integration, Inventory Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), storing receipts, advanced Billing, industry-specific interfaces…you name it, and there’s a solution for you.
This allows you to create a custom-tailored solution for every client with exactly the workflow they need.
Some people complain about the extra monthly cost, but think of it this way…if an app saves you or your client one hour a week, and you charge $25/an hour, it will save you $100 every month. The subscription will cost you much less than that, which makes it worth every penny.
Many apps have ProAdvisor interfaces, and discounts. Many give ProAdvisors free accounts to use themselves to can test out the interface and get comfortable with recommending it to best-fit clients.
Visit the Intuit QuickBooks Apps Store to explore the wide variety of Apps available.
The PC and Mac App
QuickBooks Online also has a native app for PCs and Macs, so you can run QBO as a program on your computer instead of through a web browser.
It also provides familiar drop-down menus at the top of the screen to access your favorite tools.
Some people find it faster to use, but I appreciate Chrome’s tools for added power, so I don’t use it myself…
Smartphone Apps
Well, really we are talking about 'smart device' apps because there is a QBO app for your iPhone, your iPad and your Android phone or devices.
The data is the same as logging into your browser, so you can get work done on the go.
It also allows users to make Estimates and Sales Receipts for customers while onsite, and take credit card payments with a QuickBooks Payments Bluetooth swiper.
I also love taking a picture of my receipts while I’m still in the store or restaurant, which uploads them so I can match them to my Banking Feed! This is a great option for businesses with on-the-go employees, so that you’re not constantly chasing down your paper trail.
Your Feedback, Perhaps the Best Tool of All
Intuit is very responsive to our input. If something isn’t working, always leave Feedback for a bug report. But not just bug reports, if you have an idea about how to make a feature better, or about a new feature, you really should leave that Feedback too!
The more people who request a feature, the more likely we are to see it in a future release, so be sure to put in your .02!
Lesson Wrap-up
QBO’s integration with real-world solutions allows you to craft a custom solution for every client, integrating with their existing processes, but adding additional functionality through tools you already have, like your phone.
To see today’s Tools in action, sign up for my QBO Knowledge Base in my Royalwise On-demand Web-based Learning System (the “Royalwise OWLS”) to start watching now. Use code IA10 for 10% off.
Next week I’ll give you my top 12 list of mistakes people make in QBO.
Make sure to also join my webinar with Insightful Accountant on August 12 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, "." You can register here.