Alicia Katz Pollock

Hidden QuickBooks Updates in March 2025 That Will Change Your Accounting Workflow

Earmark Team · March 27, 2025 ·

Keeping up with the changes in QuickBooks can feel like a full-time job. Thankfully, Alicia Katz Pollock and Margie Remmers-Davis are here to help you out!

In this episode of The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast, they dive into what they’ve discovered in March 2025. They cover everything from minor tweaks to major updates that will change the way accounting professionals use QuickBooks.

“What Margie and I do is we have a Google Doc that every time we notice something is different, we go ahead and take a screenshot and drop it in the doc,” explains Alicia. This method helps them keep an eye on both official updates and those cool experimental features that might disappear before you know it.

Let’s dive into the most notable QuickBooks changes they uncovered this month.

Menu Improvements

Several interface enhancements make QuickBooks more user-friendly and efficient for daily tasks. One of the most notable improvements is the addition of a submenu for Reports in the left navigation bar.

“Every item that you hover over has a submenu that takes you to the tabs for that thing. For years, reports never had that dropdown,” Margie explained with obvious relief. “Thank heavens… hallelujah that they did this!”

The bookmarks feature has also been enhanced. Users can now edit bookmark names, which Alicia appreciates for fixing formatting issues: “When I bookmark the Reminders list, it always comes in in all caps, which triggers my OCD. I like being able to edit the bookmark and get it into regular case.” However, Margie expressed concern that custom bookmark names might create confusion during support situations.

For accountants working with clients considering Intuit Enterprise Suite, there’s now a quick link under the Accountant Tools briefcase labeled “Intuit Enterprise Suite referral.” This makes it easier to schedule meetings with Intuit sales representatives to evaluate if the suite is right for your clients.

Financial Tracking Enhancements

A much-missed feature has returned to fixed asset management. When creating a fixed asset, users can now check a box labeled “create a category to keep track of depreciation,” which automatically creates two subaccounts – one for the original value and one for depreciation.

“This lets you see the net book value for that one fixed asset on the chart of accounts,” Alicia explained. “For my small business owners who might just have a couple fixed assets, it’s really great.”

The split transactions interface has also received a significant upgrade. “It used to be a tiny little window. Now it fills up your screen,” noted Alicia. The redesigned interface allows users to split transactions between different chart of accounts categories and map to different product and service lines simultaneously.

For businesses using payroll, there’s a new section for employer tax expenses in the payroll settings. “Now you have the ability to create micro expense accounts for literally any one of your employer taxes,” Alicia shared. This feature is particularly valuable for larger companies that want detailed expense tracking without relying on external spreadsheets.

Perhaps most helpful is a new warning system in the banking feed that prevents duplicate revenue entries. When users attempt to categorize a deposit for a customer with open invoices, QuickBooks now displays a warning message: “This client has open invoices. If this deposit is for that invoice, record the payment and receive payment first.”

Payment Processing Innovations

GoPayment, QuickBooks’ mobile payment solution, now offers Tap to Pay for iPhone users. This eliminates the need for the $50 Bluetooth card reader previously required for accepting payments in the field.

“You can hold your phone in your hand, log into GoPayment, dial up an order, and then they can just tap their credit card or tap their phone to your phone,” Alicia explained. This feature is particularly valuable for businesses that take payments on the go.

For businesses concerned about merchant fees, there’s a clever workaround. “If you turn off your merchant services, your customer still can pay using merchant services, but they pay the fees,” Alicia explained. This option is found under the “Manage” and then “Payments” button on the right side of an invoice.

The Business Network is also enabling easier payment information sharing between QuickBooks users. “Find your business network settings and put in your ACH information. Then that will just make it easier on everybody and you’ll get paid faster,” suggested Alicia.

Important Account Limitations to Watch

Recent changes to the QuickBooks Checking deposit account agreement introduce several transaction limits that could impact business operations:

ATM withdrawals limited to 10 per day
Daily purchase and withdrawal limit of $10,000
Funding transaction limit of $5,000 per day
Limits on instant transfers: “Up to five instant transfer transactions per day and per week, and up to ten instant transfer transactions per month”
A new 3% foreign transaction fee

“I’m definitely checking in with them myself because I don’t know what this means for me,” Alicia noted, particularly concerned about the instant transfer limits. “Are they going to start charging me or are they going to just slow down everything after the first five for the week?”

For those concerned about these limitations, Alicia mentioned alternatives like Anchor (flat $5 per transaction) and Forwardly (free transfers), which Margie confirmed her company recently switched to with positive results.

QuickBooks Payroll is also changing how it handles tax payments. “They’re going to start withdrawing your taxes when you run your payroll. So you have to have your payroll and your taxes funding available in the checking account when you run payroll,” Alicia explained.

Glimpses of Future Developments

The hosts spotted several experimental features that briefly appeared before disappearing again, offering clues about future QuickBooks developments:

A column labeled “approval status” temporarily appeared in transaction lists, even in QuickBooks Online Plus accounts (typically an Advanced feature).

A dedicated column showing which rule applied to banking transactions briefly appeared in the banking feed.

For a moment, some users could create profit and loss reports with columns for custom fields, possibly related to the upcoming migration away from legacy tags.

Alicia also revealed she’s beta testing a completely redesigned banking feed experience expected to launch later this year. “I’ve been beta testing it and I like it,” she shared, noting that the upgraded split transactions interface seems to be a precursor to this larger overhaul.

Staying Current with QuickBooks Changes

These ongoing improvements and experiments show how crucial it is to stay updated with the latest QuickBooks changes. This way, you can better serve your clients and avoid surprises when logging into their QuickBooks accounts.

If you want to hear more about these updates and what’s on the horizon for QuickBooks, check out the full episode of The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast.

Alicia Katz Pollock’s Royalwise OWLS (On-Demand Web-based Learning Solutions) is the industry’s premier portal for top-notch QuickBooks Online training with CPE for accounting firms, bookkeepers, and small business owners. Visit Royalwise OWLS, where learning QBO is a HOOT!

Intuit’s Stockholders Meeting: What Accountants Need to Know

Earmark Team · March 24, 2025 ·

Intuit recently held its annual stockholders meeting. Even if you spend your day working hands-on in QuickBooks, it’s important to understand the bigger picture behind this publicly traded company.

In a recent episode of “The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast,” hosts Alicia Katz Pollock and Matthew “Spot” Fulton analyzed the meeting and shared insights that can help accounting professionals plan for changes coming to the QuickBooks ecosystem.

Why This Meeting Matters

Intuit’s fiscal year ends on July 31, which means their annual meeting doesn’t line up with the usual calendar year or fiscal year. At each meeting, Intuit’s CEO, Sasan Goodarzi, and other leaders present the company’s strategy and financial results. Matthew explains he listens to these meetings because it reveals how Intuit’s plans match what accountants are seeing on the ground.

An AI-Focused Vision

Intuit decided in 2018 to become an “AI-driven expert platform.” Goodarzi calls AI the greatest technology shift since electricity and the internet. Whether you agree or not, Intuit is already seeing major results:

8x faster development velocity (roughly 30% quicker feature delivery)
11% fewer direct customer support calls thanks to AI-powered self-service

Intuit also applies AI inside its own operations. Matthew describes it as an “eat your own dog food” strategy: They’re not just releasing AI tools for customers; they’re using the same tools internally to reduce workload and speed up development. For accountants, this means QuickBooks may change more quickly, making it vital to stay informed about new features.

Five Big Bets for Growth

During the meeting, Intuit repeated its “five big bets” for driving innovation:

Revolutionize speed to benefit
Connect people to experts
Unlock smart money decisions
Be the center of small business growth
Disrupt the mid-market

The “connect people to experts” bet includes both Intuit’s own experts and independent accounting professionals. While some accountants worry about QuickBooks Live as competition, Alicia points out that the QuickBooks Live Expert Assist model can allow ProAdvisors to focus on higher-level services while routine questions go elsewhere. In many cases, accountants can also sign clients up for QuickBooks Live and share revenue.

Expanding the Ecosystem: Mailchimp and Credit Karma

Intuit’s acquisitions of Mailchimp and Credit Karma once puzzled some users. Now, the strategy is clear: create a complete platform. A business might start small in QuickBooks, then grow and need Mailchimp for marketing, or use Credit Karma to secure funding. Intuit reported:

22% more customers using both Mailchimp and QuickBooks Online
5x increase in Credit Karma users who finish taxes in TurboTax

This cross-platform synergy is part of Intuit’s plan to keep business owners on their products for every financial need. Meanwhile, the company continues to see massive usage overall:

$2 trillion in invoices managed across the platform
$124 billion in total payment volume
$10.4 trillion in consumer debt visibility via Credit Karma

QuickBooks Online Growth and Payroll

QuickBooks Online’s U.S. customer base grew by 11%, and QuickBooks Online Advanced saw a 28% rise in subscriptions with an 84% retention rate. QuickBooks Online Payroll revenue climbed by 23%, with 18 million workers paid through Intuit’s payroll systems each year.

These numbers highlight Intuit’s growing influence. Matthew believes the trifecta of QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Time, and QuickBooks Payroll offers more advanced project tracking, streamlined payroll, and faster reporting. Alicia adds that the new features—like revenue recognition and updated reporting—make QuickBooks Online Advanced more compelling than ever.

New Mid-Market Focus: Intuit Enterprise Suite

To “disrupt the mid-market,” Intuit introduced Intuit Enterprise Suite. They estimate the average revenue per customer (ARPC) at about $20,000 a year—or roughly $1,600 a month. While still in early phases, it could give companies that have outgrown QuickBooks Online Advanced or Enterprise more reasons to stay with Intuit. Additional API features and custom fields may arrive soon, which could benefit app developers and clients with more complex needs.

What About Mint?

A shareholder asked if Mint, Intuit’s personal finance tool, might see a refresh. Goodarzi gave a brief response suggesting no big revival is planned. This indicates Intuit remains focused on other core products, including QuickBooks, TurboTax, Mailchimp, and Credit Karma.

CEO Compensation and Long-Term Vision

About 7% of Goodarzi’s pay is salary, while 93% is in stock options. This structure links his earnings to the company’s success. Alicia sees this as a sign that Intuit’s leaders believe in their long-term strategy enough to connect most of their personal income to stock performance.

What It All Means for Accountants

Despite the rapid pace of AI and big-company acquisitions, Alicia and Matthew see opportunities for accounting professionals who adapt. QuickBooks Live might handle everyday questions, but accountants can build advisory relationships, train clients on best practices, and provide higher-level analysis. As Alicia notes, even though Intuit automates routine tasks, the human element remains vital for nuanced financial guidance.

Stay Informed and Keep Learning

To hear all the details—and pick up more practical tips—check out Episode 78 of the Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast. You’ll learn:

How Intuit’s “five big bets” connect to real-world QuickBooks features
Deeper insights into QuickBooks Online Advanced
Opportunities in QuickBooks Live Expert Assist
Ways to keep pace with AI and other tech shifts

By understanding Intuit’s direction, you can better guide your clients and spot new ways to grow your business. AI and automation are here to stay, but accountants who use these tools strategically can deliver even greater value.

7 Game-Changing Features in QuickBooks Modern Invoices That Save You Time

Earmark Team · March 21, 2025 ·

For accounting professionals who rely on QuickBooks, the invoice is arguably your most essential tool. QuickBooks’ modern invoice redesign represents one of the most significant overhauls in years, changing how you’ll create, send, and manage client billing.

In a recent episode of The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast, hosts Alicia Katz Pollock and Dan DeLong explore these new modern invoices, which have been in development for about a year. Alicia says, “They originally drove us crazy, and now I’ve actually become quite fond of them”—a journey many accountants can relate to when facing significant software changes.

Getting Started with Modern Invoices

If you haven’t switched to modern invoices yet, you’ll need to take that first step manually. When viewing a standard invoice, look for the “Update Layout” button in the upper right corner. Clicking this will convert the invoice to the modern experience.

The new interface might initially seem to take up more screen space (Alicia notes her screenshot size has doubled), but the extra real estate serves a purpose. Let’s explore what’s changed and why it matters to your practice.

Smarter Customer Insights Without Switching Screens

One of the biggest improvements is accessing client information without leaving your invoice. Next to the customer’s name, you’ll find a small Intuit Assist icon that provides valuable context with one click.

“It actually does have contextual information about the customer that’s there,” explains Dan. “So it’s nice to have it all in one place. And you don’t have to navigate and look in the customer section to see those types of insights.”

This panel shows:

Payment history by method (credit card, bank transfer, PayPal)
Number of open invoices
Number of overdue invoices
Customer relationship length

Alicia appreciates this feature: “I’m kind of used to having to have multiple tabs open where one I’m doing my invoicing and in one I’ve got the customers open… now I can see my customer information without having to navigate away.”

You can also edit customer information directly from the invoice screen by clicking the “edit customer” link. This allows you to update addresses and contact details without interrupting your workflow, a significant time saver.

Better Communication Tools for You and Your Clients

The modern invoice includes four different communication fields, each serving a specific purpose:

Customer payment options: Instructions about how to pay that appear on the invoice
Note to customer: General communication that appears on the invoice
Internal customer notes (hidden): Team communications that clients can’t see
Memo on statement: Text that appears only on customer statements

The internal notes feature is especially valuable for team collaboration. As Alicia explains, you can use it to record important details like “Customer got a PITA discount”—information your team needs but clients shouldn’t see.

Sales Tax Management Made Easier

According to Alicia, address management in the modern invoice is “mission critical” for those working in states with complex sales tax rules.

The system now clearly shows whether sales tax is calculated based on your business location or the customer’s location. By toggling the “add shipping info” link, you control which address determines the tax calculation:

When shipping information is collapsed, tax is calculated based on your business location
When shipping information is shown, tax is calculated based on the ship-to-address

“For those of you who are having trouble with sales tax calculating incorrectly, this is your game changer,” emphasizes Alicia. “Pay attention to the bill to, the ship to, and the ship from boxes and make sure that you have the right addresses in the right places.”

Expanded Payment Options and Strategic Fee Management

The modern invoice significantly expands payment options through QuickBooks Payments. Beyond standard credit cards, your clients can now use:

Apple Pay
Bank transfers (ACH/EFT)
PayPal
Venmo

What makes this integration powerful is that all these payment methods work through QuickBooks Payments—no separate PayPal or Venmo business accounts are required. This means all payments are processed with the same automatic recording, fee allocation, and deposit reconciliation that QuickBooks Payments provides.

“All of the automagic things that QuickBooks payments does—like recording the payments, recording the deposits, allocating the fees, making the deposit reconciled in the bank feed—all of those things are done for you,” explains Dan.

Perhaps most interesting is the new option to have customers pay the processing fees. By turning off all standard payment methods, you’ll see a new option labeled “your customer pays the fees.” When selected, this gives clients the option to pay via ACH while covering the associated costs.

Alicia shared a practical application: When clients’ credit cards expired, she sent invoices with the “customer pays fees” option enabled. In her email, she wrote: “You’re welcome to pay this yourself. If you want to save on the fees, give us a call with your new payment information so that we can update our systems. And then you won’t have to pay the fees; we’ll pay the fees.”

The result? Three phone calls with updated card information—problem solved.

Recurring Payments Without PCI Compliance Concerns

The modern invoice also introduces an improved approach to recurring payments that addresses security concerns. Instead of storing client credit card information (which creates potential PCI compliance issues), the system now allows clients to approve automatic future payments while maintaining control of their payment details.

“This is really replacing scheduled sales receipts,” explains Alicia. “Now you can make a recurring invoice, and the customer approves it to auto pay it in the future. So it’s kind of the best of both worlds.”

Dan adds that the system “automatically checks the auto-pay functionality so that they don’t have to find it. You don’t have to tell them where it is. It’s just preselecting that option.”

Customizing Your Invoice Experience

Nearly all customization options for the modern invoice are found in the Manage panel and can be accessed via the gear icon at the top right. These settings allow you to control what appears on your invoice without changing default settings for all clients.

Through this panel, you can:

Turn specific fields on or off (shipping information, service date, SKU column)
Manage custom fields
Configure payment options and tips functionality
Add discounts (percentage or dollar amount)
Control whether discounts apply before or after sales tax
Set up recurring invoices or payments
Access client reports directly from the invoice

For those who want to see exactly what clients experience, three view options are available after selecting the “modern” template:

Email View: How the email appears in a client’s inbox
Payer View: What clients see in the payment portal
PDF View: How the invoice looks when printed

“Rather than sending a CC or BCC to yourself to see what the customer sees, it’s nice to see it all in one place,” notes Dan.

Current Limitations and Future Development

While the modern invoice offers many improvements, some limitations exist in the current version:

Design customization is limited to colors and fonts when using the modern template. To access all the modern features, you must use the standard modern layout rather than your custom templates. Intuit has indicated enhanced customization is on their roadmap.

Reminders cannot be set on an invoice-by-invoice basis yet. Both hosts expressed a strong desire for this feature: “Intuit, if you’re listening, we desperately want reminders to be set up on an invoice by invoice basis. Desperately.”

The Intuit Assist autofill feature is still in beta. This feature aims to create invoices automatically from files, images, or text, but accuracy varies, especially with line items. The hosts encourage users to try it despite limitations, as user feedback will help improve it.

Why These Changes Matter for Your Practice

These invoice improvements represent more than just interface changes—they’re part of a complete rewrite of QuickBooks Online’s underlying code.

“One of the things that’s really happening is they’re actually rewriting the entire code base underpinning all of QuickBooks Online because it originally started back almost 20 years ago,” explains Alicia. “The code that it was written on 20 years ago was modern back then. But things have changed on the programming side.”

This approach sometimes requires what Dan calls a “take a step back to move forward type of thing,” where short-term limitations enable long-term improvements. “They’re basically recreating the foundation so that new and cool features can actually take place,” he notes.

For accounting professionals, these changes deliver practical benefits:

Time savings from not switching between screens
Improved client experience with flexible payment options
Better security compliance through modern payment handling
Real-time visibility into invoice status, from creation through payment
Strategic tools for managing fees and client relationships

Most importantly, Intuit is actively seeking feedback. A prominent feedback link appears on each invoice, providing a direct channel to the development team.

“If you have a good idea, please go up to feedback and flood that feedback and let them know what you want to change,” encourages Alicia. “They are actively listening.”

Dan confirms: “Now they can act on the flood of feedback that has been coming in. They’ve been taking care of some of the more mission-critical issues. Now they’ll be able to further enhance this experience.”

Next Steps: Making the Most of Modern Invoices

To maximize the benefits of these changes, consider these practical steps:

Explore the Manage panel thoroughly to understand all available customization options
Try the Intuit Assist features even while in beta
Review your sales tax settings in light of the new address field controls
Use the view options to understand your clients’ experience
Provide feedback to help shape future development

By mastering these new capabilities, you can transform what might initially seem like disruptive changes into meaningful practice advantages—delivering better client experiences while saving valuable time.

For a comprehensive demonstration of all these features, listen to Episode 80 of The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast, “Everything You Need to Know About Modern Invoices.”

QuickBooks Online Tests Credit Karma Financing: What Accountants Need to Know

Earmark Team · September 3, 2024 ·

In a recent Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast episode, hosts Hector Garcia and Alicia Katz Pollock discussed a significant new development in QuickBooks Online: the integration of Credit Karma financing options. This feature allows QuickBooks users to offer personal loan options to their customers directly through estimates, marking a potential shift in how small business tools operate.

This Feature Is In Testing

Note that this new feature has not yet been released generally. It is currently in beta testing and may not be available to all users. A ProAdvisor discovered it in her client’s file when the client sent an estimate to a customer. In addition to the expected messaging, the customer was invited to take out a loan to pay the invoice.

How It Works

When the QuickBooks user sent an estimate to a customer, they noticed financing offers powered by Credit Karma. In the fine print, the interest rates varied widely, from 8.49% to 35.99% APR with autopay. The loans are provided through a company called Upgrade, potentially allowing Intuit to monetize its $7 billion acquisition of Credit Karma.

Importantly, this feature will be optional for QuickBooks users. It can be toggled on or off in the account settings, giving businesses control over whether to offer financing to their customers. When enabled, the financing option appears alongside the estimated details when customers view them.

Potential Benefits and Concerns

This integration could help businesses convert more estimates into paid work by offering customers flexible payment options. As Alicia noted, “If you are somebody who gives high estimates and you know you struggle to have all of your bids accepted, this may be a way of actually getting them paid where you’re getting paid in full right up front.”

However, the hosts also raised some potential concerns:

Privacy: There are questions about how QuickBooks customers’ information might be used to market these loans.
High interest rates: The upper end of the APR range (35.99%) raised eyebrows among the hosts.
Ethical considerations: Accountants may need to consider the implications of facilitating high-interest loans to their clients’ customers.
Customer relationships: Businesses must decide whether offering financing aligns with their customer service approach.

Intuit’s Strategy

This integration is part of Intuit’s broader strategy to leverage its Credit Karma acquisition. By offering financing options within QuickBooks, Intuit aims to create a more comprehensive financial ecosystem for small businesses and their customers.

However, it’s important to note that Intuit does not directly provide the loans. Instead, they likely receive a commission for approved loans, similar to Credit Karma’s existing business model.

What Accountants Should Do

If you or your clients use QuickBooks Online, it’s essential to be aware of this new feature:

Check the settings: Look for the “customer financing” toggle in the Discounts and Fees section of the new invoice experience.
Discuss with clients: If the feature is available, discuss whether offering financing aligns with their business goals and customer relationships.
Understand the terms: Familiarize yourself with the financing options and terms to advise clients appropriately.
Monitor developments: As this feature is still being tested, watch for any changes or broader rollout.

The integration of Credit Karma financing into QuickBooks Online represents a significant shift in accounting software capabilities. While it offers potential benefits for businesses looking to close more sales, it also raises essential considerations about privacy, ethics, and customer relationships. As this feature develops, accountants will be crucial in helping clients navigate this new landscape of embedded financial services. Listen to the full Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast episode for the latest information.

Familiar Interface, Cloud Power: Meet the QuickBooks Online Desktop App

Earmark Team · July 29, 2024 ·

In a recent Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants podcast episode, accounting gurus Hector Garcia, CPA, and Alicia Katz Pollock, MAT, explored the new QuickBooks Online desktop app.

As the accounting profession continues its shift towards cloud-based solutions, the QuickBooks Online desktop app is proving to be a vital transitional tool. It provides accountants who are used to working in QuickBooks Desktop with a familiar interface while introducing the benefits of online platforms to streamline workflows and enhance client services.

But what exactly makes this app such a powerful ally for accountants navigating the choppy waters of technological change? How does it balance the comfort of traditional desktop software with the advantages of cloud-based systems? And most importantly, how can it help you serve your clients more effectively?

The Comfort of Familiarity: Navigating the New Interface

For many CPAs, transitioning to a new accounting system can be daunting. Will it be intuitive? How steep is the learning curve? The QuickBooks Online desktop app addresses these concerns head-on with its familiar interface and enhanced navigation features.

The core of this user-friendly approach is the Desktop View feature. When you open the QuickBooks Online Desktop app and log into a company file, it defaults to Desktop View, but you can toggle a checkbox at the top left side of the screen to turn it off, transforming the left navigation bar to mirror the QuickBooks Online interface. As Alicia Katz Pollock enthusiastically noted, “Turning on Desktop view made QBO look like traditional QuickBooks Desktop.”

A customizable shortcuts feature allows users to tailor their experience to their needs. As Hector explained, “You can pick and choose what shortcuts you want to put in there in order to quickly access things.” This flexibility means you can set up your digital workspace to match your unique workflow, boosting your efficiency and productivity.

The app also introduces a traditional menu structure and a new set of keyboard shortcuts. While there’s a learning curve involved, these features offer the potential for significant time savings once mastered.

These features collectively create an environment familiar to CPAs accustomed to desktop software while gradually introducing the benefits of online platforms.

Juggling Made Easy: Improved Multi-Client Management

Picture this: It’s tax season, and you’re juggling financial reports for a small business, tax returns for multiple individuals, and a quick consultation for a new client. In the past, this scenario involved logging in and out of different accounts or even switching between multiple applications. The QuickBooks Online desktop app aims to transform this hectic juggling act into a seamless, efficient workflow with improved multi-client management capabilities.

The app’s multi-instance, multi-company usage feature is at the heart of this improvement. Hector explained, “You can connect to multiple companies simultaneously without logging off.” This functionality allows you to switch between company files without logging out and back in. Imagine jumping from reviewing your small business client’s profit and loss statement to updating the books for your individual tax client with just a few clicks. This streamlined process can save precious minutes that add up to hours throughout a busy season.

The app further enhances this efficiency with enhanced tab and window management. You can open multiple tabs and windows, creating a command center for all your client work. Hector highlighted this feature, saying, “Essentially, all the windows you have open and all the tabs you have open, they’re listed in the top right. And if you hover over each of them, it gives you a little preview of the screen.” This means you can have a client’s tax return open in one tab, their financial statements in another, and perhaps a research window open in a third—all easily accessible and manageable.

For accountants, these features translate to significant productivity improvements. Seamlessly switching between clients and tasks can dramatically reduce the mental overhead of context switching. You’re no longer constrained by the limitations of traditional desktop software, where each client might require a separate login or company file. Instead, you have a unified workspace that adapts to your needs.

This improved multi-client management also opens up new possibilities for serving your clients. Do you need to quickly compare the financial performance of multiple clients in the same industry? Or perhaps you want to simultaneously apply a tax strategy you’ve just researched to several relevant clients? With the QuickBooks Online desktop app, these tasks become efficient and straightforward.

The Best of Both Worlds: Unique Bridging Features

The QuickBooks Online desktop app offers unique features that bridge the gap between traditional desktop applications and cloud-based solutions.

The crown jewel of these bridging features is the Split Screen function. As Hector enthusiastically demonstrated, “I want to see a profit and loss and a balance sheet next to each other. I don’t want to be moving too many things around. I can pull one report up on the left side and another report on the right side, collapse the shortcuts list, and close the open tabs window to make the most use out of the two screens.” This side-by-side analysis can significantly speed up your work and reduce the risk of errors when constantly switching between tabs or windows.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge that the QuickBooks Online desktop app, like any technological solution, has its own trade-offs. While it offers unique features like Split Screen, it lacks support for browser extensions that many CPAs have come to rely on in their daily work. And Hector pointed out that the app just feels slow. So, users will likely still need to have another browser open to use extensions like a password manager or Grammarly for proofreading.

“So now you’re going to put a double strain on your computer; you’re going to do all your email, banking, whatever on your browser. And then the QuickBooks app will only be QuickBooks,” Hector says.

Accountants should be aware of these potential limitations and consider their typical usage patterns and hardware capabilities when deciding whether to adopt the desktop app.

Despite these challenges, the QuickBooks Online desktop app represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between traditional desktop accounting software and cloud-based solutions. It offers a unique hybrid experience that combines the best of both worlds: the familiar interface and robust features of desktop software, coupled with the accessibility and collaborative capabilities of cloud-based platforms.

Embracing the Future of Accounting Technology

The app’s familiar interface with enhanced navigation offers a comforting starting point for accountants and other QuickBooks users venturing into the cloud. Its improved multi-client management capabilities promise to streamline workflows and boost productivity. Its unique features, like the Split Screen function, exemplify the potential of hybrid accounting solutions.

For many accountants and business owners, this app could be the key to unlocking the benefits of cloud-based accounting while maintaining the workflows they’ve honed over years of practice. It’s not just a new tool – it’s a stepping stone to the profession’s future.

To truly grasp the potential impact of this app on your practice, we encourage you to listen to the full Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast episode. Hear directly from industry experts as they explore the nuances of this game-changing tool. You’ll gain invaluable insights into how the QuickBooks Online desktop app could revolutionize your workflow, enhance your client services, and position your practice at the forefront of accounting technology.