Skip to main content

Get 50% OFF QuickBooks for 3 months*

Buy now
Switch to QuickBooks and 70% off for 3 Months
March 18, 2026
Question

Different companies using different versions, HELP.

  • March 18, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 37 views

Good Morning,

My situation:

 

Company A:

-  Version:  Enterprise Contractor 24.0

-  Sits on a cloud RDP service


Company B and C:

-  Version:  Enterprise Contractor 19.0

-  Sits on a physical server on premise.

Need:

I need to be able to consolidate all three of these down to a physical PC for reference only.  We have closed out the latest fiscal year on each company but have moved our financials to our ERP system.  Quickbooks would only be used for historical reference on previous jobs and such.  My best goal would be to have all three companies, on the same version, sitting on a laptop or desktop that we log into when needed.  

Help!

3 replies

SIAB
Level 2
March 18, 2026

The consolidated reporting feature will only work under the following conditions:

1. You need to upgrade both company files (B and C) to QB Desktop 2024.

2. All three company files have identical charts of accounts. 

 

Otherwise, you need to use a business intelligent app to consolidated the report.

 

Then, you may have two options for accessing your archive files if needed.

1. Use the QB Desktop trial version to open your company files locally and permanently.

2. If you prefer to access your archive files on your hosting provider, you can purchase QB Desktop 2024 Enterprise Silver for single user from a reseller at a competitive subscription price.

 

AnoyesSCSAuthor
March 18, 2026

I am good to log into each company seperately, no issue with that.  So If I move the databases all to a single PC, then download the QB 2024 Desktop TRIAL, I should be able to open and view my data?

SIAB
Level 2
March 18, 2026
Tori B
QuickBooks Team
March 18, 2026

Hello, @AnoyesSCS.

 

Thanks for taking the time to reach out to the QuickBooks Community. I hope your day is going great so far. 

 

This is certainly achievable. Since you're using Enterprise for all 3 companies, you can upgrade companies B and C to version 24 like company A. 

 

Here are some steps to help you get started:

 

First, let's get QuickBooks Enterprise 24 installed on your computer. After that, you'll need to move company A from the RDP service. Here's how:

 

  1. Log into your cloud RDP.
  2. Open QuickBooks, press F2 to find the exact location of the .qbw file.
  3. Create a backup (.qbb) or copy the .qbw file directly to a local location via the cloud RDP provider's download/transfer method.
  4. Copy the file to the new PC's C:\QBData\Archive folder. 

 

Now let's move companies B and C to the new computer: 

 

  1. Open QuickBooks 19.0 on your server and create a local backup (.qbb) for both company files.
  2. Move the .qbb files (or the original .qbw files) to the new PC via a USB drive or local network.
  3. Restore/Upgrade:
    • Open QB Enterprise 24.0 on the new PC.
    • Select Open or Restore Company -> Restore a backup copy (.qbb).
    • Navigate to the v19 backup.
    • Crucial Step: QuickBooks will prompt you to upgrade the file to the 24.0 format. This is required.
    • Once upgraded, the file will run in version 24.0.

 

Once this is done, you will have all three company files, fully upgraded to 24.0, accessible on one PC, with no active server needed for daily access.

 

That should do the trick. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns. Take care! 

AnoyesSCSAuthor
March 18, 2026

TORI,

 

Do I download the Desktop 2024 TRIAL or do I need to export my License somehow?

QuickBooks Team
March 18, 2026

Hi there, AnoyesSCS. You can download the QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) 2024 trial to help you move your files.
 

Since your companies B and C are on an old version (19.0), they need to be updated to the latest version to work on a new computer. By using the 2024 Trial, you can install the software on your laptop or computer without needing to move your paid license from Company A. This keeps your active cloud service running smoothly while you set up your computer.
 

Please know that the trial version only lasts for 30 days. Once it expires, the software lets you stay in a view-only mode. Since you only need to refer to old jobs and information, it allows you to keep your data in one place without needing to purchase a second subscription for the laptop. 

If you decide you need full access to edit your data later on, you can simply enter your Company A license numbers to fully activate the software. 

If you have follow-up questions, feel free to revisit this thread.