Enterprise desktop on server vs Enterprise cloud hosted by Intuit

Welcome to the QuickBooks Community, Lori 3. I'll make sure to walk you through the process of moving your QuickBooks company file to the cloud/hosted by Intuit.

With Intuit Hosting Program, you can run your QuickBooks Desktop and store your data files on a service provider's servers. This authorizes you to use your QuickBooks securely, anywhere, and anytime. Please know that there are only lists of Intuit-Authorized Hosting Providers are approved by Intuit. You can open this article to view further details: Hosting providers authorized by Intuit.

Then, there's an option in QuickBooks Desktop where you can set up a multi-user network so computers on your network can access your company files. To start with, you'll need to set up QuickBooks Desktop first. On a multi-user network, one computer act as the host and this is your server where your company files are stored. 

Here's how:

1. Follow the steps to download and install QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer.
2. Choose Custom and Network install for the install type.
3. Select I'll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, AND I'll be storing... if you want the full version of QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer. If you just want your server computer to host your files, select I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer...
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation.

Please note to keep your company files on your server computer's local hard drive. This makes it easier to share them over your network. If you want to keep your files on a network drive, follow the steps to map the drive.

Once done, set up folder permissions on your server computer. Ensure the folder with your company files has permission to be on your network.

After that, install Database Server Manager. This tool lets you share your company files with other computers over your network. You can click this article to see the steps on how to perform the process: Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop. This also provides details on how to finish the multi-user setup.

Lastly, you may refer to each article below that discuss more details about the access limits and hosting your data in a multi-user mode: 

• Tasks that can be performed in a single or multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop. 
• Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop

I’ll be around if you have follow-up questions about the hosting program and setting up your multi-user in QBDT. I’m always round-ready to back you up. Keep safe and stay well!