Using QB desktop at multiple locations

Welcome to the Community, @TB1961. Thank you for sharing your inquiry about utilizing QuickBooks in multi-user mode. It's our priority for QuickBooks users to use the program efficiently. I'll help share how you can start working with your company data in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) with a multi-use network.

It is possible to access QuickBooks and view reports on a different computer. Set up location A as the main host for your company file's multi-user network.

You need to map the server or host computer as a network drive to work in QBDT from a different computer other than your server. Then, set up computers that'll access the files for multi-user mode and set the folder where the company file is stored.

Once completed, you can turn on the hosting of your company file for a multi-user network:

1. Go to File.
2. Select Utilities.
3. Click Host Multi-User Access.
4. Select Yes.

When you're done, install the QuickBooks Database Manager on your remote computer to configure the QuickBooks Server for multi-user access. Here's how:

1. Download & Install QuickBooks Desktop on the main computer.
2. From the QuickBooks File menu, select Switch to Multi-user Mode.
3. Select Yes in the Multi-user hosting setup required window.
4. Note: QuickBooks Desktop installs and runs QBDBMgrN.exe as a background service. This service must be running on the computer storing the company file even if QuickBooks Desktop is not open.
5. Select OK on the Multi-user setup information window.
6. Add the necessary users by going to Company, selecting Users then Set up Users and Roles, and selecting New.

In addition, I've included an article that you can read to learn more about hosting and multi-user networks: Set Up and Install a Multi-user Network for QuickBooks Desktop.

For more tips about hosting company files over your network, you can also review these articles:

• Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop
• What hosting providers are authorized by Intuit?
• What is Right Networks hosting?

We are happy to help you with anything related to QuickBooks. Please do not hesitate to get back by clicking the Reply button or creating a new post in the Community, if you have any other follow-up questions about the multi-user network in QBDT. We wish you a successful year, @TB1961.

@TB1961 

The cheapest way is to have each dealer send you their backup files periodically. But if you need to access their data in real time whenever you need it, you can ask them to set up a private cloud. You will access their data via the internet. If you're the only one who needs access, the cost is $22.5 per month per dealer.