When you do a free trial of QBO, can you import your desktop data to see how it works for your business? I currently use the desktop contractor edition.?

The Community has your back, @dtjbrown66.

You can import your Contractor Edition Desktop Data into a QuickBooks Online free trial company using the steps below:

Convert QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online

1. Begin by reviewing the Online conversion guide to ensure your company data is eligible and ready to be transferred. 
2. Open the company file you'll be exporting in your QuickBooks Desktop Contractor Edition.
3. Click Company > Export Company File to QuickBooks Online.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to import your company data.

This information is also available from our detailed Desktop to Online import guide as well as the video tutorial below:

By doing this, your Desktop company data will be uploaded to the trial company so you can test things out before committing to a subscription. Please keep in touch with me here for all of your QuickBooks needs, I want to ensure your success. Thanks for bringing us your questions, cheers to a productive week.

Further to the original question, I am thinking of moving from Desktop to Online.

My year end is February 28. I would like to use the trial period (now until the end of Feb) to convert my data to Online to see what my data looks like Online and do some processing to see what facilities I will lose/gain. If I then decide to stay with Online, can I then re-convert my Desktop data files with my year end data and over write the online data, or am I only able to convert my Desktop data once? 

Thanks in advance

Hey there, Csacs100.

You can import your data within the first 60 days of your QuickBooks Online company start date. This means, if you're still under the 60 days period, you can re-convert your QuickBooks Desktop data. When you import, the Desktop file will replace and overwrite any existing information in QuickBooks Online.

I've got you an article to check: Convert QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online.

You can post anytime if you have other concerns, we'll be happy to answer them for you.

Thank you Kristine.

I am trying to move my data from Desktop to QBO. My targets are above the maximum allowed so I am unable to do so.

All of the discussions on this issue say that I should use the Condense Data facility under File, Utilities. No such facility exists in the UK in either Desktop Premier 2013 or Quickbooks Premier Edition 2019 Trial version.  Is it only available in the US version? If so, why? 

There does also not appear to be any way to archive transactions in either version to reduce file and target size.

How do I reduce my file size/targets so that I can transfer data to QBO?

Thanks in advance

Hi csacs100,

For company files that exceeds the target limit, you'll be given an option to import your lists and account balances. Please contact our Data Migration Team to facilitate the process. 

Alternatively, you can reach out to Odyssey. They offer conversion from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online. Please open this link: https://www.odyssey-resources.com/quickbooks_onlineuk/Conversion.php.

If you have questions, feel free to comment below.

@dtjbrown66

@csacs100

Before you make the change, check this to see if the functions you use in desktop are even in QBO

a non partisan comparison of QBO vs QB desktop
http://onsale-apparel.com/Rustler/qbo-or-qbdt
(cost comparisons are at the end of the article)

I have tried to imoport data from QB Pro into QB Trial version but it does not seem to work. I am not getting the confirmation email either

@M32 

Which QB Desktop version do you have? QB Desktop 2020 US Pro edition?

Do you need migrating data to QB Online US?

https:// quickbooks.grsm.io/US

https:// quickbooks.grsm.io/us-promo

I am using Quickbooks Pro 2016.

Can I not just use the import method to QB trial version?

You're in control of how you're going to import your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) data to QuickBooks Online (QBO), @M32.

The import method in QBO is specially designed to accept data from QBDT. However, aside from the said feature in QBO, you can also import your QBDT file through a third-party application as suggested by @Fiat Lux - ASIA above.

Once imported, you'll have to make sure your books match. With this, I'd recommend pulling a financial report (Profit & Loss) on an accrual basis. For the step-by-step guide, kindly refer to this article's Step 3 section: Move your QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online.

To learn more about importing your company file to QBO, you can refer to this article: Importing data to QuickBooks Online. It contains answers to the most frequently asked questions like what info you can import and file format you can use to name a few.

Please drop a comment below if you have other concerns or follow-up inquiries about managing your data in QBO. I'm just around to help. Take care always.

You are using an outdated QB Desktop version. Install the trial license of QB Desktop 2020, open the file on it, and migrate to QB Online from there.