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baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

Our Desktop Pro 2016 is coming to the end of its life, sadly. I keep books for three entities--me, my husband, and our teeny,tiny nonprofit.

 

Is there any way to do accounting for three different entities using QB's online software without buying three different subscriptions?

 

Thanks, Elizabeth

Solved
Best answer January 29, 2024

Best Answers
LeizylM
QuickBooks Team

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

I understand the challenges you're facing with the upcoming end of life for your Desktop Pro 2016 and the need to manage the books for three separate entities, baker_eliz.  

 

The option to add multiple companies under one subscription isn't available in QuickBooks Online (QBO). Each company you create requires an additional subscription, but you can access them with the same sign-in info. This lets you quickly switch between companies so you can manage everything more efficiently. 

 

When adding a new company, you can visit our QuickBooks pricing page and select the subscription option you want. 

 

Now that you have multiple companies, you’ll be asked which company you want to open whenever you Sign in to QuickBooks Online. To switch between companies at any time, select the Gear icon and select Switch company.

 

To learn more about managing multiple companies, check out the following link. It has a bunch of useful information for you and your business: Managing your companies

 

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help you with managing your subscription or account. I'm available to help you at all times. Take good care.

View solution in original post

13 Comments 13
4Gal
Level 10

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

What do you mean with QBD 2016 is EOL?

If you have a non subscription license, you can use it for good. You can upgrade to a newer QB Desktop with a non subscription as well.

One QBO account is for one company file. You should stick with QB Desktop to manage multi company files.

 

baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

I would really like to stick with 2016. However, this is the second time in one month that it won't open. Last time I used QB Tool Hub to repair it and it worked fine. This time, I just can't get it open. I tried repairing it from the Control Panel, as well. That's why I said it's at its EOL. Maybe someone can help me fix it, I don't know. Pretty stressed out right now, though. Have to get out 1099s, end-of-month bookkeeping, etc. Just wondering if it's even worth trying to fix it. Sounds like you think it is.

LeizylM
QuickBooks Team

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

I understand the challenges you're facing with the upcoming end of life for your Desktop Pro 2016 and the need to manage the books for three separate entities, baker_eliz.  

 

The option to add multiple companies under one subscription isn't available in QuickBooks Online (QBO). Each company you create requires an additional subscription, but you can access them with the same sign-in info. This lets you quickly switch between companies so you can manage everything more efficiently. 

 

When adding a new company, you can visit our QuickBooks pricing page and select the subscription option you want. 

 

Now that you have multiple companies, you’ll be asked which company you want to open whenever you Sign in to QuickBooks Online. To switch between companies at any time, select the Gear icon and select Switch company.

 

To learn more about managing multiple companies, check out the following link. It has a bunch of useful information for you and your business: Managing your companies

 

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help you with managing your subscription or account. I'm available to help you at all times. Take good care.

4Gal
Level 10

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

@baker_eliz 

Have you tried to reinstall your QBD 2016. Which Windows OS do you run?

You can install the trial version of QBD 2019 to compare and continue your work immediately.

baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

We cannot afford to pay for three separate subscriptions every month. Plus payroll for one employee (me). Just not going to happen.

baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

Thanks, 4Gal. I have thought about doing that. I know my company data will be preserved but I'm not sure about all my customized reports. Will I also keep those?

Thanks, Elizabeth

baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

4Gal, I'm sorry,. Didn't respond to your questions fully. I am running the latest Windows 365, all updated. I'm a little confused about your QB 2019 suggestion. Are your suggesting I install it to get my 2016 back up and running?

4Gal
Level 10

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

@baker_eliz 

There is no Windows 365.

You should have Windows 8, 10 or 11. If you are not familiar with this technical issue, we can ask someone to share the screen.

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

@baker_eliz 

You can check the following reference

 

First, remove any fields that might relate to the current QB file but not the next one.

Open your memorized report list, click on “Memorized Reports” bottom left, then Export. Specify a save location for the exported report. Open the new QB file, go to Memorized Report List > Memorized Reports > Import and point to the saved file.

(NOTE: You can’t export memorized reports with Pro, though you can import them. You need QB Premier or Enterprise to export the memorized reports. When you have one of these versions of QB, choose Export Templates… from the Memorized Report button at the bottom of the memorized reports list.)

 

Also:

“QuickBooks offers the option to export and import report templates. This feature is useful for accountants who want to save time by having several clients use the same report template. Only the format and filter settings are stored with report templates. If you create a report template and then have several clients use it, when the client imports it, the desired report is generated with the current client’s data, not the data it was created with. You can export and import a single report or a group of reports only from the Memorized Report List. Thus, you must first memorize any reports that you want to export.

 

To export a report or report group template, follow these steps:

From the menu bar, select Reports, Memorized Reports, Memorized Report List.
In the Memorized Report drop-down list, select Export Template.
The Specify File Name dialog box displays, enabling you to select a location to store the template (.QBR extension).
Attach the stored report template or report group to an email, or copy it to a removable storage device, such as a USB drive, to share with other QuickBooks data files.

 

–> A word of caution: Certain restrictions exist when creating a template for export. For example, if you filter for a specific chart of account or customer name that might not be present in every customer’s file,

baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

Sorry. Clicked on System in Setting and it said Windows 365; must be my Office subscription. Went to Windows Update and it said Windows 11. I know it has all the updates except possibly one (my husband just had an update on his tonight).

baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

Hi, Fiat Lux. To export the reports, I would need to open my Desktop Pro 2016, which I having no success in doing at the moment. Unless you know another way?

Thanks, Elizabeth

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

@baker_eliz 

QB Desktop 2016 doesn't support Win 11 natively. There may be an update in Win 11 that is conflicting with your QB Desktop 2016.

 

You may consider the following steps

1. Install the trial version of QB Desktop 2016 Enterprise to open your file and export the template file for memorized reports.

2. Install the trial version of QB Desktop 2019 Pro to open your file and import the memorized report template files.

 

If it works, you may consider to use a newer QB Desktop with non subscription license to proceed. Contact me in private and we will share the installer file.

baker_eliz
Level 2

Bookkeeping for multiple companies

4Gal, I finally bit the bullet, uninstalled and reinstalled, restored my backups, and, voila, I am up and running again. I was so afraid I would lose all my customizations, etc., but I didn't. Jumping up and down for joy! Thanks.

--eizabeth

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