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User331
Level 1

Migrating from Online to Desktop

I'm in the same boat. I was told upgrading to QBO would offer many perks and features, which it never did, that would help enhance our experience. If I knew prior how difficult it would be to migrate back to Desktop, I would have never made the switch. There was no benefit of using QBO, I found the platform to be clunky, messy, and hard to navigate.

 

Everyone I have spoken to have been unable to help, and the only solution I have been offered is to retype all of my transactions.

Rose Bassett
Level 3

Migrating from Online to Desktop

I fought round and round, I asked question after question, and the only solution I came up with was to buy Desktop 2021 multi-users. This version is just before the annual subscription which ends up costing the same as Online. I now have to re-key in every transaction, payment, and purchase of parts and invoices for 10 months.

 

Nobody tells us that it is super simple to transfer from Desktop to Online, yet it doesn't transfer back to Desktop.

 

Online is great for some types of businesses, but not for my business. There are fewer options available on Online than Desktop. Yet I know of some businesses that Online was perfect for them, just not mine.

 

Here is the thing to remember, regardless of the pain of going from Online to Desktop, it seems that Quickbooks is the correct solution for what we need.

4Gal
Level 11

Migrating from Online to Desktop

@User331 

Everyone I have spoken to have been unable to help, and the only solution I have been offered is to retype all of my transactions.

 

You can purchase a 3rd party conversion service.

Rose Bassett
Level 3

Migrating from Online to Desktop

Yeah, I heard about the 3rd party companies that will do things for you, but the only one that I saw had a very low rating. I had another company contact me, but I don't want to pay money to a company I have never heard of without a guarantee that they can do what I need. When I asked for 3rd party recommendations here, I didn't get one response.

4Gal
Level 11

Migrating from Online to Desktop

@Rose Bassett 

Fiat Lux recommended these following options

1. Convert data from 1/3/2023 from QBO to QBD

2. Merge 2 QBD files (optional)

 

Have you contacted them?

Rose Bassett
Level 3

Migrating from Online to Desktop

I have made my peace with switching to QBDT starting with my QBDT backup from before I tried Online. I will need to rekey every transaction, payment, etc. from 1/3/2023 until 10/1/2023, so I can stop beating my head against the wall. I am sticking with QB. I am not going to try anything more.

Marie7
Level 2

Migrating from Online to Desktop

Rose, just read everything you went through and I feel your pain. 

I am a bookkeeper and have used QB Desktop for at least 35 years. 

They do not want you using Desktop - they are forcing everyone to go to Online and will probably accomplish this within the next few years.

In 2024 If you do not purchase a subscription for QB Desktop before 7/31/24 you will never be able to purchase it.  If you try searching for QB Desktop you cannot find it.  They are not advertising it.  You can get Premier. 

Premier is a much more expensive version and not needed by any of my clients.

I do payroll for about 10 of my clients and have an Accountant's version of payroll tax tables.  Cost me $700.00 last year.  This year - $1,400.00!  Why?  Because they don't want us doing our own payroll anymore.  They want each individual EIN to purchase their online payroll.  I can only get this payroll tax table because I am "grandfathered" in.  But they told me today that those of us "grandfathered" in for payroll and Desktop will probably be out in the cold within the next few years.  We will be forced to migrate to QB Online.  They told me they have testimonials from many Accountants of how it is superior to Desktop.  It is not.  These testimonials have to be faked.  I find it be extremely frustrating to use - and it has nothing to do with my ability to learn it.  It just doesn't do many of the things that can be done in Desktop.

I will be looking to use another company for both payroll and accounting.  I don't expect it will cost me a lot less.  It will definitely cost my clients a lot more.  But I will refuse to give Intuit any more of my money.  35 years of being a loyal user means nothing to them.

4Gal
Level 11

Migrating from Online to Desktop

@Marie7 

If you try searching for QB Desktop you cannot find it. They are not advertising it.

You have to call their sales team by phone. Otherwise, you can purchase the license through selected partners.

 

I will be looking to use another company for both payroll and accounting.

You can use the trial version to access your historical data for good. You will start from scratch in a new program and your conversion costs will be much lower.

windyl0u
Level 4

Migrating from Online to Desktop

Bingo. That is such BS. There is not a single accountant that's saying QBO is superior to desktop. I don't understand why they're still trying to force it. The subscription service is making them a lot more money on desktop and I'm fine with paying it. I have also been using QB for about 22 years. I started with QBO in 2021 because I started my own company and it was easier financially at the time. I hate it. So much. We've grown so much and I was so excited to be able to afford desktop. I bought it over a week ago and still can't use it. I'm going to be forced to renew QBO for another month. 

4Gal
Level 11

Migrating from Online to Desktop

@windyl0u 

Which QB Desktop year version do you have?

Do you have multi currency transactions in your QBO?

jenredneckwoman
Level 2

Migrating from Online to Desktop

After reading Rose's issues with migrating from QBO to QBD which is what I need to do since my new accountant does not use any Quickbooks programs (not sure how any accountant can affort QBO ecept by passing on the expense to their clients). I am going to see what other Accounting Programs are out there. The support that Rose received or I should say lack there of is appalling. Quickbooks should be monitoring the Quickbooks Community so they can see how poorly they are doing with their customer support and do something about it. This has been going on long enough.

 

I have been using Quickbooks since 1998 and the ONLY customer support I have ever been able to receive is from the customers of Quckbooks.

 

Your program makes me feel trapped and claustropobic. 

jenredneckwoman
Level 2

Migrating from Online to Desktop

Marie your comments were so well worded

 

Quickbooks wake up

jenredneckwoman
Level 2

Migrating from Online to Desktop

Good luck with that

4Gal
Level 11

Migrating from Online to Desktop

@jenredneckwoman 

You can convert your data to QB Desktop and use the trial version to access your historical data for good. Then you will start from scratch in the new app to lower your conversion costs.

windyl0u
Level 4

Migrating from Online to Desktop

I've been using QB since 2002. Love QBD, hate QBO. Loathe their non existent customer service. We all know if we treated our customers anywhere close to how QB treats us, we'd be out of business. There is NO help to migrate from QBO to QBD. They claim it's a 'downgrade' which is proof they have no clue what it is their software actually does or how it's used. I bought QBD on 4/11/24, we weren't able to use it until 4/26/24 AFTER I figured out how to import our customer list and vendor list over to QBD. Now we're manually entering every transaction from 2021 until now. STILL a better option than QBO. I will forever look for new software just bc of how intuit doesn't value us and literally treats us like garbage. I really like the Xero platform, however, they don't provide an option for us to store customers card info to take payments on their behalf and with our business, that's a necessity. QB did refer us to another company to do the migration for us for a little over $300, but their reviews were not great and the fact that QB recommended them was enough to scare me off. I'm happy paying a good employee to re enter all of our transactions just to get away from the nightmare of QBO, their 'superior' software. 

SIAB
Level 4

Migrating from Online to Desktop

@windyl0u 

QB did refer us to another company to do the migration for us for a little over $300, but their reviews were not great and the fact that QB recommended them was enough to scare me off. I'm happy paying a good employee to re enter all of our transactions just to get away from the nightmare of QBO, their 'superior' software.

 

If you need to convert data with single currency from QB Online to QB Desktop, you should contact @Fiat Lux - ASIA . They may offer a refund option if you are not satisfied with the results.

windyl0u
Level 4

Migrating from Online to Desktop

@SIAB We are already halfway through entering it ourselves. Thanks though. 

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