I need to build 3 years of history into a new quickbooks implementation and then start doing current transactions. can i use journal entries to build the history?

Which another system? You can buy a 3rd party conversion service if you need transaction details. Alternatively, you will need to prepare a trial balance report annually to migrate as JE.

we are a small non-profit organization. the other system is the quickbooks desktop version that is owned by a local accounting firm that is going out of business. we have no access to the data on their system. i also thought about asking for a trial balance report for each month. this would show the debit and credit amounts booked to each account by month. i should be able to take this info and create a journal entry for each account by month with the debit and credit amounts from the trial balance and post them to the new system. i would need to do a year end close after posting each year. i would not have to do a bank reconciliation each month as there would be no bank transactions. i believe this would allow me to build the history so i can do historical reporting and trending etc. so do i ask them for a trial balance by each month? is there anything wrong with this approach? thanks for your help!!!!!

If you don't currently have any data and still need to check with your former accountant, you should request the backup file (QBB) from them instead. You can use the trial version for QB Desktop to restore the file and convert them to QB Online later. You don't need to spend time importing trial balance data as JE manually. Signup for a new QBO account with TechSoup if you are eligible. Otherwise, you have to prepare your QBO account with regular rate.

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Hi, chic.

I agree with Fiat Lux - ASIA. We can get the file from QBDT and be able to bring them to QBO. 

you'll have to first restore your company data through a trial version of the QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) program (applicable only if you don't have the QBDT program). Just make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements to successfully execute the installation process.

When you're ready, select the version you want to install through this article: Download a trial of QuickBooks Desktop. Once done, restore the backup company file (.qbb) to create new data (.qbw). Here's how:

1. Go to the File menu.
2. Select Open or Restore Company.
3. Choose Restore a backup copy.
4. Click Next.
5. Select Local Backup and then Next.
6. Browse your computer for your backup company file. It should look like this: [Your company name].qbb.
7. Select a folder where to save your restored company file. Then, select Open.
8. When you're ready, select Save.

After restoring your QBB file to a new company data (.qbw), you're now ready to import the file to your new QBO account. Just go to the Company menu on your QBDT trial program, then select the Export Company File to QuickBooks Online. For the step-by-step guide, kindly check out this article: Move your QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online.

Additionally, the following articles are good references to learn more ways of handling your QuickBooks data:

• What to expect when you switch from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online.
• How to fix errors when converting from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online.

Let me share these quick guides with you about managing opening balances in QuickBooks Online: 

• Fix issues the first time you reconcile an account in QuickBooks Online.
• What to do if you didn't enter an opening balance in QuickBooks Online.
• Enter opening balances for accounts in QuickBooks Online.

I'll be around to help you if you have other questions about moving your data to QBO.

Hello! How did you decide to handle this? I have a similar situation and am contemplating making journal entries as well.