Importing an Estimate?

Hello there, Alex. It's great to have you posting your concern here in the QuickBooks Community.

When importing estimate transactions using an IIF and CSV file to QuickBooks Online (QBO), the option to import them is currently unavailable. However, we can enter them manually or use a third-party app that you can utilize as a workaround.

To help you look for a third-party app, here's how:

1. Go to the QuickBooks Apps Store.
2. From the search bar, enter a keyword of the feature you need. Example: Remittance advice.
3. Select the app you want to use.

Moreover, when a customer accepts your estimates, you can convert them into an invoice and process their payments. 

Keep us posted if you need additional assistance with estimates. The Community is always here to help. Keep safe!

"When importing estimate transactions using an IIF file and CSV file to QuickBooks Online (QBO), the option to import them is currently unavailable. It is only applicable to QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT)."

Does this also apply to the Quickbooks Online Advanced App?

@alex_stronghold 

You need to use an importer tool

https://get.transactionpro.com/qbo

How do I import an Estimate into QuickBooks Desktop?

It's just a breeze to import estimates transactions in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), @BlinkBookkeeping. I'll be glad to show you how.

In QBDT, you can use IIF files to import and export your lists and transactions to and from QuickBooks Desktop. We'll show you how.

Beforehand, you'll want to create a backup file to restore data if you encounter changes and issues. Also, please make sure that you follow the IIF format to ensure that transactions import successfully. To give you more information, you can read this article: IIF Overview: Import Kit, Sample Files, And Headers.

Here's how to import the IIF file:

1. Sign in to your company file as an admin.
2. You can go to the File menu and Switch to Single-user Mode.
3. From the File menu, select Utilities.
4. Click Import, then select Import IIF.
5. Choose the IIF file you want to import, then select Open.
6. Then, select OK to confirm.

Refer to this article for more details: Export or import Intuit Interchange Format (.IIF) files.

To learn more about managing estimates in QBDT, please see this article for future reference: Use Progress Invoicing.

I'll be around if you have any other queries about managing your sales transactions or importing and exporting data to QBDT. Have a great rest of the week!

@BlinkBookkeeping 

Prepare your Estimate data with the following template

then use one of these importer tools

https://get.transactionpro.com/qbd

https://partners.saasant.com/affiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=5051_2

@Fiat Lux - ASIA  Thank you for these links. I'm not sure why I would use that template as the columns do not correlate to an Estimate at all. But I will check out these links and see if I can use them. Thank you so much!

Any luck with this?

@lukeclubcare 

Any specific concern? Have you tried my solution? 

This issue has not been addressed. The question is how to import an Excel generated worksheet into QB to populate an Estimate or Invoice. An IIF is a Quickbooks format file - So importing a QB file into QB is not relevant, and frankly a non-answer response.

Excel is a very popular spreadsheet application. It is nearly negligent IMO that QB can't import .csv or Tab delimited data files. 

Retyping tabular data again into QB is tedious and does add value or 'delight' to your customers.

I have numerous workers generating Excel table data estimates and invoices - import these is a essential feature in QB.

I understand that importing your estimates and invoices saves time by eliminating the need to enter them manually, @JackC6. 

Currently, importing an Excel-generated worksheet into QuickBooks to populate an estimate or invoice is unavailable. 

Our team is constantly improving our product for a better user experience. I can see its relevance for your business, so I'd recommend sending feedback to our product engineers.

Our product development team will review your suggestion and may consider adding it in the next updates.

To submit your suggestion:

1. Select the Gear icon, then choose Feedback.
2. Type in your product suggestions.
3. Select Next to submit.

If you've received a payment from your customer, you can record the payment so your invoices will be marked as paid. 

You can still reach out to me if you need further clarification for importing estimates and invoices. Please know that I'm always here to help you. 

@JackC6 

You can switch to QB Desktop Accountant or Enterprise edition. Purchase from selected partners to get a perpetual discount for renewal.

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/invoicing/enter-transactions-batch-qu...

Otherwise, you can use an importer tool. It's a one time license ($299)

https://get.transactionpro.com/qbd

Not having this simple functionality directly within QBO is frustrating. If third-party apps can do it, why can't Inuit? QBO's limits, in general, have made us regret moving from QBD.