Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2020 Accounting Software for Small Business [PC Disc]

I have been using Quickbooks Pro for probably about 10 years. I use it exclusively to track my personal finances. So no invoices, no payroll no inventory. I have an accounting background - which helps alot with Quickbooks since often times the software is far from intuitive. I do not use the online Quickbooks in any way. I had been using Quickbooks Pro 2015 but when I switched to a new Dell laptop with a 4K display - 2015 could not handle the 4K display. However it was still usable but a pain. Then I started getting error messages each time I loaded Quickbooks - which I would delete without any problems. I finally had enough and went online to buy the 2020 version of Quickbooks Pro single user with a disc. I installed it this morning and have done a couple quick checks to see if all of my data made it into the new version and as far as I can tell, I am OK. NOTE: The install process: (a) deleted my 2015 version and (b) converted my data to the 2020 version. Being cautious I had made a copy of the 2015 QBW file and hid it away for safekeeping. Overall: the installation of the 2020 version went without a hitch and the data was converted to the 2020 version. And the 2020 version is happy with my 4K display. All-in-all surprisingly painless. And the Amazon price was good.

I've used Quickbooks in the past but it's been 10 plus years so I wasn't sure what to expect as quite a few reviews spoke poorly of it. So far, so good! I won't be truly using it in full force until after the first of the year but as far as the setup goes it seems great, just like I remember. If after I start using it in full I find glitches or problems I'll update my review. My husband and I own and run a small business with no employees so I don't have to deal with payroll at all, just sales (no credit cards) and inventory for our own use, we're a strictly cash based business so it's pretty straight-forward.

I would suggest having a bookkeeper or accountant set up your chart of accounts and link your payroll items to the proper expense accounts if you use this feature. I love QuickBooks and have used it for years, but it is easy for a novice to set up incorrectly or in an unhelpful format. The good news, it's also easy to resolve and put to rights if you've combined accounts in an unhelpful reporting maner. Setting up bank feeds can save a lot of time if you use credit cards extensively. The first usage takes a bit of time, but after that, it's smooth sailing.

QuickBooks has always been good at what it does - Offering small business owners with limited accounting experience an excellent way to keep their books and get control of their business finances. The program has been around for years and seems to get better, and more functional each year. However, I gave it 4 stars, instead of 5, because of Intuit's caviler and presumptuous customer attitude. Here's an example... A lot of businesses pay vendors and collect from customers using bank ACH services for payments today rather than writing checks and mailing them. There is a feature in current versions of QB to accommodate that, without having to make a manual journal entry. HOWEVER, IT ONLY WORKS IF YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMER ENROLL IN THE QB SPONSORED ACH SERVICE. That is over-the-top avidity and very presumptuous, to say the least. In fact, I found that limitation rather insulting. (I did find a somewhat usable work-around, however. I record ACH payments as checks and use check numbers between 1-999. Actual checks usually start at 1001.)Also the in-app help is extensive, but very difficult to use. It's based on a mediocre search engine, and you quite often get answers very different from what you are searching for. Eventually you may find something close to an answer, but usually not without a great deal of searching. Also you cannot actually talk to Intuit for customer support. That is entirely handled through their online user forum. However, you can usually get good answers on the forum, and/or find answers previously given on the same subject.

This version is great. Accidentally bought the pro plus version in 2018 and got billed each year for unnecessary upgrade. Unfortunately had to shut down because of coronavirus but would still recommend this software.