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Cloud accountingQuickBooks Online: the books that live in your browser.
QuickBooks Online is the web-based edition of Intuit's accounting software. This guide covers what it handles, what it costs you in time, and the type of business that gets the most from it.
What QuickBooks Online actually does
Think of QuickBooks Online as a shared notebook that does the arithmetic. You and your accountant open the same file at the same time, from any device, and the totals always agree.
Every sale, bill and bank movement becomes an entry. Entries roll up into reports, and reports feed decisions: can we hire, are we late on tax, which customer owes us money. Because the data sits online, there is no file to email back and forth and no backup routine to remember.
Subscription tiers differ in the number of users, the depth of reporting and the extras included, so always check the current plan comparison on the official site before buying.
The features most people use daily
Bank connections
Transactions flow in automatically so you review rather than retype.
Invoices & estimates
Branded documents, payment links and status tracking.
Expense capture
Photograph receipts in the mobile app and attach them to entries.
Sales tax tools
Rates and returns support, depending on your region.
Projects
See income and costs for each job, not just for the whole company.
Apps & integrations
Connect point-of-sale, payroll and e-commerce tools.
Is QuickBooks Online right for you?
Usually a good match
- Service businesses sending recurring invoices
- Shops that need bank feeds and sales tax help
- Owners who work with an outside accountant
- Teams spread across locations
Think twice if
- You need heavy manufacturing or inventory costing
- Your internet is unreliable most days
- You only issue a handful of invoices per year
Setting up QuickBooks Online in five moves
- Create your Intuit accountUse a business email you will keep for years.
- Enter company detailsLegal name, industry, address and fiscal year.
- Import or connect dataLink a bank or upload a spreadsheet of customers.
- Review the chart of accountsDelete what you do not need, rename what is unclear.
- Invite your accountantGive them access instead of exporting reports.
Stuck on access? Read the QuickBooks Online login guide.