Enrolling in a QuickBooks class can be a great option to learn how to use QuickBooks accounting software. While some can learn the basic features of QuickBooks on their own, many people find they need some guidance and training in how to use the various complex features of QuickBooks. QuickBooks is useful for individuals who want to learn the software to manage their own business’s finances as well as those who want to pursue careers in accounting or finance. As you decide whether to enroll in a QuickBooks class, consider not only your own goals but also the best way for you to learn QuickBooks. Read on to learn more about whether it is worth it for you to enroll in a QuickBooks class.
What Are the Benefits of a QuickBooks Class?
There are many reasons one should consider enrolling in a QuickBooks class. QuickBooks classes are useful for learning how to manage your own finances or jump starting one’s career in bookkeeping, accounting, or finance. Enrolling in a QuickBooks class is the best way to learn more complex, advanced features of QuickBooks as instructor-led classes will offer hands-on, interactive training and practice with QuickBooks and personalized feedback geared towards helping you improve your skills during the class.
Meet Personal & Professional Goals
Taking a QuickBooks class can help you meet personal or professional goals. QuickBooks is used most often by small business owners and self-employed individuals to track and manage their finances. Learning how to use QuickBooks can help one to set a budget, monitor one’s finances, maintain the health of one’s business, and even establish reasonable goals to grow one’s personal wealth or expand one’s small business.
Build a Career
QuickBooks training can be an entry point into many careers in bookkeeping, accounting, and finance. Licensed Bookkeepers in the US are required to know QuickBooks, so those intending to enter this profession should plan to take a QuickBooks class. Accountants will often also need QuickBooks training, especially if they intend to work with small business owners or self-employed individuals who use QuickBooks for their finances.
Those wanting to pursue a career as a Financial Manager, Financial Analyst, or Financial Advisor will also benefit from taking a QuickBooks class. While someone in these professions will need to learn other theories and tools, QuickBooks can complement one’s work as a finance professional. Those in these careers can find themselves using the historical data in QuickBooks to help better manage a company’s finances, advise clients in creating a sustainable budget, or help a business predict the best course for growing its profits.
Learn Advanced Features of QuickBooks
QuickBooks classes are likely to move beyond teaching the basics of the software like setting up a company profile, creating an invoice, and starting to track payments. QuickBooks is considered a comprehensive, feature-laden accounting software and it can be particularly challenging to figure out how to use some of the advanced, customized, and automated features. Taking a class should allow you to get a handle on these more challenging features with the professional guidance of an instructor and it will help you optimize your use of QuickBooks software.
Receive Hands-On Training
QuickBooks classes led by expert instructors will include interactive, hands-on training in using QuickBooks. This is the best way to learn QuickBooks as there will be someone there to guide and structure your learning and make sure that you understand the skills being taught. In live, instructor-led classes, the instructor is also there to answer questions and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
Get Individualized Feedback
Taking a QuickBooks class can allow you to receive personalized feedback as you take the class and gear your training to how you want to use the QuickBooks software. Instructor-led classes will not only teach you how to use the software but also allow you to receive feedback on the skills you are learning during the class and feedback on how you can continue to practice and improve after the class is over. Additionally, most businesses will not need to use all features of the QuickBooks software and some are industry-specific. A QuickBooks class can help you to receive training using the features you need for your own business.
Who Will Find a QuickBooks Class Worthwhile?
Consider taking a QuickBooks class if you are a small business owner, self-employed, or want to work in bookkeeping, accounting, or any sort of financial management or analysis.
Small Business Owners & Individuals Needing to Manage Their Finances
Most of QuickBooks’ users are those who own or manage small to medium-sized businesses. Because the software allows one to perform a variety of different functions to monitor finances and make running a business easier, many people find it useful to take a class that will introduce them to the software and some of its basic to intermediate functions. Those wanting to use QuickBooks for its ability to create and send customer invoices, track and manage inventory, customers, and vendors, and handle payroll and HR processes should receive some sort of training in how to best use these features.
Current or Future Bookkeepers and Accountants
As accounting software, the use of QuickBooks is so dominant and widespread that licensed Bookkeepers in the US are required to receive QuickBooks training. Someone intending to become a Bookkeeper should plan to take a QuickBooks class, either from the National Association of Certified Professional Bookkeepers or from a suitable QuickBooks training provider. Additionally, QuickBooks has a free version of the QuickBooks software for Accountants and other accounting professionals called QuickBooks Online Accountant. Accountants can learn how to use QuickBooks software through Intuit’s training modules or by taking several free, low-cost, or paid classes.
Other Finance Professionals
The popularity of QuickBooks as accounting software means that it will be useful for Financial Managers, Financial Advisors, and Financial Analysts to know how to use QuickBooks. This is mostly applicable to those who work with or want to work with individuals or small business owners who use QuickBooks. In these situations, managers, advisors, and analysts can use the software, its historical data, and the reports QuickBooks generates to aid their clients in budgeting, planning, and growing their finances.
Is there anyone who probably doesn’t need a QuickBooks class?
A QuickBooks class is not necessary for those who do not want to use QuickBooks accounting software to track and manage their finances. If you are someone who would prefer to use a different accounting software or a program like Excel, then you do not need QuickBooks training. While there might be some overlap between using QuickBooks and using other accounting software, most other options are not as comprehensive as QuickBooks and you will want to make sure you receive training specific to the applications you need or want to use.
Considerations When Looking at QuickBooks Classes
As you decide whether a QuickBooks class is worth it for you, you will also want to consider the different types of training available. It is necessary to determine how much time, effort, and money you want to put into learning QuickBooks as this will help you decide whether to take a QuickBooks class or not.
In-person, Live Online, or Asynchronous Online
One of the biggest considerations when determining whether to take a QuickBooks class and what kind of class to choose is how the class is taught. Live, instructor-led, in-person classes are still considered the best way to learn, practice, and retain new knowledge and skills. This mode of class offers guided, hands-on training and practice using QuickBooks and can best cater to the learner’s own needs and ability level. In-person QuickBooks classes are available in or near most US cities through digital skills training providers like Noble Desktop, ONLC Training, or New Horizons or can also be offered through one’s local library, community college, or university’s continuing education program.
Live or asynchronous online options are good alternatives to in-person classes. Live online classes are the most similar to in-person classes. Like in-person class, this training is still instructor-led though one will attend class over a video platform, like Zoom. This training format is great for those with busy schedules or who cannot find a nearby in-person class. Live online classes make it easy to take a QuickBooks class from home or another quiet location and some are even offered part-time, in the evenings, or on weekends to make them even more accessible.
One can often find asynchronous online classes called on-demand classes, as discussed further in the next section. These are classes where instead of meeting with other students and an instructor, one receives access to the course material and can learn at their own pace and on their own time. Overall, self-motivated learners with inflexible schedules are best suited to this style of class. Asynchronous online classes can range in price, with many options being more cost-effective than traditional forms of in-person or live online learning.
Bootcamp, Certificate Program, or On-Demand Class
Which training format you are looking at can determine a class’s cost, length, curriculum, and mode of instruction. Each format has its advantages and disadvantages that one should carefully consider before committing to enrolling in a specific QuickBooks class.
Bootcamps are often shorter, more intensive classes that teach only one skill or one topic. QuickBooks bootcamps are usually one-to-two-day classes that cover comprehensive knowledge about QuickBooks or that breakdown skills into different classes for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced learners. Bootcamps are the fastest way for someone to learn most of what one needs to know to use QuickBooks for one’s own finances or in a professional capacity. QuickBooks bootcamps should not speed through the course material too much, however, if one learns best at a slower pace then consider taking a certificate program or an on-demand class instead.
Certificate programs are longer, career-oriented programs of study that aim to provide students with all of the knowledge and skills necessary to start working in a certain field upon completion.
Instead of looking for QuickBooks certificate programs, consider looking for bookkeeping or accounting certificate programs. These classes are a great way to learn principles, theories, and terms specific to accounting and bookkeeping professions and many of these certificate programs will also cover QuickBooks and how to use it. Because these courses can be more expensive and take longer for learners to complete, they are not the best option for someone who only needs to learn QuickBooks.
On-demand classes are self-paced classes where learners are given access to course material that they can move through at their own speed. QuickBooks on-demand classes are often cost-effective ways to learn basic QuickBooks skills and are especially useful for beginning learners to consider. These can be a very flexible way to take a QuickBooks class for those with busy schedules or who prefer at-home learning. Because on-demand classes are not instructor-led, they are best for self-motivated learners. Some on-demand learners can become frustrated when learning from pre-recorded video tutorials or fail to complete a course without any external motivating factors like an instructor, deadlines, or other students.
Introductory, Intermediate, or Advanced
QuickBooks beginners should look for introductory classes and video tutorials that will provide an overview of the software and walk one through setting up a company profile, linking accounts, and starting to do some of the basic functions of the software. Beginner-level training can be received for free or through low-cost on-demand classes. There are also introductory QuickBooks bootcamps that will fulfill a similar function.
Many QuickBooks classes are designed to teach learners both QuickBooks basics and intermediate or advanced topics. If you want to learn everything at once, look into taking a comprehensive QuickBooks bootcamp, which will be the fastest way to learn how to use QuickBooks. If you already have some experience using QuickBooks you can often enroll in intermediate or advanced-level QuickBooks classes, rather than starting back at the entry-level.
Many people learning QuickBooks find that while they can easily pick up some of the basic functions, QuickBooks becomes harder to use for advanced features of management, customization, and automation. It is especially where it is useful to take a class when one is considering using more complex, advanced QuickBooks features. An instructor or carefully curated course material can help learners figure out these more demanding and sometimes industry-specific uses of QuickBooks.
Free, Low-Cost, or Paid
Some people might be wary of taking a QuickBooks class due to cost. However, there are QuickBooks classes available at many different price points. Live, instructor-led classes tend to be the most expensive, but they also offer the best comprehensive QuickBooks instruction in the shortest amount of time. For those who need to use QuickBooks professionally, taking one of these classes is the best option.
On-demand classes are great, low-cost alternatives. While one will need to be a self-motivated learner to take an on-demand class, most are less than $25. These classes are a great place for beginners to start, though it can be harder to learn more advanced ways to use QuickBooks from an on-demand class without taking additional, specialized on-demand classes.
QuickBooks learners can also find free QuickBooks classes and tutorials. YouTube video tutorials are a great way for beginners to become familiar with the QuickBooks software and its capabilities. Check with your local library to see if they offer access to LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn Learning has on-demand QuickBooks classes that one can take for free with a library card.
Alternatives to Taking a QuickBooks Class
Self-teaching is the main alternative to taking a QuickBooks class. Many free online resources can help QuickBooks learners teach themselves the fundamentals of this software. Learners can find free YouTube video tutorials, websites, blogs, eBooks, guides, and step-by-step instructions to learn different features of QuickBooks. Self-teaching is a good way for beginners to start familiarizing themselves with QuickBooks, though it may lead to frustration with trying to master the software. Many people find that they need some sort of additional guidance to understand QuickBooks fully and end up learning QuickBooks through a mix of paid and free resources.
With a background in accounting and bookkeeping, some people find that they can start using QuickBooks software and figure out its various features on their own. It will depend upon what one wants to do with the software, as most people do not find it intuitive enough to master advanced features and customization options on their own. If you start learning QuickBooks on your own and find it a frustrating process, try reaching out to other users by posting in social media forums or asking a question on Intuit’s QuickBooks Community page.
Learn QuickBooks Skills with Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop offers expert in-person and live online training for those interested in learning QuickBooks. Every Noble Desktop class comes with expert, hands-on guidance, small class sizes, and free retake options and many classes offer both part-time and full-time options so that one can find the QuickBooks or finance class that works best for their schedule. For fast and comprehensive training in QuickBooks, consider enrolling in Noble Deskop’s QuickBooks Bootcamp which teaches students everything they need to know about how to use QuickBooks to track and manage a business’s finances. This bootcamp uses interactive training to teach students the basics of QuickBooks like configuring a company profile, working with customer, vendor, and inventory lists, and invoicing and processing payments as well as the more advanced management and customization features. Noble Desktop offers this bootcamp live online from any location and it can be taken in person at Noble Desktop’s training facility in New York City.
Noble Desktop also has accounting classes and bootcamps which are a great option for anyone interested in developing their skills or learning more about finance and accounting. The Intro to Financial Accounting & Financial Statements class uses hands-on exercises to teach students the fundamentals of analyzing financial statements and reports. After completing this introductory class, students can progress to the Intermediate Financial Accounting class which teaches more complex topics like earnings per share and deferred taxes. For those who want a comprehensive, accelerated class that tackles both beginner and intermediate topics of accounting, consider the Financial Accounting Bootcamp which teaches everything students need to know in two class sessions.
Noble’s finance and accounting classes are great for those who want to grow their financial literacy beyond learning about QuickBooks. These classes are also useful for those interested in becoming a Bookkeeper or Accountant. If this is something that interests you, you can learn more about the career path of an Accountant by reading Noble Desktop’s comprehensive guide to accounting, a free resource that covers essential information about accounting and how to learn the skills necessary to make this one’s career. Learning principles of accounting or receiving QuickBooks training can be the first step on the path to becoming a Financial Manager or Financial Analyst. For those who want to work in finance, Noble Desktop’s guide to finance is a useful way to read about different career options and how to receive training for careers in finance.