The fastest way to learn QuickBooks depends on multiple factors, such as the training format of a class, how quickly you learn content, and whether you have any prior knowledge of accounting. QuickBooks is easier to learn if you already have some understanding of common accounting terms and concepts and it will take longer for someone without this background to become proficient in using QuickBooks. Training format also matters. Bootcamps are often a quick way to learn new skills, certificate programs can teach career-oriented skills quickly, and introductory classes, free resources, and on-demand courses are great options for beginners. Read on to learn more about some of the fastest ways you can learn QuickBooks.
How Long Does It Take to Learn QuickBooks?
Most QuickBooks users suggest that it will take between two and four weeks to become proficient in QuickBooks. One can learn the basics in less than a day by taking a quick bootcamp or class, but it will take longer to practice using the skills learned and put them into use. How long it takes you to learn QuickBooks will depend on your determination to use this software, the knowledge and experience you have with accounting, and what you want to do with QuickBooks.
For those who already know common accounting terms and principles, it can take less time to figure out how to use QuickBooks. However, if one starts learning QuickBooks with no prior knowledge of accounting or bookkeeping, it will take longer to learn how to use this accounting software. Consider taking a short bookkeeping or accounting class to learn about important concepts like accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash vs. accrual accounting, and how to read financial statements.
Another factor that can impact how quickly someone learns QuickBooks is how they intend to use it. If someone only wants to use the basic features to manage their own finances or those of a simple small business, it will not take as long to learn because one can bypass some of the more complex or industry-specific features of the software. For those who intend to use it to manage the finances of more complex businesses or companies that own multiple different businesses, it will take longer to become proficient using the advanced and customizable features of QuickBooks.
Bootcamps: A Fast Way to Learn Comprehensive QuickBooks
Bootcamps are accelerated classes that aim to teach students about one topic or one skill. This format of training is intensive and condenses the knowledge that QuickBooks learners need down to the essentials so that students can leave the class with QuickBooks proficiency. Most QuickBooks bootcamps teach both basic and advanced skills over one or two days.
Look for instructor-led QuickBooks classes to receive quality, fast QuickBooks instruction. Instructor-led classes are usually those offered in person and live online, allowing students to receive hands-on guidance in learning QuickBooks. Taking an instructor-led class will mean you need to commit to attending regularly scheduled classes, either at a training facility or over a video streaming platform, so this might not be the best option for those with busy schedules. Some training facilities and community colleges do offer part-time options for their QuickBooks bootcamps and classes and these part-time options can be more accessible for learners who need to juggle coursework and a full-time job or other important commitments.
Free Resources: For the Very Basics
Free resources can be a quick way to get started learning about QuickBooks. YouTube tutorials are some of the most useful free materials for learners to use. One can use these tutorials to watch a walkthrough of the software or learn about some of the most important QuickBooks features. Other free resources include websites offering free QuickBooks or accounting training, online tutorials, webinars, step-by-step guides, and reaching out to other users through social media forums and groups.
While free resources are useful to help you get started using QuickBooks, it is harder to learn everything you need to know about QuickBooks from free resources alone. To become proficient in QuickBooks, one needs to make sure they are learning from quality, up-to-date, and accurate resources, which is not a guarantee when using free materials. It is also common for someone to need more comprehensive or even industry-specific training and many free resources are geared towards a more general audience.
Introductory Classes: To Become Comfortable Using QuickBooks
Along with free resources, introductory and beginner-friendly classes are a great way to get started learning QuickBooks. One can find both instructor-led and on-demand introductory QuickBooks classes that will walk learners through setting up a company profile in QuickBooks, linking accounts, recording transactions, and even creating invoices. Introductory classes are the best way to become familiar with the software in a structured learning environment.
What an introductory course offers will depend upon the provider. One can find classes geared towards those who want to manage simple business finances using QuickBooks as well as introductory classes that are the start of a more comprehensive sequence of introductory to intermediate to advanced classes. Taking some sort of intermediate or advanced QuickBooks class is recommended for anyone who wants to use QuickBooks professionally. For those with no accounting experience, taking an introductory bookkeeping or accounting course is also an important option to consider. Some introductory QuickBooks classes might even incorporate some training in accounting for those without this background knowledge.
Certificate Programs: For Aspiring Professionals
Certificate programs are career-oriented courses of study that teach learners the knowledge and skills necessary to become proficient in a particular profession. Those who only want to learn QuickBooks will likely not need to consider these classes, as there are shorter options like bootcamps that one can take instead. However, anyone pursuing a career as a Bookkeeper, Accountant, or other finance professional should consider taking a certificate program to learn the underlying principles of their future profession.
Bookkeepers and Accountants will find that certificate programs can be a comparatively fast way to jumpstart their career. While a full college or university degree program can take years, certificate programs are often only multiple weeks or months in length. It is also common to find QuickBooks taught as a module in a longer course for bookkeeping and accounting. Overall, aspiring accounting and finance professionals should consider taking a certificate program which will be cheaper and quicker than working to receive a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
On-Demand Platforms: Many Options at Variable Lengths
On-demand classes are a self-paced training option where learners are given access to course material that they can work through at their own speed. Learners can take these online classes from home, at any hour, and for as many or as few hours as they like, since they do not need to meet in person or live online with an instructor or other students. Often, the course content for an on-demand QuickBooks class will be pre-recorded video lectures and tutorials as well as practice sessions and skills tests.
These classes from providers like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Skillshare can vary in length, ranging from a few hours for introductory or more specialized classes to over 100 hours for courses that promise comprehensive mastery of QuickBooks. On-demand classes can be a good option to learn QuickBooks for those who are determined and self-motivated. Self-motivated learners might be able to move quickly through a six-hour class in one day or a 24-hour class in one to two weeks, but many learners will move more slowly through this course material. Some find this style of learning to be disengaging and frustrating, especially given that QuickBooks learners will not be able to receive direct guidance from an instructor or learn alongside other students.
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.