QuickBooks is a comprehensive accounting software from Intuit. Many small businesses and individuals use QuickBooks to make it easier to track and monitor their expenses, receive payments, send invoices, manage payroll, and prepare their taxes. The number of options for learning QuickBooks might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences.
Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning QuickBooks so you can make an informed decision about how you’d like to get started.
What is QuickBooks?
QuickBooks is a widely used accounting and bookkeeping software package from Intuit. Primarily used by small and medium businesses, QuickBooks helps businesses to track and manage everything to do with their finances. Using QuickBooks, businesses can monitor their cash flow and profits and losses by tracking sales, expenses, customers, and payments. QuickBooks is also often used to create and send invoices, manage the business’s inventory, and manage employee payroll. It also has budgeting, time tracking, and daily task features to keep businesses running efficiently.
QuickBooks helps businesses ensure the accuracy of their records by directly connecting sales channels to QuickBooks and reconciling bank transactions with the information one inputs. The software also has features to help with tax preparation and can be used as a way to collaborate and share documents with an accountant. QuickBooks is a subscription-based service with varied payment tiers that provide access to different features. The different versions of QuickBooks cater to different storage and employment needs as Intuit offers basic to premium plans of its cloud-based QuickBooks Online, a computer-installed QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise version for larger companies, and a version for freelancers and independent contractors called QuickBooks Solopreneur.
Read more about what QuickBooks is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with QuickBooks?
QuickBooks software has many different applications and uses across a wide variety of industries. Many small and medium-sized businesses use QuickBooks for its record-keeping features as it was originally designed for businesses without a dedicated accounting department. QuickBooks allows someone to track and categorize many things such as expenses, sales, transactions, and customer, vendor, and inventory lists. This makes QuickBooks a great option for those needing to keep all of their business records in one place.
Additionally, many people use QuickBooks to create and send invoices, manage employee payroll, help prepare their taxes, maintain a budget, and automate tasks. QuickBooks includes features to automate accounts payable and receivable. Many use QuickBooks to automate sending customer invoices or payment reminders or even keeping employees updated on crucial tasks and sending deadline reminders. These features of QuickBooks allow you to increase productivity and maintain efficient workflows so that you do not constantly need to task employees with work that can be done by the QuickBooks software itself.
Not only do businesses use QuickBooks, but QuickBooks is often used by self-employed people like freelancers and independent contractors. QuickBooks offers a specific version of the software called QuickBooks Solopreneur (formerly QuickBooks Self-Employed or SE). Many people find that once they link their accounts, it is easy to import their transactions and the QuickBooks software will automatically work to tag one’s income. Self-employed users will likely need to do a bit of extra work to categorize their transactions more effectively for their own needs, but QuickBooks can do much of the bookkeeping work automatically and make tracking finances easier for individuals.
In-Person QuickBooks Training
In-person training is a great way to learn basic and advanced uses of QuickBooks. Most in-person classes aim to teach beginning and comprehensive use of QuickBooks in as little as a few hours to a couple of days. The benefit of an in-person class is that students will receive guided instruction and individual feedback from a live instructor, an instructor who can also answer questions and provide further examples, as necessary. Many people also find that in-person training allows them to better focus on the course content, as they do not have to deal with the distractions that come with learning from home or studying in a public place like a coffee shop or library.
The main downsides to in-person learning are cost and lack of scheduling flexibility. In-person classes are often more expensive than on-demand classes or free resources and one usually has to commit to taking the class as scheduled, which can be difficult for those with busy schedules, full-time jobs, and other commitments. In-person learning is still considered to be the best way to learn a skill or topic and it is likely one will be able to find lower-cost in-person QuickBooks classes in a variety of cities and some in-person classes do have more flexible part-time, weekend, or evening schedules to accommodate a wider range of students.
One can find options for in-person QuickBooks training from many reputable training centers and schools. IT and digital skills training centers often operate in-person QuickBooks classes in large and midsize cities, these education providers include Noble Desktop, Certstaffix Training, Sonic Training, and ONLC Training. Additionally, it is useful to check with local libraries, community colleges, or continuing education programs near you, as these are common ways to find lower-cost or even free in-person QuickBooks training options. Use Noble Desktop’s free Classes Near Me too to find in-person QuickBooks classes in your local area.
Live Online QuickBooks Training
Live online QuickBooks training is a great option for those who want to take an instructor-led class but either cannot attend an in-person class or would prefer to take a class from home or another quiet location of their own choice. This mode of instruction is most similar to in-person learning and students should look for live online classes that are run by experts and offer hands-on training with the most updated version of the QuickBooks software. Live online classes can provide students with the structure and guidance necessary to learn how to use QuickBooks while allowing for more flexibility than in-person classes. Students can take these classes from any location and can often find part-time, evening, or weekend classes offered online.
One of the downsides to a live online class is that it can be harder to focus and more distracting than taking an in-person class. While some have mastered online learning, others find it can be harder to focus on the course material and that they are distracted by their household environment. Even though learning online can present these challenges, it is still a great way to receive training in QuickBooks, especially for those who cannot take an in-person class.
Many online training centers and education providers have live online QuickBooks classes. Noble Desktop offers a live online QuickBooks bootcamp for those looking to learn beginning and advanced QuickBooks skills. Other providers like Certstaffix Training, NYIM Training, Computer Training Source, Inc., and Digital Workshop Center also offer beginner-friendly classes, advanced classes, and bootcamps. Some even offer QuickBooks training as a larger part of learning the fundamentals of bookkeeping. Use Noble Desktop’s free Classes Near Me tool to find live online QuickBooks classes in your local area.
Free Online Courses & Tutorials
For those not yet ready to take a full course on QuickBooks, one can start learning QuickBooks and related skills for free online. Noble Desktop’s comprehensive guide to accounting is one such free resource that covers introductory information about accounting and how to learn the skills necessary to become an Accountant. It is common for those interested in QuickBooks or accounting, either for use with their own business or for other clients, to start by learning about the software and familiarizing themselves with what it can do and what skills will allow them to optimize their use of it. Using free resources can help someone not only receive a basic overview of QuickBooks but also figure out what skills to learn, what courses to take, and what knowledge they still need to acquire before getting started with QuickBooks.
One can also find free introductory courses from different education providers online. Most of these courses will be on-demand, self-paced courses that will provide learners with access to video lectures or tutorials and allow for limited practice and skills testing. These courses range from providing beginners with tips and tricks for getting started with QuickBooks to more focused classes with modules on how to create invoices, use payroll, set up different kinds of accounts, or even customize the QuickBooks interface. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) has many such offerings and can often be accessed for free through one’s local library.
Read more about free QuickBooks videos and online tutorials.
On-Demand QuickBooks Classes
On-demand training refers to taking an online, self-paced class. These are classes where students receive access to the course material, which often includes video tutorials or lectures, self-guided practice, and skills quizzes, and can work through it at their own pace. These classes allow learners to speed through or skip material they already know and slow down, study, and review more challenging or more important material. QuickBooks learners can find on-demand classes for beginners and advanced learners, classes that are comprehensive and all-inclusive, and classes that are more targeted toward teaching specific aspects of QuickBooks like bank reconciliation or categorizing one’s transactions.
On-demand classes have many benefits, including that they are more flexible and often lower cost than in-person or live online classes. Learners taking an on-demand class can learn on their own schedule, choosing when to access course material and how long to spend with the material. This means that it can be a lot faster to learn QuickBooks from an on-demand class, depending on how determined someone is to learn how to use the software. Additionally, the lack of an instructor or training facility often means that on-demand classes can be taken at a much lower cost than other types of classes. It will ultimately depend on what class someone chooses, but there are free on-demand courses and low-cost and subscription-based classes from providers like Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Skillshare.
Because on-demand classes are not led by an instructor, one of the disadvantages is that students are left to learn the material without much guidance other than following a pre-recorded video or reading through instructions or guides. Those who pick up skills quickly with little training might find this mode of instruction useful, but some people do find the lack of guidance, hands-on practice, and feedback on their skills to be frustrating. While self-motivated, determined learners can also quickly learn the material from an on-demand class, some find they move slower through the material because nothing is forcing them to continue watching, reading, or practicing their skills. Additionally, some of the free and low-cost options might be out-of-date or offer less accurate information than one would find in a course led by a live expert.
Which Learning Method is Right for Me?
With so many different resources available to help beginners learn QuickBooks, you might be unsure about which one is best for you. Everyone has different learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with multiple ways to learn QuickBooks to see which one feels right for you. Free resources are a great place to start as you can watch walkthroughs of the software and receive instruction on the basic features of QuickBooks. For more advanced skills or to learn QuickBooks comprehensively, consider taking an in-person or live online class or bootcamp. Bootcamps are especially great for those who want to learn a skill quickly and comprehensively. One of the great things about directing your own learning is that you get to pick which combination of learning methods you choose, rather than having to stick with one mode of instruction.
It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method. If you have a lot of responsibilities like a full-time job or family commitments, you may not be able to devote time to a structured QuickBooks class or bootcamp that requires you to attend at the same time every day. In this case, a self-paced on-demand class or free video tutorials may be better since you can access them when your schedule allows. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer an in-person or live online QuickBooks course. Some of these courses even have part-time options that will work better for those with less flexible schedules.
Why Learn QuickBooks?
Whether for one’s own finances or to manage the finances of another small business, it can be useful to learn how to use QuickBooks. QuickBooks is an easy-to-use accounting and bookkeeping tool, so many people learn how to use it to track and monitor finances for their business or act as a Bookkeeper, Financial Manager, or Accountant for other businesses. Regardless of the size of one’s business, it is important to keep track of when and where one spends and makes money. QuickBooks will allow someone to monitor transactions, sales, and expenses. QuickBooks users can also use the software as a central place to store information about customers, vendors, inventory, employees, and orders and automate tasks like sending invoices and payments.
While the user interface for QuickBooks is designed to be easy for users to navigate, it is still important to learn the optimal techniques and strategies for using QuickBooks’s various features. Many need some initial guidance on how to set up their business profile, link accounts, integrate their sales channels, and use other important features of QuickBooks. However, once everything is set up it is fairly easy to operate. Learning Quickbooks can also be an entry point into learning more about accounting or financial management, for those who are interested in pursuing a career as a Bookkeeper, Accountant, or Financial Manager. Even those within these professional roles might need to have familiarity with QuickBooks, given its global popularity as a financial management software that is used across a wide variety of industries.
Read more about why you should learn QuickBooks.
Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost
QuickBooks is not considered too challenging to learn, though beginners can run into difficulties mastering the variety of features that the software provides. QuickBooks is comprehensive accounting software and many features have both basic and advanced, customizable uses. For instance, while beginning learners can quickly figure out basic bank reconciliation, it can be harder to reconcile accounts when one is dealing with complex transactions and multiple bank accounts. Using QuickBooks also requires some financial literacy and those without knowledge of common accounting terms and principles can find using QuickBooks difficult. Most QuickBooks learners can become proficient in QuickBooks in two to four weeks, though it will take longer to master the more complex or industry-specific features of QuickBooks.
There are no formal prerequisites to learning QuickBooks. To use the software, one will need basic computer skills like knowing how to install software, navigate an interactive application interface, and input data. Knowing common accounting terms and principles is also recommended, which includes understanding terms such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash versus accrual accounting, income, assets, liabilities, and deductibles. It will also be useful to know how to interpret financial data and reports to make full use of QuickBooks. Before using QuickBooks, one should also know which version to use and which features will be necessary for their business.
Small businesses will most likely use a version of QuickBooks Online, which has tiered pricing for different features and ranges in cost from $30-200 a month. The lowest-cost option for QuickBooks Online is Simple Start which includes one user, one linked sales channel, and most features except for things like bill pay, inventory tracking, employee management, and support services. QuickBooks Online Plus is the next tier up and includes up to five users, all sales channels, and adds things like multi-currency transactions, bill pay, and inventory tracking that the Simple Start excludes. QuickBooks Online Advanced is the most expensive plan and has all features, including payroll, employee management services, support services, and more customization and automation options. Accounting professionals can use QuickBooks Online Accountant for free and this version also provides access to free training materials.
Read about how difficult it is to learn QuickBooks.
Learn QuickBooks with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop offers expert in-person and live online training for those interested in learning QuickBooks. Noble Desktop’s classes all include 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 hands-on 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 turning their knowledge of QuickBooks into the first step to 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. For those who want to work in finance in some capacity but are not entirely sure which direction they want to go in yet, Noble Desktop’s guide to finance is a useful way to read about different career options.