How easy QuickBooks is to learn will depend on your prior experience and which features you need to use. QuickBooks is not considered difficult software to learn, however, many people initially struggle to master the large amount of features available and the ability to customize different aspects of QuickBooks. QuickBooks can also be a challenge for those with no background in bookkeeping or accounting. Using free or low-cost resources or enrolling in an on-demand or instructor-led class will give most people the guidance and structure necessary to learn QuickBooks in as little as a few days or a few weeks. With time, effort, and training, anyone can learn to become proficient in QuickBooks. Read on to learn about some of the challenging aspects of learning QuickBooks and how to make learning QuickBooks easier.
What is Hard about Learning QuickBooks?
There are no prerequisites to learning QuickBooks, however, many people suggest the need to know common accounting terms and principles to use the software effectively. This can include knowing about income, assets, liabilities, deductibles, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash vs. accrual accounting. To use QuickBooks, it is also important to know how to read financial statements and reports. If one has a background in double-entry bookkeeping or accounting, then QuickBooks will not present too much of a challenge, even with the complex features and customization options. Otherwise, consider taking a short bookkeeping or accounting class before learning QuickBooks or find QuickBooks training that includes a breakdown of key accounting concepts.
Intuit designed QuickBooks so that it could be used by those needing to track and manage their business’s finances. It is not considered to be particularly difficult to learn QuickBooks, however, some people find that there is a steep learning curve with QuickBooks. In particular, QuickBooks can be difficult to master because of the large amount of features one must learn how to use and the variety of customization options within the software. Like any software, it will take time to learn how to navigate the QuickBooks interface and feel comfortable using both basic and more advanced QuickBooks features.
The more advanced and customizable features of QuickBooks are the ones considered the hardest to learn. Intermediate and advanced QuickBooks skills include managing inventory, creating customized reports based on class, department, or location, tracking projects, automating workflows, and setting up customized user roles. The larger one’s business is, the more one will need to use complex or customized options within QuickBooks and it can also be difficult to master some of the industry-specific features for those in businesses like manufacturing, retail, legal services, or nonprofit work. To make it less challenging to learn QuickBooks, consider taking an instructor-led class, where you can ask questions, troubleshoot issues, and receive individualized feedback that will help you use QuickBooks more effectively.
How Can I Make Learning QuickBooks Easier?
To make learning QuickBooks easier consider using free resources, taking an on-demand class, or enrolling in an in-person or live online class or bootcamp. Most people find that they learn best from a mix of free and paid QuickBooks resources. Free resources and on-demand classes are a great option for QuickBooks beginners who want to start learning the basics or supplement their education after receiving more comprehensive training. A bootcamp will be the quickest way to learn comprehensive QuickBooks and live courses will provide learners with the most structure and guidance when learning QuickBooks.
Live online and in-person classes can provide learners with QuickBooks training that makes learning the software easier. Expert instructors in a QuickBooks class or bootcamp will guide students through how to navigate the software, set up their company’s profile, link accounts, and get started using the basic QuickBooks features to track and manage their finances. With an instructor-led class, learners will not need to locate their own learning materials and the course content will be up-to-date and accurate. QuickBooks learners enrolled in a live class will also benefit from being able to ask the instructor follow-up questions, receive extra examples, and get help with troubleshooting any issues as they arise. Live classes are available from professional training centers and community colleges.
On-demand classes can also make it easier to learn QuickBooks by structuring one’s learning process. An on-demand class is a self-paced course where students are given access to course material that they are able to move through at their own speed. This type of class will give learners structure and the ability to teach themselves how to use QuickBooks by following along with video lectures and other course material. Because there are no class sessions to attend with on-demand courses, on-demand classes can be a good option for those with busy schedules who cannot commit to attending a live online or in-person class. Udemy offers the widest variety of low-cost on-demand courses and some are available through Coursera and Skillshare, as well.
There are also many free resources that QuickBooks learners can utilize, from websites to video tutorials to free on-demand classes. YouTube tutorials are especially useful as they can provide walkthroughs or overviews of the software, explain the different software versions, and instruct beginners on QuickBooks fundamentals. Learners can follow along on their own software while watching these tutorials, making them a very approachable learning option. Your local public library can also be a useful place not only to find QuickBooks and accounting-related books but also to receive free access to LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn Learning is LinkedIn’s online on-demand learning platform and one can often access free QuickBooks courses through this service with one’s library card.
Best Ways to Learn QuickBooks Without Difficulty
Enrolling in a live, instructor-led class is the best way to learn QuickBooks without difficulty. Live QuickBooks training allows students to learn from an expert instructor and receive step-by-step, hands-on training as they learn the major features of QuickBooks. Those taking a live online and in-person class will benefit from the structure and guidance offered by this mode of instruction, as live training offers students not only support from an instructor but also support from other students who are also learning the same skills. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can help you locate live training options in your area.
The quickest way to learn QuickBooks is by enrolling in a comprehensive QuickBooks bootcamp. Bootcamps are accelerated classes that aim to teach students one specific topic or skill. They can be more career-oriented than other standalone classes and this makes them a great option for those wanting to use QuickBooks for their own business or to start training for a new career by learning QuickBooks. QuickBooks bootcamps are usually beginner-friendly and will not require any specific prerequisites for students to receive training. Noble Desktop’s QuickBooks Bootcamp teaches both basic and more advanced uses of this accounting software, making it a great option for anyone who wants to learn comprehensive QuickBooks skills in just two class sessions.
To learn QuickBooks without difficulty, those with no accounting knowledge should also consider taking a short course to learn finance or double-entry accounting. One can look for bookkeeping or accounting courses that will familiarize them with common terms and practices and prepare them to learn QuickBooks. Consider Noble Desktop’s Intro to Financial Accounting & Financial Statements class which uses hands-on exercises to teach learners how to read financial statements and reports like income and cash flow statements and balance sheets. Many people learn QuickBooks as an entry point into working professionally in accounting. If that is something you are interested in you should consider enrolling in Noble’s beginner-friendly Financial Accounting Bootcamp to learn both introductory and intermediate skills necessary for pursuing a career as an Accountant.