QuickBooks is a widely used accounting software developed by Intuit. Many small businesses and self-employed individuals use QuickBooks to send invoices, receive payments, handle inventory, manage payroll, and prepare taxes. Once you’ve decided to learn QuickBooks, the next important question is deciding how it is you plan to learn these skills. Most students find that they learn better when they receive guided training and there is no shortage of available options for students to receive guidance in their QuickBooks training. To learn more about the different QuickBooks training options, and what advantages and disadvantages they carry with them, read on.
What is QuickBooks?
QuickBooks is a widely used accounting and bookkeeping software 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 a business’s inventory, and handle 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 software with tiered pricing that comes in different versions depending on the user’s storage and business needs. Intuit offers QuickBooks with basic to premium plans of its cloud-based QuickBooks Online, a computer-installed QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise version for larger or more complex companies, and a version for freelancers and independent contractors called QuickBooks Solopreneur.
What Can You Do with QuickBooks Skills?
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 to keep employees updated on crucial tasks and send 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.
Why Training Format Matters
How one chooses to learn QuickBooks matters. Which QuickBooks training format learners choose will dictate important aspects of your learning like the kind of course material you will learn from or whether you receive guidance from a live instructor or are expected to teach yourself. Some students need a class that will fit within their own busy schedule or that they can take part-time, whereas others want to learn QuickBooks quickly and intensively. These factors and others, like cost, are important to consider as you choose how to learn QuickBooks. The variation in training format allows you to decide which format will work best for your schedule, your own needs as a learner, and your budget.
Types of Training Formats
QuickBooks learners can find free QuickBooks resources as well as paid in-person, live online, and asynchronous online or on-demand classes that will teach them vital QuickBooks skills. Beginning learners can gain foundational skills from free QuickBooks resources and low-cost on-demand classes, while instructor-led in-person and live online classes provide guided, comprehensive training and instruction in more advanced QuickBooks skills.
Live In-Person Classes
Live in-person QuickBooks training is the best option for those looking for quality, expert skills training. In-person classes and training are still considered the best ways to learn and practice new skills because students receive hands-on guidance from an instructor in a communal learning environment that is often less distracting than most online learning options. These types of classes are also the most likely to provide career-oriented networking opportunities or offer career support services like help constructing a portfolio, putting together a LinkedIn Profile, or navigating the job market. Attending QuickBooks training on-site at a training center can also provide the advantage of being able to use the training facility’s computers and their software during class.
In-person classes are not the best option for everyone, especially for those with busy schedules, full-time jobs, or who live far away from major metropolitan areas in the U.S. These classes have the least flexible schedules and it can be difficult to find in-person QuickBooks training outside of a major U.S. city. Additionally, in-person classes are often less cost-effective in comparison to other training methods, which can put this type of training out of reach for many. Consider using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to find lower-cost in-person QuickBooks classes in your local area and consider looking for in-person classes offered by local community colleges or continuing education programs.
Live Online Classes
Live online classes are a great alternative to taking an in-person class. These classes will still be led by expert instructors and should provide a similar level of interactive, guided QuickBooks instruction. Though one often takes a live online class through a video call platform, like Zoom, QuickBooks learners can still benefit from learning the subject matter alongside other students who are there for the same purpose. Live online classes will allow students to ask questions about the QuickBooks software in real time and receive troubleshooting help for any particularly difficult tasks they are asked to practice during the course. Online classes are also more adaptable to one’s own needs and schedule, as learners can take the class from home and can often find options for evening or weekend QuickBooks classes.
Like other online learning formats, one of the main challenges of this type of training is that learning outside of a traditional classroom setting can be distracting and less engaging. Taking a class from home can mean that someone’s attention is divided between the class and other commitments, like needing to care for children or pets or attending to other chores and responsibilities. One can lessen these distractions by moving to a quiet room or planning to take the course at a location outside of one’s home like a library or coffee shop. Additionally, similar to in-person classes one will need to commit to attending regularly scheduled classes, which can make it hard for those with busy schedules and full-time jobs to take some live online classes.
On-Demand Classes
On-demand classes are online asynchronous, self-paced courses where students are given access to QuickBooks course material that they are able to go through at their own speed. This allows QuickBooks learners to speed up or skip parts of the material that are too easy or that they already know and slow down, review, or study aspects that are more difficult or more important. These classes are great for beginners because many of them aim to provide basic familiarity with QuickBooks and cover some of the most essential uses of the software. Additionally, on-demand classes are often less expensive than other in-person or live online options and they are great options for those self-motivated learners with inflexible or demanding schedules.
While these classes can help QuickBooks learners understand foundational QuickBooks skills, they are less useful for those wanting in-depth, detailed training or those who want to learn advanced QuickBooks functions. It may even be the case that someone will need to take multiple on-demand classes to receive the same level of QuickBooks training and practice provided by only one live online or in-person class. On-demand classes are also not instructor-led, meaning that learners have no one to ask for help should they run into challenges understanding how to do something in QuickBooks. Lack of instructor guidance can lead to delays and frustrations in finishing a class and can even lead one to not complete their on-demand training.
Free Courses
There are free QuickBooks courses and resources that are great for beginners and those with no prior knowledge of QuickBooks. Like on-demand classes, these are more cost-effective and flexible options that one can pick up, engage with, and put down, as necessary. One can often find free YouTube video tutorials, webinars, and lectures that provide walkthroughs and overviews of QuickBooks or that aim to teach basic uses of the software. Additionally, someone with a public library card can often access LinkedIn Learning where they can take free on-demand QuickBooks courses.
The downside to learning QuickBooks through free courses and resources is that there is little quality control. It can be overwhelming to find free materials that will work best for one’s learning style and that are up-to-date and provide accurate information about how to use the current iteration of QuickBooks software. Additionally, there is little structure or guidance when using free materials, which can lead to confusion and frustration as one attempts to teach oneself how to use QuickBooks. It is best to use free courses or resources as an entry point into understanding QuickBooks or to learn a specific feature of QuickBooks after one has a more comprehensive knowledge of how to use this feature-heavy software.
Depth of Training Formats
Depth of training is important to consider as this will let you know the kind of course material a class will cover. Some training formats are comprehensive and can last multiple weeks or months like certificate programs, others are both intensive and comprehensive like bootcamps, while still others can be short but only provide one with an overview of basic knowledge like an introductory course.
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are career-oriented training courses. These programs of study are usually longer and can last a few weeks to multiple months. Certificate programs are comprehensive in nature and teach both basic and advanced skills and they are designed to teach students all of the knowledge, theories, and tools they will need to be successful in a given profession upon completion of the program. Out of all of the training formats, certificate programs are also the most likely to have dedicated career support services, such as helping students craft a portfolio or navigate the job market.
It will be rare to find a QuickBooks certificate program. Instead, QuickBooks can often be found as part of a certificate program for bookkeeping or accounting. QuickBooks is commonly used by Bookkeepers and Accountants and a certificate program can be a great way to learn the necessary principles and skills of these professions. To become a certified Bookkeeper in the US one actually needs QuickBooks training, so it is especially common to find bookkeeping certificate programs that cover QuickBooks.
Training Bootcamps
Training bootcamps are often accelerated classes that teach students one skill or one topic. As an accelerated course, these classes are usually shorter and allow one to learn QuickBooks over the course of a few hours or a few days. Bootcamps, like certificate programs, usually are more career-oriented than other types of classes and will aim to teach both basic and advanced features of QuickBooks. Also like certificate programs, one might be able to get access to career support services by enrolling in a live online or in-person bootcamp--on-demand or free bootcamps will rarely offer additional services like these.
QuickBooks bootcamps are a common way to learn how to use this software. For those that can commit to taking an accelerated course, a bootcamp will provide them not only with instruction but also practice where students will often be tasked with setting up their company’s account and getting started on important tasks like linking accounts, creating invoices, or managing customer, vendor, and inventory lists. Noble Desktop’s QuickBooks Bootcamp is one such class that provides this style of comprehensive, hands-on training. QuickBooks beginners can take this course, as there are no prerequisites, and students will leave the class with a full, detailed knowledge of how to navigate and utilize the QuickBooks software for their own business needs.
Introductory Courses
Introductory courses aim to provide beginners with a brief overview of QuickBooks. Introductory courses are often shorter and usually less detailed than other types of training, however, they can be very useful for QuickBooks beginners. This type of course can include video tutorials that give users a walkthrough of what it looks like to navigate the software interface, compare the different versions of QuickBooks, or provide prospective users with tips to get started using QuickBooks. It can often be beneficial for someone to see how others navigate or use the software prior to testing it out for oneself, which is why these short video tutorials or introductory classes can be useful.
Additionally, introductory courses and videos can aim to go over the most common and basic uses of the software. These courses will still often be shorter than other training formats and be less specific to how you might need to use QuickBooks for your own business. QuickBooks learners will find that they can locate low-cost or free introductory courses for QuickBooks as well as for bookkeeping or accounting. Many QuickBooks learners will find it useful to take a quick course in bookkeeping or accounting prior to using QuickBooks as it will help them to get a handle on the different features of QuickBooks and what this accounting software is made to do.
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.