The heart of the internet

Moving to QuickBooks Online from spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel or other platforms such as Xero, Sage, or Wave is simple. You can import your data into QuickBooks with CSV files in a few easy steps. Looking for an alternative to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets that’s easy to use and automates your small business accounting?

QuickBooks automatically calculates sales tax based on the date, location, product type, and customer. When you add sales tax to an invoice, QuickBooks will automatically calculate your sales tax rate. You can also collect sales tax for multiple agencies, such as the city and state.

Sales Tax Feature

Easily do it yourself by importing your CSV files into QuickBooks, or get help from one of our experts if you have questions. We also offer expert-led webinars, easy-to-use guides and free phone and chat support. 71% of customers say QuickBooks helps them run their business more successfully than their previous method6. You’re not alone in your decision-making process when it comes to accounting software.

As time goes, and you keep adding data, keep making things more complex. Start creating math rules, lock fields, use forms, and search all the advanced features. For those that quickbooks vs excel for small business think Excel is for simple data, I invite you to download or buy some advanced Excel templates.

QuickBooks vs Spreadsheets: Accounting Software Features

• The trend is to dismiss Excel as something more simple, problematic, and not as professional as an accounting software like QB.
• The great thing about tiered subscriptions is that they scale with your business as you grow.
• We are confident in our ability to streamline the operations and bookkeeping side of your business.
• It has several features, whether you’re creating graphs, crunching numbers, or creating files for others to view and edit.
• Excel has more than 400 built-in functions that provide instant solutions for most of your jobs – whether statistical or financial.

Top-tier plans can cost as much as $200 per month, but at this level, you get uncommon features, such as workflow automation, advanced analytics and dedicated customer support. Cloud-based software is far more popular today and with that comes tiers for different types or sizes of businesses. So, you’re likely to find a free plan, which would be suitable for an individual, but you’ll have limits on the number of invoices you can send or you may have no access to advanced features. Of course, you can find some free accounting software options out there, but fully featured accounting software usually comes at a cost. Accounting apps will usually set you back about $20 per month for the low tier of cloud-based solutions.

Additionally, without regular backups, crucial data could be lost forever in the event of a power failure or technical mishap. This software is also available in an enterprise version, which offers even more advanced capabilities than a typical spreadsheet. From automated invoicing to detailed reports, it makes it easy to keep track of your finances accurately and efficiently. Using this confidently ensures that your bookkeeping data is secure and organized, providing peace of mind for your operations.

QuickBooks offers a robust solution for businesses looking to scale their financial management seamlessly. Unlike the manual limitations of tools like Excel, QuickBooks delivers tailored features designed for expansion at every stage of your business. QuickBooks estimates a high level of precision and accuracy in recording bookkeeping data, making it a perfect choice for your business needs.

• You can also check out our guide on how to do payroll with QuickBooks.
• If you’re exploring beginner-friendly tools, compare FreshBooks vs. QuickBooks and Wave vs. QuickBooks to find the right fit for your needs.
• Those that were less expensive or comparably priced to QuickBooks fared better than those with a higher entry-level cost.
• From automated invoicing to detailed reports, it makes it easy to keep track of your finances accurately and efficiently.
• QuickBooks vs Spreadsheets In terms of saving time, QuickBooks would take the cup.

The Online Advanced version is a more powerful version of the online service, offering even more accounting features to meet the needs of larger businesses. Setting up the software correctly from the start will save you time and frustration down the line. By using this as your accounting solution, you can trust that your bookkeeping data is accurate and up to date and keeps your business running smoothly. QuickBooks is designed to save time by streamlining repetitive tasks and providing a clearer overview of your business finances.

QuickBooks vs Spreadsheets

One of the most critical aspects of business is knowing your financial health. This concern is why companies choose accounting software like QuickBooks to improve their understanding of their business finances. Let’s review the critical differences between these two programs. Method is the #1 lead-to-cash automation tool for QuickBooks users.

If you are looking to save money for your accounting needs, you can consider using accounting sheets in Excel. However, you should be ready to spend more time on accounting and managing your finances. Excel, too, has an app that supports both Android and iOS devices. With the app, you can review the spreadsheets on it, create them, and even edit them. This, too, has limitations, such as the fact that you cannot generate reports or invoice clients. QuickBooks, however, has two main options that businesses can choose from.

1 Based on a September 2022 survey conducted by Intuit of 611 small businesses in global markets that use QuickBooks Online to invoice customers. If your business handles a lot of transactions daily and you don’t have a good bookkeeping system to track your cash flow, then there’s no way to know if your business is making money or losing money. With Excel formulas, you can create spreadsheets from templates on your own and combine two or more functions to perform calculations. Excel will also learn your patterns and will automatically interpret data.

Over the years, its advanced features have made it suitable for a variety of industries beyond just accounting. Excel requires a good understanding of its functionalities and a steeper learning curve. I’m currently doing background work for a small business idea I have (trying to learn the skills needed) and have been looking into accounting software I’d need to learn. I don’t really understand why everyone is against just using Excel. Qbox allows users to seamlessly collaborate with QuickBooks files. Therefore, if you need a solution for your bookkeeping and accounting needs, you can consider leveraging the Qbox software.

Upgrading from Microsoft Excel to new accounting software doesn’t have to be daunting. Our customers also have access to 24/7 customer support and a large QuickBooks community and network of ProAdvisors. Microsoft Excel can be a useful tool for single-entry accounting and a quick way to jumpstart your bookkeeping. You can find spreadsheet templates for small business bookkeeping in our Tools and Templates. However, spreadsheets might not be an efficient solution for businesses that require double-entry accounting and automated solutions. In contrast, the support options for spreadsheets may be limited, and accessing Excel data remotely can be challenging, especially for businesses with multiple locations or remote teams.