Doing away with QuickBooks Desktop: What you need to know about the ongoing QuickBooks phase-out
May 21, 2025
Wait, what’s happening?
Beginning July 2024, Intuit is no longer selling the Desktop version of QuickBooks. They are also slowly phasing out critical features and support in a rolling 3-year period. This means by May 31, 2025, support for 2022 QuickBooks desktop will cease. By May 2027, the support for the last version ever sold (2024) will also be discontinued.
I bought the software; will I be able to continue using it?
In a skeletal sense. However, services like bank feeds, data backup, payments, and payroll will be discontinued. Live support for those issues and any other issues will no longer be offered. Additionally, security patches will not be developed and applied. Cut and Dry answer is yes, you can still access it, but you will lose conveniences like:
- Bank feeds. You will have to enter transactions manually.
- Payroll will no longer be calculated, and you won’t be able to generate or file the forms.
- You will no longer be able to pay down credit cards and vendors with the click of a button.
- Without security patches, your financial data will become vulnerable.
- Software crashes could cause your data to become unrecoverable, forcing you to manually recreate data history.
What options are there?
While there are many accounting software options on the market, QuickBooks remains by far the largest and most comprehensive. Below are a few options QuickBooks continues to offer.
Small: Launched in November 2023 and exclusively to accounting firms, QuickBooks Ledger is a small set of books geared towards clients who use the cash (or tax) method of accounting. If you don’t send or receive invoices but rather pay-as-you-go (think ecommerce or a salon owner), this may be the best option for you. There is no payroll add-on option, so a standalone service would have to be bought.
Medium: These days, classic QuickBooks Online contains many of the features that Desktop has. It can be a great option for those switching from a Desktop; However, there is a small learning curve as some features are under a different name or found in a different place than Desktop users may be familiar with. Payroll is a separate add-on subscription and is tiered depending on the complexity.
Large: Upgrade to Enterprise if you’re a medium to large company and have inventory or batching needs. Enterprise has a massive inventory capacity and tracking systems with high user capacity and in-depth accountant access. It boasts a large variety of security controls for different users at different levels. Enterprise looks and feels like Desktop, so if you’re looking for the familiar and you anticipate growth, a jump to Enterprise might be worth considering…payroll included!
Larson can help!
At Larson & Company, we’re here to help make the transition away from QuickBooks desktop as smooth as possible. You can rely on us to guide you on conversion, set up, and advise on aspects of QuickBooks Online and Enterprise. Don’t know what accounts and corresponding tax mapping to set up in your books? Our consultants are experienced in a variety of methods and industries and can guide you through the transition.
Other points of assistance:
- Larson can keep your bookkeeping solely and securely in-house. Let us handle everything.
- You can grant Larson access to your QuickBooks online. Handle what you want & leave the rest for us to do, or take on an advisory role.
- Larson uses payroll software that is trusted across many CPA firms. If QuickBooks options are too few, too many, or you just don’t want to do it yourself, we’ve got you covered!
- Larson can advise on transactions year-round that will set you up for a hassle-free tax or audit prep
- Explain and demonstrate the benefits of automation in many business aspects. This is often a huge time and money saver after switching! Think bank feeds vs paper statements.
Conclusion
With QuickBooks Desktop marching toward obsolescence, Larson & Company is primed to help virtually any business make the change to an option that suits them while providing advice and IRS compliance every step of the way!
Learn more from intuit
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/global/accountants-software/quickbooks-ledger/
This is just a summary. For further guidance, please reach out to your Larson & Company trusted advisor. Larson and Company has developed a suite of services specifically to serve the needs of companies of all sizes in a wide range of industries.
Ariel is a Transactional Specialist at Larson & Company
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