That’s steel fabricators automating job costing. Manufacturers syncing WooCommerce, QuickBooks and Method in real time. Site services companies building custom dispatch workflows that connect field teams to back-office ops without double entry. These businesses said “no” to rigid, one-size-fits-all CRMs that force them into someone else’s workflow, and saying “yes” to a system that adapts to how they actually work.

We consistently saw the most successful small businesses refusing to replace their proven processes to fit a piece of software. They built automations around their real workflows, saving them hours, sometimes days, every week.

The year customization took center stage

In December, we launched the first-ever Method Customization Awards to celebrate the teams and partners who pushed what’s possible. We received 34 nominations from businesses across industries—each one a story of saying “yes” to custom workflows, automated processes, and systems that finally fit.

The scores were close. Really close. But three stood out:

First Place: RE:SOURCE Site Services
Built by partner Marwan Dajani (Alef Team Business Solutions), this was a complete end-to-end system for managing field jobs—crew dispatch, equipment tracking, site photos, inventory management, and real-time job costing, all synced back to QuickBooks. The kind of system that becomes mission-critical to how a business operates.

Second Place: MDBiologix
Customized Method to manage laboratory sample workflows—tracking specimens, automating compliance reporting, and connecting their fulfillment process to QuickBooks in a way no off-the-shelf CRM could handle.

Third Place: FTBA
A construction company that rebuilt their entire estimate-to-invoice process in Method, handling multiple service types, job-specific pricing, and automated proposal generation.

→ Watch the full recap here

64 new customization partners joined in 2025

We also welcomed 64 new implementation partners last year—developers and solution experts who joined the Method community to help businesses like yours implement and scale custom workflows. These are the people who build the systems, train your team, and make sure Method fits your exact needs.

→ Want to become a partner yourself? Find out more here.

What all of this points to: businesses are tired of settling for software that says “no.” They’re building systems that adapt to their workflows, eliminate manual work, and give them hours back every week.

If you’ve been living with a CRM that doesn’t fit, or if you’re still running your business out of spreadsheets and QuickBooks alone, there’s never been a better time to see what’s possible.

Start your free trial or see Method in action here.

Here’s to even more tailor-made processes in 2026.

The post 2025 proved something about successful businesses appeared first on Method.

Over the past year, we’ve been piloting and refining a new approach to customizing CRM workflows for businesses with unique needs.

Now, we’re excited to make it official and introduce Method Enhancements. It’s a way to get ongoing access to customization experts and adapt your CRM to your evolving business needs—with completely transparent pricing, fast implementation, and industry-specific expertise to guide you along the way.

Every month, businesses approach Method with hundreds of unique requests, asking “Can Your CRM do X?” 

Sometimes, it’s as simple as “can your CRM hide these menu options from the mobile app?” Other times it’s more complex, like “can your CRM auto-calculate and show margins while we create a quote?” Every now and again, it’s something like “can your CRM connect to my inventory management API?”

Method Experts say yes to the overwhelming majority of customer requests And over half of your requests can be implemented in less than a day, usually hours. Now, with Method Enhancements, you can make your CRM match the workflows of your business that much faster, no matter how unique or how challenging they may be.

What makes Enhancements unique

The truth is, many businesses who find success with Method have been burned by other CRMs or ERPs. That’s because the *real* test of a CRM doesn’t start in the honeymoon phase, when you’re uploading new lead lists or mapping out a workflow.

It starts when you hit a wall.

When you suddenly need to restrict data that field reps access… when you want to auto-attach T&Cs to estimates and invoices… when you need custom pricing rules for different customers… when you want to process refunds through a customer portal… when you need to track warranty information along with your item list…

… essentially, when your needs fall outside of a cookie-cutter system, only to be told “No, that can’t be done,” or “Yes, but get ready for a $10k+ sticker shock.”

That’s why we wanted to make Method Enhancements different. Instead of surprises and limitations, you get:

• Customizations that stick because everything we build runs on your real data, right inside Method.
• Guidance that matters from experts who know your industry as well as they know Method’s platform.
• Control you can trust with transparent, upfront pricing.

So when your business outgrows “off-the-shelf,” you don’t hit that wall. Here’s why:

Method Enhancements by Method Experts

Behind every great customization is a real person who knows your business inside and out. Our team of Method Experts has spent the past 15 years helping thousands of businesses automate, adapt, and say “yes” to workflows that once seemed impossible.

Below are just a few of the specialists who make it happen—each with their own industry focus and hundreds of successful builds under their belt.

Beyond working with a dedicated team, Method Enhancements are unique in three ways:

1. Instant implementation

Most CRMs force you into drawn-out projects and five-figure “go-live” fees before you ever see value. Method works differently. Because it’s built directly on top of your general ledger—QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, or Xero—your real data is already there from day one.

That means when a customization specialist makes changes to your account, you can start using them immediately. No migration headaches, no endless configuration, no waiting six months for ROI. Just practical improvements you can put to work the same day they’re built.

2. Industry expertise

Every industry has quirks that make or break your processes. A painting contractor needs to track labor hours by crew; a distributor needs custom pricing rules for different customers; a field service business needs mobile reps to see only the jobs that matter.

That’s why Method Enhancements pair you with a specialist who not only knows the platform inside and out, but also understands the realities of your industry. Our experts have built workflows for contractors, manufacturers, distributors, IT pros, and beyond. They know the shortcuts, the pitfalls, and the “must-haves” unique to your business model. Which means instead of generic advice, you get a roadmap that feels tailor-made for the way you work.

3. Transparently priced

The CRM and ERP industry is rife with aggressive sales tactics. Businesses get locked into exorbitant implementation projects, their data gets held hostage, and pricing is kept deliberately opaque, so it’s difficult to shop around.

We’re flipping the script on this at Method, making Enhancement pricing super simple to understand.

The above plans can be added on to your existing Method subscription. The best way to get acquainted is to book a free hour with one of our specialists.

Customization Awards: Nominate your or others’ best customizations

To close out the year, on Tuesday, December 17th, we’ll also be hosting Customization Awards—a live webinar that looks back on the best (and boldest) customizations our customers and partners brought to life. Think of it as part recap, part celebration, and part game show. And you’re invited!

Here’s how it works:

1. Nominate a customization. Submit your favorite workflow or automation built with Method: what the customization was, why it mattered, and the impact it had. This can be something that was built for your business, or, if you are a Method partner, it could be something that you’ve built for someone else. The nominations are open now.
2. Our senior customization specialists will review and vote. Seasoned Method experts will shortlist the most impactful, creative, and industry-specific examples.
3. Celebrate together. At the virtual event, we’ll showcase these stories, highlight partners who helped make them happen, and hand out awards across categories.

We’ll be celebrating the clever fixes, the “why didn’t we think of that” ideas, and the small changes that made a big difference. The time-savers that turned four-hour tasks into five-minute wins. The industry-specific workflows so sharp they could only come from someone who really knows their craft. The creative builds that pushed Method in new directions. And, of course, the partnerships that made those wins possible.

It’s a chance to showcase your business, celebrate your team, and inspire other Method users—all while having some fun and maybe even winning prizes.

Ready to say yes?

Your business isn’t one-size-fits-all, and your CRM shouldn’t be either. With Method Enhancements, you get the freedom to shape your workflows around the way you actually work—without hidden fees, endless implementation projects, or cookie-cutter limitations.

Whether you start with a free customization hour, take on the “Can Your CRM Say Yes?” Challenge, or join us for the year-end Customization Awards, this is your chance to see what a CRM can do when it finally bends to your business.

Book a call with a Method Expert, and let’s turn your next “if only…” into a working solution.

The post Introducing Method Enhancements: CRM customization made easy appeared first on Method.

For over a decade, Method has partnered with Intuit to serve thousands of SMBs across industries, delivering a customizable CRM that integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks. The Platinum Partner designation marks a milestone in that journey, underscoring Method’s proven impact and continued innovation for the QuickBooks ecosystem.

Recognized Partnership, New Capabilities
QuickBooks has long been the backbone of SMB financial management, and Method’s real-time, two-way sync has extended its value to sales, service, and customer management. With its new Platinum Partner status, Method is doubling down on its role in the Intuit ecosystem—bringing enhanced solutions for businesses that are scaling operations, entities, or locations.

Intuit Enterprise Suite customers can now leverage Method to:

• Manage multiple entities, locations, or franchises with centralized customer, sales, and billing data.
• Eliminate inefficiencies with automated quoting, order management, and invoicing that syncs directly to Intuit Enterprise Suite, including support across multiple locations and entities.
• Adapt quickly to growth with customization delivered by our team and done closely with you, evolving with your business without ERP complexity or cost.
• Multiple company files are linked with one consolidated operational and CRM data view via Method, all aligned with the functionality of Intuit Enterprise Suite.
• Solve the governance permission headaches of mulit-location growth with super admin roles that provide one point of control across entities, users, and employees
  

Commitment to SMBs at Every Stage of Growth
“Becoming an Intuit Platinum Partner is both an honor and a responsibility,” said Paul Jackson, Founder and CEO of Method. “It reflects the success of our ongoing partnership with Intuit to support SMBs, from their earliest days to the complexities of scaled, multi-entity operations. With Intuit Enterprise Suite alignment, Method is ensuring that customers can easily continue their growth journey with Intuit and Method, avoiding business disruption that can come from moving to heavy and complex ERP platforms.”

About Method
Method is the leading CRM for QuickBooks users, trusted by thousands of businesses to manage sales, service, and operations with efficiency and ease. With real-time two-way QuickBooks sync, automation, and unique customization capabilities, Method helps SMBs scale smarter – whether they’re running a single location or managing multiple entities.

About Intuit App Partner Program
Intuit’s new App Partner Program reflects its continued investment in partner success, offering enhanced support, data access, and business-building resources based on partner needs and maturity. By aligning with this initiative, Method reinforces its commitment to helping growing small and mid-market businesses streamline workflows, manage finances more efficiently, and thrive in today’s digital economy.

Learn more about Intuit’s App Partner Program here.

The post Method Named Intuit Platinum Partner, Expands Support for Intuit Enterprise Suite and Multi-Entity Customers with Launch at Intuit Connect appeared first on Method.

You’ve expanded to new locations, launched new service lines, maybe even acquired other companies. But what used to be a well-oiled operation is starting to break down.

Sales teams are quoting different prices for the same product. Reports don’t reconcile because every location names items differently. Customer records are trapped in disconnected CRMs. And no one—not finance, not operations, not leadership—can see the full picture of what’s actually happening across the business.

What’s going wrong?

You might think it’s just an accounting problem. But what you’re really seeing is the breakdown that happens when systems, processes, and data are fragmented across multiple entities. There’s no single source of truth, no standardized way of working, and no visibility into what any other team is doing.

Multi-entity accounting isn’t just about balancing the books. It’s about running a connected business: one where teams share data, follow the same playbook, and scale without reinventing the wheel at every location.

That kind of alignment sounds simple, but as businesses grow—adding new locations, divisions, or acquisitions—it gets surprisingly complex. In this article, we’ll explore the hidden challenges of managing multiple entities and how forward-thinking companies are solving them without jumping headfirst into ERP-level complexity.

At Method, we’ve helped thousands of QuickBooks-based businesses navigate this exact transition. From franchises to multi-division operations, we’ve seen firsthand how disjointed systems, siloed data, and inconsistent workflows can hold teams back. That’s why we built one of the only CRMs that truly supports multi-entity QuickBooks environments—and why we’re sharing what we’ve learned along the way. 

What is multi-entity accounting, and why does it get so messy?

Multi-entity accounting means managing separate financials for each legal entity within a business, while still needing a clear, consolidated view of how the overall company is performing.

It sounds straightforward on paper. But in practice, it gets complicated fast.

Businesses often split into multiple entities for good reasons. For example: 

• A franchise brand might have dozens of independently operated locations, each with its own books. 
• A manufacturer might separate its service division from its product sales. 
• A growing company might acquire others and keep each one running under its original legal structure.

Multi-entity setups allow you to take advantage of tax benefits, limit liability, and scale. But they can also create serious operational and financial headaches.

Typically, each entity runs its own QuickBooks file. That means financial data is scattered across systems. Reporting becomes a manual, error-prone process. There’s no reliable way to answer basic questions like: 

• How much did we sell last quarter, across all locations? 
• Which products are underperforming across the business?
• Are certain locations overspending compared to others?

This might seem like a problem for the finance team. They’re certainly the ones stuck stitching reports together, reconciling data by hand, and chasing down inconsistencies. But the impact runs much deeper.

Without a shared system or set of standards, each location builds its own way of working. Pricing and quoting are inconsistent. Quality checks get skipped. One team uses a CRM—another relies on spreadsheets. There’s no way to enforce processes or ensure teams are following the same playbook.

As a result, leaders lack visibility across the business. Teams waste time duplicating work. Access controls are scattered, with some users seeing too much, others not enough. And customers feel the misalignment, too—getting quoted different prices at different locations, experiencing delays from lost service requests, or having to repeat the same information to multiple teams.

Ultimately, multi-entity accounting isn’t just a back-office function. It’s the foundation for a connected, scalable business. And when it’s fragmented, everything else starts to crack.

The fork in the road: What happens when QuickBooks alone isn’t enough?

As businesses add new locations, spin off divisions, or acquire other companies, their accounting needs become exponentially more complex. What worked fine with one QuickBooks file starts to break down when there are five, ten, or fifty.

At this point, most business owners find themselves at a crossroads.

Option 1: Keep the same system and muddle through.

Some try to keep things patched together with multiple QuickBooks files, spreadsheets, and manual processes. They build complex folder structures to track invoices. They export reports from each entity, then spend hours reconciling them in Excel. They rely on one person at HQ who “knows how it all fits together.”

But this approach doesn’t scale. Mistakes creep in. Reports don’t match. Sales and service teams can’t share data across locations. There’s no real-time insight into how the business is performing, only a backward-looking, manual snapshot.

Option 2: Go big and upgrade to an ERP.

Others consider moving to a full enterprise resource planning (ERP) system like NetSuite or Oracle. These systems offer deep functionality and consolidated reporting, but at a cost. Implementation can take months. Licensing fees run high. Customization is complex. And for many mid-sized businesses, ERPs feel like overkill: too rigid, too expensive, and too far removed from how they actually work.

Option 3: Try Intuit’s middle ground.

To address this scaling gap, Intuit has introduced some advanced tools for growing businesses.

To address the needs of growing businesses, Intuit introduced QuickBooks Advanced in 2018,  designed for mid-sized companies that have outgrown the basic version. It offers enhanced features like custom reporting and workflow automation, however, it still treats each entity independently. Without a shared data layer or a seamless way to ensure consistency across different locations, many users opted to continue using QuickBooks Desktop, preferring its familiarity. 

More recently, Intuit Enterprise Suite (IES) was launched as the latest product aimed at multi-entity businesses. IES is Intuit’s most comprehensive business platform to date. Designed for growing companies with increasing operational complexity, it brings together accounting, payroll, HR, cash flow, and even marketing in one connected environment. 

Key features include multi-entity financial management, AI-powered forecasting and budgeting, dimensional chart of accounts, and customizable user permissions. Teams can consolidate financials across entities, automate revenue recognition and fixed asset accounting, and generate rich reports using up to 20 customizable dimensions.

For many companies outgrowing the standard QuickBooks, IES provides a powerful step forward—especially in streamlining back-office processes and giving leadership better financial visibility. But while it adds breadth, there are still limitations in depth, especially when it comes to managing customer relationships and operational workflows.

IES does not include a built-in CRM or advanced workflow engine. It’s not designed to standardize sales and service processes across entities, nor does it offer deep customization for things like quoting, dispatching, or lead management. For businesses that want connected operations across divisions, or a full view of the customer journey, IES solves the accounting side, but often leaves a gap operationally.

The challenge of scaling multiple entities goes beyond accounting

Let’s say a business owner successfully implements a system like IES and starts getting consolidated financial reports. They quickly run into the next problem: the rest of the business is still disconnected.

The sales team is working from one CRM, the service team from another. Each franchise or division has its own way of quoting, invoicing, and managing follow-ups. Customer records are scattered.

 IES solves part of the growth problem, but key pain points remain unsolved:

• Sales teams still work in separate CRMs
• Franchises or divisions follow different workflows
• Customer records don’t carry across locations
• Pricing, quoting, and service processes vary from one entity to the next

Financial data is only half the story. The other half is CRM + operations.

Your CRM is where customer relationships actually live. It tracks every quote, service request, phone call, and follow-up across sales and service. Without a shared CRM across entities, teams operate in silos. No one sees the full customer journey. Data gets duplicated, missed, or lost. And the result is confusion for both your team and your customers.

To scale successfully, businesses need more than consolidated numbers. They need connected workflows. Shared customer data. Aligned sales and service teams. Standardized processes—across every entity, division, or location.

Imagine this: one division sells the product, another services it. But they each use their own systems, with no shared view of the customer. So the service team walks in blind, and the customer experience suffers. Internally, your teams are stuck piecing together fragmented data, duplicating effort, and making decisions with half the story.

That’s where connecting your accounting system with your CRM and workflows changes the game.

The connector between financials and operations: Method

Method helps businesses stay with QuickBooks while gaining the operational structure they need to scale. It connects your financials with your front-line processes, so you can unify customer data, standardize workflows, and bring every entity under one roof.

Rather than replacing QuickBooks, Method extends it, filling the operational gaps that accounting software alone can’t: 

As we discussed earlier, most growing businesses feel forced to choose between cost, complexity, and control. But Method unlocks a new option: keep the tools you already trust, and layer in operational visibility, CRM functionality, and scalable workflows: 

Thousands of QuickBooks-based businesses use Method to align their financials and operations, reduce manual work, and create more consistent customer experiences as they grow. It’s the most practical way to extend what’s already working—without overhauling your entire tech stack.

How Mobility City unified 50+ franchises and scaled with confidence

Mobility City is a national franchise that sells, rents, and repairs mobility equipment through over 50 locally owned locations. On the surface, it looked like a thriving business. But behind the scenes, its rapid growth was exposing serious cracks.

Each franchise operated like its own small business. Some ran on QuickBooks, others still relied on paper. There were no shared processes, no unified data, and no way for headquarters to answer even basic questions like: What’s selling best across the system? Item names varied, reporting was fragmented, and buying power was nonexistent because purchasing data was scattered. As VP of Franchise Operations Craig Kreakie put it, “We needed one system to bring it all together.”

That’s where Method came in.

Mobility City partnered with Method to build a customized multi-entity CRM that integrated with QuickBooks and standardized operations—without sacrificing the flexibility of the franchise model. Working closely with Method’s team, Craig and his team mapped every process, including sales, service, rentals, and repairs. Then, together, Method and the Mobility City team designed workflows that every franchise could follow. The result was a unified system that worked across 50+ locations.

The transformation was remarkable:

• 95% franchise adoption in under a year: Mobility City rolled out Method across nearly all locations, turning scattered operations into a cohesive, scalable system.
• System-wide visibility and benchmarking: HQ can now monitor sales, service, and compliance in real time, comparing performance across franchises and regions.
• Operational consistency: Technicians from Texas to New York follow the same digital work orders, ensuring a consistent customer experience and faster billing.
• Centralized data for supplier leverage: With full visibility into purchasing, Mobility City negotiates better supplier pricing—operating like a national brand, not 50 small shops.
• Streamlined onboarding: Standardized workflows and built-in training have shortened ramp-up time for new hires and new franchisees.

Craig summed it up best: “Technology alone doesn’t fix bad processes. You have to fix the process, then use the tech. Method gave us both.”

Mobility City’s story shows what’s possible when businesses move beyond fragmented systems. By connecting financials with operations, they didn’t just clean up their books—they built a foundation for scalable, sustainable growth.

The new standard for scaling multi-entity businesses

Managing multiple entities doesn’t have to mean juggling disconnected tools, duplicating work, or drowning in manual reporting.

More and more growing businesses are adopting a smarter approach: keep QuickBooks for accounting, and layer on systems that connect customer data, standardize operations, and bring the business together.

It’s a shift from thinking in silos—location by location, division by division—to running the business as a whole. The companies that scale successfully are the ones that don’t just consolidate their books. They consolidate their operations, their workflows, and their customer experience.

That doesn’t require a full ERP. It doesn’t mean you have to reinvent the entire way you do business. You just have to choose tools that work together, support the way your business is structured, and give your teams the visibility they need, without the complexity they don’t.

With the right platforms and tools, growth becomes less reactive and more intentional. You can scale with systems that support the pace of your business, not slow it down.

Bottom line: Growth is complicated, but your systems don’t have to be.

If you’re running a multi-entity business, the complexity is real, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable. With the right approach, you can keep using the tools you trust, connect the pieces that matter, and bring every part of your business into focus.

Whether you’re managing five locations or fifty, you deserve systems that work with you, not against you. If you’re ready to simplify your multi-entity operations, try Method today.

The post The Multi-Entity Playbook: A Smarter Way to Scale on QuickBooks appeared first on Method.

Method has been providing customer relationship management solutions to businesses like yours for more than 14 years, and we’ve put together a 6-step checklist to help you find the CRM system that suits your business best.

BONUS: At the end of this article, we’ve included a easy-to-use template you can copy-paste and evaluate which CRM best fits your business needs. Get the template here.

In this article:

• Step 1) Identify your business needs and goals
• Step 2) Create a CRM evaluation checklist
• Step 3) Add fit and future-readiness of vendors
• Step 4) Build a CRM scoring system
• Step 5) Test drive and score your shortlisted CRMs
• Step 6) Make your decision and plan next steps

Ready to dive in? Consider this your roadmap to the evaluation process and finding the best CRM that meets your business objectives.

Step 1) Identify your business needs and goals

Ask your teams what they need

Your sales, marketing, and customer support people will be the ones using the CRM system, so find out what they want. 

You can bet that your sales team needs customization, integration with QuickBooks, and better functionality when it comes to lead management. And customer support is looking for automation and ease-of-use to optimize customer satisfaction. Take the time to understand all their pain points and use cases as a starting point on your CRM evaluation journey.

Weigh your must-haves vs nice-to-haves

Once you have everyone’s input, balance that against your business goals. What CRM functionality is most important to your success? For example, if growing your customer base is a key goal, being able to track leads from inquiry to close in one system might be essential—while having social media integration for additional context would be more of a nice-to-have. Make sure this guides your decision-making.

Step 2) Create a CRM evaluation checklist of features and functionality

Take all the information you gathered in Step 1 and use it to develop a checklist of key CRM system criteria – including all the key features and functionality that you’ve deemed essential. 

This CRM evaluation checklist will be unique to your business but here are some categories that you’ll likely want to include.

Integration capabilities

Verify the CRM can integrate with your existing software stack. Does it integrate with your accounting software, for example? Other high-priority integrations often include email, calendar,  e-commerce or ERP, and marketing tools. Does the CRM offer native integrations or a robust API for custom integrations? 

At minimum, you should be able to import your current customer data from spreadsheets or other systems easily and export data out if needed. For example, a lot of businesses choose Method when having a deep QuickBooks integration is at the top of their list.

Invoicing

Can the CRM create invoices instantly, emailing them directly to your customers for faster payments? This is where software integration capabilities really matter. Look for a CRM platform that offers instant, bi-directional integration with QuickBooks for invoicing, and also receipts, estimates, transactions, and more. Method simplifies billing processes by sending invoices directly via email, and enables automated payment reminders to ensure you receive timely payments.

Customization and flexibility

Can the CRM adapt to your workflows? Does it allow custom fields, custom modules or apps, and configurable pipelines or stages? Your business isn’t like anyone else’s, and you don’t want to be stuck with rigid software. At Method, for example, we have a team of expert consultants who can customize your CRM so it’s just right for you. 

We have done this for countless companies—like Vintage Makers, a New Hampshire-based business that specializes in the design and installation of custom wine cellars. As the company expanded into selling cigar humidors to retail clients, it required a flexible CRM solution that could customize reports and dashboards, simplify job scheduling and dispatching, and manage customer relationships. Method’s customizable and cost-effective platform has helped Vintage Makers succeed and grow. Says owner Darren Wood, “The simplicity in creating work orders and field service texts that tie back to QuickBooks is fantastic.” 

Lead management

Does the CRM have robust contact management and lead management capabilities? Can it capture leads from your website or import from spreadsheets? Does it track calls and  emails in the sales pipeline? Is there a way to segment contacts by industry or lead source for targeted follow-ups? Method helps small and mid-sized businesses like yours get new prospects into their lead management system quickly, and then track the process throughout. 

Remember, without solid lead management, you’ll struggle to get value from any CRM.

Sales opportunities

Are you able to see your sales opportunities all in one place so you never miss out on a potential deal? Look for features like deal tracking, task management, and sales pipeline automation. Can the CRM predict revenue or generate sales forecasts based on pipeline data? 

For instance, Method CRM allows you to create custom workflows – such as automatically sending  a thank-you email and creating a follow-up task when a new lead is added. This kind of sales automation ensures no prospect falls through the cracks.

Customer interactions and activities

Will the CRM keep all your customer interactions in one place, with automated follow-ups and reminders? 

Email marketing and web-to-lead forms

Can you send email campaigns, or at least segment and export lists to an email marketing service? If marketing automation isn’t built-in, ensure the CRM has APIs or integrations with popular tools. If social media engagement is important, see if the CRM can log or integrate social interactions. And, look for web-to-lead functionality so you can capture leads directly from your website and turn them into customers faster.

Proposals and estimates

Will the CRM automate the process of getting your customers to receive (and accept) your proposals and engagement letters? And can you use the CRM system to create estimates in seconds and send them to customers in as little as one click, to close deals quickly?

Customer portals

Does the CRM system include a self-service customer portal where your customers can easily approve estimates, access order details, and pay invoices in one place? Method offers a self-service CRM portal that provides 24/7 access to your business so your customers’ needs are met instantly – and it is fully customizable so you can tailor it to match your brand by adding your logo, customizing the color scheme, and choosing which services to offer your customers.

Reporting and dashboards

Does the CRM provide real-time dashboards and reports on your KPIs? You should be able to easily view metrics like sales pipeline value, conversion rates, and activities. Ensure the CRM has customizable reports or templates that match your business goals, such as a dashboard for sales performance, or reports for customer service metrics. Also consider if it has forecasting reports and whether dashboards can be tailored.

User experience and ease of use

Is the interface clean and intuitive? Will your team need a lot of training or is it straightforward? Consider navigation, search function, mobile app usability, and any other day-to-day tasks that are necessary in your business.

Step 3) Add fit and future-readiness of vendors to your CRM evaluation checklist

Beyond features and functionality, consider the vendor and platform aspects – and add that to your checklist. 

Pricing and total cost

Will you be charged per user per month? Are there different tiers and will you need a higher tier for certain features? Any hidden costs like setup fees, support fees, or limits on data/storage or API calls? Of course, cheapest isn’t always best – but you’ll want to ensure the CRM system you choose is within budget and scales cost-effectively as you add users or contacts.

Scalability and growth

Will the CRM grow with you? If you plan to double your team or expand to new markets, can the CRM handle more contacts, more deals, or additional modules? Include a question about limits because some CRMs cap the number of contacts or users on certain plans. Also be ready to check if  the vendor has solutions for mid-market, in case you outgrow the small biz version. Does the CRM vendor offer add-ons or integrations that you might need in future, like project management, advanced analytics, or AI capabilities. You might not need them now, but it’s good to know you won’t have to switch systems in a couple of  years.

Cloud vs on-premise

For the majority of SMBs, a cloud-based CRM is the best option because it provides much easier maintenance, anywhere access, real-time updates, and easier integration with other cloud apps. You’d only need on-premise if you have strict compliance requirements and a dedicated IT staff. If you’re planning to go with the cloud, check uptime and data ownership policies; if on-prem, look closely at costs of IT maintenance and updates. And, no matter what, make sure the CRM has solid data security measures such as encryption and regular backups.

Vendor support and training

The level of customer support the CRM vendor provides can be a deciding factor. Do they offer onboarding help or CRM implementation assistance? Is there 24/7 support, and via what channels (phone, chat, etc.) for when you have issues? Do they have a knowledge base or community forum for self-help? Also, check if there are local partners or consultants. A vendor that provides training resources such as videos, webinars, or one-on-one onboarding sessions can dramatically increase your team’s successful adoption. 

Method, for example, not only provides a dedicated support team, we also have an internal customization department – meaning that if you don’t want to go the DIY route, you can customize your CRM by using our team of experts.

References and reviews

What are other companies like yours saying about their experiences with the different CRM platforms? You can get a lot of good information from reviews. We at Method are proud to be top-rated on QuickBooks’ app store, indicating strong satisfaction among SMB users. You can ask CRM vendors for references like this, or customer success stories in your industry, to help validate their claims. 

Step 4) Build in a CRM scoring system

Introduce a grading system to keep the evaluation objective. 

Give each criterion a score

Take your key criteria from Steps 1-3 and give each one a score (1-5 or 1-10). 

Weight criteria if some are more important

For instance, if “integration capabilities” and “invoicing” are critical, they would weigh more in your decision than, say, “email marketing.”

Here’s a snapshot of what your scorecard could look like. This is an example—your own criteria and weighting would be based on what is most important to your business:

Step 5) Test drive and score your shortlisted CRMs

Once you have your criteria locked down in your requirements checklist, it’s time to try out the top 2-3 potential CRM systems on your list and measure them on your scorecard. This hands-on phase is vital. It often reveals differences that you can’t tell by just reading about CRM features and comparing claims – like performance speed and UI quirks – and it lets you assess each platform against your CRM requirements. 

Take advantage of free trials or demos

Sign up for free trials, and keep each test consistent. Add some of your data – input a few contacts, create an opportunity, and run a sample report. Pro-tip: create a sandbox environment if possible, or ensure you can cancel before being charged. 

Most trials are 14-30 days so plan enough time with each. Be sure to schedule live demos with vendor reps as well – they can answer questions specific to your needs. Take everything you learn from the trials and demos, and give each CRM a score based on your evaluation checklist.

Involve your team in scoring

After trials, meet with the key stakeholders who gave input in Step 1 to discuss the findings. Sometimes a CRM might score great on paper but an actual user raises a concern (or vice versa). Ask questions like, “Did it feel easier than our old system? Did it meet your expectations from the checklist?” 

Make sure everyone’s feedback is accounted for before the final decision. A key reason why CRM implementations fail to meet expectations is user adoption issues. Ensuring user voices are heard during evaluation mitigates that.

Step 6) Make your decision and plan next steps

By now, your checklist and scoring should reveal which CRM best aligns with your business needs. Trust the process and the data you gathered.

Get everyone onboard and excited

Before signing the contract, present the chosen CRM and rationale to leadership and the wider team. This could be informal if yours is a small business, but the idea is to get buy-in from everyone. Emphasize the benefits that convinced you – such as, “This CRM will save us five hours per week in manual tasks and it integrates with our email – meaning we’ll close deals faster.” 

If anyone is hesitant, address their concerns with what you learned during the evaluation. Because of  your clear evaluation checklist, you can confidently say, “Yes, it does X” or “We verified it solves problem Y.”

Plan the implementation

A CRM isn’t useful until it’s implemented and adopted. Designate a project owner for the rollout, migrate data carefully, configure the system with fields and workflows, and schedule training sessions for users. Take advantage of any vendor onboarding to ensure a smooth start. 

And be sure to set KPIs to measure success post-implementation – for instance, user adoption rate, number of deals logged vs before, and improvement in follow-up times – to validate that the CRM is delivering value. Then gather feedback after a month of use and tweak processes or get additional training as needed.

Checklist your way to the right CRM

Choosing a CRM doesn’t have to be daunting. A clear checklist—covering  your business needs, key features, vendor considerations, and trial scoring—can help to make the decision easier. It can give you the confidence to evaluate CRM software logically rather than emotionally or by brand hype.

As you evaluate options, you’ll discover there’s no one-size-fits-all: the right CRM is the one that aligns with your needs. If you’ve gone through this checklist process, you may already have a strong contender in mind. If not, consider giving Method CRM a look—it’s built for small businesses like yours, hits all the marks from powerful automation to easy QuickBooks integration, and comes with a friendly team ready to help you succeed. 

Armed with your new checklist, you’re ready to make a confident, informed CRM choice that will fuel your business growth.

Next step: You can schedule a free demo of Method CRM to see how it measures up to your checklist in real time.

The post CRM Evaluation Checklist: 6 steps to choosing the right CRM system for your business appeared first on Method.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the 6 best QuickBooks Desktop alternatives. As one of the options, we’ll also show you how you can extend the value and lifetime of QuickBooks Desktop by integrating it with a tool like Method, so you can avoid the need for an alternative altogether.

Method is a workflow and CRM platform built for QuickBooks—can help you keep your business running smoothly, whether you stay or switch. Method has been a QuickBooks partner since 2010, working with over 59,000 connected QuickBooks accounts and syncing millions of records. We’ve built our platform specifically to solve the workflow gaps that exist in both QuickBooks Desktop and Online.

With that said, there are three practical directions you can take:

1. Stick with QuickBooks Desktop, but make it work harder for you—adding the tools it lacks, like mobile access, online payments, and workflow automation. Below, we’ll show you how Method can help close these gaps—giving businesses a way to extend the life of QuickBooks Desktop or support a smoother transition to a new platform.
   
2. Move within the QuickBooks family—to QuickBooks Online or Enterprise.
   
3. Switch to a different accounting platform altogether, like Xero, Zoho, or Sage.

This article will walk you through each option and how to decide what fits.

Let’s dive in!

What changed with QuickBooks Desktop, and do you actually need to switch?

The stop-sell is legitimate, but it doesn’t mean QuickBooks Desktop just stops working tomorrow. Existing subscribers can still renew and continue using their current version. What changed is that Intuit signaled a long-term move away from Desktop toward cloud-first products. No new Desktop Pro or Premier features are planned. 

Support windows continue to close: QuickBooks Desktop 2023 support ended in May 2026. For the full picture of what Intuit changed and what it means for existing users, see our detailed guide on the discontinuation of QuickBooks Desktop.

Quick answer: Do you actually need to switch?

Not always. If your main frustrations are limited mobile access, disconnected quoting, manual follow-ups, or inefficient order workflows, you can solve them without replacing QuickBooks at all. But let’s say you’re noticing that Desktop itself is aging, missing advanced features, or becoming harder to access and integrate with. In these cases, then yes, a migration plan makes sense.

QuickBooks Desktop is being phased out—what that actually means

Before we get into the details about alternatives, let’s do a quick recap of exactly what’s changing, as well as what’s staying the same.

Not all Desktop editions have been affected by the stop-sell

Intuit stopped selling new QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Mac Plus, and Enhanced Payroll subscriptions to U.S. customers after September 30, 2024. In Canada, Intuit stopped selling Desktop Pro, Premier, and Payroll to new subscribers in April 2025. Existing subscribers in both regions can continue to renew their subscriptions.

These two options are still available to you if you want to become a new subscriber:

• QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise — Intuit’s high-end desktop product, with support for more users, advanced inventory management, job costing, and industry-specific editions.
• Accountant editions and ProAdvisor bundles — still available to accounting professionals through Intuit’s ProAdvisor Program and select reseller partners.

What the stop-sell means for future support, features, and integrations

You can keep using QuickBooks Desktop if you already have it, and you can still renew your license—for now. But this shift signals a long-term change in Intuit’s direction: a move toward cloud-first products and subscriptions. And that has consequences.

• No new features are expected for Desktop going forward.
• Support windows are closing: for example, QuickBooks Desktop 2022 support ended May 31, 2025; Desktop 2023 ended May 31, 2026; Desktop 2024 supported until Sept 30, 2027.
• Fewer integrations are being built for Desktop. Most new tools now focus on QuickBooks Online.
• And perhaps most importantly, the future is uncertain. Intuit has not committed to long-term support for Pro and Premier versions beyond current renewals.

For businesses in manufacturing, field services, or wholesale—where QuickBooks Desktop’s strengths in job costing and inventory still matter—this change lands hard. The question isn’t simply which product to switch to—it’s how long your current QuickBooks Desktop setup can realistically meet your business needs.

Option 1: Stick with QuickBooks Desktop, but extend its life with Method

If you plan to stay on QuickBooks Desktop, there are ways to make it work better for your business today (and buy yourself more time before making a full switch). But sticking with Desktop also means working around its growing limitations.

The limitations with QuickBooks Desktop—and how to fix them

Method is a CRM workflow tool with a two-way QuickBooks sync, including QuickBooks Desktop. 

Because Method syncs with your QuickBooks Desktop data in real time, is highly customizable to the unique needs of your business, and enables full CRM functionality for your business, it works as a perfect stop-gap to QuickBooks Desktop limitations. Your team can access and update customer info, transactions, and key workflows from the cloud, without changing your accounting system.

Here’s the situation most QuickBooks Desktop users actually face: the accounting works fine. According to internal Method data based on 465 manufacturing and distribution prospect calls, 82% of prospects cite order management as their top operational pain point, and 86% are running QuickBooks alone or QuickBooks alongside spreadsheets. The accounting software isn’t the problem — the workflows around it are.

That’s why the lowest-risk path is often to extend QuickBooks Desktop rather than replace it.

Explore how Method integrates with QuickBooks Desktop here.

QuickBooks Desktop limitation	Why it’s a problem	How to fix it with Method
Local-only access	Unless you’ve set up remote desktop or a VPN, QuickBooks Desktop is tied to a single machine. That means no access from the field and no easy collaboration for off site teams.	Method syncs your QuickBooks Desktop data to the cloud in real time, so your sales and service teams can create estimates, invoices, or work orders from anywhere—no remote desktop required.
Limited users	Most QuickBooks Desktop editions cap users at three or five. That’s a challenge for growing businesses or teams working across departments and locations.	Method removes those user caps. You can give as many people as needed access to the workflows they use—without paying for additional QuickBooks licenses.
Fewer “offline” integrations	Many CRMs, field service apps, and e-commerce tools now focus on QuickBooks Online. That leaves QuickBooks Desktop users with fewer direct integrations and more manual workarounds.	Method offers built-in CRM, portals, and automation tools that sync directly with your QuickBooks Desktop data. This helps you fill the integration gaps without switching systems.
No new feature releases	QuickBooks Online continues to add tools and updates, but Desktop is largely standing still. If you’re hoping for new reports, automation, or usability improvements, you’re unlikely to get them.	Method adds modern features like approval workflows, online payments, time tracking, and custom reporting—without the need to upgrade or migrate your accounting platform.
Countdown to ending support	Intuit’s support for each Desktop version lasts about three years. After that, you’re on your own for updates, patches, and customer service—which makes long-term planning difficult.	Extending your setup with Method helps you reduce dependence on QuickBooks Desktop’s aging feature set. You get more life out of the system you know, while building flexibility into your processes if and when you decide to switch later.

If you’re planning to stay with QuickBooks Desktop for now, the key question is no longer “Can I keep using it?”—it’s “How can I make it work better for my business today?” Method gives you the tools to do exactly that.

Case Study: How a manufacturing company adopted Method and stayed with QuickBooks Desktop

For example, Vintage Makers—a New Hampshire-based builder of custom wine cellars and cigar humidors—had relied on QuickBooks Desktop for 25 years but hit serious bottlenecks once it expanded into six states with different tobacco-excise taxes.​

Instead of swallowing the cost of a full ERP, the team adopted Method, whose real-time two-way sync pipes every work order, invoice, and tax detail straight into their existing QuickBooks file, eliminating manual data entry.​

Now they can schedule jobs, capture field notes, and issue customer paperwork from anywhere while keeping QuickBooks Desktop as their accounting engine (minus the clutter that used to slow them down).​

–> Read the full Vintage Makers story here

Option 2: Move up within the QuickBooks ecosystem

If staying with QuickBooks Desktop is not an option, you could choose to stay within the familiar QuickBooks ecosystem, but move to a version that’s still supported and actively updated—QuickBooks Online (QBO) or QuickBooks Enterprise. Both options have strengths, but neither is a direct replacement for Desktop.

QuickBooks Online: More accessible, but with trade-offs

Thinking about swapping QuickBooks Desktop for QuickBooks Online? Here’s the quick-scan view: what each tier of QuickBooks Online costs, which Desktop power tools you’ll leave behind, the potholes to watch during migration, and how Method CRM can patch the gaps so you don’t have to re-engineer your entire workflow.

First up, moving to QuickBooks Online means you’ll have to pay a subscription fee. Here are your options:

*Standard U.S. list prices 

Key Desktop features that don’t survive the move (and how to claw them back)

Unfortunately, in the move, you will be losing some Desktop features. Here’s what will be impacted (and how you can bridge the gap with Method):

Migration “gotchas” to plan for

• Attachments & custom templates: don’t convert—export them first.
• Audit trail & reconciliation reports: history stays in the old file; save PDFs for compliance.
• Some lists/transactions: Sales Orders, Price Levels, Memorized/Batch transactions, and many custom fields never make the jump.

After import, verify inventory quantities (they’re re-calculated to FIFO) and rebuild any custom workflows inside QBO or Method.

Tech advisor Dan DeLong (Founder of Danwidth, LLC, Chief Empowerment Officer @ School of Bookkeeping, Host of QuickBooks Power Hour), works directly with businesses migrating from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online. His experience captures the real-world challenge:

“The fact that it looks completely different is part of the challenge. I give clients 30 days to kick the tires, and we use the Desktop app with desktop view to lessen the learning curve. Some try it and decide to stick with Desktop and pay the price. Others realize they need to move to QuickBooks Online because they have other applications that only work with QuickBooks Online.”

His advice reflects a pattern that holds across many Desktop users: the decision isn’t purely technical. Other factors, like workflow continuity, team adoption, and whether the new system solves the actual problem, or just introduces a new one, need to be considered, too.

If you’re planning a move to QuickBooks Online, this guide on migrating will walk you through what to expect.

QuickBooks Enterprise: Deeper features, desktop-based software

Enterprise is the lone Desktop edition still on the shelf. If you’d rather stay on Windows than jump to QuickBooks Online, here’s the quick-scan view: what each Enterprise tier costs, which Pro headaches it actually cures, and the gaps it doesn’t close unless you bolt on something like Method CRM. 

*U.S. list prices

Feature-for-feature, Enterprise is a straight-up superset of Pro—you don’t give up any core functionality when you move over. Everything Pro can do, Enterprise can do, plus:

• more users (up to 40 vs. 3)
• bigger file and list limits
• advanced inventory and pricing modules
• deeper job-cost and industry reports
• built-in payroll in Gold+ tiers

So, in terms of capabilities, nothing disappears.

What does change (and can feel like a “loss” if you weren’t expecting it):

Bottom line: you don’t lose features—just simplicity and a chunk of your budget. If you need the scale and power, Enterprise is the only QuickBooks Desktop option left. If you loved Pro precisely because it was cheap, lightweight, and easy, those qualities won’t survive the jump.

Option 3: Switch to a new accounting platform

For some businesses, the end of QuickBooks Desktop is the push to start fresh.

There are many accounting platforms to choose from—here we’ve narrowed it down to just three options that could rival what you got with QuickBooks Desktop. They are: 

• Xero. A flexible, cloud-based ledger, with unlimited users and a growing app ecosystem.
• Zoho Books. An affordable, feature-rich option for small teams.
• Sage 50. The desktop-based options with strong inventory and job costing features.

Let’s take a closer look at how each one of these compares.

Xero: Flexible, cloud-based accounting with unlimited users

Xero gives you unlimited users, automatic updates, and no Windows maintenance—but some QuickBooks Desktop features don’t make the trip. Below is the overview: what each Xero tier costs, which Desktop staples you’ll forfeit, and where Method CRM (or other add-ons) can close the gaps.

Xero business plans (U.S. list prices)

What Desktop features vanish—and how to claw them back

Migration “gotchas”

• Xero recommends ≤ 700 chart-of-account codes and ≤ 4 000 tracked items—clean up before import.
• Templates, attachments, sales orders, and other non-posting transactions won’t migrate automatically—export or recreate post-cut-over.
• If you stay on the cheapest tier, remember the 20-invoice/5-bill cap—many QuickBooks users outgrow it fast.

Bottom line: Xero swaps desktop headaches for cloud convenience, but you’ll surrender some of QuickBooks Desktop’s deeper inventory, pricing, and order-management tools. Pair Xero with Method CRM or specialized add-ons, and you can regain most of that muscle—without losing the browser-based simplicity you’re after.

Zoho Books: Affordable accounting with built-in inventory and automation

On the surface, Zoho’s cloud app is affordable, mobile-friendly, and generous with user seats—but the move also strips out key Desktop staples (built-in payroll, assemblies, deep job-costing, Method CRM sync, and a rich add-on ecosystem). The snapshot below lays out Zoho’s pricing tiers, pinpoints what you’ll leave behind, and flags the extra tools or workarounds you’ll need to keep critical workflows humming.

Plan snapshot (US prices)

*Annual-billing price shown; monthly billing runs slightly higher.

What you’ll miss from QuickBooks Desktop

Migration watch-outs

• 700-account COA, 10 000 contacts, 4 000 tracked items—clean house first.
• Only lists and open balances import cleanly; attachments, custom templates, sales orders stay behind—archive your QuickBooks file.
• Payroll, assemblies, and detailed job costing all shift to separate Zoho apps or manual work—budget time and training.

Bottom line: Zoho Books is inexpensive, mobile, and generous on users, but stripping out built-in payroll, manufacturing, asset, and Method CRM sync means serious extra tooling (and cost) for Desktop veterans. If those gaps matter, weigh them carefully before you trade your all-in-one Desktop toolbox for Zoho’s leaner cloud stack.

Sage 50: Desktop-based accounting with inventory and job costing

Sage 50 is one of the few desktop accounting platforms still actively sold in the U.S. It’s often considered a next step for businesses that outgrow QuickBooks Pro or Premier but aren’t ready to move to the cloud. Sage 50 offers deeper inventory, job costing, and reporting tools than many entry-level systems—but it allows businesses to stick to desktop if they’re not ready to move to a cloud solution.

Sage 50 subscription tiers*

*U.S. list prices. Payroll is an add-on.

QuickBooks Desktop feature comparison: kept, tweaked, or missing

Migration “gotchas”

• QuickBooks sub-accounts flatten on import; review chart of accounts and departments.
• If you bill in multiple currencies, Sage 50 US won’t handle it—consider workarounds or different Sage region.
• Sage’s conversion tool brings over lists and open transactions; extensive payroll or old transactional history stays behind, so keep your Desktop file for reference.
• Item setup and departmental reporting are more granular than QuickBooks; schedule user training and parallel testing before cut-over.

Bottom line: Sage 50 replicates most Desktop essentials (job costing, assemblies, high user counts) while dropping multi-currency and relying on a smaller app stack. If those gaps aren’t deal-breakers, it can be a familiar, on-prem alternative as QuickBooks Desktop sunsets.

What should you check before moving away from QuickBooks Desktop?

Here’s a six-point checklist to run through before you choose a path: 

1. Confirm which QuickBooks Desktop version and subscription you currently use.
2. Identify the real issue: accounting, workflows, customer management, or remote access.
3. List the features your team relies on most, including reports, payroll, inventory, and job costing.
4. Decide whether QuickBooks needs to be replaced or simply extended with better tools.
5. Check migration and export options before switching.
6. Estimate the total cost over at least 12 months, not just the monthly subscription price.

What are the hidden costs of switching from QuickBooks Desktop?

The subscription price is rarely the biggest number. When you factor in everything involved in moving off QuickBooks Desktop, the real cost of switching is significantly higher than most businesses plan for.

How to choose the right QuickBooks Desktop alternative

The right answer depends on what problem you’re actually solving. 

Here’s a decision path to help you decide: 

1. Choose QuickBooks Online if… You want cloud accounting, mobile access, and a more modern QuickBooks experience with a large app ecosystem.
2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise if… You need advanced inventory, job costing, pricing controls, or industry-specific Desktop workflows, and switching accounting systems carries high risk.
3. Choose Xero if… You want cloud accounting and are comfortable leaving the QuickBooks ecosystem entirely. Works best when your accountant knows Xero.
4. Choose Sage 50 if… You prefer desktop-style accounting software, but no longer want to stay on QuickBooks Desktop.
5. Choose Zoho Books if… You need affordable cloud accounting for a smaller business with straightforward financial workflows.
6. Choose Method CRM if… QuickBooks still works for accounting, but your sales, customer tracking, quoting, order management, or field workflows are stuck in spreadsheets or disconnected systems.

You’ve got options, just make the next one count

QuickBooks Desktop isn’t gone yet—but the clock is ticking. If your business still relies on it, the decision you make now will shape how smoothly you operate over the next few years.

By this point, you’ve seen the three main paths forward:

• Extend the life of QuickBooks Desktop with the right add-ons
• Move up within the QuickBooks ecosystem to Online or Enterprise
• Switch to a different accounting platform entirely

The right choice depends on how your business actually works—not just what looks good on a feature list. Your workflows, team structure, and industry requirements should drive the decision.

If you’re unsure, the lowest-risk first step is often the simplest: start by solving the gaps where you feel the most pain. Method can help you add cloud access, mobile workflows, and automation to QuickBooks Desktop—giving you more flexibility now, while keeping the door open to a bigger move later if and when the time is right.

Whether you’re buying time, preparing to switch, or rebuilding your systems, Method can help you get more out of the tools you already use. It’s not a replacement for accounting software—but it can solve the issues QuickBooks Desktop no longer handles well. You can get started with Method here.

Whichever way you go, the worst option is doing nothing. Choose a setup that works for how you actually run your business.

Frequently asked questions

The post Best QuickBooks Desktop alternatives for 2026: What to choose before you switch appeared first on Method.

• One subsidiary of a field service business rents equipment to another subsidiary. 
• A wholesale division sells inventory to a retail division.  

How do you record these intercompany transactions in QuickBooks without messing up your accounting records?

In this article, we’ll explain exactly what intercompany transactions are and why it’s so important to handle these transactions correctly. Company owners, lenders, and other stakeholders rely on the accuracy of your financial statements. 

Next, we’ll dive into how QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise and QuickBooks Online handle intercompany transactions (hint: the two platforms handle these transactions differently).

Accounting can be frustrating, so we’ll highlight the pain points you might be facing if you enter these transactions manually. Manual processing often means multiple files, lots of reconciliations, and a high risk of duplicate data entry. We’ll show you how you can use Method, a QuickBooks-integrated CRM, to act as the glue that connects your multiple entities. Here’s how:

• Method can sync all of the data between your multiple companies, divisions, and locations.
• Because Method has a bi-directional sync with QuickBooks, you can create custom workflows and triggers that update your accounting data across multiple companies.
• You will get a consolidated birds-eye view of all your entities in one place.
• The individual company managers will only see and deal with the entity that they are responsible for—without seeing or touching the data of any other companies.

To that effect, we’ll show you how Method can help you save time, avoid errors, and review accurate data to make better business decisions.

But first, let’s dive into intercompany transactions in more depth.

What are intercompany transactions?

An intercompany transaction is a transaction between two entities within the same business. The two entities are defined as subsidiaries and the business that owns both subsidiaries is the parent company.

Example intercompany transaction

To illustrate, let’s assume that a wholesale subsidiary sells inventory to a retail subsidiary for $20,000. The wholesale company’s cost is $12,000. Here are the accounting entries:

• The wholesaler reduces inventory and increases cost of goods sold for $12,000. The company also increases sales and cash for $20,000. The wholesaler’s net income (profit) increases by $8,000.
• The retailer increases inventory and reduces cash by $20,000.

When the consolidated financials are generated, the financial impact of transactions between subsidiaries is eliminated. In this case, the wholesaler’s net income and the retailer’s inventory balance are both reduced by $8,000. The wholesaler does not profit, and the retailer’s cost is $12,000 (not $20,000).

Profit impact of the inter-company sale

Take-away: the group shows zero gain because you can’t make money selling to yourself.

Inventory valuation at the retail subsidiary

Take-away: inventory is restated to true cost, not the marked-up transfer price.

The bottom line? The consolidated financial statements do not include any profits on transactions between subsidiaries. The financials only include transactions with third parties.   

Intercompany transactions: Increase efficiency and lower costs

If each subsidiary develops a strong understanding of the needs of other divisions, the entire organization can benefit.

Say, for example, that the wholesale division sells leather material to a manufacturing division that makes baseball gloves. The wholesaler knows exactly how the manufacturing process works, and the specific type of leather needed for production. The manufacturer gets a quality product delivered on time, and that keeps production running smoothly.

(Note: Don’t confuse intracompany and intercompany transactions!)

What intercompany transactions mean for your business

Intercompany transactions must be handled properly. If your financial statements are not accurate, management can’t make informed decisions, and your business may be exposed to legal and regulatory risks.

Catch and correct mistakes in financial statements

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and IFRS standards both require businesses to eliminate intercompany transactions before the financial statements are consolidated. 

If the process isn’t handled correctly, consolidated net income, inventory, and other balances may not be accurate. You need a reliable system to identify and correct mistakes.

Reduce compliance and audit risks

When your consolidated financial statements are accurate, you minimize several risks:

• Tax compliance: Net income and your tax liability are both correctly stated. In addition, businesses may have to pay sales tax and other tax liabilities based on sales and profits. You can avoid fees, penalties, and interest charges on unpaid tax balances. 
• Audit issues: An audit opinion states whether or not the financial statements are materially correct. If the financial statements are handled properly, an external auditor will need less time to complete an audit.

Perhaps most important: Investors, lenders, and other stakeholders will have more confidence in management’s ability to operate the business.

More effective decision making

Managers need to assess the financial performance of each subsidiary. When intercompany transactions are eliminated, managers can assess the true performance of each division. 

Alright, so it’s clearly important to do this right. But how does QuickBooks itself handle intercompany transactions? That depends on which QuickBooks you use.

Managing intercompany transactions in QuickBooks Desktop vs. QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online have different processes for posting intercompany transactions. You may have to set up workarounds to save time and minimize errors, including using intercompany “due to” and “due from” accounts.

Common workaround: “Due to” and “due from” accounts

Businesses use this process to isolate intercompany transactions in the accounting records. When the company needs to post elimination entries and consolidate the financials, they find the details in the due to and due from accounts. 

A due to account is a payable balance, and a due from account is a receivable balance.

Example due to and due from transaction

Assume, for example, that the wholesale division sells $10,000 of cotton fabric to the clothing manufacturing division on credit. The wholesaler posts a due from (receivable) balance for $10,000, and the manufacturer records a $10,000 due to balance.

The accounting teams at both company divisions review the due to and due from accounts to post elimination entries.

Why it matters: the “Due to / Due from” pair isolates all inter-company receivables and payables, making the elimination step painless—one journal entry zaps both sides to zero before you roll up the group financials.

How to manage intercompany transactions in QuickBooks Pro/ Premier

In QuickBooks Pro and Premier, each company is a separate file. Because company files are not electronically connected, users manually post intercompany transactions to each subsidiary’s books. Accountants may use the due to/due from account system, or some other process. 

That said, manual entries are time-consuming and lead to errors, including duplicate entries. Intercompany accounting becomes more complex if a business scales and adds more subsidiaries.

How to manage intercompany transactions in QuickBooks Enterprise 2023

QuickBooks Enterprise 2023 introduced an intercompany transactions feature to Accountant, Diamond, or Platinum-level users. 

Image credit: QuickBooks

Here’s how the process works in select QuickBooks Enterprise accounts:

• Create relationships: The software allows you to link multiple company files.
• Due to/ due from accounts: Set up due to and due from accounts to record intercompany activity for each subsidiary.
• Intercompany transactions: You can now create an intercompany bill or check in one file that automatically creates the corresponding entry in the other company file.

Using the intercompany transaction feature eliminates many manual accounting steps. However, there are some limitations:

• Available plans: QuickBooks Pro and Premier plans do not include the intercompany transaction feature.
• Transaction types: Some types of intercompany transactions may not be automated.
• Intuit account: You must use the same Intuit account for both company files.

Note that Desktop does not include a report option to produce consolidated financial statements. There is a “Combine Reports from Multiple Companies” utility in Desktop, but both companies must use the same chart of accounts. 

Many businesses export data to Excel and create consolidated financial statements using spreadsheets. This manual process requires far more time and generates more errors. 

Intercompany transactions in QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online users face higher subscription costs and manual processing risks when they process intercompany transactions. 

Multiple subscriptions

QuickBooks Online treats each separate company as a “realm”. You can have multiple companies under one login, but each company requires a paid subscription. A business operating with eight entities pays eight subscriptions, and the cost may be more than $800 a month on the Advanced plan.

Intercompany transactions are not connected

If one subsidiary sells inventory to another subsidiary, QuickBooks users cannot post entries between the two entities. All journal entries must be posted manually, including all elimination entries.

Discover smarter workarounds

Online customers can use several types of workarounds to make intercompany transaction processing less complex:

• Due to/ due from accounts: Isolate intercompany transactions using due to/due from accounts in each business entity.
• Consistent journal entries: Use the same account numbers, account titles, and descriptions to record an intercompany transaction in each subsidiary. This strategy makes it easier to find and match intercompany transactions when elimination entries are posted.
• Spreadsheet sync: Online Advanced users can access the spreadsheet sync application to pull data from multiple companies into Excel to create reports. This automation tool can minimize error risk when data is combined in Excel.
• Third-party apps: Some third-party apps can help post one entry to multiple Online companies, but users will pay extra costs.

Method solves many of the problems related to intercompany transactions.

Common intercompany transaction problems and how Method solves them

Method CRM is a QuickBooks-integrated CRM platform that can act as a unifying hub for companies managing multiple QuickBooks entities. 

Here’s how Method helps streamline your intercompany workflows and alleviates the pain points we discussed:

• Sync files and accounts: Method provides multi-entity support. This solution allows you to sync multiple QuickBooks company files or multiple QuickBooks Online accounts into one Method account. 
• Workflow automation: Method CRM can be customized with workflows so that certain intercompany processes are automated. For example, intercopmany transactions can be automatically treated in some specific way set out by the business owner or the accountant.
• Shared CRM data: If you have common customers or vendors across entities, Method can serve as a shared CRM database. No more duplicate customer entries in each QuickBooks file, or needing to update info multiple times. 
• Customized reports: In Method, you can potentially create reports or dashboards that aggregate data, such as total sales, from all connected entities. Method’s customization can even aggregate data across the entities – giving that real-time insight that QuickBooks alone lacks.
• Approvals: Method can incorporate approval workflows. If, for example, an intercompany charge needs manager approval, you can set that up in Method. 

Streamline multi-entity finance without upgrading your accounting software

Managing a business is challenging, and you need automation to save time, reduce costs, and produce accurate financial statements.

Intercompany transactions are a critical aspect of multi-entity businesses and must be handled correctly for accuracy and compliance. QuickBooks Online and Desktop can provide the basics, and while Enterprise offers improvements, significant gaps remain in efficiency and visibility for growing businesses.

With Method, you can keep using QuickBooks, the system you know and trust for accounting, while overcoming its multi-entity limitations. If managing multiple QuickBooks files is consuming your team’s time and causing headaches, it may be time to consider an integrated solution like Method.

The post QuickBooks intercompany transactions: How to manage multiple entities efficiently appeared first on Method.

QuickBooks Desktop is not fully discontinued, but Intuit stopped selling new Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Mac Plus subscriptions in September 2024. If you’re on Desktop 2023, your support ends May 31, 2026, after which payroll, bank feeds, and security updates stop working. Desktop 2024 is supported until September 30, 2027. Enterprise has no announced end date.

This article covers details about the QuickBooks Desktop versions that are affected, what you lose when support ends, what the alternatives are, and the practical steps to take before your deadline hits.

TL;DR

• Intuit stopped selling new QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Mac Plus subscriptions in September 2024; existing subscribers can still renew, but often at higher prices.
• QuickBooks Desktop 2023 loses all support, including payroll, bank feeds, and security updates on May 31, 2026; QuickBooks Desktop 2024 loses all support on September 30, 2027.
• QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is the only version still actively sold and supported, with no announced end date.
• When support ends, the software doesn’t shut down immediately; instead, payroll, bank feeds, online payments, and security updates stop working.
• Businesses using affected QuickBooks Desktop versions in 2026 have three main options: upgrade to Desktop 2024, move to QuickBooks Online, or switch to Enterprise.

QuickBooks Desktop in 2026: What’s actually happening

Short answer: QuickBooks Desktop isn’t dead, but the confusion around “QuickBooks discontinuing” comes from the fact that Intuit is phasing out older Desktop versions gradually, not shutting everything down at once.

If you’ve been searching, “Is QuickBooks phasing out Desktop?” or “Is QuickBooks Desktop still available?”, your confusion is warranted. While the platform still works, the way it’s sold, supported, and maintained has changed in ways that directly affect your timeline.

Here’s the plain-language version of what’s happening when it comes to QuickBooks Desktop end of life:

• No new sales: Intuit stopped selling new Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Mac Plus subscriptions in September 2024.
• Subscription-only model: The old one-time “lifetime license” option is gone. All current versions run on annual subscriptions.
• Rolling shutdown schedule: Each version receives about three years of support, after which key services are cut off.
• Enterprise is the exception: QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is still sold, supported, and actively updated.

What does “service discontinuation” actually mean?

Service discontinuation does not mean your software suddenly stops opening. Rather, it means Intuit turns off the connected services that make the software fully functional, including:

• Payroll and tax table updates
• Bank feeds and transaction downloads
• Online payments and integrations
• Security patches and technical support

Once those are gone, the software becomes increasingly limited and harder to rely on for day-to-day operations.

First things first: check your version

Before you go any further, confirm which version you’re running.

Open QuickBooks Desktop and press F2 (or Ctrl + 1). Your version year appears at the top of the Product Information screen.

Image Source: Intuit.

Everything in this article depends on that number.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether your deadline is May 2026 or September 2027, that quick check takes about 10 seconds and removes all the guesswork.

What does this mean going forward?

QuickBooks Desktop is still available in a limited sense, but it’s no longer a long-term path for most businesses. The shift toward QuickBooks Online is already well underway.

Here’s a more accurate way to think about it:

QuickBooks Desktop is being phased out for most users over time, with Enterprise as the only ongoing new-sale option.

QuickBooks Desktop discontinuation timeline

Intuit follows a predictable three-year support lifecycle for each QuickBooks Desktop version. After that window, connected services are shut off.

If you’re wondering about QuickBooks Desktop support ending in 2026, we’ve created a timeline that explains exactly how it works. 

2021 → Support ended May 31, 2024

QuickBooks Desktop 2021 is now fully past its deadline. If you’ve been asking is QuickBooks 2021 being discontinued, the answer is yes, support has already ended.

These versions still open up, but they no longer have access to payroll, bank feeds, or security updates. If you’re still using 2021, you’re running without connected services.

2022 → Support ended May 31, 2025

QuickBooks Desktop 2022 is now fully unsupported.

Like the 2021 version, core online features are no longer available, which limits day-to-day functionality for most businesses.

2023 → Support ends May 31, 2026

If you’re using QuickBooks Desktop 2023, this is the most urgent cutoff to be aware of: support ends May 31, 2026.

So, if you’re searching for the QuickBooks Desktop 2023 discontinued date or trying to confirm details around QuickBooks Desktop support ending in 2026, this is the key deadline.

This cutoff affects:

• Pro Plus 2023
• Premier Plus 2023 (all editions)
• Mac Plus 2023
• Enterprise Solutions 23.0

Once support ends, payroll, bank feeds, payments, and security updates will no longer function on these versions.

2024 → Support ends September 30, 2027

QuickBooks Desktop 2024 is the final non-Enterprise Desktop release.

It remains fully supported until September 30, 2027, making it the last stop for businesses that want to stay on Desktop without moving to Enterprise.

Enterprise → No announced end date

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise continues to be sold, supported, and updated.

There is currently no published discontinuation timeline, which makes it the only long-term Desktop option.

2024 onward → No new Desktop versions

Aside from Enterprise, no new Desktop versions will be released.

Desktop 2024 is the final version for Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Mac Plus.

Pro Tip: If you’re on a version of QuickBooks Desktop that has expired or will expire soon and haven’t started evaluating your options, don’t wait. Payroll and bank feeds stop working the day your product expires if you don’t migrate or upgrade.

As mentioned above, any confusion about when QuickBooks Desktop products expire is understandable. The confusion tends to stem from one of three patterns: 

• “Discontinued” vs. “unsupported”: The software doesn’t stop working on the deadline. It loses connected services, which is what most businesses rely on.
• Mixing up version years and support dates: Understandably, some users assume “2023” means support lasts through 2023. In reality, support extends about three years past release.
• Thinking all Desktop versions are treated the same: Enterprise follows a different path. It’s still being developed, while other Desktop lines are being phased out.

Pro Tip: Not sure where you fall on this timeline? Open QuickBooks Desktop and press F2 (or Ctrl+1). Your version year determines your exact deadline.

What led to QuickBooks Desktop being discontinued?

QuickBooks discontinuing Desktop is part of Intuit’s broader strategy to focus on cloud-based solutions. The reasoning for this is driven by several factors:

• Technological advancements: By focusing on newer versions and cloud-based solutions, Intuit can offer more advanced capabilities and ensure compatibility with modern operating systems and hardware.
• Resource allocation: Intuit is prioritizing fewer versions of its products to dedicate resources to enhancing features, improving security and compliance, and providing timely support for the most current versions.
• Cost savings and profitability: Maintaining older, one-time purchase software versions is costly, and shifting to cloud-based solutions like QuickBooks Online provides a more predictable and stable subscription-based revenue stream. Cloud solutions also offer higher profit margins, easier updates, and better opportunities for upselling premium features.

What happens when QuickBooks Desktop support ends?

When your version reaches the end of support, the software doesn’t stop running immediately. You can still open it, view your data, and run reports. With QuickBooks Desktop support ending on a rolling schedule, the question most users ask is whether the software stops working on the cutoff date. 

The answer is no; it doesn’t just stop working. What does stop is the connected services. And the longer you keep using an unsupported version, the riskier this move gets. 

When these critical services cease to function, the following will happen:

1. Payroll tax tables freeze: Payroll updates stop completely. Tax rates, deductions, and compliance updates are no longer pushed to your system. That means payroll calculations can become inaccurate, which creates real compliance issues if you’re paying employees through Desktop.
2. Bank feeds disconnect: Automatic transaction downloads from your bank and credit cards stop. You’ll need to enter everything manually or rely on file imports, which slows down reconciliation and increases the chance of errors.
3. Online payments shut off: If you use QuickBooks to accept customer payments, that functionality is removed. Invoices can still be created, but the built-in payment channel is no longer available.
4. Security patches stop: No new fixes are released for vulnerabilities. As threats change over time, unsupported software becomes more exposed, especially when it’s storing financial data.
5. Technical support ends: Intuit no longer provides phone or chat support. If something breaks, including company file errors or performance issues, you’re left to troubleshoot on your own.
6. Email from QuickBooks stops: You can no longer send invoices, statements, or reports directly from within the software. This adds extra steps to your workflow and often requires you to export documents manually.
7. Registration and reinstall issues: If you need to move QuickBooks to a new computer after support ends, activation can become unreliable. That creates problems if your hardware fails or you need to switch machines.

What still works?

The software itself remains operational in a static state.

For example, you’ll still be able to:

• Open your company file
• Enter transactions manually
• Run reports

In effect, the shutdown applies to connected services, not the application itself.

One issue that catches many businesses off guard is data integrity over time.

Without updates and support, even small problems, such as minor file corruption or sync issues, can escalate into larger data failures. Since there’s no access to official support or repair tools tied to active subscriptions, recovering that data becomes harder and more expensive.

With all of that said, here’s your overarching takeaway: unsupported QuickBooks Desktop doesn’t stop working, but it becomes progressively harder and riskier to rely on for daily operations.

Is QuickBooks Desktop really going away?

If you already have QuickBooks Desktop, you can keep using it. If you’re trying to buy it new, your only option is Enterprise. Intuit stopped selling new Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Mac Plus subscriptions on September 30, 2024, and no new Desktop versions are planned for those lines.

What does still exist: existing subscriptions that can be renewed, older versions running until their support deadlines, and Enterprise, which is still actively sold with no announced end date.

The versions that lost support on May 31, 2026:

• QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2023
• QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus 2023 (all editions)
• QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 23.0
• QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition Plus 2023
• QuickBooks Enterprise Accountant 23.0
• QuickBooks Desktop for Mac Plus 2023

Once that date passes, payroll, bank feeds, and security updates stop working, though the software itself still opens.

A quick note on licensing

QuickBooks Desktop now runs on a subscription-only model. That means you pay annually to keep using it. 

One-time “lifetime” licenses are no longer sold directly through Intuit. Some resellers still offer previously issued perpetual licenses, but those are limited and not part of Intuit’s current product strategy.

Pro Tip: A quick clarification because it shows up frequently in searches: QuickBooks is made by Intuit, not Microsoft. There is no “Microsoft QuickBooks.” The product runs on Windows, which is where the confusion starts, but it’s an end-to-end Intuit product.

Is QuickBooks only online now?

QuickBooks Desktop still exists, but it’s no longer positioned as a long-term solution for most businesses.

A more accurate way to think about it:

Desktop is being maintained for existing users while new development and long-term support shift toward QuickBooks Online and Enterprise.

QuickBooks Desktop pricing in 2026

How much is QuickBooks Desktop 2024? This depends on whether you’re a new buyer or an existing subscriber. Intuit raised prices across all Desktop products effective February 1, 2026.

Existing subscribers (the only buyers who can renew Pro Plus, Premier Plus, or Mac Plus) now pay the following:

• QuickBooks lifetime license: Not sold by Intuit directly. Surplus perpetual licenses from authorized resellers start at around $199 as a one-time cost, with no subscription required. They activate on Intuit’s official servers and function identically to the original retail version, but they won’t receive feature updates, and connected services follow the same sunset timeline.
• QuickBooks Accountant Desktop: Still supported for existing subscribers. ProAdvisor bundles also saw price increases on February 1, 2026.
• Math worth running before your renewal: A $1,149/year Pro Plus subscription that loses connected services on May 31, 2026 (if you’re on Desktop 2023) or September 30, 2027 (if you’re on 2024) needs to be weighed against migration costs and the year you’ll spend running parallel. The renewal is straightforward to approve, but the migration plan requires lead time.

QuickBooks for Mac: What’s happening

Is QuickBooks for Mac discontinued? QuickBooks Desktop Mac Plus was discontinued for new subscribers on September 30, 2024, following the same pattern as Pro Plus and Premier Plus.

• Mac Plus existing subscribers can still renew, at the higher post-February 2026 prices we listed above. 
• Mac users on the 2023 version face the same May 31, 2026 support cutoff as Windows users on Desktop 2023.
• QuickBooks Online is the primary path Intuit is directing Mac users toward.
• QuickBooks Online runs natively in any browser, including Safari, with no desktop install required.

If you’re a Mac user weighing options, QuickBooks Online removes the platform-specific friction. Desktop Mac Plus has always lagged the Windows feature set, and that gap is widening as Intuit invests almost exclusively in Online.

What are your options in 2026?

Depending on your version and business needs, you have three realistic paths to choose from in QuickBooks Desktop. The right choice comes down to how you use the software today and how long you plan to keep it.

Searches like “Is QuickBooks Desktop being phased out in 2023?” started picking up a few years ago. By 2026, that question has been answered. The phase-out is happening, and that’s why the decisions you make right now about your next steps matter so much. 

Option 1: Upgrade to QuickBooks Desktop 2024

Upgrading to QuickBooks Desktop 2024 gives you support through September 30, 2027, which is the longest remaining window for non-Enterprise users.

• Best for: Businesses that want to stay on Desktop and extend their runway
• How it works: If you’re on a Plus subscription, the upgrade is typically included as part of your annual plan.
• What to consider: This is the final non-Enterprise version. Rather than avoiding the transition, you’re just delaying it. 
• When it makes sense: If your business relies on advanced inventory, job costing with assemblies, or needs offline access, this option gives you time to plan your next move properly.

Option 2: Upgrade to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is the only Desktop version still actively sold and supported, with no announced end date.

• Best for: Businesses that need Desktop features long-term and can justify the cost. 
• What’s changed: Pricing increased in February 2026, with entry-level plans starting around $2,210/year for new buyers.
• What to consider: Enterprise offers more capacity, but it’s not a light upgrade. It’s a different tier of software with a higher cost and more features than many businesses need.
• When it makes sense: If you have 5+ users, complex inventory, or need high user limits, Enterprise is worth evaluating. For smaller teams focused on basic invoicing and expenses, it’s often more powerful than necessary.

Option 3: Migrate to QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is where most long-term development is happening. If you’re comparing QuickBooks Desktop vs Online 2026, the difference comes down to flexibility versus depth.

• Best for: Businesses ready to shift to cloud-based workflows.
• Migration window: You have 60 days from the date you create your Online account to import your Desktop data. Miss that window, and you’ll need to rebuild manually.
• Timeline: Most migrations take a few weeks when done properly. The data transfer itself is quick (within 72 hours), but cleanup, validation, and reconnecting bank feeds take time. 
• When it makes sense: If your team works remotely, needs mobile access, or isn’t using advanced inventory or job costing, Online is often the smoother long-term path.

Option 4: Stay on Desktop and Extend It

Some teams want to keep Desktop while adding features it no longer handles well on its own. 

Integration tools like Method can:

• Add CRM functionality
• Improve invoicing workflows
• Automate processes without switching platforms

This approach lets you keep your current setup while filling in the gaps.

• Best for: Businesses that aren’t ready to migrate but need more flexibility

QuickBooks Desktop vs. QuickBooks Online in 2026

Desktop and Online serve different types of businesses. The decision comes down to which one matches your actual workflow.

Below, we’ve put together a comparison table to help you quickly see the QuickBooks Online vs. Desktop pros and cons:

• What you lose moving to Online: Sales orders (no equivalent in QBO at all), some advanced inventory features, depth of job costing, offline capability, and certain reports Desktop users rely on heavily. Some users also report losing time entry fields.

Image Source: Reddit

• What you gain: Mobile access, automatic updates, easier multi-user collaboration, a much larger ecosystem of third-party integrations, and access to features Intuit is actively building.
• Migration difficulty: It’s not plug-and-play. The Intuit migration tool handles core lists, balances, and most transactions, but several specific things consistently cause issues:
  • Inventory items getting flagged as non-inventory during conversion
  • Open sales orders not importing at all (because QBO has no sales order object)
  • Inventory cost basis recalculating to FIFO regardless of your Desktop costing method
  • Custom report layouts not transferring 
  • Bank feeds requiring full reconnection and rule rebuilds

Common mistakes businesses make when facing a discontinuation deadline

When you browse forums, accountant communities, and migration post-mortems, you’ll notice five specific patterns in terms of mistakes businesses might make with QuickBooks discontinuation deadlines:

1. Waiting until after the deadline to start migrating: The 60-day QBO import window is easy to miss when you’re scrambling. Start the migration plan at least 90 days before your version’s support cutoff.
2. Assuming the software stops opening on the deadline: It doesn’t. The false sense of safety this creates leads to running on unsupported software far longer than intended, with payroll being the first to bite.
3. Not checking which version they’re actually running: May 2026 and September 2027 are version-specific. Conflating them produces either premature panic (paying for migration you didn’t need to do this year) or dangerous delay (missing a deadline you didn’t realize applied to you).
4. Migrating without first cleaning the data: Importing years of duplicate vendors, inactive customers, and miscategorized transactions into QBO doesn’t fix the mess. It moves it to a new platform where some of it is harder to clean up than it was in Desktop.
5. Choosing Enterprise as a way to avoid the decision: Enterprise solves the deadline problem, but it doesn’t change the long-term direction of Intuit’s product investment. It’s a legitimate choice for businesses that genuinely need its capabilities, but it should be made deliberately, not as a way to defer thinking.

Conclusion

The reality in 2026 is this: QuickBooks Desktop isn’t disappearing overnight, but it is in a phase of managed decline. Support is being removed version by version, and once your cutoff date passes, the loss of payroll, bank feeds, and updates creates real limitations.

This is a fixed timeline, and missing it can mean scrambling to fix workflows, data issues, and compliance gaps under pressure.

The right decision comes down to three factors:

• The version you’re currently running
• The complexity of your workflows
• How much time you have before your support deadline

When thinking about QuickBooks Desktop end of life, some businesses need to extend their runway, while others are ready to move. However, most fall somewhere in between.

That’s where flexibility matters.

Method works with both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online, so whatever path you choose, you don’t have to overhaul everything at once.

Frequently asked questions

The post QuickBooks Desktop discontinued: Next steps for Desktop users (2026) appeared first on Method.