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Make sense of QuickBooks before you click anything.

Whether you are opening the books for the first time or just cannot remember how to get back in, this site walks you through QuickBooks in plain words: what it is, how to sign in, how to take it for a test drive, and what to do in week one.

Read about QuickBooks Online Take a demo first
5 guidesone per question
Browser + appwhere it runs
Intuit accountone sign-in
30 minutesto a first look
Chapter 01

The short version

QuickBooks is bookkeeping software from Intuit. It collects the money you earn and spend, files each item under a heading, and shows the totals so you can see how the business is really doing.

1

It records

Sales, bills, payroll costs and transfers land in one ledger.

2

It sorts

Each entry gets a category your accountant can read at a glance.

3

It reports

Profit, owed money and cash position, without a calculator.

●

Mostly cloud today

Most newcomers pick QuickBooks Online, which runs in a browser and a phone app.

●

Still has an installed side

Older desktop editions keep files on your own computer.

Chapter 02

Pick the guide that matches your question

People land here with very different needs. Jump straight to yours.

O

QuickBooks Online

What the cloud version covers and who gets the most from it. Open the guide.

D

QuickBooks Demo

How to explore with fictional data before using real numbers. Open the guide.

L

QuickBooks Login

Getting into your account and fixing the usual snags. Open the guide.

A

QuickBooks Online Login

Browser, phone and accountant access explained. Open the guide.

I

Intuit QuickBooks

Who is behind the software and how its product line fits together. Open the guide.

Chapter 03

A calm first month

An empty file is intimidating. Spreading the work over a few weeks keeps it manageable.

  1. Week 1: look, do not touchPoke around a sample company. Learn where invoices, bills and reports live.
  2. Week 2: build your own fileEnter company details and connect the one bank account you use most.
  3. Week 3: clear the pileReview imported transactions in short sessions and set rules for regular payees.
  4. Week 4: close the loopSend an invoice, receive the payment, match it in the bank feed, then run a profit report.
Good habit: pick a fixed weekly slot, even twenty minutes, to review new transactions. Small regular sessions beat a yearly marathon.
Chapter 04

Cloud or installed?

QuestionWhat to know
Where is the file kept?
The online edition stores it with Intuit; desktop keeps it on your machine.
Can two people work at once?
Online: yes, each with their own login. Desktop: depends on setup.
How do updates arrive?
Online updates itself. Desktop needs you to install new versions.
What if my laptop breaks?
Online data is unaffected. Desktop depends on your backups.
This is general information and not accounting advice. Check tax details with a qualified professional.
Chapter 05

Quick answers

Where do I sign in?
Use your saved bookmark for the Intuit sign-in page. Our QuickBooks login guide lists the steps.
Can I try before paying?
Often yes, through a sample company or trial. See the QuickBooks demo guide for what to check.
Do I need an accountant?
Not to start. Many owners book a short review once the file is set up.