“Cloud Computing” for the Desktop Edition of QuickBooks (and how we can help get you there!)

Our firm tries to stay progressive and on the cutting edge of using technology to make our client’s lives better.  This means continual training for the staff, and brain washin’ sessions from me.

We’re doing it again…

We’re enabling “cloud computing” for our clients now, and for some, allowing our clients to totally go paperless in their own office.  First, what is cloud computing?  Here is a good quote from a recent article I read:

Netbooks [computers made for cloud computing] might carry few applications because many small and mid-sized businesses are moving towards “cloud computing,” which allows online employees to securely access programs and files on a remote server, as opposed to physically carrying sensitive data on the road. This trend is on the rise thanks to ubiquitous Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. In addition, more devices are available — such as netbooks and smartphones — with limited local memory. Much of the software is Web-based, too, therefore not requiring one particular operating system over another.

Basically, a trend seems to be moving towards “renting” or leasing software online instead of you buying software one time, having it delivered to your office, installing it and maintaining it over time (and continually updating it every time a new release comes out).  Now, you can access your software from anywhere in the world through the Internet.  And we can help you do it if you use the PC version of Intuit’s QuickBooks Desktop Edition.

If you see the value in having your accounting software available to you from anywhere at anytime, then this option may just be for you.  And it’s not the QuickBooks Online Version of the software, which has NOT been highly received by our clients.  And it’s not the Mac version of Intuit’s QuickBooks software (which is not heavily-laden with all the tools and abilities of the PC version).  Nor is it platform specific.  That is, you can access the PC version of Intuit’s QuickBooks Desktop Edition on a Dell or a MacBook Pro (my staff uses Dell, and I use a Mac).

Here is what you do, and some of the benefits available:

1.  Allow our firm to sign you up for an online account to your “desktop in the sky.”

2.  It costs a one-time fee of $179, and is $50 per month after that (which we draft from your account on the 1st of each month).

3.  You have to have a 2009 QuickBooks Pro license to do it (you can get it for $99 if you don’t already have it).

4.  When Intuit releases new versions of QuickBooks each year, you will always be upgraded to the latest version automatically for no additional fees.

5.  Since our firm signed you up, we have access to your file, and you have access AT THE SAME TIME.  This is pretty cool.  We can both be in QuickBooks at the same time doing the work we need to do.

6.  You no longer need your computer near you when you want to do your work now.  And if you travel, you don’t need to have your desktop with you.  Everything is online and all you need is an Internet connection.

7.  No more passing backups back and forth, or remoting into client’s computers.

8.  The client is given a “drive H” on their “desktop in the sky,” where they can store any private or proprietary information (our firm can’t see data on the client’s H drive).

9.  The client is also given a “drive I” on their “desktop in the sky,” which is the shared drive.  Anything the client or the firm puts on the I drive can be viewed by both parties, and is accessible by anyone with a login.  This is one way to pass things back and forth between client and CPA.

10.  The login information is data encrypted with the latest technology, always keeping your data safe.

11.  Backups are made every night by the company Right Networks, where we host the QuickBooks through.  Therefore, you don’t have to worry about nightly or weekly backups anymore.

12.  The company we host through also has multiple server farms and runs their programs on one set of redundant servers, and keeps the client’s data on a separate set of redundant servers.

There are many more benefits, and you’ll realize some benefits that are particular just to your company.  You can also combine this service with an innovative online bill pay function and you’ll only touch your invoices one time.  With this service, you can designate who approves the invoices (multiple approvers if necessary).  Your bills will be paid for you without using your own bank account (electronically – no more stamps).  Your invoices will be entered into QuickBooks for you.  And a history of your paid invoices will be stored indefinitely online in a pdf format, and synched directly with the exact related transaction in QuickBooks.

All this change is allowing our clients to work smarter, more efficiently and more profitably.  I’m eating it up.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks, Jason M. Blumer, CPA

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