5 Main Considerations to Make Before Choosing QuickBooks Cloud Hosting Provider.

You've made a great decision to move your QuickBooks software to the cloud! QuickBooks in the cloud offers so many benefits for businesses, including 24/7 access to files and information, automated backups, enhanced security, and IT support. Plus, it's compatible with all devices and platforms. You're sure to see a difference in your business operations with this change.

But before you make the jump to QuickBooks in the cloud, there are a few key things you should keep in mind to ensure a seamless transition. First and foremost, you want to be absolutely sure that QuickBooks cloud hosting is the right fit for your business needs. Once you're confident in that decision, there are a few technical aspects to keep in mind to ensure a smooth transition of your data.

 With that in mind, here are a few key things to take note of before making the switch to QuickBooks in the cloud:

Choose your cloud version – QuickBooks online or QuickBooks desktop hosting

QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Hosting are both cloud-based versions of QuickBooks, but they differ in a few key ways. With QuickBooks Online, you get a trimmed down version of the application that doesn't include inventory tracking or advanced invoicing. With QuickBooks Hosting, you get the same desktop experience as the regular QuickBooks application.

QuickBooks Online is a single product, while hosted QuickBooks service can be used for multiple editions of QuickBooks, such as QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks Premier, QuickBooks Enterprise, and QuickBooks Accountant. Compare the features offered by various editions of the accounting application and decide for yourself which one suits you best. While QuickBooks Online lacks full functionality when compared to the QuickBooks Desktop version, you can solve this problem by using hosted QuickBooks on a cloud desktop.

Understand your business requirements 

It's important that you understand your business requirements clearly before opting for hosted QuickBooks. You'll need to explain these requirements to your cloud solutions provider. This way, they can help you determine which QuickBooks edition (e.g. Pro, Premier, Enterprise) and version (e.g. QuickBooks 2020 vs. 2019) is right for your business, as well as how many user subscriptions you'll need to purchase. Additionally, it's helpful to provide your vendor with an estimate of how many additional users you'll be adding in the next 12 months.

Before you settle on a hosting services provider, make sure they can accommodate your company's requirements. This will also help you get a more accurate price quote, which can inform your decision-making. Note that it's often easier to buy QuickBooks licenses and cloud hosting from the same vendor. Doing so can avoid the headache of dealing with separate invoices.

Understanding the cloud functionality 

Your experience with QuickBooks won't be different if you move it to the cloud, unless you're moving to QuickBooks Online. However, there's no downside to learning about how cloud technology works. You may even find that your business can benefit from newer cloud-based services and applications.

The cloud is a versatile tool that can offer a number of benefits to those who understand how to use it. With an understanding of cloud-based services and applications, you can avoid potential traps set by providers that may try to get you to spend more money than necessary. Cloud hosting can offer many advantages, like 24/7 access from any device, backups, firewalls, disaster recovery, and increased flexibility.

Train your users for new applications 

Your employees who will be using QuickBooks in the cloud every day are your best asset when it comes to making a smooth transition. Keep them in the loop with what's going on and solicit their feedback often. If you have users who request training, make sure they get it. A confident user is a successful one.

Reevaluate your IT infrastructure 

You will need to have a reliable internet connection when you move your QuickBooks account to the cloud. Keep in mind that cloud-based services and technologies rely entirely on your internet connectivity. If you don't have a strong or consistent connection, you may run into problems accessing your account or using cloud-based features. If you have a steady and reliable internet connection, you are good to go. However, if you have suffered from frequent connectivity issues such as slow and unsteady connection or poor uptime from your internet service provider, consider switching to a better ISP before you initiate the QuickBooks migration process.

Having a backup power source for your office is important to ensure that you always have an internet connection. You may also want to get a secondary data package from a different ISP that can be used during emergencies when primary internet connectivity is unreliable or unavailable.

Prepare for data migration

No cloud migration is perfect. There will always be challenges, no matter how prepared you are. QuickBooks is no different. You should always consult your QB cloud solutions provider beforehand and make a list of possible challenges. You have to be prepared as they might come up. It's also a good idea to ask multiple QuickBooks cloud hosting providers about possible challenges your company might face and how they can help you address them. Planning ahead of time will help you avoid issues like the need for app integrations with QuickBooks.

Conduct a proper research 

This is the most important step of all. When you are moving your QuickBooks to the cloud, it is important to take some time to compare providers. You want to find the provider who offers the best value for your money, has a good uptime guarantee, and has robust security features. Additionally, you'll want to make sure that customer support is easy to reach in case you have any questions or run into any problems.

If at any point you have questions, make sure to ask them. Do not hesitate to get clarification on anything that you are unsure about. The person you are entrusting with your sensitive information should be more than happy to answer any questions that you have and help put your mind at ease.

Final words

Ideally, the company you pick to host QuickBooks should have extensive experience in providing cloud hosting services. They should have a good reputation and be upfront with their pricing. Also, make sure that your chosen cloud solutions provider is compliant with all relevant laws. You want to make sure that you end up with a hosting service provider that cares about your business and requirements. When you're moving your company's accounting system to the cloud, it's important to choose a partner who will be supportive and knowledgeable. A bad choice here could break your business, so take the time to find a QuickBooks cloud hosting service that you can rely on.