QuickBooks Online vs. Hosted QuickBooks

Find the Best QuickBooks Solution for Your Business

If you are looking for a bookkeeping solution for your business that allows you to remotely access your bookkeeping files from any location, QuickBooks Online and hosted QuickBooks are two popular solutions.

When deciding which option best meets your needs it is important to know, while the two options have many similarities, Hosted QuickBooks has several additional key features not found with QuickBooks Online.

Use QuickBooks Anywhere with Multi-User Remote Access

Hosted QuickBooks, like QuickBooks Online, allows you secure access your company’s financial data from any location with an Internet connection. You can work on your bookkeeping while enjoying a cup of coffee at your favorite coffee shop, at home, or while you are on the road for a business meeting. Because you can access you QuickBooks files anywhere, you never have to worry about not being able to invoice a customer or not being able to update your data because you are away from the office.

Unlike online bookkeeping options, hosted QuickBooks allows you to grant multiple users, such as employees, bookkeepers, accountants, and controllers, simultaneous remote access to your QuickBooks files. This also allows for easy inventory and tax tracking if you have multiple stores or business locations, regardless of their jurisdictions.

Never Lose QuickBooks Files with Automatic Backups

The security of your bookkeeping and financial data is incredibly important which is why automatic data backups are essential. Many online bookkeeping and hosted QuickBooks options offer automatic data backups.

At Turn Key Office, backups of hosted QuickBooks files are done automatically and data is stored in three secure locations, the Turn Key Office server and two off site locations, which mean you will never have to worry about losing important financial information. In addition to your files being hosted on our secure servers, a real-time encrypted backup is run nightly and an alternate backup file is locked in a secure bank safe-deposit box monthly.

Reliable Access to Your QuickBooks Files

QuickBooks Online and hosted QuickBooks both allow for remote access to your bookkeeping files but with QuickBooks Online, your files become inaccessible if the Intuit server goes down, which it did on March 22-23, 2011 and again on March 25, 2011. During that time, QuickBooks Online users could not access their files regardless of location.

To ensure your hosted QuickBooks files are reliably accessible, Turn Key Office uses multiple power sources, Internet access, physical locations and hard drives to eliminate single points of failure.

Switching to Remote Access QuickBooks Should Be Easy

If you are exploring remote access QuickBooks options you may already be using a bookkeeping system that contains important files. When you have existing files, switching to a new QuickBooks system needs to be simple. However, moving your files to QuickBooks Online requires a conversion and even with a conversion, not all of your data can be transferred.

Hosted QuickBooks makes transferring existing files from your computer to the hosted server, and vice versa, easy. This is because the QuickBooks software on our hosted servers is exactly the same as the desktop version of QuickBooks.

If you use different bookkeeping software, such as PeachTree, converting your data to a compatible version is simple with our team of expert bookkeepers.

Don’t Give Up QuickBooks Features for Accessibility

If you are familiar with QuickBooks and decide to use QuickBooks Online, you may find some of the features from the desktop version of QuickBooks are not available in the online version. In addition to the limited features, QuickBooks Online also has a new user interface which takes some time to learn. But, if you choose to go with the hosted QuickBooks option to remotely access your files, you will have exactly the same familiar features and user interface as the desktop version of QuickBooks.

Hosted QuickBooks allows you to remotely access your bookkeeping files while continuing to work with the powerful, full-featured version of QuickBooks so you never have to compromise between accessibility and functionality.

Turn Key Office Expands Services to Include HR Solutions

Columbia, MD – February 24, 2011 – Turn Key Office is excited to announce the addition of HR Solutions to our portfolio of back office solutions for small and medium sized businesses. The new HR services complement Turn Key Office’s current selection of customizable back office solutions and provide additional outsourcing options for our clients. By outsourcing HR needs to Turn Key Office, business owners enjoy the benefits of an HR Department without incurring all the expenses and hassles that go along with having one in-house. The expansion of services includes Payroll through ADP, customized HR documents, benefits administration, and hiring assistance.

Services

Payroll through ADP:

Payroll services are provided at a wholesale rate and can be used as a stand-alone product or combined with our bookkeeping services. Full tax withholding, new hire reporting, compliance, next day direct deposit and overnight pay stub delivery are all included for one low monthly fee.

Customized HR Documents:

New hire orientation documents and employee handbooks are just a few of the HR documents that can be provided. Each document is customized to include information essential to our client’s business.

Benefits Administration:

Ensure your company and employees are receiving the appropriate benefits by allowing us to compare vendors for you. We also coordinate open enrollment and employee applications as well as calculate deductibles.

New Hire Assistance:

Finding the right employees to hire for your company is important but it can be time consuming. We assist our clients by coordinating the application process and providing reference and background checks on prospective hires. Background checks on current employees can also be completed as needed.

The expanded back office solutions allow Turn Key Office to continue to fulfill its goal of being a high-value business partner for the small to medium sized business community by providing an extended selection of outsourcing options. These options provide clients the opportunity to reduce overall costs and exceed current service levels.

HR Solutions, like all back office services offered by Turn Key Office, are customizable and can be used alone or in conjunction with any other service. After an initial, complimentary meeting, at which clients discuss their business needs, goals and budget, Turn Key Office provides recommendations and a customized engagement letter.

About Turn Key Office

Turn Key Office is located in Columbia, Maryland and is owned by Laura McInerney. The company provides a growing selection of opportunities for small and medium sized businesses to lower operating costs and increase productivity by locally outsourcing critical back office functions, such as IT support, bookkeeping, telecom, and now HR services.

For more information about the HR Services, please visit www.TurnKeyOffice.net or contact Laura McInerney at (410) 715-3657 or at Laura@TurnKeyOffice.net.

Protect Your Wireless Internet and Computer from Criminals

The Today Show had a segment this week about a man in Florida, named Malcolm Riddell, who’s wireless router was accessed or ‘stolen’ by a criminal in order to release child pornography. Suzanne Choney reported Riddell had no idea what was passing through his internet connection or who was using his wireless internet until the FBI stormed in to shut down the criminal activity! After further investigation, the real criminal was found, blocks away, and arrested.

The Dangers of Wireless Internet

Do you know who is using your internet? If you have a wireless router, the answer may be no. A quick search on Google reveals over 400,000 hits on how to steal your wireless internet. As Malcolm Riddell discovered, not securing your wireless Internet can be dangerous and turn into a major headache. Not only can a criminal use your wireless Internet to commit crimes, they can also use it to hack into your computers, infect your computers with viruses, and steal personal and confidential information.

Protect Your Wireless Internet

Does this mean you should stop using wireless Internet? Absolutely not! Wireless routers provide excellent Internet access, the flexibility to use the Internet anywhere in your home, and the ability to maintain the peace in your household as multiple family members can have access at the same time. In fact, there are a few, simple precautions you can take to keep your wireless Internet, computers, and family safe.

Set Up a Password for Your Wireless Internet

Simply taking the time to set up a password for your wireless network is incredibly important. By doing this, your network is no longer the thief’s lowest hanging fruit. Your wireless router should come with instructions on how to set up a password, either in a booklet or on a CD.  If you have lost the manual, you should be able to find instructions for your model online, or you can contact the maker of your router. If you need assistance in setting this, or your network, in general, up, we have certified technicians through Geek On Call that can help you in your home or business.

Block Websites Using Your Wireless Internet Router and Firewall

Second, block unwanted websites using your router and firewall. We’ve talked about this before and you can find step by step instructions here. Many Internet service providers, provide firewall/routers for free but if they do not, a firewall is a great investment when it comes to keeping your family safe. By setting your firewall to stop access to unwanted websites, you can prevent situations like the one that happened to Malcolm Riddell. Here are instructions on using your firewall to block websites.

Keep Your Computer Safe When on the Internet with Anti-Virus Software

Third, make sure you have anti-virus software and it is up to date. Our virus prevention tips can be found here. Not only is this incredibly important in preventing viruses, malware, and Trojans, it can stop the spread of an infected computer if it does access your network. Some Internet service providers, such as Comcast, give their customers free anti-virus software, as do some schools and businesses, so be sure to check with them to see what is offered. There are also several very good, free, anti-virus programs available for download.  These include MalwareBytes and MS Security Essentials.    

Follow these steps and you will be better protected from wireless Internet thieves who may be doing more with your Internet than just stealing your bandwidth. If you would like a certified technician to help ensure your wireless Internet is secure, please visit us at www.TurnKeyOffice.net or call 1(800) 905-GEEK(4335).

Do you have more suggestions on how to protect your wireless Internet? Please share them below.

New Year's Resolution: Financial Weight Loss

Does your company have a New Years Resolution? How about shedding those financial pounds it put on this year.  Keeping your company lean and in top shape by exploring ways to trim excess costs will ensure you are ready to take on competition and unstable financial markets in the upcoming year. 

In an effort to firm up, many companies are turning to outsourcing everyday business functions. We provide some of these functions, including:

• Bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll

• IT Support and computer and network maintenance

• Telecom Analysis

How can outsourcing trim financial weight and help your company get fit?

Cost

People outsource their business needs for a variety of reasons but cost savings is a key factor in many decisions. Outsourcing saves on direct costs, hiring and management costs, the cost of office space, and equipment costs.  It also saves you the cost of your time because rather than focusing on ancillary business functions, you are able to focus your passion into growing your company.

Check and Balances

Outsourcing the bookkeeping and financial needs of your company provides for checks and balances to be instated.  When choosing a company to outsource your bookkeeping and financial needs to, make sure it is one that allows you to retain control and access to your files and provides transparency and a paper trail of their bookkeeping process.  Turn Key Office provides you visibility of your company’s records from any location, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and you can separate accounting duties to provide greater checks and balances and prevent fraud and embezzlement. 

Better Utilization of You Resources and Skills

As a business owner you are passionate and motivated, but unfortunately, it is not practical or possible for you to do it all. You may be fantastic at making pizza or coordinating conventions, but that does not mean you need to be a wizard when it comes to being your companies CFO. You can and do wear many hats as a business owner, but outsourcing allows specialized companies to help you with every day tasks so you can wear that hats that fit you best.  

And remember, just because you *can* do it, doesn’t mean you should.  Your resources are limited and, by partnering with someone to take care of the other areas of running a business, you can use your talents and passions to the best of your ability, which will allow your company to flourish.

Is it right for you?  Like any diet or exercise routine, it may not be for everyone and consulting an expert is recommended. We provided complimentary consultations and customized proposals, so go ahead and give us a call. We’d love to help you, and your company, fulfill your New Year’s Resolution. 

What have you got to lose besides some of that financial weight?

Best Wishes,

Rachael

Turn Key Office

(410)715-3657

www.TurnKeyOffice.net

Shortcuts and Hotkeys for Microsoft Office® 2010

To help improve productivity and maximize the use of Microsoft Office® 2010, we are pleased to provide this shortened list of our best "tips and tricks". We hope these hotkeys make using Office a little easier.  Visit www.TurnKeyOffice.net for a printable version.

Do you have a favorite that we did not mention?  Add it to the comments!