QuickBooks Desktop is on its way out. Intuit has stopped selling new subscriptions and is winding down support on existing ones, pushing every QuickBooks Desktop user toward QuickBooks Online on Intuit's timeline, not yours.
That makes this the perfect moment to stop thinking sideways: another version of QuickBooks, and start thinking up: a real accounting and ERP system built to grow with your business. That system is Connected, and switching is far more straightforward than you might expect.
Here's exactly what changes when you make the move, and why growing businesses treat every one of these as a win, not a compromise.
 | Every Transaction Gets a Permanent Paper Trail |
QuickBooks Desktop lets you edit or delete almost any transaction at any time, even months after a period is "closed." Connected locks posted transactions into a permanent audit trail, so corrections are always documented, never quietly erased.
| ✗ QUICKBOOKS DESKTOP | ✓ CONNECTED |
| Posted entries can be edited or deleted anytime, even after the period is "closed." | Posted entries are locked into a permanent audit trail. Corrections are documented, never erased. |
 | One Clean Record for Every Customer and Vendor |
QuickBooks lets you create a customer or vendor with nothing but a name, and duplicate records pile up fast. Connected requires a 10-digit ID, so every customer and vendor stays one clean, dependable record for good.
| ✗ QUICKBOOKS DESKTOP | ✓ CONNECTED |
| Customers and vendors can be created with just a name. Duplicate records pile up over time. | A required 10-digit ID keeps exactly one clean record per customer and vendor, for good. |
 | Every Account Gets a Number |
QuickBooks doesn't require account numbers, so charts of accounts often end up messy and half-numbered. Connected requires a number on every account, turning your chart of accounts into an organized map that's easy to navigate and hand off.
| ✗ QUICKBOOKS DESKTOP | ✓ CONNECTED |
| Account numbers are optional. Charts of accounts end up half-numbered and inconsistent. | Every account carries a number, keeping the chart of accounts organized and easy to hand off. |
 | Orders and Inventory Track Themselves |
A partial QuickBooks shipment means manually splitting the invoice and tracking the back order by hand. In Connected, one order record automatically tracks what's shipped, open, and back-ordered, so your team spends less time on paperwork and more time selling.
| ✗ QUICKBOOKS DESKTOP | ✓ CONNECTED |
| Partial shipments mean manually duplicating the invoice and tracking the back order by hand. | One order record automatically tracks shipped, open, and back-ordered quantities. |
 | What About Payroll? |
Connected doesn't process payroll directly, and that's by design. Dedicated payroll providers stay on top of tax tables, remittances, and ever-changing legislation so you don't have to. You stay free to choose the provider that fits your business, and switch anytime without touching the rest of your ERP.
| “Connected doesn't process payroll directly, and that's intentional. We focus on accounting and ERP and work with dedicated payroll providers whose specialty is payroll. They're responsible for keeping up with changing tax tables, remittances and payroll legislation, while Connected focuses on your financials and operations. It also gives you the flexibility to change payroll providers in the future without having to change your entire ERP system.” |
Why Growing Businesses Choose Connected
None of this is friction for its own sake. It's exactly what a growing business needs from its accounting system: posting discipline, clean records, organized accounts, real order tracking, and the freedom to choose your own payroll provider.
QuickBooks Desktop was never built to ask these questions. Connected was.
About Connected
The Connected Accounting and ERP platform, by Accountek Solutions Inc. has been helping SMBs manage their businesses for over 30 years. With our best-in-class Connected on Demand cloud (subscription) and trusted Desktop application for macOS and PC (perpetual license), Connected offers the choices businesses demand. The Connected platform is offered in both Connected Enterprise and a scaled down Connected Core Financials configuration.
To learn which Connected product and platform is best for your business, complete our software Needs Analysis or Download a Free Trial today. If you have questions, call us today @ (888) 678-5856.
Connected Accounting and ERP by Accountek Solutions Inc.
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