Quickbooks Desktop Discontinued: Everything You Need to Know!!!

If you are a QuickBooks Desktop user, you are all too aware of the sunsetting roll Intuit has been on. It is officially becoming too much to keep up, so let us help you with what has been phased out, what will be phased out, what you can still buy, what your options are when it comes to Desktop vs Online, and more!

Which QuickBooks Desktop versions have been/are being discontinued?

QuickBooks Desktop 2020 (including Pro, Premier, and Enterprise) reached its end-of-life in May 2023.

All versions of QuickBooks Desktop from 2021 and before were discontinued as of May 31st, 2024.

What does this mean? Simply stated, it means users won’t be able to access live technical support or have access to add-on services like payroll, online banking, and merchant services.

The specific QuickBooks Desktop products affected are:

• QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2021
• QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2021
• QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 21
• QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition 2021
• QuickBooks Enterprise Accountant 21
• QuickBooks Desktop for Mac 2021

To continue using QuickBooks Desktop, you must have upgraded to the 2022 version, but here’s the kicker. QuickBooks Desktop 2022 versions will also be discontinued after May 31, 2025. This applies to all 2022 editions of QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Desktop for Mac, and Enterprise Solutions v22. Suppose you don’t upgrade by this date. In that case, you won’t have access to live technical support or other Intuit services integrated with QuickBooks Desktop, such as QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, QuickBooks Desktop Payments, and online bank feeds.

What can I do if my current QuickBooks Desktop version is being phased out?

If you’re using a version of QuickBooks Desktop that is being discontinued, here are your options:

1. Upgrade to the latest QuickBooks Desktop version (2023/2024)

You can upgrade to the latest QuickBooks Desktop version to continue enjoying security updates and access to integrated services. QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Enterprise are still available as of 2024, but keep in mind that Intuit is pushing more users toward its subscription model.

2. Switch to QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online (QBO) is Intuit’s cloud-based solution, offering greater flexibility, accessibility, and collaboration. It also receives more frequent updates than the desktop versions. Switching to QBO could future-proof your business operations as Intuit continues its shift to cloud-based software.

3. Explore alternatives

If neither QuickBooks Desktop nor QuickBooks Online is the right fit for your business, several alternative accounting software options are available, such as Xero, FreshBooks, and Sage. When exploring these options, consider your business needs.

4. Use QuickBooks hosting services

If you prefer the features of QuickBooks Desktop but want cloud accessibility, you can use third-party QuickBooks hosting services. These services host your desktop version in a cloud environment, combining the features of the desktop version with the accessibility of cloud software.

Which QuickBooks Desktop versions can still be bought?

As of 2024, you can still purchase the following QuickBooks Desktop versions:

• QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024: A subscription-based version with automatic updates and security patches.
• QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus 2024: Offers additional features like industry-specific reports and sales order fulfillment; also available on a subscription basis.
• QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise 2024: Designed for larger businesses with advanced inventory and reporting features.

Keep in mind that these versions are sold on a subscription basis, meaning you’ll need to renew annually to maintain access.

The gist of this information dump is that this trend of sunsetting QuickBooks Desktop versions points to a larger trend: Intuit wants you to switch to QuickBooks Online in the long run. Wondering if it’s the right choice for you? Let’s compare QuickBooks Desktop with Online to help you make an informed decision.

Why many businesses are choosing to stay with QuickBooks Desktop?

Let’s see how QuickBooks Online and Desktop stack up against each other.

Learn More: Quickbooks Sales Order Integration: Fixing Missing Sales Order

Which version is right for you?

Both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop have their strengths and weaknesses. Your choice will depend on your specific business requirements, budget, and preference for accessibility and features.

Choose QuickBooks Online if:

• Your business needs remote access and flexibility.
• You prefer a modern, user-friendly interface with easy collaboration.
• You want automatic updates, regular backups, and strong customer support.
• You are comfortable with a subscription-based pricing model.

Choose QuickBooks Desktop if:

• Your business requires advanced accounting features, robust inventory management, and complex reporting.
• You prefer a locally installed solution with full control over your data.
• You need industry-specific versions and high levels of customization.
• You are okay with an annual subscription or hosting service to gain cloud accessibility.

While many companies have adopted cloud-based solutions, a significant number of wholesale distributors still rely on QuickBooks Desktop. At WizCommerce, we understand why businesses make this choice, and we offer seamless integration with QuickBooks Desktop to make their processes smoother and more efficient.

Why businesses are choosing to stick with QuickBooks Desktop

QuickBooks Desktop remains a preferred choice for many wholesale distributors due to several reasons:

1. Familiarity and reliability: QuickBooks Desktop has been a trusted accounting software for years. It offers robust accounting features and reliability that many businesses have grown comfortable with.
2. Offline access and security: Unlike cloud-based solutions, QuickBooks Desktop allows users to work offline, which can be crucial for businesses that prioritize data security and have limited internet connectivity.
3. Advanced inventory management: QuickBooks Desktop, especially its Enterprise version, provides more advanced inventory management features that cater specifically to the needs of wholesale distributors.
4. Cost efficiency: For some businesses, QuickBooks Desktop presents a cost-effective solution with a one-time purchase or a fixed yearly subscription, avoiding the recurring costs associated with many cloud-based alternatives.
5. Customizability: Many wholesale distributors have tailored their QuickBooks Desktop setups to fit their unique business processes. Switching to a new system may require significant customization, retraining, and potential downtime.

Why do you need WizCommerce as a QuickBooks Desktop user?

If you’re a wholesale distributor relying on QuickBooks Desktop for your accounting and inventory management needs, you already know how powerful and reliable the software can be. However, QuickBooks Desktop has limitations when managing sales orders, handling customer relationships in real time, and synchronizing multiple sales channels.

WizCommerce helps you automate your manual sales processes and creates an omnichannel sales experience that enables you to sell anytime, anywhere: at trade shows, in the field, or online:

1. WizOrder: Order-taking app

Get effortless order-taking capabilities in the field, at trade shows, or online.

• Create personalized presentations, quotes & orders on-the-go in the field or at trade shows

• Configure custom price lists, freight, and payment terms
• One-click reorder with pre-filled order details, addresses, payment, and shipping terms
• Automate your order confirmations, follow-ups, and customer communication regarding orders, payments, shipments, etc.
• Take orders in offline mode at trade shows by quickly scanning QR codes/UPCs

2. WizShop: B2B ecommerce platform

Sell 24/7 with a self-service B2B online portal with flexible check-out options and access to order updates and history:

• Ensure round-the-clock sales with our 24/7 B2B online portal
• Give customers access to all products and stock information and set customer-specific pricing
• Give your customers complete visibility of order history, updates, invoices, and payment status.
• Personalize services by allocating custom price lists, freight, and payment terms to customers and get custom approval flows
• Provide your customers with custom freight programs and shipping terms

3. WizAI: AI-driven product recommendation engine

Leverage WizCommerce’s proprietary AI engine and unlock hidden upsell opportunities. With WizAI, you’ll get:

• Frequently bought together & recommended products based on the buying patterns of the customer
• Similar product recommendations for out-of-stock products so you never lose a sale!
• Get abandoned cart data so you can reach the right customers at the right time
• Get lead scores based on which leads are likely to close soon

4. WizPay: Integrated payments solution

Offer flexible, fast, and secure payment options with WizPay.

• Flexible payment options like upfront, deposit, and payment methods like card-on-file, payment links, tap/swipe cards, and credits
• Customized net terms for your customers
• The most flexible B2B checkout, including notes, preferred shipping dates, and multiple billing and shipping options
• PCI-compliant payments so your transactions are always secure

What to expect with WizCommerce integration with QuickBooks Desktop

1. Seamless data synchronization

When you first set up the integration, it syncs all existing data (customers, inventory, orders) from QuickBooks to WizCommerce. After setup, any new or changed data gets automatically updated in both systems, so you’re always working with the latest info:

• Customer Sync: WizCommerce ensures that all customer information, including names, assigned sales reps & payment terms, addresses, and contact details, is synchronized between both systems. This reduces the risk of errors and ensures consistency across platforms, helping wholesale distributors manage customer relationships more effectively.
• Product Sync: Based on your preferences, you can pull only the products you need. Set specific identifiers for products you want to pull and use filtering logic to customize the pull. Products can be pulled with categories and sub-categories.
• Inventory Sync: Keep your inventory data consistent across both platforms. Inventory updates in QuickBooks Desktop are automatically reflected in WizCommerce, helping avoid overselling or stockouts.
• Order Sync: Orders created on either QuickBooks Desktop or WizCommerce are synchronized in real time. This ensures accurate order processing and fulfillment without manual data entry or delays.
• Invoice and Payments Sync: Invoices and payments created or processed in QuickBooks Desktop are synced with WizCommerce. Payments can be taken against invoices on WizCommerce. This data syncs with QuickBooks Desktop in real time, ensuring your financial data is always up-to-date and accurate.

2. WizSync button for on-demand updates

If QuickBooks Desktop is down and order data can’t be pulled into WizCommerce, we offer a unique “WizSync” button, allowing you to update data between the two systems manually. This ensures that your data is always up-to-date whenever needed, giving you more control over the information flow.

3. Checks to prevent duplicate customer creation

Real-time data flow ensures customers are not created twice–admins will see in real time when a new customer is created. Moreover, if a customer is being created twice, we flag it on the platform.

4. Reduce manual work with field mapping

We ensure data flows directly from QuickBooks Desktop to WizCommerce, so you don’t have to input any information manually. For this, we provide one-to-one field mapping: Key details like customer names, sales reps, inventory counts, and order info are matched and updated between the systems. We also take care of formats and data length to ensure data validation, and we have default mapping for salespersons and payment terms.

With real-time syncing capabilities for orders and customers, your sales reps and back-office teams always have access to the latest data. This enhances decision-making and improves customer service.

The Way Forward

At WizCommerce, we believe wholesale distributors should have the flexibility to choose the tools that best suit their needs without compromising efficiency and growth potential. Our seamless integration with QuickBooks Desktop ensures that you can continue leveraging its robust accounting features while enjoying the enhanced capabilities of WizCommerce.

If you’re looking to modernize your operations without leaving behind the reliability of QuickBooks Desktop, WizCommerce is the perfect solution. Join the many successful wholesale distributors already enjoying the best of both worlds with WizCommerce and QuickBooks Desktop.

Ready to Get Started? To learn more about how our integration can benefit your business, book a demo now!

Integrating your QuickBooks Desktop with an all-in-one B2B commerce like WizCommerce can supercharge your sales processes.

Does the thought of an integration give you a headache? Not with WizCommerce! We keep it smooth, effortless, and flawless.