Question:  I have a client who is working in a 2006 version of QuickBooks for Mac and my bookkeeper is on QuickBooks Pro 2009 for PC so she can work in the file, but there’s no way to save it back down to a version that my client can use after it’s been update. Can you think of a good solution that would allow me to keep the business and do the best possible job for my client?  Thanks in advance for your advice.

Answer:
Unfortunately QuickBooks Windows 2009 will only work with QuickBooks Mac 2009, and QuickBooks Mac 2006 will only work with QuickBooks Windows 2004 and 2005.  If your client isn't willing to upgrade, your only option is to either find an old version of QuickBooks, do the work onsite, or log in remotely to their computer. 

Just remember that there was a huge change in Windows 2006, so the earlier versions aren’t going to look the same at all.  Also, Intuit sunsets their software after 3 years, so anything before 2007 can no longer do things like payroll, online banking, merchant services, and even simply emailing forms and reports.  2007 will sunset on May 31, 2010.

To be honest, we never ever do a Mac > Windows > Mac conversion (which is called a round trip) because of the limitations.  Here are a few to be aware of:

1. Reconciliations are significantly affected
2. Reports and/or memorized transactions might not function properly or they might cause error messages during conversion
3. Round Trip Errors can occur when upgrading a data file to a later version of QuickBooks between platforms.

Like many ProAdvisors, we don't have a copy of QuickBooks for Mac; in fact, we don't even have a Mac.  But we have quite a few QuickBooks Mac clients and our Mac consultant, Brandon, supports all of them either onsite or via remote access.  You might also try to get your client to use VMWare so they can run the Windows version of QuickBooks.  Quickbooks Mac 2010 is a huge step forward but it still lacks a lot of the functionality of the Windows version. 

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Written by Ruth Perryman, CMA, CFE, CFM, MBA, DPA (ABD)

Ruth is the president of The QB Specialists, an Intuit Solutions Provider that has helped thousands of businesses throughout the United States, Canada and even the Caribbean get the most out of QuickBooks since 1996. Ruth has over 20 years of industry experience, including 5 years as a Chief Financial Officer. She is an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a member of Intuit’s Trainer/Writer Network. She is also certified in QuickBooks Point of Sale and Enterprise.

For more QuickBooks Tips & Tricks, subscribe to her monthly newslettter.

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If we helped solve your problem, please consider spending a minute or two posting a review for us. ____________________________________________________________

Written by Ruth Perryman, CMA, CFE, CFM, MBA, DPA (ABD)

Ruth is the president of The QB Specialists, an Intuit Solutions Provider that has helped thousands of businesses throughout the United States, Canada and even the Caribbean get the most out of QuickBooks since 1996. Ruth has over 20 years of industry experience, including 5 years as a Chief Financial Officer. She is an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a member of Intuit’s Trainer/Writer Network. She is also certified in QuickBooks Point of Sale and Enterprise.

For more QuickBooks Tips & Tricks, subscribe to her monthly newslettter.

Looking for QuickBooks Point of Sale or Enterprise? Call 800-707-0940 or email us to save up to 46% off!

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We are pleased to announce that Intuit has released QuickBooks for Mac 2010.  For the second year in a row, Intuit has given us a compelling reason to upgrade.  Here's a look at the new features included in 2010:

New! Accept Credit Cards in QuickBooks for Mac
Get paid faster by processing credit card transactions directly through QuickBooks for Mac with Intuit Merchant Service for QuickBooks for Mac.

• No additional software or terminal to buy
• Store all your transaction information in one place
• Improve accuracy and save time on data entry

Improved! Company Snapshot
Get an instant view into your bottom line with more at-a-glance reports featuring easy-to-read graphs.  Customize the Company Snapshot to create a personalized overview of your business and see what’s most important to you.

• Select from new reports including: Year-over-year expense comparison, Year-over-year Income and Expense Comparison, Income Breakdown, Expense Breakdown, Top Customers
• Drill down on the data behind the graphs with just a click
• Filter charts and graphs to include the information you want
• Add and remove snapshots with simple drag and drop functionality

New! My Time Time-Tracking Software
Track billable time, instantly generate timesheets, and import timesheet data directly into QuickBooks 2010 for Mac with free My Time time tracking software.

Improved! New User Setup Assistant
Get up and running faster with the improved New User Setup experience. Go from installing QuickBooks for Mac to creating your first invoice faster than ever before. It takes only a few screens to create your company file.

New! Guide Me and Live Community
Let the new Guide Me feature help you get familiar with everyday tasks (like creating invoices) until you’re ready to start working on your own. While you’re learning, Live Community22 connects you with other QuickBooks for Mac users and experts to get the answers you need.

Improved! Looks and works like a Mac
Update your QuickBooks preferences quickly and easily with a Preferences window that sports a familiar Mac OS X look and you can find the setting you’re looking for using the built-in search box

• Save time entering dates into QuickBooks forms by clicking in the date field and a pop-up calendar appears to help you quickly select the right date
• Change print settings and preview your job using a familiar, modern Mac interface

If we helped solve your problem, please consider spending a minute or two posting a review for us. ____________________________________________________________

Written by Ruth Perryman, CMA, CFE, CFM, MBA, DPA (ABD)

Ruth is the president of The QB Specialists, an Intuit Solutions Provider that has helped thousands of businesses throughout the United States, Canada and even the Caribbean get the most out of QuickBooks since 1996. Ruth has over 20 years of industry experience, including 5 years as a Chief Financial Officer. She is an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a member of Intuit’s Trainer/Writer Network. She is also certified in QuickBooks Point of Sale and Enterprise.

For more QuickBooks Tips & Tricks, subscribe to her monthly newslettter.

Looking for QuickBooks Point of Sale or Enterprise? Call 800-707-0940 or email us to save up to 46% off!

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to QuickBooks Tips & Tricks via RSS Feed or via Email and receive free daily QuickBooks tips.