Several software enterprises, with their respective rights and trademarks, feature marketplaces where you can download add-ons that fill in any gaps in your business needs.
Intuit’s QuickBooks Online and Desktop are powerful accounting tools with a lot of pros, but they don’t meet every small business need.
This is exactly why the Apps for QuickBooks Desktop Marketplace and QuickBooks Online’s apps.com exist. It’s an app store for all things QuickBooks.
For example, some e-commerce companies like Etsy have QuickBooks apps in which you can automatically sync your transactions between the two platforms.
With 200+ apps for QuickBooks Desktop available, the marketplace offers tools that can:
- Facilitate expense tracking.
- Enable real-time financial insights.
- Facilitate vendor and supplier management.
- Streamline reconciliation processes.
Even as accounting trends change, these apps keep your business up to date. Over time, we found that what results is improved efficiency and profitability over time.
Many of these apps also empower Desktop users to gain QuickBooks remote access via a mobile device, like a phone or tablet. For example, if you’re an iOS user, you can use QuickBooks on your iPad.
But what do you need remote access for? Well, when you’re out on the road, quick and easy access to all your business tools is vital. Through our practical knowledge, it’s also the best way to ensure you don’t miss an important sale just because you’re not at your computer.
These days, many QuickBooks applications allow users to access all their files from their mobile devices and provide them with additional tools to manage leads and convert them into customers on the go.
As technology evolves, it’s become necessary to retrieve data from locations outside of the office. With on-demand access to information, collaboration improves so your teams stay on the same page at all times.
Some of the most essential types include mobile invoicing apps, consolidation tools, accounts payable software, and inventory management systems.
Different types of QuickBooks apps
Whether you run a field service company or work for an accounting firm, QuickBooks offers various apps to cater to different business needs. Here are some broad categories:
Ecommerce apps: Various ecommerce apps like Shopify and WooCommerce integrate seamlessly with your online store, tracking sales, inventory, and customer data.
Payment apps: Apps like PayPal and Square sync with QuickBooks to simplify your payment processing and increase accuracy in financial calculations.
Productivity apps: QuickBooks integrates with tools like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, providing you with an all-in-one solution for managing business operations.
Tax apps: QuickBooks offers apps like Turbotax that calculate and file taxes automatically, simplify tax season for you and reduce the chance of errors.
Specialized business tools: From CRMs like Salesforce and Method:CRM to inventory, payroll, time tracking, and project management tools, QuickBooks offers apps to streamline virtually every aspect of your business.
How does QuickBooks work?
QuickBooks is a software designed to simplify financial management for small to medium-sized businesses. It keeps track of all financial transactions including:
- Sales.
- Expenses.
- Payroll.
With its easy-to-use interface, it allows you to create and send invoices, generate custom reports, improve budgeting and forecasting, and much more.
Data is automatically categorized and organized, which simplifies the process of financial reporting and tax filing. When integrated with other QuickBooks apps, it becomes a powerful tool, centralizing your business operations and providing real-time data at your fingertips.
Benefits of using QuickBooks apps
QuickBooks apps support your business in many ways. Here are some of the benefits:
Efficiency: QuickBooks apps automate tedious tasks like data entry and bank reconciliations, freeing up time for other important business activities.
Accuracy: Automated processes reduce the risk of errors that come with manual data entry, ensuring your books are always accurate.
Insights: With improved analytics, QuickBooks apps helps analyze your data to gain deeper insights into your financial health, helping inform business decisions.
Integration: QuickBooks apps integrate and synchronize with a range of software, creating a unified system that manages various aspects of your business seamlessly.
Data import/export: QuickBooks apps allow easy data export and import of forms from various sources, which can save time and reduce errors in data entry.
Monitoring: With QuickBooks apps, you can monitor your financials in real-time, which can help you make informed business decisions promptly.
What should you look for in a QuickBooks Online integration?
There are several factors you should consider when integrating QuickBooks Online with another software.
First, you should make sure the application is easy to use and intuitive.
Next, evaluate its cost-effectiveness and whether the application adds value to your business. Remember to consider if the added functionality is worth the expense.
The integration should provide seamless data transfer between both your applications and handle any amount of data without causing errors. It’s best to use a native integration vs. a third party connector for this reason.
Finally, look for applications that include regular updates, good customer support, and extensive documentation to address issues that might arise and help you adapt to new features.
QuickBooks mobile invoicing apps
After putting it to the test, most mobile invoicing solutions, including Method:CRM’s, allow small businesses to:
- Customize their quotes and invoices.
- Automate accounting processes like billing operations.
- Send an outstanding payment notice.
- Create custom text fields.
Drawing from our experience, this improves efficiency and, in turn, keeps clients happy.
QuickBooks Time (formerly Tsheets), on the other hand, lets business owners keep track of employee hours, overtime hours, and paid time off. It also helps:
- Optimize invoicing and billing.
- With sending and approving accurate, up-to-date job costings.
- Share receipts from any device.
QuickBooks consolidation tools
Some QuickBooks apps are designed to help bookkeepers consolidate finances and improve reporting accuracy. After putting it to the test, we found that this allows you to:
- Get a full view of your business’ current financial status.
- Compare numbers across segmented divisions under a single parent company — all at the click of a button.
Based on our observations, this feature is something that’s incredibly useful for companies that use multiple reports or files in their accounting.
Some apps that can help with this include:
- Method, which is the #1 automation tool for QuickBooks Online and Desktop users.
- Spotlight Reporting, which has budgeting, analytics, and forecasting tools.
- JustConsolidate, which is best for multi-company consolidation.
Your accountants will love consolidation tools because of how much easier they make managing finances, and bookkeeping in general.
QuickBooks accounts payable apps
Accounts payable is money that businesses owe to suppliers. Examples include advertising costs, office equipment, services, and others. This appears as a liability on one’s balance sheet.
Accounts payable apps help business owners stay on top of their accounts payables and accounts receivables and strengthen cash flow management.
Also, keeping track of all your customers’ credit cards, checks, and sales orders quickly becomes hard to manage.
These apps keep your business in a much more organized state financially, which helps you maintain relationships with vendors and partners. This way, you ensure any payouts you fulfill are timely and accurate.
Some of the best QuickBooks-compatible accounts payable apps include Procurify, Bill.com, Expensify, and Sourcery.
And while getting the most out of every tool is important for small businesses, navigating this many QuickBooks apps can be daunting.
To simplify this process, we’re going to share some tips on different categories of QuickBooks apps. Plus, drawing from our experience, we’ll give you our recommendations for the top tools small businesses can use to extend the power of QuickBooks Desktop.
QuickBooks inventory management apps
QuickBooks is built to handle a variety of different manufacturing functions, but it has yet to perfect inventory management. Based on our firsthand experience, it struggles to handle variables like multiple warehouses or serial numbers.
Incorporating a third party integration with an app such as SOS Inventory helps enhance inventory management, particularly if you have a more complex inventory system with multiple supplies and products. Or, for those that receive lots of different purchasing orders.
The top 3 apps for QuickBooks Desktop
With that being said, we hope readers benefit from our top three apps for QuickBooks Desktop, and our advice on how to use them.
1. Method:CRM
Method:CRM is the #1 rated QuickBooks CRM on the market, available in the English language. With 1,300+ 5-star reviews on apps.com, it’s a favorite among both QuickBooks Online and Desktop users — especially if they’re small business owners.
Often the next solution QuickBooks Desktop users look for, Method:CRM makes it easy to manage your customers and win more deals. Plus, it helps you maximize profit.
As one of the more popular apps for Quickbooks Desktop, Method:CRM streamlines your:
- Lead management.
- Sales process and opportunity tracking.
- Project management.
- Customer experience.
- Employee workflow through automation.
And as a 100% no-code, customizable CRM, you can tailor Method:CRM to your exact business processes and needs, all without the need to hire any developers.
Not to mention that its patented, two-way sync works seamlessly with QuickBooks Desktop — updating information in real time and eliminating the need for double data entry.
Method also offers a customizable portal service, where your customers can:
- Solve issues themselves.
- Access informative content on your products and services (i.e. guides, blog articles, etc.).
- Download and upload sizable documents, including photos.
- Track transactions and orders.
- Pay their bills.
Plus, you can add your logo to maintain branding, which gives customers a sense of security.
Providing self-serve options benefits everyone, as it also takes some of the workload off your support team.
With Method:CRM:
- Customer details instantly update in your CRM and QuickBooks.
- Potential sales are easier to keep track of and close.
- You can automate time-consuming workflows to increase productivity.
- Enhance your data with a wide range of robust integrations.
- Centralize financial information, customer records, and transaction history.
Plus, as a cloud-based platform, Method:CRM makes it easy to access your QuickBooks Desktop data anytime, from any place. You can use the mobile app to check customer profiles on-the-go, create estimates while out of office, and always stay in close contact with your customers.
How to get started
Method:CRM offers a free, no commitment trial for all QuickBooks users.
On top of access to all of Method:CRM’s features during your trial period, you also get a free 1-hour customization session where you can chat with a Business Solutions Specialist. You also get access to a variety of support resources that help guide you through the software.
Once you’ve finished your trial and have a firm grasp of the software, you can pick the plan that best suits your business’ needs.
You can find Method:CRM’s three pricing plans here. These plans have competitive costs and no hidden fees.
2. Tsheets Time Tracking
The next on our list of top apps for QuickBooks Desktop is Tsheets Time Tracking software. As your number of workers increases, time tracking manually in Excel becomes more and more difficult.
Our team discovered through using this product that Tsheets is every small business owner’s dream, as it helps streamline payroll management. It also simplifies:
- Employee time tracking and scheduling.
- Invoice management.
- Job costing.
With the items on this list, and its 4,000+ 5-star reviews on apps.com, Tsheets is one of the best apps that integrates with QuickBooks.
As a cloud solution, Tsheets syncs data to QuickBooks Desktop so you don’t have to waste time inputting the same information twice, and it even offers a mobile app.
How to get started
You can try Tsheets for free by starting a 14-day trial.
3. Bill.com
The last of our top apps for QuickBooks Desktop is BILL. Our analysis of this product revealed that this tool makes expense management easy by using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud technology to streamline bookkeeping tasks.
With BILL, you can:
- Send and receive payments faster.
- Reduce manual data entry on things like sales tax.
- Save money by always paying in local currency.
- Build workflows for approvals.
- Lower your credit card processing fee.
BILL integrates with every version of QuickBooks (Online, Pro, Premier, and Enterprise) and has over 400 5-star reviews on apps.com. It’s also a secure option, as it requires that its vendors follow strict insurance policies.
How to get started
Enhance cash flow management and make tracking expenses easier with a free 90-day trial of BILL.
What are QuickBooks add-ons?
QuickBooks add-ons are software applications that can be added to provide additional features and functionalities.
These add-ons meet various business needs like:
- Inventory management.
- Time tracking.
- Advanced reporting.
Some popular examples of QuickBooks add-ons are Method, TSheets, Expensify, and Fishbowl.
What web apps can I connect to QuickBooks Desktop?
You can connect various different apps to QuickBooks Desktop. Here are some popular apps it syncs with:
Method:CRM: A customer relationship management (CRM) tool that syncs seamlessly with QuickBooks to provide enhanced customer management, personalized workflow automation, and much more.
Fishbowl Inventory: A software that provides advanced inventory tracking and management.
TSheets: A time tracking and employee scheduling software that integrates with QuickBooks for HR, payroll, invoicing, and job costing with ease.
Best alternative to QuickBooks Desktop
If you want an alternative to QuickBooks Desktop, here are some options to consider:
QuickBooks Online: QuickBooks Online provides real-time access to your financial accounting data from anywhere, facilitating seamless collaboration among team members.
Wave: If you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner, Wave could be a great choice. It’s a free, user-friendly accounting software that includes features for invoicing, expense tracking, and more. However, it lacks more complex features such as inventory management and time tracking.
Xero: Known for its powerful features and simplicity, Xero is a great alternative for businesses of all sizes. It offers a great set of accounting tools, inventory tracking, project management, and over 700+ integrations.
There’s no doubt that software such as QuickBooks and Xero are great accounting tools, but it wasn’t designed to handle all of your business needs.
From inventory to invoicing, Method:CRM is the best tool that syncs with both QuickBooks and Xero to automate the work you can do, but don’t want to.
Recap: Best apps for QuickBooks Desktop
QuickBooks Desktop users have plenty of tools at their disposal when it comes to getting the most out of their accounting software. Here’s a summary of our favorite apps for QuickBooks Desktop:
- Method:CRM
- Tsheets Time Tracking
- Bill.com
Our findings show that all of these apps will help you do more with QuickBooks and give you remote access to the financial data you need to keep your business running smoothly. Plus, it makes things easier for you and your employees.
Here’s the good news — with all of them offering no-commitment free trials, nothing is stopping you from taking your QuickBooks Desktop account to the next level.
Extend the power of QuickBooks Desktop with your free trial of Method:CRM.
QuickBooks apps FAQs
How much do QuickBooks apps cost?
QuickBooks (QB) apps can range from free to hundreds of dollars per month. Pricing depends on the specific app and features it offers.
What do QuickBooks apps integrate with?
QuickBooks apps can integrate with various software, including e-commerce platforms, payment processors, and tax, inventory, payroll, time tracking, tools.
QuickBooks apps have different functions that allow you to:
- Ensure compliance with tax regulations.
- Simplify customer relationship management.
- Boost productivity in financial tasks.
- Maximize efficiency in financial operations.
What are the trends relating to QuickBooks apps?
Trends in QuickBooks apps include:
- Increased automation.
- Improved analytics.
- More comprehensive integrations.
- Ongoing shift towards cloud-based solutions.
Extend the power of QuickBooks Desktop with your free trial of Method:CRM.
Image credit: Roman Bozhko via Unsplash
