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# System prepended metadata

title: Move QuickBooks Desktop Pro to Simple Start – Complete Process

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# Move QuickBooks Desktop Pro to Simple Start – Complete Process

![quickbooks](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1j2TKAFWg.png)

Moving from QuickBooks Desktop to **QuickBooks Online Simple Start** gives you cloud access, automatic updates, and mobile invoicing for $35/month. Simple Start handles basic invoicing, expenses, and reports for solopreneurs/small teams (1 billable user + unlimited tracking). This guide covers preparation, migration, cleanup, and post-move setup.

**Migration problems? Call 866-798-4134 for live step-by-step help.**



## Step 1: Choose & Sign Up for Simple Start

```
1. Go to quickbooks.intuit.com/online/simple-start
2. Start 30-day free trial OR buy outright ($35/mo)
3. Create Intuit account (save login info)
4. Skip initial setup – you'll migrate data first
5. Note company ID – needed for migration
```

**Simple Start limits:** 1 billable user, no bill pay/projects, basic reports.



## Step 2: Prepare QuickBooks Desktop (Critical Pre-Migration)

**Clean data = smooth migration:**

```
**BACKUP FIRST:**
File → Create Backup → Local Backup → Complete

**UPDATE QB DESKTOP:**
Help → Update QuickBooks → Update Now → Restart

**SINGLE-USER MODE:**
File → Switch to Single-user Mode

**VERIFY DATA:**
File → Utilities → Verify Data (fix errors first)

**CONDENSE if >500MB:**
File → Utilities → Condense Data → Keep 3 years
```

**Migration fails 80% of time without these steps.**



## Step 3: Migrate Using Built-In Tool (Easiest Method)

**From QuickBooks Desktop (Pro/Premier 2018+):**

```
1. Company menu → Export Company File to QuickBooks Online
2. Click "Get Started"
3. Sign in with Simple Start Intuit credentials
4. Choose "My data is ready" → Continue
5. Select Simple Start company → Connect Account
6. Migration starts (10-30 minutes typical)
7. Email confirmation when complete
```

**Mac users:** File → Export → To QuickBooks Online.



## Step 4: Alternative - Intuit Online Migration Tool

**If Desktop tool fails:**

```
1. quickbooks.intuit.com/online/move-to-online
2. Select your QB Desktop version
3. Sign into Simple Start account
4. Upload .QBW file (max 2GB supported)
5. Auto-converts to latest Desktop version first
6. Imports to Simple Start (1-2 hours)
```

**Email notification when migration finishes.**



## Step 5: Verify Data After Migration

**Check these immediately:**

```
**CHART OF ACCOUNTS:** Gear → Chart of Accounts
✅ All accounts transferred? Categories correct?

**CUSTOMERS:** Sales → Customers
✅ Names, balances, contact info intact?

**VENDORS:** Expenses → Vendors  
✅ All active vendors present?

**RECENT TRANSACTIONS:** Reports → Last Month P&L
✅ Numbers match Desktop exactly?

**BANK BALANCES:** Banking → Chart of Accounts
✅ Opening balances correct?
```

**90% of issues found in first 10 minutes of review.**



## Step 6: Reconnect & Recreate Missing Items

**What Simple Start handles automatically:**
```
✅ Customers, vendors, chart of accounts
✅ Items/products/services (basic)
✅ AR/AP balances
✅ Recent transactions (3 years typical)
```

**Manual fixes needed:**
```
❌ Payroll (Simple Start doesn't include)
❌ Inventory (Simple Start doesn't track)
❌ Custom fields/templates
❌ Bank feeds (reconnect manually)
❌ Sales tax settings
```



## Step 7: Simple Start Post-Migration Setup

```
**1. Connect Bank:** Banking → Connect Account
**2. Sales Tax:** Taxes → Sales Tax → Setup  
**3. Recurring Transactions:** Gear → Recurring Transactions
**4. Users:** Gear → Manage Users (1 billable max)
**5. Reports:** Reports → Standard (customize as needed)
**6. Mobile App:** Download iOS/Android apps
```

**Simple Start sweet spot:** Invoicing + basic expenses.



## What DOESN'T Migrate (Expect This)

```
❌ Payroll history
❌ Inventory quantities/values  
❌ Budgets
❌ Custom templates/forms
❌ Attachments/documents
❌ Audit log
❌ Multi-currency (Simple Start basic only)
❌ Fixed asset manager
```

**Keep Desktop 12 months as backup reference.**



## Migration Troubleshooting

**"File too large" error:**
```
Condense Data first (File → Utilities → Condense Data)
Keep 2-3 years maximum
```

**"Migration failed":**
```
Verify Data first, then retry
Use online migration tool instead
```

**"Balances wrong":**
```
Check opening balance date
Re-run migration with different date range
```

**Call 866-798-4134** for complex migrations.



## Desktop vs Simple Start Feature Comparison

| Feature | Desktop Pro | Simple Start |
|---------|-------------|--------------|
| Users | Unlimited | 1 billable |
| Invoicing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bill Pay | ✅ | ❌ |
| Inventory | ✅ | ❌ |
| Project Tracking | ✅ | ❌ |
| Bank Feeds | Manual | Automatic |
| Mobile Access | No | ✅ |
| Cost | $349 once | $35/mo |

**Simple Start perfect for:** Solo invoicers, freelancers, service businesses.



## FAQs: Desktop to Simple Start Migration

### **How long does migration take?**
**10-30 minutes** typical. Large files (1GB+) take 2+ hours.

### **Can I keep both Desktop + Online?**
**Yes.** Desktop becomes view-only for 12 months after migration.

### **What if I hate Simple Start?**
**30-day money back.** Export data back to Desktop anytime.

### **Does inventory migrate?**
**No.** Simple Start doesn't track inventory quantities.

### **Payroll in Simple Start?**
**No payroll.** Use QuickBooks Payroll add-on ($45+/mo).

### **Migration support?**
**Call 866-798-4134.** Live help for failed migrations, data verification.