There are dozens of QuickBooks hosting service providers in the market with similar offerings that appeal to your dollar, but how are their results? How should you go about choosing the right cloud provider for your business?
This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of QuickBooks hosting in 2024. We will explore its benefits, pricing options, enabling readers to decide when to choose the right hosting provider. By comparing leading hosting providers and considering essential factors, we aim to equip businesses with the knowledge they need to optimize their accounting operations.
Let’s dive in!
Beyond Local System
Gone are the days when you install QuickBooks on your local systems, such as a desktop or laptop, and work alone on the software. Switching to the cloud allows you to work simultaneously with other users in real time. This multi-user mode allows you to work from any internet-connected device anytime and anywhere.
In this rapidly changing market, where real-time collaboration, 24×7 availability, and mobile access to the data are a constant need, having desktop-based QuickBooks is no longer an option.
Another main driving factor for choosing the cloud over the desktop is the hassles in installing, upgrading software, and file transfer with a local system. For example, if you upgrade your computer with installed QuickBooks, you must consider the files, data, and dozens of other desktop applications.
But hosting QuickBooks on the cloud ensures that the service provider is responsible for transferring files and upgrading software in the background.
What’s more, the cloud has made collaboration and sharing so smooth that the process of sending QuickBooks files or data back and forth on email is eliminated. All of this is achieved without any error or file corruption.
This is the ‘cloud’ age. You need a secure server that hosts your application and allows you to stay ahead of the competition.
QuickBooks Hosting – What and Why?
QuickBooks hosting is the hot thing in the cloud accounting space today.
QuickBooks hosting (also known as QuickBooks Cloud or Hosted QuickBooks) refers to installing the QuickBooks Desktop software on remote servers or cloud infrastructure, rather than installing and running them locally on individual devices or computers. In this setup, the application and its associated data are hosted and managed by a third-party service provider, allowing users to access the application over the internet.
Unlike QuickBooks Online, which is an entirely different version of QuickBooks accounting software from Intuit, QuickBooks Hosting is the availability of QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, Accountant, or Enterprise version) on the cloud server of an authorized hosting facility.
Simply put, QB Online is aimed to offer remote access to the application and facilitates businesses that need the functionality of the cloud but won’t mind compromising on the accounting features. On the other hand, QuickBooks Hosting combines the power of the cloud with the features of the desktop software to get the best of both worlds.
What Are The Benefits of QucikBooks Hosting for Businesses?
The benefits of using QuickBooks hosting for business can manifest in:
Anytime, Anywhere Access
QuickBooks hosting is convenient as you can work on QuickBooks data anywhere. So, regardless of the time zone, you can efficiently work on the same QuickBooks file with your client or employee. You can also access it from any location, even while you are on holiday at a beach.
Speed
QuickBooks opens and operates much faster in the hosting environment than QuickBooks on the local system. You can also increase the number of users working on your QB application without losing performance. Just make sure you have a fast internet connection.
Backup
What if your local system crashes? Or did you corrupt your QuickBooks file?
QuickBooks hosting service has multiple redundancies for data storage and regular and automated backup to ensure everything works correctly.
Customer Support
There might be some issues while using QuickBooks, such as printer setup, email configuration, permission controls, etc., that can further complicate the accounting work. QuickBooks hosting provider takes care of all setup and maintenance work, training, and troubleshooting errors and issues that might come with the application on the cloud.
Integration
In order to streamline your accounting work, industry-specific functionality, and increase efficiency, your business may require some 3rd-party add-ons, such as billing apps, inventory software, etc., that easily integrate with QuickBooks.
The hosting environment allows easy integration with such applications so that you have all features and functionality and automatic syncing and data sharing with applications.
Security
There is a risk with a local QuickBooks setup; your data can be compromised if you don’t use secure methods such as anti-virus, anti-malware, password protection, firewalls, etc.
On the other hand, QuickBooks on the cloud is a secure solution because it employs all these security methods, such as anti-virus, firewall, and password protection, and has encryption security, access-control policies, and multiple redundancies in place.
User Satisfaction
When you buy QuickBooks hosting services, it’s essential to see what the hosting provider offers and determine whether the real people using the services are satisfied with the host. With this analysis, you can make an informed decision about choosing QuickBooks on cloud services.
According to Brightlocal, 42% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase decision.
To evaluate a cloud provider’s services, check out the reviews and testimonials of existing clients using their QuickBooks hosting services. This will help you understand whether providers can effectively provide their clients with better customer experience and cloud services.
You can use various sites, such as Serchen, Google Business Listing, Facebook, and a testimonial page on the company website to know their service ratings and reviews. Also, most customers use the embed Google reviews on the website to increase the social proof for your business.
Uptime is Critical
One of the critical things that you should consider while choosing cloud services is server uptime. It’s important because it defines how quickly you can access your QuickBooks data and applications. The higher the uptime, the better the performance and availability.
If your QuickBooks servers are down, this can be catastrophic for your accounting firm, and you will be unable to find, share, or work on your QuickBooks data and application.
So, choosing a hosting provider with high uptime is critical because it will guarantee that your server will never go down for more than a fraction of a second. In other words, if one server goes down, another takes over, so you never experience a service outage.
It’s highly recommended that you choose a hosting service with at least 99.99% guaranteed uptime, which is also cost-effective. The table below compares the value of different ‘Nines’ –
Availability Measure | Downtime Per Year | Downtime Per Week |
---|---|---|
90% (one nine) | 36.5 days | 16.8 hours |
99% (two nines) | 3.65 days | 1.68 hours |
99.9% (three nines) | 8.76 hours | 10.1 minutes |
99.99% (four nines) | 52.6 minutes | 1.01 minutes |
99.995% (four and a half nines) | 26.28 minutes | 30.24 seconds |
99.999% (five nines) | 5.25 minutes | 6.05 seconds |
99.9999% (six nines) | 31.5 seconds | 604.8 ms |
Pricing
While pricing is not a single or most important factor, it’s one of the significant role players in deciding on a hosting service provider.
There might be several costs associated, such as customer support costs, migration costs, add-ons charges, Intuit surcharge, etc., that you should always consider while signing the Service Level Agreements. Also, note that there is always a pricing difference between shared QuickBooks Hosting and dedicated QuickBooks hosting.
The cost of QuickBooks hosting can vary based on factors such as the number of users, storage requirements, the level of technical support, and the inclusion of add-on services. Understanding these factors will help businesses assess which pricing model aligns best with their specific requirements.
Dedicated QuickBooks servers are ideal for businesses that want maximum customization, control, and overall flexibility, but they are somewhat more costly than shared QuickBooks servers.
Below is a brief QuickBooks Hosting pricing comparison of a few service providers to help you choose the best one for your needs.
- Ace Cloud: Monthly Pricing: $34.99/user/month (view all pricing plans)
- Cloud Nine Real Time: Monthly Pricing: Not provided on the website ($50 setup fee per user)
- Right Networks: Monthly Pricing: $68/user/month
- Summit Hosting: Monthly Pricing: $55/user/month (Not Provided on the Website)
- Swizznet: Monthly Pricing: $59.99/user/month
Disclaimer: These prices are taken from the respective providers’ websites as of 4th August 2023
If you are ready for QuickBooks hosting services, you’ll need to choose an appropriate hosting provider.
Ace Cloud is a well-known name for accounting application hosting and tax software hosting for CPAs, accounting firms, and business owners.
The company has partnered with the USA’s best data centers and IT infrastructure providers to provide its customers with best-in-class, super-fast, and secure hosting services. Its customer service and feature-rich affordable packages are far ahead of those offered by other competitors in the market.
Now, let’s see what benefits you get with QuickBooks Hosting from Ace Cloud, making it a reliable hosting provider worthy of consideration.
Overview of Ace Cloud
Ace Cloud has a wide customer base serving thousands of CPAs, Bookkeepers, Accounting, Tax Professionals, small businesses, and large enterprises. The company is based in Florida, USA.
The best-in-class IT infrastructures, superfast services, and excellent customer support made Ace Cloud the leading QuickBooks Hosting provider in the market.
Our commitment to excellence and a customer-centric approach have earned the company a remarkable array of awards and recognition in the industry.
- Ace Cloud is declared “Best Outsourced Technology Provider” by CPA Practice Advisors Readers’ Choice Awards 2023, for the second year consecutively.
- Ace Cloud has received impressive 17 badges in G2’s 2023 Winter Report, further attesting to its excellence in providing top-notch services and customer satisfaction.
- The Key Contributor of the Year 2022 Award, bestowed by Crayon, is a testament to Ace Cloud’s exceptional dedication and substantial contributions to the organization’s success.
- The K2 Quality Award in 2019 and 2020 for Customer Satisfaction further solidifies Ace Cloud’s reputation as a provider that prioritizes its clients’ needs and happiness.
- In 2018, the company was honored with the FinancesOnline award for Great Customer Experience, a testament to our dedication to providing top-notch service.
- Among these accolades is the prestigious Accountex User Favorite award in 2016, acknowledging Ace Cloud’s popularity among users.
With over 706+ five-star ratings on Serchen, Ace Cloud stands out as a customer-obsessed company, consistently going above and beyond to deliver exceptional hosting solutions and outstanding support.
Benefits of Ace Cloud
1. Superfast
We guarantee 99.99% server uptime. With advanced backup technology, redundancies at every level – SSD, servers, or data centers whereby if one server or data center fails, Ace Cloud will immediately and automatically replace it with a functional server without downtime.
2. Secure
Your data is secured using several methods used parallelly. Anti-virus software, firewalls, Intrusion Prevention and Detection systems, anti-phishing, and anti-malware systems protect you. Your data is also safeguarded with multi-factor authentication so the malicious user cannot hack the information even if your password is stolen.
3. 24×7 Customer Support
Customer support is one of the critical differentiators for Ace Cloud. We’re preferred due to our responsive, courteous, competent, agile, and continuous customer support. Ace Cloud’s customer success team comprises experts with over 14+ years of experience in QuickBooks hosting and other cloud services. Our customer support includes round-the-clock customer care via chat, email, or phone by experts.
4. Intuit Authorized
We are an Intuit authorized commercial hosting provider, which means that Intuit has legally authorized the company to host QuickBooks desktop software for users and specializes in secure, superfast, and scalable cloud hosting solutions. As a trusted hosting provider in US, ACE can host the following QuickBooks products-
- QuickBooks Desktop Pro
- QuickBooks Desktop Premier
- QuickBooks Accountant Desktop
- QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Solutions
- QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale (the US only)
5. Backups
Our system is designed to take automatic and regular backups of your QuickBooks data and applications and maintain them for 45 days. This information is stored at geographically isolated data centers that can be retrieved easily in case of any data loss.
6. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Ace Cloud is preferred for QuickBooks Hosting services because of its built-in business continuity and disaster recovery services.
Our technology and processes are devised to consider various events, such as cyber-attacks, human error, or natural disasters that can interrupt your business operations. We make sure your business is always up and running, even in case of such unplanned events.
7. Integration
Ace Cloud enables QuickBooks integration with apps you use for your accounting and business.
From inventory, document storage, billing, CRM, or time tracking applications, our experts help you easily sync and share data with this software and extend the functionality of your accounting software.
8. Best for All Business Sizes
Ace Cloud is a feature-rich and affordable hosting solution for all business sizes. It helps you do more with less – no matter the size or industry. You can quickly scale up or scale down your requirements anytime.
No one wants to pay for something while they’re not using it. We at Ace Cloud understand this and have created customized plans that ensure our clients pay for what they use.
9. High-Performance Computing
Ace Cloud offers SSD-based servers that offer high-performance computing. You can handle multiple tasks and processes without facing performance or lagging issues. It further improves your productivity and efficiency so that you can complete your tasks within the given time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, QuickBooks hosting has revolutionized accounting practices, offering numerous benefits such as enhanced accessibility, improved data security, and cost savings. Among the competition in the global market, Ace Cloud emerges as the most suitable QuickBooks hosting solution provider.
Ace Cloud’s dedication to reliability, top-notch customer support, and seamless user experience have earned it the trust of countless businesses seeking the most reliable hosting service. For businesses looking to optimize their accounting operations, Ace Cloud proves to be the ideal partner, offering the best-in-class QuickBooks hosting experience in 2024 and beyond. With us, businesses can confidently embrace cloud technology to achieve greater efficiency, security, and growth in their financial management endeavors.
FAQs – QuickBooks Hosting
How much does QuickBooks hosting cost?
At ACE Cloud, we offer flexible pricing plans tailored to your business needs. Our QuickBooks hosting packages are designed to provide you with cost-effective solutions that align with your requirements, ensuring you get the most value out of your investment. Contact our sales team to discuss your needs and receive a personalized quote.
Is QuickBooks Desktop being phased out?
While Intuit, the company behind QuickBooks, is investing more in QuickBooks Online due to its cloud-based advantages, QuickBooks Desktop is not being phased out. Intuit recognizes the value of both versions, and they continue to release new versions and updates for QuickBooks Desktop, ensuring that businesses have options that suit their preferences and workflows.
Is QuickBooks Online cheaper than Desktop?
QuickBooks Online and Desktop have different pricing structures based on their features and functionalities. While QuickBooks Online offers subscription-based pricing, QuickBooks Desktop typically involves a one-time purchase fee. The cost comparison depends on your business needs and preferences. ACE Cloud can provide guidance on which version might be more cost-effective based on your specific requirements.
Is QuickBooks good for small business?
Absolutely. QuickBooks is widely recognized as an excellent accounting solution for small businesses. It offers features tailored to small business needs, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and more. QuickBooks helps streamline financial management and reporting, making it an ideal choice for small businesses seeking efficient and accurate accounting processes.
How does QuickBooks Hosting enhance collaboration and remote access?
QuickBooks Hosting with ACE Cloud facilitates seamless collaboration and remote access for your team. Multiple users can work simultaneously on the same QuickBooks file from different locations, ensuring real-time updates. This promotes teamwork, improves productivity, and eliminates version control issues. With secure remote access, you and your team can work from anywhere, anytime, enhancing flexibility and efficiency.