@btks , @Bankfeed2020
Although I do not work for Intuit I can assure you that the INITIAL logging into your Intuit account (or having to create one) in NO WAY stores anything other than the information that YOU AND YOU ALONE are the licensee of the particular version of Desktop you have installed. (read the EULA, no matter how much you paid or to whom for your software you do NOT own it - (same scenario as "owned" Kindle e-books)Your company data is stored NOWHERE else but on your own computer(s) and your own removable drives you use for backups. (under normal circumstances)
Being intermittently connected assure you of at least two major pluses.
1. it is the only way to get download of automatic updates
2. it is an easy way to download and install the current build version of the software when installing on an additional computer.
If you upgrade to the cloud backup option offered by Intuit you would have to be internet-connected each time it wants to run a backup.
AUto-updates are not required - you can shut off that feature but you run the risk of missing security updates, bug fixes, etc.
If you purchased the Plus version of desktop, the use of it is limited to the subscription period even though your data file remains ONLY on your own computer. If you do not renew at end of subscription or purchase a new stand alone version you would be locked out, although your data file can still be opened by any licensed and current QB desktop progran of sane or newer versoin - IOW, if your one-year subscription to Desktop Pro Plus expired and you did not install a new non-Plus version, you could not open your file, although anyone you give a backup copy or full file copy to can open it. Again, unless you use the Intuit data protect backup option, your company file is nowhere except on your own hard drive.
And, again, other than for updates you can run QB totally off the grid.
