What kind of business do you run? A trading company, a manufacturing company, or else?

Hi there, cop97.

Allow me to provide the different features that QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop offer.

QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) and QuickBooks Online are similar in many ways. Here are a few features that they have in common: 

• Manage accounts payable
• Track miles
• Track sales and expenses 
• Create professional invoice

Here's a link that contains details about what QBO can do and what are the features that are available depending on the version that suits your business needs: Choose your QuickBooks Online plan.

For more information about this program together with the complete lists of functionality that are available in the system, please see this article: Choose your QuickBooks Desktop product.

You can also check out this reference to give you a better view of the features for each program, it also includes the process of converting your file from Desktop to Online: Compare to see how QuickBooks Online delivers.

I'll be right here to help you out if you have any other questions or concerns. Have a lovely day!

QuickBooks online is sadly miles behind QuickBooks desktop, there are simply countless areas where it does not do what the desktop version can and the Intuit comparison list doesn't cover these at all. This is evidenced in Intuit's reply where they have just pointed to generic lists of what each product does. Intuit seem so disconnected to their customers right now!

@buzz21 

What kind of feature do you need to have on your QBO. You may have an additional app to integrate with it.

We have various trading divisions within our company, but we use QB Desktop predominantly for trading in goods.

I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve with your reply? 
I am very well aware of the features of QB Online and what it can and cannot do, hence my post.

I have looked at additional apps and earlier this year we took out a trial with Method CRM, but the issues I had at the time (unless they've changed since) that I had to enter a VAT code for each individual order line, I couldn't see an option of creating jobs and some other issues.

@cop97 

I'm not sure a CRM app is the one you need. You should explore inventory management apps with order management features. Contact us in private and we will introduce you to the app developers to help you compare them.

I am in the same position.  Quickbooks online is nowhere near as good or versatile as the desktop version.  I am looking for an alternative too.

I bet this discontinuation of the desktop version will not stop QB from continuing their request for monthly fees and I doubt if the fees will be reduced to cover the loss of support or updates.

Seems like Sage might be the next step ?

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@cop97 wrote:

Now QB Desktop is going to be discontinued we need to start looking at an alternative.
QB Online seems to be the next logical step, however several features we used in Desktop are not available with the Online version, but these are a must for us:

 

- sales orders (using estimates and renaming 'sales orders' is NOT an option)

- need to have price level lists available which is very important to us (not available in the Online version)

- multiple customs fields (only 3 available in the Online version)

- assign jobs to customers

- unable to assign a VAT code to a customer in the Online version (currently you have to manually change the VAT code for each order line)

 

Does anyone know of an alternative package or the best bolt on app with QB online?

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I have alighted on Opera3 software which is produced by Pegaus and this purports to offer multi currency, drill down functionality, extensive reports etc. Any one used this or considered it too?

I have been looking at ZOHO and it seems to be able to do the trick.  Prefer the customer service to QB. 

@unathi 

Do you mean Z Books?

https://go.zoho.com/58D

They offer a toll-free support number and you can buy a 3rd party conversion service if required.

Where do you get the name Z books.  It is ZOHO

https://www.zoho.com

If you are looking for a solution to compare with QB Desktop Enterprise, you may explore one app. 

It offers the flexibility of the cloud, or the security of on-premise deployments. The pricing is consumption-based, so you can add additional users and features as your business grows without automatic bumps. The cost to you is based on the features and resources that you use, not the number of users who access the system. The price is determined by three factors:

What applications do you want to use?
What type of license are you considering: SaaS Subscription, Private Cloud Subscription, or Private Perpetual License?
What is your projected level of consumption based on the volume of your business transactions and data storage?

I have come across Zoho Books as well since my original post and it seems indeed to be very much a like for like replacement for QB desktop, but with better reviews on the customer service side of things.
I'm just waiting to hear from our accountant to see if it does what it supposed to do in the background, but it's looking very favourable at the moment.

I'm still hoping that Intuit will get their act together this year, otherwise I fear they will lose a lot of customers!