[nABEntre] Quicken

Ben Humphreys brhbrhbrh at gmail.com
Fri Dec 25 23:24:36 UTC 2020 

Hi all,

Some thoughts on the QB Desktop vs QB Online debate...

While QB Desktop and QB Online both have 
acccessibility warts, I would propose that QB 
Online is the better choice going forward.

First, there are folks at Intuit who care about 
accessibility and since QB Online gets monthly 
updates, the likelihood of accessibility being addressed timely is higher.
Also, QB Online is where Intuit is putting most 
of its development resources going forward, as 
sales of QB Online surpassed Desktop back in 2018 I believe.

Second, one of the most compelling features of 
accounting software today is the automatic 
importing of bank and credit-card 
transactions.  This means no more hunting down 
why your bank statement didn't reconcile.  The 
bank feeds in Qb Desktop 2020 were hopelessly 
broken from an accessibility standpoint and while 
2021 is a little better I hear, it's not as doable as QB Online.

You can navigate most things in QB Online using 
table reading commands as you'd expect and no OCR 
is necessary to read some tables like in the desktop version.
Chart of Accounts, Customer and Vendor lists, 
bank feeds, they're all tables in the browser 
with QB Online.  No scripts required.

Third, reports in QB Online can be viewed as HTML 
but better yet is exporting to a spreadsheet 
where you can navigate around in a predictable grid.

Perhaps one area where QB Desktop is more 
straightforward is in the tried and true menu 
structure, as in File, Edit, View, Tools, like 
we're all used to.  However, QB Online has many 
shortcut keys to do similar things and the QB 
Online App (which is just a Chrome browser 
packaged up for QB Online) has many more shortcuts.
That app actually does have menus like the 
desktop version but at this time, they are not 
accessible.  I've been on them to fix this for a while now.

One big downer with QB Desktop is the initial 
company setup.  It's sluggish, confusing to 
navigate, important fields are not announced, 
it's a real frustrating guessing game and I think 
a lot of folks get turned off right from the 
start.  I know I did. even with the scripts.

For what it's worth, I was able to complete 
QuickBooks Online certification, with some help 
from Aira along the way.  You can read about the 
tips and tricks I learned here:
https://bhent.com/articles/using-quickbooks-online-with-a-screen-reader.html

Finally, while some would argue that QB Desktop 
is less expensive, it is still necessary to 
upgrade it every couple of years to get the bank 
feeds.  In addition, most banks charge an extra 
$15 for this service.  If using QB Online, this 
bank fee is part of the subscription price.

Ben

At 12:44 PM 12/25/2020, you wrote:
>Good morning Brandon, Intuit has done a very bad 
>job with accessibility. Without scripts QB 
>isn’t very usable regardless of whether you 
>use their on line, desktop, or mobile apps. Â I 
>used it with Window Eyes. I am not enough of a 
>JAWS expert to assess its accessibility. On Dec 
>25, 2020, at 10:18, Brandon Keith Biggs 
><brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com 
><mailto:brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> > wrote: 
>Hello, For Quickbooks Desktop you need the 
>scrips sold by My Blindspot, but for Quickbooks 
>Online you don't need any scripts. Thanks, 
>Brandon Keith Biggs 
><http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/> On Thu, Dec 24, 
>2020 at 10:12 AM Gregory D. Rosenberg 
><gregg at ricis.com <mailto:gregg at ricis.com> > 
>wrote: Good afternoon again, You will need 
>macros in jars or window wise or whatever 
>technology you’re using with QuickBooks. It is 
>a pain I will admit. -- AmeriCAN “Success is 
>the ability to go from one failure to another 
>with no loss of 
>enthusiasm”                       
>Â Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â Winston Churchill 
>"Happiness is not the absence of problems; but 
>the ability to deal with 
>them.",                           
>Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â Steve Maraboli 73 & 75 
>Gregory D. Rosenberg (AB9MZ) gregg at ricis.com 
><mailto:gregg at ricis.com> RICIS, Inc. +1 
>708-267-6664 Cell +1 708-444-2690 Office +1 
>708-444-1115 Fax (Call first) On Dec 23, 2020, 
>at 18:28, Brandon Keith Biggs 
><brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com 
><mailto:brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> > wrote: 
> Hello, When I evaluated all those other 
>options 4 years ago, none were accessible at 
>all. I couldn't even sign up for some of them. 
>Things could have changed, but I doubt it. 
>Thanks, Brandon Keith Biggs 
><http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/> On Wed, Dec 23, 
>2020 at 3:31 PM Gregory D. Rosenberg via 
>NABEntre <nabentre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org> > wrote: Good 
>evening Brad, There is a free version of QB. I 
>have a few clients that are running it quite 
>successfully. My mom and dad use it for the 
>Lions Club as well. It doesn’t have all the 
>features but it generally has enough for most 
>people‘s needs. I can dig up a link and posted 
>if you need a link to get it to the right place. 
>-- AmeriCAN “Success is the ability to go from 
>one failure to another with no loss of 
>enthusiasm”                       
>Â Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â Winston Churchill 
>"Happiness is not the absence of problems; but 
>the ability to deal with 
>them.",                           
>Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â Steve Maraboli 73 & 75 
>Gregory D. Rosenberg (AB9MZ) gregg at ricis.com 
><mailto:gregg at ricis.com> RICIS, Inc. +1 
>708-267-6664 Cell +1 708-444-2690 Office +1 
>708-444-1115 Fax (Call first) On Dec 23, 2020, 
>at 14:04, Brad Dunsé via NABEntre 
><nabentre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org> > wrote: Thanks 
>gentlemen. QB is probably out of consideration 
>due to cost comparison. While accessibility is 
>important, I'm not the primary keeper, so fiscal 
>responsibility to a low budget NFP reigns here 
>;D. Anyone have experience with these supposed 
>free or paid options to QuickBooks? I've only 
>heard of FreshBooks and NetSuite. Oracle 
>NetSuite FreshBooks Xero ZipBooks Zoho Books 
>Sage Wave Billy SlickPie       /Brad/ Brad 
>Dunsé /Helping you build, retain, and 
>strengthen your *business’s most valuable 
>asset*
 the relationship wwith your customer on 
>your e-mail list./ 715-760-0712 
>www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse> 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse> > 
>brad at braddunse.com <mailto:brad at braddunse.com> 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com> > www.braddunse.com 
><http://www.braddunse.com/> 
><https://www.braddunse.com/> On 12/23/2020 12:22 
>PM, Albert Rizzi via NABEntre wrote: I do not 
>concur with Brrandon. The QB online option still 
>has usability issues. I contend the best option 
>is still QB for Windows. From: Brandon Keith 
>Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com 
><mailto:brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> > Sent: 
>Wednesday, December 23, 2020 1:16 PM To: NAB 
>Entrepreneurs Mailing List <nabentre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org> > Cc: Albert Rizzi 
><Albert at Myblindspot.org 
><mailto:Albert at Myblindspot.org> > Subject: Re: 
>[nABEntre] Quicken Hello Brad, We use Quick 
>Books Online which is the best option. Thanks, 
>Brandon Keith 
>Biggs<http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/ 
><http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/> > On Wed, Dec 
>23, 2020 at 10:02 AM Albert Rizzi via NABEntre 
><nabentre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org> 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org> >> wrote: Last time 
>we checked, and advised their CEOO, it was not 
>usable or accessible. Thinking that was maybe 2 
>years ago. -----Original Message----- From: 
>NABEntre <nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org> 
><mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org> >> On 
>Behalf Of Brad Dunsé via NABEntre Sent: 
>Wednesday, December 23, 2020 12:55 PM To: NFB 
>Entrepreneur List <nabentre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org> 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org> >> Cc: Brad Dunsé 
><lists at braddunse.com 
><mailto:lists at braddunse.com> 
><mailto:lists at braddunse.com 
><mailto:lists at braddunse.com> >> Subject: 
>[nABEntre] Quicken I'm VP of an not-for-profit 
>organization. Currently our Treasurer uses his 
>version of Quicken at home to manage the books. 
>I'm looking for an online option so as president 
>in 2021 can access the info if I need online. Do 
>any of you use Quicken on the web and find it at 
>all accessible? Thanks and have a Merry 
>Christmas. Brad Brad Dunsé /Helping you build, 
>retain, and strengthen your *business’s most 
>valuable asset*
 the relationship with your 
>customer on your e-mail  list./ 715-760-0712 
>www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse> 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse> > 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse 
><http://www.linkedin.com/in/braddunse> > 
>brad at braddunse.com <mailto:brad at braddunse.com> 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com> > 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com> 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com 
><mailto:brad at braddunse.com> >> www.braddunse.com 
><http://www.braddunse.com/> 
><http://www.braddunse.com 
><http://www.braddunse.com/> > 
><https://www.braddunse.com/> 
>_______________________________________________ 
>NABEntre mailing list NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org> 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org> > 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org> 
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get 
>your account info for NABEntre: 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.org 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.org> 
>_______________________________________________ 
>NABEntre mailing list NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org> 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org> > 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org> 
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get 
>your account info for NABEntre: 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/brandonkeithbiggs%40gmail.com 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/brandonkeithbiggs%40gmail.com> 
>_______________________________________________ 
>NABEntre mailing list NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org> 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org> 
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get 
>your account info for NABEntre: 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/lists%40braddunse.com 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/lists%40braddunse.com> 
>_______________________________________________ 
>NABEntre mailing list NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org> 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org> 
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get 
>your account info for NABEntre: 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/gregg%40ricis.com 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/gregg%40ricis.com> 
>_______________________________________________ 
>NABEntre mailing list NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
><mailto:NABEntre at nfbnet.org> 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org> 
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get 
>your account info for NABEntre: 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/brandonkeithbiggs%40gmail.com 
><http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/brandonkeithbiggs%40gmail.com> 
>AmeriCAN 
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
>To err is human, to a cyber criminal, it is 
>priceless! Hardware eventually fails, software 
>eventually works. No amount of bandwidth can fix 
>poor design. Those that forget to automate are 
>doomed to repeat their  work! P.S. Please text 
>the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to 
>the National Federation of the Blind 
>Imagination Fund. The donation will appear on 
>your phone bill. You can also donate via the 
>website 
>at:Â 
>https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=5 
>The National Federation of the Blind knows that 
>blindness is not the characteristic that defines 
>you or your future. Every day we raise the 
>expectations of blind people because low 
>expectations create obstacles between blind 
>people and our dreams. You can live the life 
>you want; blindness is not what holds you back. 
>-- 73' & 75' Gregory D. Rosenberg (AB9MZ) 
>gregg at ricis.com RICIS, Inc. 7849 Bristol Park 
>Drive Tinley Park, IL 60477-4594 
>http://www.ricis.com 708-267-6664 
>Cell  708-444-2690 Office 
>_______________________________________________ 
>NABEntre mailing list NABEntre at nfbnet.org 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org 
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get 
>your account info for NABEntre: 
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/brhbrhbrh%40gmail.com

More information about the NABEntre mailing list