Can I share Quickbooks via Dropbox?

Question

I want to share a quickbooks file that I set up with a JV partner of mine and am trying to figure out the best way to do it?  I have QB Pro 2014.  It would be nice if we could both make changes, otherwise it might still work if only one of us could make changes and the other view.

Ana Brown · Answer

I use hosted Quickbooks  to overcome two problems:

* Automatic Data Backup

* Multiuser access from different locations

Quickbooks was working fine with me until one day my colleague was on vacation and we had to work on the Quickbooks together, I thought of sharing the file with him through dropbox but it didn’t help and got my company file corrupted, I searched for the options online and found the hosted quickbooks to be the perfect solution for it.

AJ Johnson · Answer

Yes you can.  I've been hosting the files in Dropbox for the past 5 years and never had a problem.  All these people saying you can't or you shouldn't are paranoid.  It's like saying, no, you shouldn't drive anymore because their are crazy drivers out there.

Account Closed · Answer

Jeff S Na I'll have to give that a try before I start something new.  Thanks for your input.

Thanks all!

Mark Gallagher · Answer

Jeff S Na I've never done it that way, seems very risky though. For simple accounting features, I would think Quickbooks online would be the better route.

Jeff S. · Answer

I wonder if you guys have actually tried it.  My wife and I have been sharing one QB 2014 for Mac file in a shared folder in Dropbox for several years now using our individual laptops.  We're careful not to work on the file at the same time but on rare the occasion we actually have, QB puts a lock of some sort on the file preventing you from getting in or saving your work.  We've had no issues at all and it's very convenient.  I'm a maniac about backup, however.

Each of us also keeps a Dropbox folder on our respective laptops containing our private and shared folders, I use Carbonite for immediate backup, and also Time Machine to a portable hard drive every week or so.

In the years we've been doing this, we've never had to revert to any of our backups and have never had a corrupt file.

Account Closed · Answer

Thanks @Gita Faust and @Mark Gallagher

$38-$55 per user/mo for a hosting service isn't going to happen anytime soon for our situation.

I'm thinking of passing a "portable" file back and forth via dropbox...I will stay away from using .qbw with db, Gita.

QB online is interesting.  I'm certainly not a QB power user so the reduced functionality of QB online may not bother me much.  The only thing I would be concerned about is the absence of the class feature.  We will have on partnership per flip so maybe class doesn't matter, as long as I can have multiple files for that same $30/mo price?

I read that you can import QB desktop into QB online but I don't see where you can import QB online into QB desktop, I'm wondering if that is possible?

Mark Gallagher · Answer

David, you can not do this easily via dropbox. You'd be best to change to Quickbooks online. You'll be able to import the data you have already, and then you can both work through the online version.

Can I share Quickbooks via Dropbox?

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