How to Convert to QuickBooks Enterprise from Desktop Pro/Premier?

Learn how to upgrade to QuickBooks Enterprise solutions from Desktop Pro and Premier:

Greater efficiency and better outcomes are what everyone seeks for, and same theory is applied when it comes to QuickBooks accounting software. Many QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier users look for upgrading to QuickBooks enterprise due to many reasons. Core features and advanced inventory and advanced pricing features are what mainly compel the desktop pro/premier users to upgrade to Enterprise solutions. This makes it pretty much clear that there are certain features exclusively present in Enterprise solutions.

If you are also a QuickBooks Desktop pro/premier user, and want to upgrade to QuickBooks Enterprise, then this post can be of great help to you. The process to upgrade doesn’t involve any rocket science, a few simple sets of steps can work. We will be discussing those steps in detail, in the post later. So, make sure that you stay connected to the article till the end.

Well, if you feel that carrying out the upgrading process is not your cup of tea and is too technical for you, then do not waste time in thinking what to do next, simply give us a call at 1-800-761-1787, and let our QuickBooks desktop technical help team assist you in the process.

You might also see: How to Install Multiple QuickBooks Desktop Versions on One Computer?

Why to Upgrade from QuickBooks Pro/Premier to QuickBooks Enterprise?

As we mentioned earlier, core features and scalability are what compels users to upgrade. Let us take a brief look at those features:

• The very first factor that makes QuickBooks Enterprise better than the desktop Pro/Premier is that Enterprise version can handle much larger company file sizes as compared to the desktop Pro/premier.
• Also, the QuickBooks Enterprise was built with windows terminal services, which means that it works great with multiple users connected to the same windows server.
• The Enterprise version possess the capability of having up to 30 to 40 users, whereas the Pro/Premier is limited to 5 and 3 respectively.
• QuickBooks Enterprise can have up to 15 custom item fields and 12 custom name fields, where as the other two are restricted to 5 and 7 respectively. Not only this, but also the Enterprise version can be configured so that the custom fields have data field format input specifications, and with even drop-down menus.
• The QuickBooks Enterprise feature is US based technical support and you can automatically upgrade to the latest version available with an active subscription.
• Another factor that makes Enterprise version better is that it can search items within transactions, which assists you to use part number, description, or a custom field to search for a specific item.
• The Enterprise version has default classes, which allows you to automatically assign a class in transactions to a name, item or account.

The list of core features that are present only in Enterprise version of QuickBooks doesn’t end over here. There are multiple other features as well that justifies the up-gradation of QuickBooks desktop Pro/premier to Enterprise. So, now the picture might be clear in your mind that why you should upgrade to Enterprise. Let us now see how this process is to be carried out.

Similarities to QuickBooks Desktop Pro/Premier and Enterprise

QuickBooks Enterprise solution looks and feels quite similar to the QuickBooks desktop Pro/premier. The features are also quite similar to that of the previous version that you might be using, so this means that the working environment might be similar to the previous one. The existing lists will transition seamlessly into the new software, but the enterprise doesn’t not put the limits to the data just like the other version.

To understand this better, let us take an example: QuickBooks pro and premier permits only 14, 500 names and 14500 items. However, these limits do not apply to Enterprise. You can set up more robust security by fine tuning the permissions granted to each other, with up to 30 simultaneous users now allowed. Enterprise version is expected to run swiftly and build reports more quickly. You can store more information about the employees in the optional payroll feature, and Enterprise makes it easier to track raises, bonuses, and other activities.

Newly Introduced features

We suggest you to take a few minutes to get familiarize with the extras and new features not available in QuickBooks pro and premier. The list of new features in QuickBooks desktop enterprise are as follows:

• Enhanced inventory receiving
• Advanced inventory
• Better option for creating custom fields
• Ability to assign classes to accounts, items, or names
• More journal entry option
• Custom advanced reporting with ODBC

Read Also: How to Transfer QuickBooks Desktop to Another Computer?

Steps to Upgrade QuickBooks Desktop Pro/Premier to Enterprise

Carry out a step by step process, to upgrade to Enterprise. The steps involved in this process are as follows:

Step 1: Preparing and testing the network

There are three major things that you need to consider, while the upgrading i.e. Networking, file sharing, and permissions.

1. Ensuring to have the right people

• A system or network administrator is needed who understands networking file sharing and has permissions to properly install and configure the QuickBooks enterprise software.
• A financial professional also is required who knows the company’s financial needs and can set up company file.

2. Selecting an option for setting the network

• Central server option: The QuickBooks database server manager is installed on a central server, which also has the company file. Enterprise is installed on each workstation, that can access the company file over the network.
• Peer-to-peer option: In this option, one workstation stores the company file. The other workstations access the company file over the network.
• Remote desktop services option: The third option is that the enterprise application is installed on a powerful central server that also stores the company file. The workstations do not have Enterprise installed.

Or you can store the QuickBooks company file on a Linux server and use Enterprise, running on the Windows desktop client, to access the data.

3. Testing the network bandwidth

It is very important to test the network bandwidth for multi-user environment. To ensure that the network connection is fast enough to run enterprise, the steps below can be followed:

• Initially, select a Large data file for testing.
• Take note of the size of the test file in megabytes.
• Copy the test file from a network location to the system and not the time it takes to copy.
• Now carry out the calculations to determine the network bandwidth: file size x 8/ copy time.
  • Check firewall and AV settings.
  • And also check system requirements.

Step 2: Installing QuickBooks desktop enterprise

Install the same version of Enterprise on all computers. After that start with the install QuickBooks desktop enterprise software on the server:

• Initial step is to close all running programs, along with antivirus programs.
• And then double click the file downloaded. You need to note that if you have ordered the optional backup CD, you can also install from that.
• Carry out the on-screen instructions until you reaches the choose installation type window.
• And then select the option you wishes to install:
  • You need to choose express to let the installer automatically make the best choice and then choose the custom and network option to customize installation and location.
• You will be asked to select out of the three options for how QuickBooks will be installed.
  • I’ll be using QuickBooks on this computer, but the company file will be located on a different computer.
  • I’ll be using QuickBooks on this computer and storing our company file here so it can be shared over our network. This might be a server that is also actively used as a user workstation. It should be noted that in peer-to-peer network, this should be the faster user workstation. You can choose this option if you are installing enterprise on a server that also serves as a workstation system, or if you are installing it on a terminal server with software and company data store on a remote system.
  • I will not be using QuickBooks on this system, but I’ll be storing our company file on it so the file can be shared over our network. This system is typically the server. It is recommended to choose this tab when you wants to install the QuickBooks database server manager only and no additional user license is required.
• Now select the options according to your requirement.
• After that follow the on-screen prompts and complete the installation.
• The last step is to launch the QuickBooks database server manager is to configure the database server.

Installing QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Server Manager

In case you are a Linux user and want to know the procedure to install QuickBooks desktop enterprise manager, then it is recommended to go for the Linux database server manager.

Configuring the Database Server Manager

This step is not mandatory on user workstations. You need to carry out the steps only on the server or the computer on which you will store the QuickBooks desktop enterprise company file. You need to configure the database server manager. The steps to be followed here are:

• At first, move to the Start tab of the Windows and then click on it.
• Once done with that, you can see the option of Programs and click on it and also choose the QuickBooks option.
• Now, click on the database server manager option to open it.
• And lastly, the database server manager tool will open.

Scan the company files:

• At first, Scan all the company files to allow access to other QuickBooks users, as all the company files are stored.
• After that, select Scan folders tab in the configuring database server manager window.

• And then select the add folder tab to browse the server and choose folders that contain company files.
• The next step is to select the scan tab to start the scanning process.

Monitor the hard drives:

• Select the monitored drives tab.
• And then, choose all the local drives that you want to monitor.

Similar article: How to Access to the Intuit Account Linked to QuickBooks Company File?

Step 3: Setting up sharing

Providing access to company files

• To share the folder containing QuickBooks company files across the network, you need to ensure that all users have read/write access and create/delete rights to the directory where the files have been stored.

Setting up multi-user hosting

The system having the company file should be set up to host multi-user access. In multi-user mode, only one system can host the multi-user access feature. And on all other installations of the software, multi-user hosting should be turned off to avoid conflicts. If you have installed QuickBooks database server manager on a file server, then you will not have to enable multi-user hosting on the server.

Step 4: Converting the data from Pro or Premier

Backing up the company file

You need to back up the QuickBooks data files before opening them in a new version of QuickBooks. Once you have converted the company file from QuickBooks Pro or premier to QB desktop Enterprise, you will not be able to read or use that file in pro or premier software. To backup the company file before you continue:

• The very first step is to visit the file menu and then choose create backup.

• And then, select a safe location for the file, preferably on a separate system or server.

Updating the company file

• Firstly, start QuickBooks desktop enterprise and then open the company data file used for Pro/premier.
• Then, Enter the admin password.
• Select the checkbox next to I understand that my company file will be updated to this new version of QuickBooks and after that, hit Update now.
• Now select OK and carry out the on-screen instructions.
• Select Yes, when prompted.

Read Also: How To Fix QuickBooks Error 6000, 82 or 6000, 106?

Step 5: Configuring the network and server settings

In this last step you need to configure the network and server settings. QuickBooks enterprise has the same look and feel and the same features as the previous version of QuickBooks, so you will have a familiar environment to work upon.

Configure the lists and user permissions

The existing lists will transfer to the enterprise software, but the will not have the same limits on the data. Such as, QuickBooks Pro and Premier only permit storage 14,500 names and 14500 items. These limits won’t apply to the Enterprise version. You will be able to change the permissions granted each time with up to 30 simultaneous users now permitted.

Registering Enterprise software

The registrations permits you to take advantage of the benefits that come along the Enterprise version such as the access to technical support. You can register Enterprise using the steps below:

• At first, you need to start QuickBooks desktop enterprise.
• And then move to help menu and select register QuickBooks.
• The last step is to select Begin registration option and follow the onscreen steps.

The point to be noted here is that, if you moves the installation from one system to another, you will need to re-register the Enterprise on the new system.

Final Words..

This brings us towards the end of this process and also the post. We hope that the information shared in above might be of some help in upgrading QuickBooks desktop pro/premier to QuickBooks Enterprise. However, if you face any issues or in case of any errors, then feel free to call us anytime at 1-800-761-1787. Our experts and certified QuickBooks enterprise support professionals will assist you in upgrading the software to enterprise with much ease.

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