• Home
  • Services
    • Accounting Services
    • Bookkeeping
    • Payroll
    • Cash Flow Forecast
    • Consulting for QuickBooks®
    • Training for QuickBooks®
    • Xero Cloud Accounting
    • Cloud Accounting
    • Sales Document Automation
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Mobile Accounting
  • Blog
  • About
    • About
    • Send Us Your Referrals
  • Contact
1 (760) 573-1038
info@strategic-ba.com
April 4, 2013

What Is Cloud Accounting?

Ken Aurigemma Accounting, Business Development, Business Tips, Cloud Accounting, Cost-Savings Tips

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

One of the most exciting changes in the accounting industry is cloud accounting.  The concept is easy to grasp:  cloud accounting simply puts your accounting system in a private space online so that it is fully accessible to you via a browser or a secure remote connection.

Two Ways to Be in the Clouds

There are primarily two ways to have your accounting system in the cloud.  First, it can be “hosted.”  This means that the current software you are using on your desktop, such as QuickBooks or Sage, does not change.  Neither does your company file.

The only thing you do differently once it’s set up is click a different icon to start the software.  Once you log in, most everything else is the same.  There are a couple of differences in printer access, Microsoft Excel® access, and some of the other interfaces, but it’s essentially the same experience.

So if it’s the same, why would you want to move to the cloud?  Because it completely eliminates the passing back and forth of the file among you, your CPA, your bookkeeper, and anyone else that needs to update or access your accounting file.  No more restores.  No more DropBox or YouSendIt downloads.

Hosting saves a ton of time because the people you grant access to can login to your file from anywhere.

The second way to have your accounting system in the clouds is to switch to an online accounting system.  In industry jargon, this is called SaaS, which stands for Software as a Service.  Examples of online accounting systems include QuickBooks Online, Xero, Wave, and Kashoo.  These systems have fewer features and will only be right for a client with a need for a simpler accounting system.

When you switch from desktop accounting software to SaaS, it will likely require conversion, setup, and training.  It’s a major change.

Benefits

There are many benefits to moving to the cloud; here are just a few of the more common ones:

  • Anywhere, anytime access to your accounting system.  Companies with multiple locations will benefit significantly from a hosted solution.
  • No more worrying about who has what version and whether the changes the accountant made were updated or applied.  There is one central file, and multiple people can be accessing it at the same time as long as you have the right number of user licenses.
  • No more software updates that you have to apply yourself or wait for.  This is done by the hosting provider or the SaaS.
  • Tighter security for your data.  The data centers typically have multiple state-of-the-art data security controls and must pass a rigid audit, which is far more protection than any small business can afford to provide for their own data.
  • Automatic offsite backup for disaster recovery purposes.

Concerns

Clients’ two major concerns include security, which is covered above, and costs.  When it comes to costs, the most important thing to look at is return on investment.  Will the time you save be of greater value to you than the costs of hosting or moving to a SaaS?  That answer varies for each client.

Curious About the Cloud?

If we’ve piqued your curiosity about cloud accounting, please feel free to reach out so we can continue the conversation.

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Is Your Data Backed Up? Seven Often-Overlooked Places Seven Strategies to Put the Spring into Your Sales

Related Posts

Business Tips, cybersecurity

Fighting Cybersecurity Threats in Your Business

Blog, Business Growth, Business Tips, Profitability Tips

Ten Places to Look to Find More Profits

Blog, Business Growth, Business Tips

Should Your Business Become Cash-Free?

Recent Posts

  • Fighting Cybersecurity Threats in Your Business
    February 25, 2021
  • The Concept of Independence in Accounting
    February 11, 2021
  • Ten Places to Look to Find More Profits
    January 27, 2021

Latest Tweets

→ Follow me
  • Home
  • Services
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Contact Us

Payroll Services, Accounting Services and Services for QuickBooks®

Strategic Business Alliance, LLC

6132 Innovation Way
Suite 102
Carlsbad, CA 92009

1 (760) 573-1038

info@strategic-ba.com

Client Login


Intuit, QuickBooks, and QuickBooks ProAdvisor are registered trademarks of Intuit Inc. Used with permission under the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Agreement.
Copyright Strategic Business Alliance 2020 | Site Design by Accelerator Websites