Hey everyone! I'm currently managing QuickBooks Desktop for a client who needs multiple users to access it remotely at the same time. Right now, they have two PCs, but neither can be upgraded to Windows 11, which complicates things. They're currently remote-desktopping into a single PC to access QuickBooks, but this setup isn't ideal. I'm looking for the easiest solution that will still allow everyone to work together effectively. I've read about moving QuickBooks to a new server where users can remote in, but the existing setup isn't suitable for that since their current server is handling a lot more than just QuickBooks. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
To have multiple users access QuickBooks simultaneously, you'll definitely need a remote desktop setup on a server that they can connect to. This way, everyone can get into the application at once. Make sure the database manager is installed where the company file is hosted, as that’s key for multi-user access.
If you're planning to set up a dedicated server, keep in mind that Intuit seems to be moving towards cloud solutions for QuickBooks. It might be worth considering going straight to the cloud instead of investing in an on-prem solution that could be phased out soon. Plus, the cloud allows for easier sharing without the hassle of managing a server at all.
Yeah, they really want to avoid unnecessary costs. Anyone who switched to the cloud have regrets?
From what I'm reading, it sounds like they really need to set up their access properly. They shouldn't be using one computer to manage multiple sessions; that’s just not how it’s designed to work. Ideally, they should be accessing the QB file from a dedicated server or shared file where it’s always available. This should be set up to work over a VPN if they’re working remotely, and with proper licenses for concurrent users depending on their QuickBooks version. Here’s a useful guide for configuring multi-user mode: [link].
I see what you mean. They’ve mapped the drive as you suggested, but it runs super slow over VPN. So they’re remoting into a PC in the network just to use QB.
If you're looking for a budget option, just getting a couple of Windows 11 PCs might be the easiest route. Alternatively, think about switching to a cloud PC setup. It’s more reliable but will cost around $100 per user monthly.
That seems like an easy fix! Upgrading those old PCs could do the trick.
Sounds perfect! Their QuickBooks is already on their main server, so I just need to figure out what resources I need for the remote desktop server setup.