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QuickBooks Desktop Migration Guide

Moving from QuickBooks Desktop to InQ Ledger takes about 15–30 minutes for most companies. Here's exactly what to do.

Step 1 — Export from QuickBooks Desktop

Export your Chart of Accounts, Customers, and Vendors (IIF)

1. Open your company file in QuickBooks Desktop
2. Go to File → Utilities → Export → Lists to IIF Files
3. Check: Chart of Accounts, Customer List, Vendor List
4. Click OK and save the .iif file somewhere you can find it

Export bank transactions (CSV)

For each bank account, savings account, and credit card:

1. Open the register for that account in QuickBooks
2. Click Print at the top of the register
3. Set your date range (start of your fiscal year to today)
4. Under Print to select File
5. From the dropdown select Comma Delimited File (.csv)
6. Save the file — name it something like checking-2024.csv
7. Repeat for each account

Step 2 — Set up InQ Ledger

1. Download and install InQ Ledger from inqledger.com/demo
2. Enter your license key when prompted
3. Click Create New Company
4. Enter your company name and select your tax structure (Schedule C, 1120-S, etc.)
5. Click Complete Setup

Step 3 — Import your QuickBooks data

1. On the home screen, click Import from QuickBooks (or go to File → Import from QuickBooks Desktop)
2. Browse to your .iif file and select it
3. Review the import summary and click Start Import
4. Once complete, the wizard will move directly into bank transaction import
5. Select your main checking account and import its CSV file
6. Click Open Company

For additional accounts, go to File → Import Transactions (CSV) and repeat for each one.

Step 4 — Import payroll (if applicable)

If you use a payroll service, click Import Payroll on the home screen. InQ Ledger supports Gusto, ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks Payroll, Square, Rippling, OnPay, and any provider that exports a General Ledger CSV.

For QuickBooks Desktop payroll: go to Reports → Accountant & Taxes → Transaction Journal, filter by Transaction Type: Paycheck, and export as CSV.

Verify your data

• Open Chart of Accounts and confirm your accounts imported correctly
• Open the Check Register for each account and verify transaction counts look right
• Run a Profit & Loss report and compare totals to QuickBooks
• Run a Balance Sheet and compare

Common questions

What if my transactions imported as "Uncategorized"?

That's expected. The CSV export from QuickBooks doesn't include category assignments — those live in the splits, not the register view. You'll need to recategorize in the Check Register. For most accountants this is a one-time cleanup that takes an hour or two per client file.

What doesn't import via IIF?

Fixed assets, depreciation schedules, memorized transactions, and payroll history don't come through in the IIF export. Enter fixed assets manually under the Fixed Assets section. For payroll history, import via CSV as described in Step 4.

Can I keep QuickBooks running alongside InQ Ledger?

Yes — there's no conflict. Many accountants run both during a transition period to verify the numbers match before fully switching.