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QuickBooks Online Demo - How to Test Drive QuickBooks Online

· 7 min read
Debits

Introduction​

QuickBooks Online is a powerful cloud-based accounting solution designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. For those new to QuickBooks Online, trying out the software before committing to a subscription can be incredibly helpful. QuickBooks offers a free demo, known as the QuickBooks Online test drive, that allows users to explore its features, interface, and functionalities without needing to set up an account or provide any payment details.

In this guide, we will explain how to access the QuickBooks Online test drive and highlight some key features that you can explore in the demo version.

Why Use the QuickBooks Online Test Drive?​

  1. Hands-On Experience: The test drive allows you to get hands-on experience with QuickBooks Online, giving you a feel for the platform before you commit to a subscription.
  2. Explore Features: You can explore key accounting features, such as invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting, to determine whether QuickBooks Online fits your business needs.
  3. No Risk or Commitment: The test drive is completely free, and you don’t need to provide any payment information. You can experiment without worrying about making changes to your real accounting data.
  4. Training Tool: If you are already a QuickBooks Online user, the demo can serve as a great training tool to practice new features or workflows before applying them to your live data.

Step 1: Access the QuickBooks Online Test Drive​

To access the QuickBooks Online test drive, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the QuickBooks Test Drive Page: Open your web browser and go to the official QuickBooks Online test drive page provided by Intuit.

    You can access the demo directly by visiting the following link: QuickBooks Online Test Drive.

  2. Choose Your Country: If you are accessing the test drive from outside the U.S., QuickBooks may prompt you to select your country. The features available in the demo may vary slightly based on the region.

1.2: No Login Required​

Unlike the full QuickBooks Online version, you don’t need to create an account or log in to use the test drive. Simply click the Test Drive button, and you’ll be taken directly to the demo company.

1.3: Use a Sample Company​

The QuickBooks Online test drive is built around a fictitious company called “Craig's Design and Landscaping Services.” This sample company already has data, such as customers, vendors, transactions, and financial records, preloaded for you to explore. You can use this data to test out various features and workflows.

Step 2: Explore Key Features in the QuickBooks Online Test Drive​

2.1: Dashboard Overview​

Once you access the test drive, you’ll be taken to the QuickBooks Online dashboard. The dashboard provides an overview of important financial information, such as:

  • Income and Expenses: A quick snapshot of the company’s income and expenses over time.
  • Profit and Loss: A summary of the company’s profitability, showing total income, cost of goods sold (COGS), and net income.
  • Invoices: A view of outstanding invoices and unpaid balances.
  • Bank Accounts: A summary of connected bank accounts and their balances.

You can click on any of these sections to drill down into the details.

2.2: Creating and Sending Invoices​

Invoicing is one of the most common tasks in QuickBooks Online, and the test drive allows you to experiment with creating and managing invoices.

  1. Go to Sales > Invoices: From the left-hand menu, click on Sales, then select Invoices.
  2. Create a New Invoice: Click on the New Invoice button to create a new invoice. You can fill in details such as the customer name, date, invoice number, product or service, and amount.
  3. Preview and Send: Once the invoice is ready, you can preview it and even send it via email (in the demo, this won’t actually send an email, but it demonstrates the process).

2.3: Track Expenses and Bills​

The test drive also allows you to manage expenses and bills, helping you understand how to track outgoing payments.

  1. Go to Expenses > Vendors: In the left-hand menu, click on Expenses, then select Vendors.
  2. Create a Bill: Choose a vendor from the list and click on Create Bill. You can enter details such as the vendor name, bill date, due date, and the amount owed.
  3. Record an Expense: To record an expense, go to + New in the top left corner, then select Expense. Enter the relevant details and assign the expense to a specific account or category.

2.4: Bank Feeds​

The bank feeds feature allows you to connect your bank accounts and automatically import transactions into QuickBooks Online. While you won’t be able to connect real bank accounts in the test drive, you can explore how the feature works with sample data.

  1. Go to Banking > Link Account: In the left-hand menu, click on Banking.
  2. View Sample Transactions: The demo provides a list of sample bank transactions that you can categorize or match to existing QuickBooks records.

2.5: Run Financial Reports​

QuickBooks Online offers a variety of financial reports to help you analyze your business’s financial health. In the test drive, you can generate and customize several reports.

  1. Go to Reports: Click on Reports in the left-hand menu.
  2. Run a Profit and Loss Report: Select the Profit and Loss report to view a summary of income, expenses, and net income for the demo company.
  3. Customize Reports: You can also customize reports by adjusting the date range, filters, and columns.

2.6: Manage Customers and Vendors​

The test drive allows you to manage both customers and vendors, giving you a feel for how QuickBooks Online helps you track business relationships.

  1. Customers: Go to Sales > Customers to view a list of existing customers. You can create new customer records, send invoices, and track payments.
  2. Vendors: Under Expenses > Vendors, you can add new vendors, record bills, and track payments made to suppliers.

Step 3: Experiment Without Risk​

One of the biggest advantages of the QuickBooks Online test drive is that you can experiment with different features and workflows without affecting any real data. This makes it an ideal environment to:

  • Learn the Interface: If you’re new to QuickBooks, the test drive helps you learn how to navigate the software.
  • Test Features: Experiment with features you might not be familiar with, such as creating journal entries, connecting bank accounts, or managing projects.
  • Practice for Real Use: If you’re training employees or preparing to use QuickBooks for the first time, the test drive provides a risk-free environment to practice before applying it to your live data.

Step 4: Log Out or Reset the Test Drive​

When you’re finished with the test drive, you can simply close your browser window or log out. Since the test drive is designed for temporary use, any changes you make to the sample data are not saved once you leave the session. This means that the next time you access the test drive, it will be reset to its original state, allowing you to start fresh.

Limitations of the QuickBooks Online Test Drive​

While the QuickBooks Online test drive is a fantastic tool for exploring the software, there are some limitations to keep in mind:

  • No Real-Time Bank Connections: You won’t be able to connect real bank accounts or import live financial data.
  • Limited Customization: Since it’s a demo environment, some features (such as advanced settings or integrations) may not be fully accessible.
  • Temporary Data: Any changes made in the test drive are not saved once you log out, so you can’t use it to build long-term records or data.

Conclusion​

The QuickBooks Online test drive is an excellent way to explore the features and functionalities of QuickBooks without any commitment. It offers a risk-free environment where you can experiment with invoicing, expense tracking, reporting, and more. Whether you’re considering subscribing to QuickBooks Online or just need a training tool to practice workflows, the test drive provides valuable hands-on experience.

To get started, visit the QuickBooks Online Test Drive and begin exploring today.