Importing from Quickbooks

To import your lists and accounts from Quickbooks to Goldenseal accounting software, you first need to export data from Quickbooks. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Open your Quickbooks file.
  2. Choose Export from the File menu.
  3. Turn on the checkboxes for all items, then click OK.
  4. You'll be asked to save a file on your hard drive. Enter a name and location, then click Save.
  5. Close your Quickbooks file.

Next, import data into Goldenseal. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Open a Goldenseal company file. Usually you'll use one of our Starter Files.
  2. Choose Import from the File menu, choose Other Items from the submenu, and choose Quickbooks Info from the second submenu.
  3. Locate the export file that you created in step 4 above. Click the Open button. NOTE-- Some versions of Quickbooks save the export file as a .iif file (Intuit Interchange Format) instead of a .txt file (text). In that case, you'll need to change the Files Of Type option to All Files, so you can see the correct file to import.
  4. Goldenseal will import your Goldenseal data. It will ask you what type of cost account to use for each vendor type. Otherwise it does the import completely automatically.

NOTE-- The Quickbooks import is a new feature, starting with Goldenseal 2.5. If you have an earlier version of Goldenseal, you'll need to update to the newest version.

What You Can Import

Goldenseal is able to import Quickbooks account information and list setup.

It does not import bank transactions, estimates or other financial transactions, since Quickbooks does not export that information.

This table lists Quickbooks items, and where the Goldenseal import puts them:
Quickbooks
Goldenseal
Comments
Accounts- Bank Checking Account  
Accounts- Credit Card Credit Card Account  
Accounts- Equity Owner Equity Account  
Accounts- Expense Cost Categories You can use Category Systems to set up cost subcategories
Accounts- Fixed Asset not imported Set up Real Estate, Equipment or Investment accounts
Accounts- Other Asset not imported For tangible items, set up Equipment or Investment accounts.
Accounts- Other not imported Goldenseal already includes Utility Accounts for A/P, A/R, Income, etc
Budgets not imported  
Class Company Division  
Customer Type Job Type  
Customers Customer Accounts and Project Accounts  
Employees Employee Accounts After you import, enter more details for each employee.
Inventory Items Cost Items  
Invoice Memos Messages  
Other Names Address Book  
Payment Methods Payment Methods After you import, enter more details for each payment method
Shipping Methods Delivery Methods After you import, enter more details for each delivery method
Terms Vendor Payment Terms After you import, enter more details for each payment terms
To Do Items To Do List  
Vendors Equipment, Material Supplier, Subcontractor and Other Cost Accounts You decide where to put each vendor type
Vendor Types Cost Account Types  

Vendor Types

Quickbooks groups all vendors together, while Goldenseal uses four types of cost accounts- for Equipment, Material Suppliers, Subcontractors and Other Costs.

When you import from Quickbooks, Goldenseal will ask you which type of account to use for each Vendor Type.

Here's what to put in each type of cost account::

  • Equipment-- Use Equipment accounts for vehicles, machinery, large tools and similar productive units.
  • Material Suppliers-- Use Material accounts for those who provide you with tangible items.
  • Subcontractors-- Use Subcontractor accounts for those who provide you with services. HINT-- If you need to file a 1099 form for a vendor, include them as a subcontractor.
  • Other Costs-- Use Other Cost accounts for insurance, advertising, tax agencies and similar items that are not materials or subcontracted services.

Click here for general info about differences between Quickbooks and Goldenseal accounting software.

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