6 Best QuickBooks Training Courses
Tim is a Certified QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) Pro, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and CPA with 25 years of experience. He brings his expertise to Fit Small Business’s accounting content.
Mark has researched and reviewed accounting software at Fit Small Business since 2019 and has developed an extensive knowledge of accounting software features and how unique business needs determine the best accounting software.
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
The best QuickBooks training courses should offer flexible training sessions for students (the option of live or self-paced), be expert-led, and come with supplemental resources, such as reference manuals, study guides, and instructional videos. You’ll find some free courses, but you usually have to pay a fee to access premium lessons and maximize your learning experience.
There are plenty of QuickBooks training courses, but we narrowed it down to our top six:
- QuickBooks Training: Best overall training for QuickBooks Online and Desktop programs
- Fit Small Business QuickBooks Tutorials: Best for free online QuickBooks training
- QuickBooks Support: Best for learning very specific QuickBooks tasks
- Advanced Webinars by Hector Garcia, CPA [certified public accountant]: Best for live webinars
- Certstaffix Training: Best for on-site group training
- College of Southern Idaho: Best instructor-led college classes
Comparison of the Best QuickBooks Online Training Courses
Training Course | Cost | Instructor/Creator | Live Classes (Instructor-led) | Self-paced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $679.95 (one-time fee) plus $29.95 per month to maintain live services (optional) | QuickBooks Experts | ✓ | ✓ |
 | Free | Tim Yoder, Ph.D., CPA | ✕ | ✓ |
 | Free | QuickBooks staff and QuickBooks users | ✕ | ✓ |
 | From $79.99 per year | Hector Garcia, CPA | ✓ | ✓ |
 | From $250 | Certstaffix instructors | ✓ | ✓ |
 | $105 to $199 | Scott Paxton, CPA | ✓ | ✓ |
QuickBooks Training: Best Overall QuickBooks Training Courses
QuickBooks Training offers online and self-paced courses for both the Online and Desktop versions. With on-demand training, users can start and stop the course as their schedule allows. You can watch the video tutorials as often as you like and live classes are also available. Because of the wide range of courses offered and the option of live or self-paced, we selected QuickBooks Training as the best overall training for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop programs. If you haven’t already purchased your QuickBooks program, you should study the differences between QuickBooks Online and Desktop before deciding.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A wide range of courses available for all skill levels and industries, from accountants and contractors to nonprofits and enterprise businesses | Price per course is higher than most QuickBooks training options |
| Cost-effective course bundles are available for both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop | Only the most current version of QuickBooks is taught; no option to work with previous versions |
| QuickBooks Training offers a money-back guarantee: if you attend class, and it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can request a refund | |
| Offers both live and self-paced training programs | |
Pricing & Plans
QuickBooks Training offers both live classes and self-paced training sessions (VIP Membership).
Live Classes | VIP Membership (Self-paced) | |
|---|---|---|
Fees | $679.95 for the first attendee; $250 off on each additional attendee | $679.95 (one-time fee), plus $29.95/month to maintain live services (optional) |
Duration | 2 Days | 200+ Hours |
Access to Instructor | ✓ | ✓ |
Industry-specific Courses | ✕ | ✓ |
Live Q&A Every Workday | ✕ | ✓ |
Unlimited Access to Course Videos | ✕ | ✓ |
Students can validate their QuickBooks knowledge by becoming an Intuit QuickBooks Certified User. The QuickBooks Certification examination is offered at universities and technical schools. While it costs $156 to take the test, it’s free with enrollment. QuickBooks certification can be obtained with either live classes or self-paced training.
Instructor Expertise
In 1998, Intuit officially partnered with Real World Training as its QuickBooks Training partner, and it has been the only official training partner for more than 20 years. Its eight instructors not only educate QuickBooks users, but they also provide QuickBooks training to those who work at Intuit.
A few of the Real World Training instructors have been working in the software field themselves, either instructing or bookkeeping, for more than 15 years, whereas the others have three to five years of experience. They’re all certified under the Certified User program, and many are former teachers.
Method of Delivery
QuickBooks Training offers both live classes and self-paced training. You can schedule the dates that work best based on your availability for in-person training, which lasts two days. The self-paced training courses can be completed at your leisure. With both methods of study, you’ll be granted access to video lectures and workbooks that are designed to enhance your learning. With live QuickBooks classes, you’re encouraged to bring all of your questions to class. If your question isn’t covered, the instructor will stay after class to help you one-on-one.
Courses Available
- Live classes: Intended to help you become a QuickBooks Certified User, live classes provide all of the information needed to become certified, plus a free voucher for the exam. Courses cover the foundations of QuickBooks, everyday transactions, special transactions, automating tasks, customizing QuickBooks to your needs, and how to set up and pay employees.
- Self-paced training: Offering classes for both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop users, courses include mastering QuickBooks Pro/Premier, mastering QuickBooks Payroll, and mastering accounting basics for QuickBooks Desktop. There are also courses available for accountants, contractors, nonprofits, and enterprise businesses.
Fit Small Business: Best Free Online QuickBooks Training Courses
Fit Small Business offers lessons for beginners and supplemental training for those who want to boost their existing knowledge of QuickBooks. It has 46 tutorials, which run anywhere from 2 to 15 minutes. By breaking down longer lessons into bite-sized tutorials, students can digest them better. Each one contains a step-by-step guide and a video demonstration of the concepts, helping them understand the lessons better. Fit Small Business offers several courses on both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| You can watch the tutorials at your own pace and on your own time and focus on the topics that interest you | No one-on-one training is offered |
| Tutorials are completely free | No option for live interaction |
| Plenty of bite-sized tutorials on QuickBooks Online | |
| Offers several QuickBooks Desktop tutorials | |
See Fit Small Business Tutorials
Pricing & Plans
These QuickBooks training courses are all offered free of charge.
Instructor Expertise
The Fit Small Business QuickBooks tutorials are updated and maintained by Tim Yoder. Yoder is a Certified QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) Pro, QuickBooks Pro Advisor for both the Online and Desktop versions, and a CPA with more than 25 years of experience.
Method of Delivery
Each QuickBooks Online tutorial provides an in-depth lesson, complete with instructions, examples, and video demonstration. You can follow along in your own QuickBooks Online account to help you understand the illustrated steps easily.
Courses Available
The QuickBooks tutorials cover the following topics:
- Setting up QuickBooks
- Managing sales and income
- Managing bills and expenses
- Managing banking transactions
- Managing business credit card transactions
- Managing credit card sales
- Setting up and managing payroll
- Reporting in QuickBooks Online
Tip: QuickBooks Online, our best small business accounting software, have advanced and complex accounting features. However, they can be easily mastered if you follow along in your own account while watching the Fit Small Business tutorial videos.
QuickBooks Support: Best for Learning Specific Tasks
If you have a specific question on how to perform a QuickBooks task, QuickBooks Support is a free, comprehensive option. It offers help articles, community discussions with other QuickBooks users, video tutorials, and more, and free Live QuickBooks webinars are offered on a regular basis. However, there’s no actual live support available, which can make it challenging to find an answer to a specific question.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| All information is available at no cost | No live support |
| Best for learning specific QuickBooks tasks | Since some articles are authored by QuickBooks users as opposed to certified QuickBooks experts, there is no guarantee that information is completely accurate |
| Video tutorials always include the most recent features in the software since Intuit updates them regularly | QuickBooks certification courses are unavailable |
Pricing & Plans
There’s no charge to access the webinars, video tutorials, and articles through QuickBooks Support.
Author Expertise
QuickBooks Support offers articles that are authored by both QuickBooks employees and users. Its video tutorials and webinars are created by QuickBooks staff.
Method of Delivery
Information is available via video tutorials, webinars, and online articles.
Courses Available
QuickBooks Support offers free webinars, step-by-step video tutorials, and more than 660,000 articles on a variety of topics, from account management and banking to reporting and taxes. The articles are created by both QuickBooks experts and QuickBooks users. The QuickBooks Resource Center also offers articles to help you start, grow, and manage your business.
Advanced Webinars by Hector Garcia, CPA: Best for Live Webinars
Hector Garcia, a CPA and Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, has created a series of webinars that aim to introduce the software and encourage users to feel comfortable with using it. He has produced hundreds of videos on topics related to both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online, and his YouTube videos will help you troubleshoot common QuickBooks issues.
Currently, he has a paid course available through Advanced Webinars, which is intended for contractors and project-based businesses. He also recorded a course for manufacturers and wholesalers and accountants supporting multiple industries.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Both QuickBooks Online and Desktop courses are available | Paid courses are not ideal for those looking for a basic overview of QuickBooks |
| Each industry-specific course delves into each topic with a lot of detail | Access to some courses are only available for a limited time |
Visit Advanced Webinars by Hector Garcia, CPA
Pricing & Plans
Prices vary depending on the type and the duration of the course and the level of the QuickBooks topic covered. For instance, a two-day live basic to intermediate course—like Learn QuickBooks Desktop 2013 to 2022—costs $79.99 per year while an advanced course—like QuickBooks Desktop for manufacturers and wholesalers—is available for a one-time fee of $200.
Instructor Expertise
Hector Garcia is the principal accountant at Quick Bookkeeping & Accounting LLC, an accounting firm based in Miami. He specializes in QuickBooks consulting and provides traditional accounting services, such as bookkeeping, payroll processing, tax return preparation, and general business advisory.
Method of Delivery
Hector Garcia offered his QuickBooks training tutorials in a live class and self-paced format. Live web-based courses usually last for three hours; after which, a recording will be available to those who wish to learn at their own pace. The topics are very specialized, focusing on specific industries.
Courses Available
Hector Garcia offers access to some prerecorded courses, such as QuickBooks Desktop for Manufacturers and Wholesalers and QuickBooks Online for Construction, Contractors, and Project-based Businesses.
Certstaffix Training: Best for On-site Group Training
Certstaffix offers training for several versions of QuickBooks, and all classes are delivered by one of its expert trainers. It also provides QuickBooks Certified User Desktop training classes. From hands-on, instructor-led live online QuickBooks training for individual employees to private online or on-site group training, you’ll find a flexible training option that suits your learning needs.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Each QuickBooks course offered provides the training needed to understand and use the program | Mac versions of QuickBooks are not supported |
| With on-site training, the course is scheduled based on dates that you provide and completed in a convenient session of your choosing | Course options are limited depending on the method of delivery |
| Software for class is provided in an online lab environment | |
Pricing & Plans
Prices for classes offered vary depending on the type and duration of the course and whether it’s a public class or a private session. Currently, Certstaffix Training offers three live QuickBooks training courses, which cost $435 each for a duration of one hour. Certstaffix also offers an E-Learning Bundle for those who wish to learn QuickBooks at their own pace.
If you want on-site training at your office or group live online class, you should contact Certstaffix Training directly to request a customized quote.
Instructor Expertise
Certstaffix instructors are professional trainers with an average of more than five years of delivering classes to business professionals.
Method of Delivery
Certstaffix Training public classes are instructor-led live online training that you attend either from your home or work location or at one of the computer labs. The instructors teach from a remote location while being able to interact with you like you’re in a traditional classroom.
The online QuickBooks Pro courses are presented as a seminar, and they’re task-based, focusing on real-world scenarios and challenges that students face in their day-to-day environments. For group training, an expert instructor will either come to your office or deliver a private live online class to your students. Instructors can view student progress and take control of their PC to provide direct assistance. Students can watch the presentation and also voice questions directly to the instructor and participate in class discussions.
The QuickBooks E-Learning Bundle allows you to learn at your own pace, with lectures that utilize video and recorded screenshots.
Courses Available
Currently, the instructor-led courses available are:
- QuickBooks Online Edition: Basic course
- QuickBooks Desktop Edition: Basic course
- QuickBooks Desktop Edition: Advanced course
If you prefer to learn at your own pace, you should get the E-Learning Bundle, which includes three courses:
- QuickBooks Online – Beginner
- QuickBooks Online – Advanced
- QuickBooks Pro 2021
College of Southern Idaho: Best Instructor-led Courses for College Classes
At the College of Southern Idaho, students can participate in instructor-led or self-paced courses on a variety of QuickBooks topics. As part of the CSI Workforce Development and Training Program, CSI provides training and apprenticeship opportunities for individuals to master new expertise and opportunities for companies to utilize local training for their employees.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Taught in a college; which means the environment is more structured for learning | Instructor moderation and group discussions are only available with instructor-led courses |
| Prices are relatively affordable compared to other QuickBooks training courses | There aren’t any QuickBooks Desktop courses available for versions newer than 2019 |
| Can interact with the instructor | |
Visit College of Southern Idaho
Pricing & Plans
College of Southern Idaho currently offers 16 courses, with prices ranging from $105 to $199.
Instructor Expertise
The instructor-led courses are taught by Scott Paxton, a CPA who holds master’s degrees in business administration and accounting. He also worked as a manager in the banking industry and as a college business instructor. He has spent much of his career helping small business owners implement and troubleshoot QuickBooks successfully.
Method of Delivery
Students have the option of self-paced or instructor-led courses. The length of each course is 24 to 48 hours, and they’re entirely online. All courses feature instructional text and a final exam, and may also include supplemental learning material, such as assignments, quizzes, audio, video, infographics, and hands-on labs.
Self-paced
Self-paced tutorial courses are designed for completely independent learning, without instructor moderation or group discussion. These are open enrollment, allowing you to enroll and start a course at your convenience. After enrolling, you’ll receive all lessons immediately and will be granted three months of access to complete the course content.
Instructor-led
Instructor-led courses are designed for structured group learning and feature an instructor-moderated discussion board so that you can interact with your instructor. These courses operate on a rolling monthly basis, with four available start dates.
After enrolling, you’ll receive new lessons on a set schedule during a six-week period. Two lessons are released each week, and the final exam is released consecutively with the 12th lesson. You have two weeks to complete the exam.
Courses Available
- Introduction to QuickBooks 2019
- Introduction to QuickBooks Online
- Intermediate QuickBooks Online
- QuickBooks Online Series
Although the College of Southern Idaho doesn’t offer training for QuickBooks after the 2019 version, it anticipates adding courses in the future. While there have been a few features added since 2019, learning the 2019 edition will translate easily to success in more recent editions.
How We Evaluated QuickBooks Training Courses
We evaluated these training courses based on many factors, including cost, accessibility, course curriculum, and access to instructors.
- Price: While some courses are available at no cost, others run upward of $600.
- Available training methods: Many of these training courses are offered as self-paced training or live, instructor-led courses. We also evaluated the companies that offer in-person training.
- Types of courses offered: Whether it’s a topic-specific video tutorial or a course dedicated to a specific version of QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online, these companies offer a variety of courses for novices to accountants and advanced users.
- Course instructors: Whether the courses are taught by certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors or CPAs, it’s important to know the level of expertise that’s provided.
- Additional support available: Examples include reference manuals, study guides, course videos, and access to the instructor for questions.
Bottom Line
QuickBooks training courses come in various forms, including on-demand videos, online instructor-led or self-paced lessons, live virtual and in-person classrooms, and video tutorials. Most classes cover QuickBooks basics and are generally taught by certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors and/or CPAs who provide bookkeeping services to small business clients.
QuickBooks classes are ideal for small business owners, bookkeepers, and anyone who is seeking to become a Certified QuickBooks User. Classes may also include structured lessons, access to an instructor, practice exercises or exams, a quiz or final exam, and a certificate of completion.
Get started today with our free QuickBooks Online tutorials.
