Remote Web Hosting
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I would like to setup remote web hosting as part of my practice and would like to know if anybody know's how to do it. Basically I host Quickbooks and the client logs in from their location, allowing me to monitor each client from my office.
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I use logmein.com. They have a free product that allows someone to connect to a workstation over the Internet. Of course there are some downsides - no printing is the biggest. They have some $$ versions that do more. Another issue is that you basically have to dedicate a desktop to each client. My clients only use remote access to check account balances or to run reports for viewing on screen only. If they really want to print the report, they can print it to a pdf file, then start a browser and e-mail it to themselves. I use VMWare to run several virtual workstations on a single physical machine.
If you are looking to publish the application window only and not the full desktop, then the only product that I know of that is reliable is Citrix and then you are going to spend some significant $$. There are some other products that will do this, but I haven't heard of anything that comes close to the reliability or capability of Citrix.
Mike Wilson
Manage the Books
Answer
You should use an ASP that has experience hosting QuickBooks. www.cpaasp.com is licensed by Intuit to host the QB products - you can see the notice on the bottom of the front page of the website.
Using a licensed host will ensure that your customer applications and data are safe and supportable.
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I have been using Gotomypc.com for a couple of years now. The cost decreases with each additional subscription and allows for printing, guest passes to a computer and conducting meetings between computers. My clients pay, as a part of their monthly fee the cost for their subscription. It is simple to set up for each one and you can create a shortcut that takes you right to their desktop.
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I cannot believe there is not a better set up for this. I am just starting a bookkeeping business and have several contacts who would love for me to set up QB for them but they are in another state. This day in age we have to find a work around for something so simple as trying to do books remotely?
So, if I am understanding this correctly, if I have more than one client, I can't use gotomypc.com for free? I buy a subscription through them and then I can do everything I need?
Answer
Go to a remote hosting process like Right Networks, InSynQ, etc. There is an initial set up fee for each user and then a monthly access fee per user. Right Networks will allow users to "rent" license so they don't need to buy the license and then they will always be on the most current version of QB. They host Pro, Premier, and Enterprise (you can't rent Enterprise licenses - those you have to buy).
In any case (no matter who you choose), you don't have software loaded on your machine so you don't have that cost and headache and the files are accessible any time you have an internet connection (so if a computer blows up all you have to do is log in from a different machine and you have lost no time). Because you, as the accountant, already have a license, they don't pay for you and you only have to pay for yourself (and your staff). If you enter a reseller program, they usually set up the client files so that they are accessible to you and you get a commission on the seats you sell.
If you are going to use this as a promotional thing, set it up so that they log in using your website. I have done the math and I can't see any reason why a business would not do this, especially if they want remote access or need additional support from their QB or accounting professional. The savings in time and money they would have in case of a natural disaster or equipment failure is worth it in my book.
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I also forgot to say that you and the client can simultaneously be in the file and working.
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Thanks for asking about this. I too am interested in knowing more about this. I checked out "personable" and "cpaasp" but they seem expensive, unless I am misunderstanding how you would use the arrangement. For starters I have a client that is changing their space and we will no longer be able to go to their site to do bookkeeping on a weekly basis. We do part of the bookkeeping and their staff performs some functions in QB. They have asked about using the accountants copy but I am not comfortable using that for all of the accounting functions we do in their data file on a weekly and monthly basis. I feel that is more suited for periodic review and adjustment work, and not weekly data entries. They also will not have a workstation that we can access. I am checking to see if there is a way that they can allow us to access their file server. But a web hosting or portal arrangement would seem ideal. Any other ideas?