Why people switch
Common reasons: an accountant who prefers another program, a need for payroll or inventory, outgrowing a simple tool, or a file that has become unusable.
Pick the cutover date
Many people switch at the start of a month or a fiscal year. You then load opening balances as of that date and begin recording in the new program. Keep the old program's file, read-only, so you can look things up.
What moves and what doesn't
Customers, vendors and the chart of accounts usually move through an export. Opening balances, open invoices and open bills have to be entered or imported. Full transaction history often does not convert cleanly, and many people choose to keep history in the old program and start fresh with balances.
Do these before the switch
Reconcile every account in the old program through the cutover date. Clear or note open items. Export reports for the prior periods: profit and loss, balance sheet, customer and vendor balances, and the general ledger.
After the switch
Reconcile again in the new program and compare opening balances to the old reports. Reconnect bank feeds, payment processors and payroll. Tell your tax preparer what changed.
Common questions
How long does a switch take?
From days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the file and how clean it is.
Will I lose my data?
Not if you export and keep the old file. We always keep the old records available.
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rules, fees and due dates change; check with the IRS, the NJ Division of Taxation or a licensed professional for your situation.