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By Ryland Beard, Founder of Ledge · Updated October 27, 2026
At Ledge, we have moved 159 client companies from QuickBooks to Switchbooks. A typical migration takes about three minutes. Monthly bookkeeping that used to take us about six hours now takes about 20 minutes, including reconciliation and review.
We came from QuickBooks. I used it for years, and our team knew it well. Moving clients meant transferring their history, learning a new system, and making sure we could still deliver their financial reports.
I founded both Ledge and Switchbooks, so this is our experience using software we helped build.
Some clients stayed on QuickBooks. Some migrations exposed problems we had to work through. Here is why we made the change and what we learned.
The move at a glance
Figures below reflect Ledge’s experience as of October 27, 2026. The company count and typical times were supplied by Ledge’s founder.
The subscription comparison uses current regular prices. The timing figures describe our workflow; the work required still depends on the company and the state of its books.
Why we wanted a different setup
Ledge works with franchise owners and other small businesses. Many own several companies and need to see how the whole group is doing.
In QuickBooks, each company has its own file. We had used extra reporting tools to bring companies together, which added another system to maintain.
In Switchbooks, we can combine profit and loss (P&L), balance sheet, and cash flow statements while keeping each company’s books separate. Company columns let us compare the individual businesses alongside the total.
QuickBooks has options for multi-company reporting, including Advanced’s Spreadsheet Sync. For our practice, having combined management reports inside the bookkeeping system was a reason to move.
We also wanted a simpler way to handle recurring work. A bookkeeper can ask the Switchbooks agent to categorize transactions, match transfers, prepare journal entries, or run reports. The bookkeeper still reviews the work and investigates anything unclear.
How we handled the move
We chose a date for each client to begin working in Switchbooks. An October 1 start, for example, meant importing QuickBooks history through September 30.
Today, the QuickBooks Online importer uses three CSV files: the Vendor Contact List, Account List, and Journal. Each step includes a preview to review before importing.
In our experience, a typical migration takes about three minutes. We still check the imported reports and resolve any issues before relying on the new books.
What transfers, and what does not
The importer brings across vendor names, the chart of accounts—the accounts used to organize the books—and journal history, the accounting entries for the exported dates. Account balances come from that history, so the date range matters.
The customer list, classes (QuickBooks’ tracking labels), attachments, and bank rules do not transfer through this importer. Keep any records you will need before ending the old subscription.
Check the imported reports against QuickBooks: a familiar month’s P&L, the balance sheet on the switching date, and bank and credit-card balances. Also check for overlapping bank-feed history. Posting a transaction from a new feed when it is already in the imported history can count it twice.
How we handle migration issues
Early migrations sometimes showed an imported bank account and its bank connection as separate accounts. Those records needed to line up so the reports reflected the right balances.
When issues like this come up now, we ask Switch—the chat agent inside Switchbooks—to fix them. Our team can work through the correction in chat and then check the resulting balances.
Cancellation timing also caused a problem. In October, a bookkeeper reported that a QuickBooks subscription had ended before the history was fully imported. Clients were still answering questions, but the team could no longer make the remaining edits there.
The lesson: finish the corrections, import the history, check the results, and then end the old subscription.
What the software costs
Switchbooks’ published price is $25 per company per month, with combined reporting included.
Our comparison is with QuickBooks Online Essentials, whose regular US monthly price is $85 as of October 27, 2026. Switchbooks charges $25 per company, including Ledge’s companies.
That is a $60 monthly difference per company, or $720 over a full year. At those rates, 159 company subscriptions would differ by $9,540 per month, or $114,480 annualized.
These figures compare current subscription prices. Discounts and promotions can change the actual QuickBooks bill; the annualized figure assumes a full year at the stated rates and excludes migration costs.
Include payroll, payment processing, and other software the business still needs when comparing costs. Bookkeeping service fees are separate.
How the team’s work is changing
For a typical company in our workflow, monthly bookkeeping has gone from about six hours to 20 minutes. That includes reconciliation and review.
The difference is five hours and 40 minutes per company per month—about 94% less time. These are the typical times I report from Ledge’s experience. A company that needs catch-up work or has unresolved questions can take longer.
Human review remains part of the service: investigating unusual activity, reconciling balances, checking payroll accounting, and making sure the reports make sense.
Why some clients stayed on QuickBooks
We have not moved every client.
One client stayed because their franchisor required QuickBooks and a specific reporting integration. Switchbooks replaces QuickBooks, so it could not meet that requirement.
There are other reasons a business may be better served by QuickBooks:
- Invoicing: QuickBooks has built-in invoicing and payment workflows. Switchbooks does not currently provide invoicing.
- Payroll: QuickBooks offers payroll as an additional service. Switchbooks can record payroll accounting from an external provider, but it does not run payroll or pay employees.
- Inventory: QuickBooks Plus and Advanced provide inventory tracking. Switchbooks does not provide item-level inventory management.
- Required connections: A business may depend on other software that connects to QuickBooks and must keep working after the move.
See the Switchbooks comparison and QuickBooks plan details for these differences. Check how essential business tasks will work before moving the books.
Combined reports also have limits. Switchbooks does not automatically remove transactions between your companies, convert currencies, or make adjustments required for formal consolidation. Those need separate accounting work or a system that supports them.
Would we make the move again?
For clients whose needs fit Switchbooks, we would make the move again. The reasons remain clear: combined reports across companies, simpler bookkeeping, and a predictable software price.
Start with one representative company. Complete a month’s books, review the reports, and ask the team what became easier and what still needs attention. Use that experience to decide which company to move next.
If you are considering the same change, see what the Switchbooks migration includes. If you want a firm to evaluate the fit and handle the bookkeeping, talk with Ledge.
Questions about moving from QuickBooks to Switchbooks
Why did Ledge switch from QuickBooks to Switchbooks?
Ledge wanted combined financial reports across companies, a chat agent for recurring bookkeeping work, and a predictable subscription price. As of October 27, 2026, Ledge has migrated 159 client companies. Ledge’s founder also built Switchbooks.
How long does a QuickBooks migration take?
Ledge’s founder reports about three minutes for a typical migration to Switchbooks. Historical cleanup, missing records, and corrections can require additional work. Check the imported reports and balances before ending the QuickBooks subscription.
How much bookkeeping time does Ledge save?
Ledge’s founder reports typical monthly bookkeeping falling from about six hours to 20 minutes per company, including reconciliation and review. That is about 94% less time in Ledge’s workflow. The work required depends on the company and the condition of its books.
How do QuickBooks Essentials and Switchbooks prices compare?
On October 27, 2026, QuickBooks Online Essentials’ regular US price is $85 per company per month; Switchbooks costs $25. The difference is $60 monthly or $720 annualized per company. Promotions, discounts, other services, and migration costs can change the actual comparison.
Which businesses should keep QuickBooks?
A business may need QuickBooks for built-in invoicing, item inventory, payroll services, a required integration, or a franchisor’s software requirement. Switchbooks can record payroll accounting from an external provider but does not process payroll, provide invoicing, or manage item-level inventory.
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