QuickBooks Online offers a valuable feature known as the Sample Company, commonly referred to as the "Test Drive." This useful tool allows users to explore and practice the functionalities of QuickBooks Online without the risk of affecting real financial data. This feature is especially helpful for new users who want to get comfortable with the platform. It’s also a great option for existing users looking to test new workflows or features in a safe environment.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to access the QuickBooks Online Sample Company and highlight key features to explore.

Accessing the QuickBooks Online Sample Company

To begin using QuickBooks Online's Sample Company, follow these simple steps:

  1. Open your preferred web browser and search for "QuickBooks Online Test Drive."
  2. Click on the link titled "Test drive QuickBooks Online." This will take you to the Test Drive page.
  3. Select the version of QuickBooks Online you wish to explore. You can choose from options like QuickBooks Online Plus or QuickBooks Online Advanced.
  4. Complete any security verification prompts that may appear to proceed.

Once you complete these steps, you will be logged into a sample company file, such as "Craig’s Design and Landscaping Services." This file is populated with fictitious data that allows you to experiment freely.

Key Features to Explore

The Sample Company provides access to various key features of QuickBooks Online. Here are some of the functionalities you can practice:

1. Invoicing

Creating and sending invoices is a vital part of managing any business. In the Sample Company, you can practice creating invoices, sending them to clients, and tracking payments. This hands-on experience helps you understand how invoicing works within the platform.

2. Expenses

Learning to manage expenses is crucial for any successful business. Within the Sample Company, you can manually enter expenses or use bank feeds to see how expense management functions. Practicing this will help you get a feel for the various expense tracking and reporting options.

3. Reports

Generating financial reports like profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and others is straightforward with QuickBooks Online. In the Sample Company, you can explore the reporting features to assess the overall financial health of a business. This is a significant part of understanding how to interpret financial data.

4. Settings

Customizing QuickBooks Online to fit your business’s specific needs is important. The Sample Company allows you to test out the various settings, like customizing invoice templates or modifying user permissions. This is useful for tailoring the platform to your unique business structure.

One important note is that any changes you make in the Sample Company are temporary. They will not be saved after you log out. This feature is designed to let you experiment freely without the risk of altering actual business information. However, some features, like bank connections, are disabled in this testing environment to maintain security.

For Developers

If you are a developer looking to integrate applications with QuickBooks Online, you can utilize sandbox companies. These are special environments designed specifically for app development and testing, equipped with sample data. To create a sandbox company, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to your developer account on QuickBooks Online.
  2. Navigate to the "My Hub" section and select "Sandboxes." Here is where you can manage your testing environments.
  3. Click on "Add" and choose between QuickBooks Online Plus or Advanced.
  4. If you select QuickBooks Online Plus, make sure to choose the correct country from the dropdown menu.
  5. Click "Create" to finalize your sandbox setup.

These sandbox environments are intended solely for non-commercial use and testing. They provide a safe place for developers to experiment with their applications before going live.

Conclusion

Whether you are a new user trying to learn the basics or an experienced user testing out new features, QuickBooks Online's Sample Company and sandbox environments offer valuable opportunities. They let you gain hands-on experience with the platform’s features without any risk of impacting actual business data. Using these resources can greatly ease your transition to QuickBooks Online in real-world settings.