Step-by-Step Guide on Using Excel for QuickBooks (With VBA Examples)

Keyword focus: QuickBooks Excel integration, Excel VBA for QuickBooks, automate QuickBooks with Excel, export QuickBooks to Excel, QuickBooks reporting Excel

Introduction

QuickBooks is a top accounting software used by over 5.3 million businesses worldwide (Intuit, 2024). Yet, many users find it hard to do custom reporting, bulk data manipulation, and automated processes.

Microsoft Excel is a great tool to use with QuickBooks. It helps automate workflows, create dynamic reports, and boost productivity. In this article, we'll show you how to use Excel with QuickBooks step by step. We'll include examples and VBA code to help you automate tasks.

Why Use Excel with QuickBooks?

Using Excel with QuickBooks offers:

Advanced reporting: PivotTables, dashboards, charts
Data analysis: Use Excel formulas and Power Query
Bulk editing: Clean and modify large data sets
Automation: Use VBA to save time
Customization: Tailored reports your business actually needs

Step 1: Export Data from QuickBooks to Excel

Method 1: Manual Export

Open QuickBooks Desktop or Online
Go to the report or list you want (e.g., Profit and Loss)
Click “Export” > Export to Excel
Save the Excel file

Method 2: Use QuickBooks Excel Add-In (e.g., from CData or Intuit SDK)

This allows live linking to QuickBooks data and is best for recurring reports.

Step 2: Clean and Format Data in Excel

Once your data is exported:

Remove unnecessary columns
Use TRIM(), CLEAN(), or TEXT() to format data
Convert numbers using VALUE() if necessary
Use Excel Tables (Ctrl + T) for easier management

Example:

=IFERROR(VALUE(TRIM(A2)), "")

This converts a messy text number into a clean numerical format.

Step 3: Automate Reports with PivotTables and Charts

Create a dynamic dashboard in Excel:

Insert PivotTable (Insert > PivotTable)
Use filters like date ranges or customer names
Add Slicers for interactivity
Insert PivotCharts for visual summaries

Tip: Use GETPIVOTDATA() to reference specific Pivot values.

Step 4: Use VBA to Automate Tasks

Here’s where Excel really shines. With VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), you can:

Refresh QuickBooks exports
Format data
Create reports with a click

Example 1: Simple VBA to Clean and Format QuickBooks Data

Sub CleanQuickBooksData()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Set ws = ActiveSheet

    With ws
        .Columns("A:C").EntireColumn.AutoFit
        .Range("A2:A1000").Value = Evaluate("IFERROR(VALUE(TRIM(A2:A1000)), """")")
    End With
    
    MsgBox "QuickBooks data cleaned successfully!"
End Sub

Example 2: Refresh QuickBooks Linked Table Automatically

If you’re using a linked query:

Sub RefreshQuickBooksData()
    Dim qt As QueryTable
    For Each qt In Worksheets("QuickBooksData").QueryTables
        qt.Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
    Next qt
    MsgBox "Data refreshed from QuickBooks"
End Sub

Step 5: Schedule Your Reports with Power Automate or Task Scheduler

You can schedule the Excel workbook to open and run macros on a schedule using Windows Task Scheduler or Power Automate Desktop:

Save Excel file with macro
Create a .bat file to open it
Schedule the .bat file to run daily or weekly

Step 6: Import Modified Data Back to QuickBooks (Advanced)

QuickBooks Desktop: Use IIF files for import:

Save Excel file as .csv
Convert to .iif using QuickBooks IIF Import Kit
Go to File > Utilities > Import > IIF Files

QuickBooks Online: Use apps like:

Transaction Pro
Saasant
Zapier

Tips for Success

Always backup QuickBooks before import
Keep column headers consistent
Test with a small data set
Validate formatting (dates, currency, etc.)

Real-World Use Case

Client: A small retail business

Problem: Manually exporting sales data from QuickBooks Online to generate monthly profit reports

Solution:

Export data via QuickBooks Online to Excel
VBA macro formats and builds PivotTables
Dashboard auto-refreshes with a button
Reports shared via Teams using OneDrive link

Time saved: ~4 hours/month

Key Stats to Know

75% of small business users say QuickBooks lacks custom reporting features (Gartner, 2023)
Businesses using Excel automation report up to 30% improvement in efficiency
Excel is still used by over 80% of accountants for custom reports

Conclusion

Using QuickBooks with Excel gives your business the best of both worlds. You get robust accounting and flexible reporting and automation. Whether it's managing monthly reports or automating reconciliations, mastering Excel for QuickBooks can save time and unlock insights.

Resources” or “Helpful Links”

📘 QuickBooks Excel Add-Ins

CData Excel Add-In for QuickBooks Desktop

This add-in allows you to connect Excel directly to QuickBooks Desktop, enabling real-time access to your QuickBooks data within Excel.

CData Excel Add-In for QuickBooks Online

For QuickBooks Online users, this add-in facilitates seamless integration, allowing you to work with live QuickBooks data in Excel.

Devart Excel Add-In for QuickBooks Online

This tool offers advanced SQL support, enabling you to import, edit, and export QuickBooks Online data efficiently within Excel.

📊 Automating QuickBooks Data with Excel

Coupler.io Guide: How to Export QuickBooks to Excel

Learn how to automate the export of QuickBooks data to Excel, allowing for scheduled updates and streamlined reporting.

Zapier Integration: QuickBooks + Excel

Automate workflows between QuickBooks and Excel using Zapier, enabling seamless data transfer and task automation.

🛠️ Importing and Exporting Data

Devart Guide: Importing and Exporting Excel with QuickBooks

A comprehensive guide detailing how to manage QuickBooks Online data using the Devart Excel Add-In, including importing and exporting data efficiently.

Method: QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV Toolkit

This toolkit provides resources and step-by-step instructions for importing data into QuickBooks from Excel and CSV files, minimizing errors during the import process.