The short answer
If you are learning bookkeeping for remote work, start with QuickBooks Online. It is cloud-based, widely used by small businesses in Canada and the USA, and the skills transfer easily to other software. Add Xero next if you want clients in Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, and learn QuickBooks Desktop if you plan to work with established firms that still keep their files on Desktop.
Side-by-side comparison
| QuickBooks Online | QuickBooks Desktop | Xero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it runs | Cloud, in the browser | Installed on a Windows computer or server | Cloud, in the browser |
| Remote access | Built in; bookkeeper and client share the same file | Needs file sharing, remote desktop or hosting | Built in; unlimited users on most plans |
| Typical users | Small businesses in Canada and the USA | Established businesses, inventory-heavy firms, accounting practices with older files | Small businesses in Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand |
| Stand-out strength | Huge user base and app ecosystem | Deep inventory, job costing and reporting | Fast bank reconciliation and clean interface |
| Learn it with RAI | Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 |
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is Intuit's cloud accounting software. Because the client and the bookkeeper log in to the same company online, it suits remote work well. You will use it for bank feeds and rules, invoices and payments, bills, reconciliations, sales tax and reports. Many firms that hire remote bookkeepers list QuickBooks Online as a requirement.
QuickBooks Desktop
QuickBooks Desktop is installed software. Intuit has been moving customers to the cloud, and in 2024 it stopped selling most new Desktop subscriptions to new customers in the US (Enterprise is still offered). Existing businesses and firms still run Desktop, often for inventory, payroll and detailed reporting, so remote bookkeepers regularly meet Desktop files, especially at established clients.
Xero
Xero is a cloud platform from New Zealand with a strong following in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Its reconciliation screen is fast to work with, and many advisory-focused accounting firms standardize on it. Knowing Xero lets you say yes to clients that QuickBooks-only bookkeepers turn away.
How to choose
- One software, fastest start: QuickBooks Online.
- Targeting UK, Australia or New Zealand clients: Xero.
- Working with an established firm or inventory-heavy businesses: QuickBooks Desktop.
- Want to accept any client: all three, which is what the All-in-One course covers for PKR 16,000 instead of PKR 19,500 separately.
Whichever you choose, every RAI package includes Canadian sales tax training, sales tax audit training and client communication training. Compare them on packages & fees.