Can I Transfer My Bookkeeping From QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Self‑Employed?

Dec 23, 2025UncategorizedComments (0)

If you’ve been using QuickBooks Online for a while and are now considering switching to QuickBooks Self‑Employed, you’re definitely not alone. Many freelancers, independent contractors, and small business owners eventually realize that QuickBooks Online offers more features than they truly need. That’s usually when the question comes up: “Can I transfer my bookkeeping from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Self‑Employed?”

It sounds like a simple request, but the answer is a bit more complicated. Before you make the switch, it’s important to understand what transfers, what doesn’t, and what steps you’ll need to take to avoid losing important financial data. If you ever feel stuck during the process, you can always reach out to support at +1‑866‑408‑0444 for guidance.

Understanding the Difference Between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Self‑Employed

QuickBooks Online (QBO) and QuickBooks Self‑Employed (QBSE) are built for two very different types of users. QBO is designed for small and medium‑sized businesses that need full accounting features—things like double‑entry bookkeeping, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory tracking, and more.

QuickBooks Self‑Employed, on the other hand, is built specifically for freelancers, gig workers, and sole proprietors who only need basic tools like:

  • Tracking income and expenses

  • Separating personal and business transactions

  • Mileage tracking

  • Simple invoicing

  • Quarterly tax estimation

Because the two platforms are built differently, Intuit does not offer a direct, automated way to transfer all your bookkeeping data from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Self‑Employed. This is where many users get confused and end up calling support at +1‑866‑408‑0444 to figure out what to do next.

So, Can You Transfer Your Bookkeeping?

Here’s the straightforward answer:

There is no direct, one‑click transfer from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Self‑Employed.

QuickBooks does not provide a built‑in migration tool that moves your full bookkeeping history from QBO to QBSE. This means your data—such as invoices, expenses, reports, and chart of accounts—cannot be automatically imported into QuickBooks Self‑Employed.

However, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. You can move certain information manually, and you can set up your new QBSE account so that it continues tracking your finances going forward. If you need help deciding whether the switch makes sense for your situation, you can always call +1‑866‑408‑0444 for personalized assistance.

What You Can Transfer

Even though there’s no automated migration, you can still bring over some of your essential data manually. Here’s what you can move:

1. Bank and Credit Card Transactions

You can reconnect your bank accounts in QuickBooks Self‑Employed. Once connected, QBSE will automatically import your recent transactions.

Older transactions can be downloaded from your bank and uploaded into QBSE using a CSV file. This is one of the most common ways users recreate their bookkeeping history.

2. Income and Expense Categories

While you can’t import your chart of accounts, you can manually categorize your transactions in QBSE to match your previous setup. This helps keep your tax reporting consistent.

3. Mileage Records

If you tracked mileage in QBO, you’ll need to manually re‑enter it into QBSE. Unfortunately, mileage data cannot be exported and imported automatically.

4. Invoices

Invoices cannot be transferred automatically, but you can download your invoice history from QBO and recreate any active or recurring invoices in QBSE.

If you’re unsure how to export or re‑enter this information, support at +1‑866‑408‑0444 can walk you through the steps.

What You Cannot Transfer

Some data simply isn’t compatible between the two platforms. This includes:

  • Chart of accounts

  • Vendor and customer lists

  • Inventory

  • Payroll data

  • Reports

  • Reconciliations

  • Attachments and receipts

Because QuickBooks Self‑Employed is a simplified system, it doesn’t support many of the features that QuickBooks Online uses. This is why Intuit doesn’t offer a direct migration tool.

Why Doesn’t QuickBooks Allow Direct Transfer?

It comes down to structure. QuickBooks Online uses double‑entry accounting, while QuickBooks Self‑Employed uses a much simpler single‑entry system. The two systems store and categorize data differently, so transferring everything automatically could lead to errors, missing information, or inaccurate tax reporting.

This is also why many users call +1‑866‑408‑0444 before switching—they want to make sure they won’t lose important financial history.

How to Move Your Bookkeeping Manually

If you’re committed to switching from QBO to QBSE, here’s a simple step‑by‑step approach:

Step 1: Export Your Data From QuickBooks Online

You can export:

  • Transactions

  • Reports

  • Customer lists

  • Vendor lists

  • Chart of accounts

This gives you a complete backup of your financial history.

Step 2: Set Up Your QuickBooks Self‑Employed Account

Create your QBSE account and connect your bank and credit card accounts. This ensures your new transactions start flowing in automatically.

Step 3: Import Your Bank Transactions

Download your historical transactions from your bank in CSV format and upload them into QBSE. This helps recreate your income and expense history.

Step 4: Re‑enter Important Information

Manually add:

  • Mileage

  • Recurring invoices

  • Important notes

  • Tax details

Step 5: Categorize Everything

QBSE relies heavily on proper categorization for tax estimation. Make sure your transactions are labeled correctly.

If any of these steps feel overwhelming, you can always call +1‑866‑408‑0444 for help.

Should You Switch to QuickBooks Self‑Employed?

Before you make the move, ask yourself:

  • Are you a freelancer or gig worker?

  • Do you file taxes using Schedule C?

  • Do you only need basic bookkeeping?

  • Do you want automatic mileage tracking?

  • Do you not need payroll, inventory, or advanced reporting?

If you answered yes to most of these, QBSE might be a better fit for you. But if you run a growing business, have employees, or need more robust accounting tools, staying with QuickBooks Online may be the smarter choice.

If you’re unsure, a quick call to +1‑866‑408‑0444 can help you evaluate your options.

Final Thoughts

So, can you transfer your bookkeeping from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Self‑Employed?

Not directly—but you can move your essential data manually and start fresh in QBSE. The key is understanding what transfers, what doesn’t, and how to set up your new account properly so your bookkeeping stays accurate.

If you need help at any point during the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to support at +1‑866‑408‑0444. They can guide you step‑by‑step and make sure your transition is smooth and stress‑free.