Best Plugin for Integrating QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Gusto with Jobber

Question:

I run a small service business and recently started using Jobber to manage my jobs and clients. I also rely on QuickBooks Online for accounting, Xero for invoicing, and Gusto for payroll. What’s the best way to integrate these tools with Jobber? Should I use a plugin, or is there a better manual method to link everything?

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Managing a business with multiple systems can become time-consuming, especially when you have tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and Gusto for handling accounting, invoicing, and payroll alongside Jobber for job management. You want a solution that ties these tools together efficiently so that data flows seamlessly between them without having to switch back and forth manually. Let’s weigh up the plugins available for integrating Jobber with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Gusto, and see if there’s a best fit for your business.

The Problem: Fragmented Systems

The main challenge here is fragmentation—each of these systems (Jobber, QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto) has its own data set and workflow. Without an integration, you’ll have to manually input data from one system into another, which can lead to errors, duplicate work, and wasted time. Integrating them means you can streamline your financial processes, making sure that information like client details, invoices, and payroll sync automatically.

Option 1: Jobber’s QuickBooks Online Integration

QuickBooks Online is a great fit for small to medium-sized businesses, and Jobber’s QuickBooks integration ensures that your accounting and job management are aligned. With this plugin, all your invoices, payments, and client data in Jobber sync with QuickBooks in real-time. This means less time copying data over and fewer mistakes.

Key benefits:

• Automatically syncs invoices and expenses
• Reduces double data entry
• Maintains accurate financial reports

However, while this integration is solid for accounting and payments, it doesn’t cover payroll, which might be a gap for your business if you also use Gusto.

Option 2: Jobber’s Xero Integration

Xero is known for its user-friendly design and strong invoicing capabilities. Jobber’s Xero integration lets you sync clients, invoices, and payments seamlessly. Like the QuickBooks integration, it eliminates manual data entry and ensures your financials are always up to date.

Key benefits:

• Smooth client and invoice synchronization
• Real-time syncing with Xero for accurate financial tracking
• Easy to use for businesses already comfortable with Xero

However, much like the QuickBooks integration, it doesn’t address payroll, meaning you’ll need a separate solution for Gusto.

Option 3: Jobber’s Gusto Integration

If payroll is a priority, Gusto is a great platform, especially for businesses with employees who need easy and efficient payroll management. Jobber’s Gusto integration allows you to sync employee hours logged in Jobber directly to Gusto, making payroll seamless.

Key benefits:

• Sync employee hours for accurate payroll
• Automates payroll tasks like calculating deductions and taxes
• Simplifies payroll, especially for growing teams

However, this integration focuses solely on payroll and doesn’t handle accounting or invoicing.

Manual Options

A more manual approach would be exporting data from Jobber into spreadsheets and uploading it into QuickBooks, Xero, or Gusto. While this could work for a smaller business, it becomes more labor-intensive and prone to error as your business grows. It also creates a lag in getting real-time insights, which could affect decision-making. Manual data entry is usually not a sustainable solution when dealing with three different platforms for accounting, invoicing, and payroll.

The Best Solution: QuickBooks Online Integration

After comparing the options, the QuickBooks Online integration emerges as the most comprehensive solution for your business. It offers a complete sync for invoices, expenses, and client data, which will save you time and ensure accurate financial records. While it doesn’t include payroll, QuickBooks has its own payroll service, which can be a seamless alternative to Gusto if you prefer keeping everything under one roof. If you’re set on Gusto for payroll, you can still use QuickBooks for accounting and job management without much overlap.

How to Install QuickBooks Online Integration in Jobber

1. Log in to your Jobber account and head to the App Marketplace.
2. Search for QuickBooks Online and click Install.
3. Follow the prompts to connect your QuickBooks account to Jobber. You’ll be asked to log in to QuickBooks and authorize access.
4. Once connected, you can customize how the data syncs, such as choosing which types of invoices or payments to integrate.
5. Set your preferences, and you’re ready to go!

This integration will ensure your invoices and expenses sync automatically with QuickBooks, cutting down on manual work and improving accuracy.

In summary, while there are multiple plugins to explore, the QuickBooks Online integration is the best fit for most service businesses using Jobber. It covers the majority of your needs, allowing you to streamline job and client management with accounting for a smoother, more efficient workflow.