QuickBooks Custom App Development

Are you thinking about building custom applications and tools to enhance QuickBooks Solutions for your business? That’s a big step forward!

With the right custom apps, automation tools, and reporting solutions, you can address key business challenges and optimize your QuickBooks experience. By leveraging software development and programming, you can integrate new functionalities, advanced reporting, automation features, and data synchronization tools—all of which add greater value to your QuickBooks system and boost your return on investment (ROI).

While this might seem complex at first, the good news is that QuickBooks comes with a built-in online accounting API. This powerful feature allows you to develop tailored solutions that streamline your business processes and improve efficiency. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

In this guide, QB Advisors LLC will walk you through everything you need to know about QuickBooks custom app development. So, without further delay, let’s dive right in.

What is QuickBooks Online Accounting API?

QuickBooks is built using C++ programming language and operates on Sybase as its backend database. Before jumping into the development of custom applications, it’s essential to understand the QuickBooks Online Accounting API and how it functions.

The QuickBooks Online Accounting API is based on the REST framework and utilizes standard HTTP methods along with JSON for data exchange. It enables your applications to interact with QuickBooks Online, leveraging its core features and financial data.

This API is packed with multiple entities, such as forms, lists, and various tools available in the QuickBooks Online interface. These entities allow businesses to automate different operations. For instance, you can create, send, and retrieve invoices using the API.

While QuickBooks allows you to develop custom applications, having a solid understanding of API entities is crucial. The better you know these entities, the easier it will be to choose the right one for your desired functionality.

If you’re unfamiliar with these API entities, here’s a quick overview:

• Bank Account Entity: Helps you create and update bank account records in your application.
• Card Entity: Allows customers to create and store debit or credit card details and set up payment processing.
• Charges Entity: Lets you authorize, process, and record transactions, as well as generate and send invoices to customers.
• eChecks Entity: Helps in creating and storing eCheck objects, enabling bank account-based payment processing.
• Token Entity: Provides a secure container for storing customer payment details, such as credit card and bank account information, allowing API calls without exposing sensitive data.

How to Develop a Demo App with QuickBooks?

QuickBooks provides an excellent platform for building business applications due to its user-friendly interface and powerful features. However, before you begin creating an application from scratch, you need to set up an Intuit Developer Account.

Steps to Create an Intuit Developer Account:

1. Go to the official Intuit website.
2. Locate the developer account setup box.
3. Fill in the required details:
• Email address
• First name
• Last name
• Secure password
• Phone number
4. Click on "Create an account" to complete the registration process.

After signing up, you will receive a confirmation email. Once your account is verified, you can proceed to create a demo application for your business.

Steps to Build Your Demo App:

• Log in to your Intuit Developer Portal.
• Navigate to the Dashboard tab in the toolbar.
• Go to the Apps section.
• Click on "+ Create an App".
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Testing API Calls & Selecting API Entities

Once your demo app is built, you can test an API call and select the appropriate API entities for your application. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Intuit Developer Account.
2. Navigate to the API Explorer section.
3. Select the Sandbox Company from the drop-down list.
4. Browse through the available API entities and choose the ones that fit your requirements.
5. Click on the "Try It" button to test them.
6. Save the changes once you’re done.

You can build a QuickBooks demo app using .NET, Java, or PHP. This demo application can send requests and retrieve live data from QuickBooks Online, making it a great way to test the functionality of your custom app.

QuickBooks Demo App in .NET, Java, and PHP

You can develop a demo application using .NET, Java, or PHP. Once the development is complete, navigate to the dashboard via the toolbar, assign the name Demo App, click on the Select a scope dropdown, and choose Accounting.

Next, you’ll need to create an online sandbox company to obtain demo app credentials. If you haven’t set up a sandbox company yet, follow these steps:

• Sign in to your QB ADVISORS LLC developer account.
• Go to the API Docs and Tools section.
• Click on Add a Sandbox Company.
• You will be presented with two options: QuickBooks Online Plus or QuickBooks Online Advanced.
• Select your preferred company type and region from the dropdown menu. (Note: The sandbox is region-specific and cannot be changed later.)
• Finally, click on the Add button to complete the setup. Your sandbox company will remain active for two years.

Now that you have successfully created an online sandbox company, you can use it to generate demo app credentials. In the next section, we will explore this further.

How to Obtain Your Custom App Credentials?

To access your custom application, you’ll need specific credentials. Follow these steps to retrieve them:

• Sign in to your QB ADVISORS LLC developer account.
• Navigate to the Toolbox section in the dashboard.
• Click to launch the application.
• If you are linking a sandbox company, go to the Development section and select Keys and OAuth.
• If you are configuring a production app, head to the Production section and choose Keys and OAuth.
• Here, you will find the Client ID and Client Secret. Copy these credentials for future use.

With these credentials, you can access your custom app anytime. This is how you can build an app from scratch using QuickBooks Custom App Development features. We hope this guide simplifies the process and saves time. However, if you need help, you can always reach out to QuickBooks Support through their official website. Alternatively, if you prefer not to handle the setup yourself, you can consult a QuickBooks expert to develop the app for you.