How to connect QuickBooks Desktop to Ramp?

This guide will walk you through the process of connecting QuickBooks Desktop to Ramp, enabling seamless integration for managing your financial data. Please follow these steps carefully to ensure a successful connection.

Table of Contents

• Key terms to know
• Before you begin 
• Step-by-step instructions 

Key terms to know

• QuickBooks Company File (.qbw): Stores all your customers, accounts, vendors, and transactions. It can reside on a single computer or a shared network folder.

• QuickBooks Web Connector: A tool that facilitates communication between QuickBooks Desktop and web services like Ramp. If you don't have it, you can download it here.

• QuickBooks Desktop Instance: The actual QuickBooks Desktop application running on your computer or a remote desktop.

• Remote Desktop Hosting (e.g., RightWorks/Ace Cloud Hosting): A service that allows you to access QuickBooks Desktop via a remote server. Specific setup steps may be required if you're using one.

• Integration Partner (Conductor): Ramp's trusted partner that assists with the integration process. You'll receive a link from them during setup.

Before you begin

To ensure a smooth setup, please prepare the following:

1. Check QuickBooks Versions Installed

• Verify Installed Versions:
  • Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features (or Uninstall a Program).
  • Look for QuickBooks Desktop in the list.
• Important: Only one version of QuickBooks Desktop should be installed. If you have multiple, please uninstall the older versions.

2. Determine the Number of Company Files

• How Many Company Files Do You Have?
  • Each company file represents a separate business entity.
• Important note: Ramp connects to one QuickBooks company file per Ramp account. If you have multiple company files, you'll need to set up separate Ramp accounts for each. Therefore, we recommend moving forward with our IIF integration: QuickBooks Desktop file export overview. 

3. Identify How You Access QuickBooks

If You Use a Remote Desktop:

• Who Set It Up? Often managed by an external IT service.
• Is It Hosted by RightWorks? If yes, you'll need to follow these steps during setup.
• Access to Web Browser: Ensure you can use a web browser on the remote desktop.
• Availability: The remote desktop should be online as much as possible, ideally 24/7.

If You Use Local Computers:

• • How Is the Company File Shared? Common methods include shared network drives or services like Dropbox.
  • Multiple Users Syncing Data: If more than one person will sync data, the file path (e.g. Q:Users/Documents/QuickBooks/MyCompanyFile.qbw) to the company file must be identical on all computers.

Step-by-step instructions

Prerequisites

• Administrative Access: Ensure you have administrative rights to both Ramp and QuickBooks Desktop.
• Access Method Identified: Know whether you use QuickBooks on a local machine or via a remote desktop.

Step 1: Install the QuickBooks Web Connector

If you can't find the Web Connector on your machine (search in the Start menu for "Web Connector"), you'll need to install it.

For RightWorks Users

• Install via RightWorks:
  • Log in to apps.rightworks.com.
  • Follow the prompts to install the Web Connector.
  • Note: Here's a guide for RightWorks installation.

Step 2: Initiate Connection from Ramp

1. Log in to your Ramp account.
2. Navigate to the Accounting section on the left sidebar.
3. Click on Get Started Now.

Step 3: Choose QuickBooks Desktop (API)

1. Select QuickBooks Desktop (API) from the list of options.

Step 4: Open the Conductor link in your browser

1. Before proceeding, ensure you’re operating on the same machine as your installed QuickBooks Desktop instance.

2. Follow the onscreen instructions, as shown below:

Step 5: Follow the directions from Conductor 

1. Once the Conductor link has been opened in your browser, follow the steps on screen to connect Ramp and QuickBooks Desktop.

2. After completing the necessary steps via Conductor, return to Ramp and click "Verify connection" button to activate your QuickBooks Desktop connect. 

Your Ramp and QuickBooks Desktop accounts are now connected!