If your business has outgrown QuickBooks Desktop Pro, moving to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise can give you greater capacity, more users, expanded reporting, and additional inventory and business-management features.

The good news is that you don't need to recreate your accounting records manually. Intuit supports upgrading QuickBooks Pro company files to Enterprise by opening the existing company file in Enterprise and updating it. However, once the file is converted to Enterprise, it cannot be opened in QuickBooks Pro or Premier.

This guide explains how to convert QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise, what to do before conversion, how to move the company file, and what to do if the conversion fails.

Why Convert QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise ?

QuickBooks Pro is suitable for many small businesses, but growing companies may eventually need more capacity and advanced features.

Businesses commonly move to Enterprise for:

• More users
• Greater company-file capacity
• Larger customer, vendor, and item lists
• Advanced inventory management
• Multi-location inventory capabilities
• Expanded reporting
• Advanced pricing
• More detailed user permissions
• Additional business-management features

Intuit's Enterprise comparison information highlights expanded reporting, inventory management, automation, and greater capacity compared with Pro and Premier.

What to Do Before Converting QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise

Before you begin the QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise conversion, protect your existing accounting data.

1. Back Up Your QuickBooks Pro Company File

Create a backup before opening the file in Enterprise.

To create a backup:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop Pro.
2. Open your company file.
3. Select File.
4. Select Create Backup.
5. Choose a safe location.
6. Save the backup.

Intuit recommends keeping a backup before moving your data to Enterprise because the converted file cannot be opened in Pro or Premier afterward.

Keep the original backup in a separate folder, preferably labeled something like Pre-Conversion Backup. Intuit also recommends using a separate folder to prevent accidentally overwriting the original file.

Need personalized payroll assistance? Speak with a QuickBooks Payroll representative at 1-866-513-4656 to discuss questions related to payroll processing, employee payments, tax calculations, and payroll features.

2. Check the Company File Location

Before conversion, determine where your QuickBooks Pro company file is stored.

You can:

1. Open QuickBooks Pro.
2. Press F2.
3. Look under File Information.
4. Note the location of your company file.

If the company file is stored on a server, Intuit recommends moving it to your computer's local hard drive before updating it. After the conversion is complete, you can move it back to the server.

3. Make Sure Everyone Is Logged Out

All users should sign out of the company file before the conversion begins.

For businesses using QuickBooks in a multi-user environment, it is best to perform the conversion after normal business hours or over a weekend to reduce disruption.

How to Convert QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise

Once your backup is ready, you can start the conversion.

Step 1: Install QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise

First, install the appropriate version of QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise on your computer.

If you use a server and multiple workstations, make sure the Enterprise installation and network configuration meet the current requirements.

If you need assistance with network configuration, Intuit recommends working with an IT professional.

Step 2: Open QuickBooks Enterprise

Launch QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise after installation.

Then:

1. Select File.
2. Choose Open or Restore Company.
3. Select Open a company file.
4. Select Next.
5. Locate your existing QuickBooks Pro company file.
6. Select the file.
7. Sign in as the Admin user.

QuickBooks Enterprise will recognize that the company file needs to be updated.

Step 3: Confirm the Conversion

Enterprise will display a message explaining that your company file will be updated.

Before proceeding, make sure your original Pro backup is safely stored.

Then:

1. Check I understand that my company file will be updated to this new version of QuickBooks.
2. Select Update Now.
3. Select OK when prompted to create a backup.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
5. Select Yes to update the company file.

This is the current Intuit process for moving Pro or Premier data to Enterprise.

Step 4: Let QuickBooks Complete the Conversion

The conversion time depends on the size of your company file and the performance of your computer.

While QuickBooks is updating the file:

• Don't close QuickBooks.
• Don't shut down the computer.
• Don't disconnect the computer from the network if the process depends on network resources.
• Don't interrupt the conversion.

When the process finishes, select Done and open the converted company file.

What Happens to Your QuickBooks Pro Data?

Your existing company data is updated for use with Enterprise rather than requiring you to recreate the company manually.

Your lists, such as:

• Customers
• Vendors
• Employees
• Items

transfer to Enterprise. Intuit notes that Enterprise provides greater list capacity than Pro and Premier.

After the conversion, review your important accounting information carefully.

Check:

• Customer balances
• Vendor balances
• Bank accounts
• Invoices
• Bills
• Payments
• Inventory
• Open transactions
• Financial reports

Can You Open an Enterprise File in QuickBooks Pro?

No.

This is one of the most important things to understand before you convert QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise.

Intuit states that Pro and Premier company files can be upgraded to Enterprise, but Enterprise company files cannot be opened in Pro or Premier.

Therefore, keep your original QuickBooks Pro backup.

If you return to your old Pro version later, any transactions entered into the Enterprise file after conversion would need to be manually re-entered into the older backup because QuickBooks Desktop does not merge those transactions back into the old company file.

Verify Your Data After Converting

After the conversion, don't immediately assume everything is ready for normal business operations.

Review the following areas.

Customer and Vendor Lists

Open your customer and vendor centers and check that important records are present.

Look for:

• Customer names
• Vendor names
• Contact information
• Open balances
• Payment terms
• Outstanding transactions

Chart of Accounts

Review your chart of accounts and compare important balances with your previous Pro company file.

Inventory

If you use inventory, verify:

• Item quantities
• Item names
• Inventory accounts
• Purchase information
• Sales information
• Open purchase orders
• Open sales orders

Enterprise provides more advanced inventory capabilities, depending on the subscription and features selected.

Financial Reports

Run important reports such as:

• Profit and Loss
• Balance Sheet
• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Inventory Valuation
• Sales by Customer
• Customer Balance Summary
• Vendor Balance Summary

Compare key figures with reports from your Pro installation.

Review User Permissions in Enterprise

After converting your company file, review your employee permissions.

Enterprise provides more flexible permission management than Pro.

Check access to:

• Accounting
• Sales
• Purchasing
• Inventory
• Customers
• Vendors
• Reports
• Payroll
• Company administration

Give employees only the access they need to perform their jobs.

QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise Conversion Failed

Sometimes the conversion doesn't complete successfully.

If this happens, don't delete your original backup.

Intuit provides a recovery process for failed Enterprise updates. You can restore the backup created during the conversion process and attempt to repair the company file before trying the update again.

Restore the Backup After a Failed Conversion

In QuickBooks Enterprise:

1. Select File.
2. Select Utilities.
3. Choose Restore Backup For Earlier QuickBooks Version.
4. Select the backup created during the update.
5. Choose a separate location for the restored file.
6. Give the restored file a unique name.
7. Select Save.
8. Select OK.

Avoid restoring over your original company file.

Rebuild Your QuickBooks Pro Company File

If the conversion fails because of company-file problems, you may need to rebuild the restored file.

Open the restored file in your previous QuickBooks version and:

1. Select File.
2. Select Utilities.
3. Select Rebuild Data.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
5. Create another backup when prompted.
6. Allow the rebuild to finish.

Intuit notes that the Rebuild Data process can take a significant amount of time depending on the size of your company file.

After the rebuild is complete, open the newly rebuilt company file in Enterprise and try the conversion again.

QuickBooks Enterprise Can't Find My Pro Company File

If Enterprise cannot locate your Pro company file, first confirm the file location.

Press F2 in QuickBooks Pro and check the File Information section.

You can also search your Windows computer for files with the .qbw extension. Intuit recommends using Windows File Explorer if you cannot locate the company file through QuickBooks.

If the file is stored on a server, move it to the local hard drive before conversion and move it back after the update is complete.

Tips for a Successful QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise Conversion

Follow these recommendations to make the process smoother:

• Create a complete company-file backup.
• Keep the original Pro backup separate.
• Check your company-file location.
• Move a server-based file to the local computer before conversion.
• Make sure all users are logged out.
• Install Enterprise before opening the Pro file.
• Use the Admin account.
• Perform the conversion after business hours.
• Don't interrupt the conversion.
• Review customers and vendors afterward.
• Verify inventory.
• Compare financial reports.
• Review user permissions.
• Test your network before allowing multiple users to reconnect.

Intuit recommends creating a separate Pre-Conversion Backup folder to reduce the risk of overwriting your original company file.

QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise FAQs

Can I convert QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise?

Yes. QuickBooks Pro company files can be upgraded to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise. You open the Pro company file in Enterprise and select Update Now when prompted.

Do I need to back up QuickBooks Pro before converting it?

Yes. Create a backup before starting the conversion and store it in a safe location.

Will my QuickBooks Pro data transfer to Enterprise?

Yes. Your existing company information and lists transfer when you update the company file for Enterprise.

Can I use my Pro company file after converting it to Enterprise?

The original Pro backup can still be retained, but the converted Enterprise company file cannot be opened in QuickBooks Pro or Premier.

Can I convert Enterprise back to Pro?

QuickBooks Desktop does not provide a simple reverse conversion that lets you open an Enterprise company file directly in Pro. If you need to return to Pro, you should use the original pre-conversion backup.

How long does QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise conversion take?

There is no fixed time. The duration depends on the size of the company file and your computer's performance.

What if my QuickBooks Pro file won't convert?

Restore the backup created during the update process, open the restored file in your previous QuickBooks version, run Rebuild Data, and then try opening the rebuilt file in Enterprise again.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to convert QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise can make the transition easier for businesses that need more users, greater capacity, advanced inventory, and expanded reporting.

The basic process is straightforward: back up your Pro company file, install QuickBooks Enterprise, open the Pro file in Enterprise, confirm the update, and verify your data after conversion.

The most important precaution is to preserve your original Pro backup. Once the company file is converted to Enterprise, the Enterprise file cannot be opened in QuickBooks Pro or Premier.

For additional assistance with your QuickBooks Pro to Enterprise conversion, call 1-866-513-4656.