For businesses that use QuickBooks to manage their financial data analysis, linking this data to Google BigQuery can offer insights into cash flow trends, expense patterns, and customer profitability. BigQuery helps teams organize, explore, and analyze information, leading to smarter reports and decisions that are grounded in real data. Here’s a simple guide covering three ways to move your QuickBooks data into BigQuery:
3 Methods to load data from QuickBooks to BigQuery
1. Coupler.io
Coupler.io is a user-friendly tool that helps you automatically gather, organize, and sync data between applications. You can set up automatic updates to keep data fresh in BigQuery. This is a great choice for businesses needing a continuous connection between QuickBooks and BigQuery without any manual effort.
- Easy automation: Once set up, Coupler.io automatically transfers data from QuickBooks to BigQuery. You can schedule transfers, such as hourly or daily, to keep your data up-to-date.
- No coding needed: Coupler.io is designed for all users, so no coding is necessary. It guides you through the process step by step.
- Data transformations: Coupler.io enables you to easily transform your data, such as filtering specific data or renaming fields before loading them into your application.
2. Manually export and import data from QuickBooks to BigQuery
The manual method lets you export data from QuickBooks and upload it into BigQuery yourself. It is suitable for smaller data sets or one-time uploads. However, there’s no finance automation, so you’ll have to repeat it each time you want updated data. The upside is that it’s cost-effective and doesn’t require any extra software.
- No extra tools needed: This method only requires QuickBooks and Google BigQuery. There’s no need to purchase any extra tools or subscriptions.
- Works well for one-time transfers: If you only need to move data occasionally, the manual method can work well without too much effort.
- Direct control: You handle the entire process and can choose exactly which data to transfer and review at each step.
The manual method is fine for businesses that don’t need regular updates in BigQuery. If you’re just getting started with BigQuery or only need a snapshot of your data, this approach could work well for you. Besides, this method is effective for those who want to avoid investing in additional tools.
3. Other ETL Tools for QuickBooks to BigQuery Integration.
In addition to Coupler.io, there are other automated ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools your business can use to integrate QuickBooks to Google BigQuery. They also handle large data volumes, let you customize data flows, and offer more flexibility.
How to connect QuickBooks to BigQuery using Coupler.io?
Step 1: Collect data from QuickBooks
Click Proceed in the form below where we’ve preselected QuickBooks as a source and BigQuery as a destination. You’ll be offered to get started with Coupler.io for free with no credit card required.
Note: Coupler.io also allows you to export reports from QuickBooks. For this, change the source app from QuickBooks to QuickBooks Reports.
Connect your QuickBooks Online account, then select the source data to import, like invoices or customer lists.
To consolidate data from multiple QuickBooks entities or reports, click Connect one more source and configure the source accordingly.
Step 2: Transform data
Coupler.io offers powerful data transformation features within its interface, enabling you to prepare your data before loading it into BigQuery. You can filter data to extract specific subsets, rename fields for clarity, and perform calculations by adding new columns with custom formulas. Additionally, you can hide unnecessary columns, reorder them to suit your analysis needs and blend data from multiple sources into a single dataset.
Step 3: Load data and schedule refresh
To link BigQuery to Coupler.io, you’ll need to upload your Google Cloud key file. After establishing the connection, you can either specify an existing dataset and table or create new ones by entering their names. Coupler.io’s Autodetect Table Schema feature automatically determines the structure of your data during import, simplifying the integration process. If you prefer to define the schema manually, you can disable the autodetect option and specify the desired schema according to your requirements.
Coupler.io also allows you to connect QuickBooks to Google Sheets and several BI platforms.
There are other optional modes you can configure such as import mode. The Append mode allows you to add your latest information below the previously imported entries, while the Replace mode, replaces your old entries with the latest from QuickBooks.
After completing the previous step, you can enable automatic data refresh, which is the final step in the process. This is disabled by default. You can integrate QuickBooks to Google BigQuery and schedule regular updates monthly, daily, every hour, every 30 minutes, or every 15 minutes. Coupler.io’s scheduling feature allows you to keep QuickBooks and BigQuery synced without manual work.
Once set, click Save and Run Importer to load data from QuickBooks to BigQuery. Now you can access your dataset with the exported QuickBooks data within BigQuery.
What data can you load from QuickBooks to BigQuery using this integration?
With Coupler.io, you can connect QuickBooks to BigQuery and transfer various types of data, including:
- Sales data: Invoices, payments, and receipts
- Customer data: Lists, balances, and contact details
- Expense data: Bills, vendors, and purchase orders
- Supplier data: List, credit limits, and contact details
- Financial data reports: Period, total revenue, and net profit
- Account data: Balance, type, and account holder details
- Budget data: Budget allocation, budget utilization, and total budget
This integration simplifies the ability for companies to analyze finances, track metrics, and create customized reports.
Bonus: QuickBooks dashboards for better financial analysis
When working with QuickBooks data, visualization dashboards become essential for making sense of financial information. BigQuery does not allow you to turn your data into charts or graphs. However, you can do this in Looker Studio, Google Sheets, and even Coupler.io itself. Here are some powerful QuickBooks dashboards that can transform your raw financial data into actionable insights.
Revenue dashboard for QuickBooks
The revenue dashboard for QuickBooks is designed specifically for small business owners and accounting officers who use QuickBooks Online It helps you monitor your income and expenses in real-time and provides insights into your business’s financial health without the need to dive into complex spreadsheets.
QuickBooks revenue dashboard + AI insights
QuickBooks revenue dashboard + AI insights
Preview dashboardWhat insights you can get:
- Income Overview: Track overall revenue trends for the last 12 months to identify seasonal fluctuations, peak revenue periods, and any unexpected dips that might require attention.
- Profit and Loss Analysis: Compare revenue against expenses to assess how effectively your business is managing costs relative to income, providing crucial data for budgeting and financial planning.
- Customer Value Metrics: Identify your most valuable customers by revenue contribution, enabling targeted marketing efforts and customer retention strategies.
- Product Performance: See which products or services generate the most revenue to optimize inventory management and understand market demand.
- Revenue Distribution: Analyze the distribution of revenue across different business segments, helping you focus resources on high-performing areas.
How to use this dashboard
You can run the dashboard right in your Coupler.io account. This gives you the advantage of fast data load and AI insights. This dashboard can also be used as a template for external tools that come with a Readme tab containing step-by-step instructions for connecting your QuickBooks data. Simply follow the setup guide to start visualizing your financial data within minutes.
Accounts Payable dashboard for QuickBooks in Looker Studio
Also known as a creditor report, the Accounts Payable dashboard provides an overview of your financial obligations. It helps small business owners and accounting officers understand who their main creditors are and how much they owe them. This valuable information enables better cash flow management and payment prioritization.
What insights you can get:
- Unpaid Bills Overview: Get a comprehensive view of all unpaid and overdue bills with easy filtering by creditor to identify your major obligations at a glance.
- Vendor Payment History: Review historical payment data by vendor to help evaluate relationships and prioritize current payments effectively.
- Aging of Accounts Payable: See the distribution of overdue amounts by time periods (current, 30-60-90+ days) to better manage payment schedules and avoid late fees.
- Cash Position Analysis: Track current balances across all accounts and currencies to help distribute your cash properly for upcoming payments.
- Vendor Bill Details: Access complete details of all vendor bills for the last 12 months, including both paid and unpaid bills across all currencies.
How to use this dashboard
Check the Readme tab for comprehensive instructions on connecting your QuickBooks account and customizing the dashboard settings to match your business needs. Two versions of the dashboard are available so far.
Accounts Receivable dashboard for QuickBooks in Looker Studio
The Accounts Receivable dashboard offers small business owners and accounting staff a clear picture of who their main customers (debtors) are and how much they owe. This information is invaluable for proactive communication with customers about outstanding balances, preventing cash flow gaps, and optimizing collection efforts.
What insights you can get:
- Unpaid Invoices Tracking: Get a comprehensive overview of all unpaid and overdue invoices with the ability to filter by customer to identify major debtors.
- Customer Payment History: Analyze previously paid invoices by customer to evaluate payment patterns and inform collection strategies.
- Monthly Invoice Trends: Monitor the dynamics of both paid and unpaid invoices on a monthly basis to identify patterns and predict cash flow.
- Aging Receivables Analysis: View the distribution of overdue amounts by customer and time periods (current to 90+ days) to prioritize collection efforts.
- Invoice Detail Reports: Access comprehensive details for all customer invoices over the past 12 months, including payment status and currency information.
How to use this dashboard
The dashboard includes detailed setup instructions in the Readme tab that walk you through connecting your QuickBooks data and customizing the views to match your specific business requirements. Choose the needed version of the dashboard and try it right away for free.
Financial dashboard for QuickBooks
The QuickBooks financial dashboard delivers comprehensive insights into your company’s financial performance for small business owners, financial managers, accountants, and bookkeepers. By tracking earnings, cash flow, and balance sheet changes in real-time, this dashboard empowers better decision-making without requiring you to dig through detailed spreadsheets or complex reports.
What insights you can get:
- Profit and Loss Summary: Get a clear picture of your company’s revenue, expenses, and net income across multiple time frames (last month, month to date, year to date) with visual comparisons to spot growth patterns.
- Balance Sheet Analysis: View a snapshot of your assets, liabilities, and equity with comparative charts that help track changes and identify financial position trends over time.
- Cash Flow Monitoring: Understand how your cash position evolves with visualizations of net cash changes and end-of-period positions for effective liquidity management.
- Bank and Cash Account Tracking: Monitor balances across all linked accounts with multi-currency support, simplifying reconciliation and day-to-day financial operations.
- Financial Ratio Analysis: Access key financial health indicators that help measure performance against industry benchmarks and historical trends.
How to use this dashboard
Review the Readme tab in either Looker Studio or Google Sheets template for detailed instructions on connecting your QuickBooks account data. You can also use the dashboard designed in Coupler.io with AI insights available.
How to export data from QuickBooks and import it to BigQuery manually
This approach is suitable for smaller data transfers or if you don’t need regular updates.
Step 1: Export QuickBooks as a file
Log into your QuickBooks account and go to the report or data section you want to export. Then, save the data as a CSV file by clicking on the Export icon.
Open the file to check that field names and data types match the BigQuery’s format. Once you have checked the file and everything seems correct, save it in CSV format for easy import.
Step 2: Upload the file to BigQuery
Log into your Google BigQuery account. Select your project, and then create a table within a dataset in your BigQuery Studio.
After uploading your file and naming your table, change the file format from Avro to CSV. Then click on Create Table. Review your data to confirm its accuracy by navigating to your data set and selecting the table you created.
What other ETL tools let you set up a QuickBooks to BigQuery integration
Here’s a look at three popular ETL tools for moving data from QuickBooks to BigQuery: Skyvia, Stitch, and Airbyte.
Skyvia | Stitch | Airbyte | |
Description | Skyvia is a cloud-based ETL tool that helps you connect QuickBooks with BigQuery. Skyvia is flexible and doesn’t require any coding, so it’s great for users with varying tech skills. | Stitch is another ETL tool for businesses that require extensive customization. It supports large data sets and lets users customize data transfers. | Airbyte is an open-source ETL tool ideal for companies that want to control data in-house. Airbyte can connect QuickBooks to BigQuery with customizable settings. |
Features | User-friendly: Skyvia’s easy interface lets users set up data flows without coding. Data transformations: You can filter fields or rename columns before data goes to BigQuery. Scheduled syncs: Choose how often you want updates (e.g., daily or weekly). Monitoring and management: Skyvia has a dashboard to track data flows and check for errors. | Multiple data sources: Stitch lets you pick different data from QuickBooks, like invoices, accounts, and transactions. Transformation options: You can add fields, apply filters, and adjust data to match BigQuery. Custom scheduling: Stitch offers different scheduling options so you can choose how often to sync. Easy monitoring: Track data flows, fix errors, and adjust data mappings with Stitch’s monitoring tools. | Flexible setup: Airbyte’s open-source format lets users fully customize data flows and connectors. QuickBooks to BigQuery connector: Airbyte includes a custom-built connector that syncs QuickBooks data into BigQuery. Transformations using SQL: Tailor data structures to fit BigQuery before loading. Support options: Airbyte has an active user community and optional support plans for advanced needs. |
When to use | Skyvia’s flexibility and ease of use make it great for small and medium businesses needing reliable, repeatable data integration. | Stitch’s customization options work well for businesses with large data needs or who need frequent updates. | Airbyte is perfect for businesses that have technical teams and want full control over data connections. |
Let’s explore how you can use Stitch to connect QuickBooks to BigQuery.
Step 1: Connect to QuickBooks and select data for extraction.
Sign up for a Stitch account, then navigate to the Integration section and select Quickbooks.
Provide a descriptive name for the integration. The descriptive name will also serve as the schema name in BigQuery.
Once done, click on Authorize to grant Stitch access via Inuit service to your QuickBooks data.
Step 2: Set up BigQuery as the destination
In the next window, add BigQuery as the destination.
Provide a connection name and description, then upload your Google Cloud JSON key file to authenticate the connection and configure the loading behavior based on your data management preferences.
Once authorized, you will be redirected to the Stitch dashboard.
Click on your integration to complete the setup.
Step 3: Data extraction and loading
While in your integration, select a table.
From the table, select the fields to extract, transform, and load, then click Finalize Your Selection. The meta fields are selected by default.
Stitch will begin the initial data extraction and loading process based on these configurations. And you will be able to monitor the progress in the Stitch Dashboard to ensure data is flowing correctly.
Once the initial sync is complete, you can view your load report in the load tab.
Next, log in to your BigQuery console. Navigate to the dataset corresponding to your QuickBooks integration to verify if the data has been loaded as expected.
What is the best method for loading data from QuickBooks to BigQuery?
ETL solutions are the most reliable methods for connecting QuickBooks to a data warehouse like BigQuery. They are simple, efficient, and automatic. However, they do come with associated pricing.
Each method has its advantages, depending on your data needs and budget:
- Manual Export and Import: This works well for small or occasional data transfers, especially for budget-conscious users. If you are an advanced developer, you can proceed via API integration.
- Coupler.io: This is a simple, automated solution for regular updates without coding. Great for businesses that want efficiency, scalability, and customization with larger data needs or complex workflows. With Coupler.io, you can export data to BigQuery and create dynamic QuickBooks dashboards.
By choosing the right method, you can keep your QuickBooks data in BigQuery, enabling insights that drive business growth. Manual methods are suitable for some users, while Coupler.io provides the ideal out-of-the-box solution.
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