--- title: "Switch Accounting Software Without Losing History | MCC" description: "Pick a cutover date, move opening balances and open items, and check the new file. Worked opening-balance example." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/guides/how-to-switch-accounting-software" --- Bookkeeping guide · Updated October 7, 2026 # How to switch accounting software and keep your history Switching software is a project, not a button. Done well, you keep your history and gain cleaner books. Done badly, you create duplicate entries and wrong balances. By [Matthew Coleman](/about), MCC Solutions **Quick answer.** Switching accounting software is a project, not a button. Done well you keep your history and gain cleaner books; done badly you create duplicate entries and wrong balances. Plan the move before cancelling the old software. Want this handled for you? Monthly bookkeeping, cleanup and year-end close for small businesses. Start with a free health check of your books. [Free health check](/bookkeeping/health-check)[Get a quote](/bookkeeping/#interest) **Related:** [NJ 1099 contractor rule (ABC test)](/bookkeeping/guides/nj-independent-contractor-rule-abc-test-2026) · [Trial balance explained](/bookkeeping/guides/trial-balance-explained) · [Owner contribution or loan](/bookkeeping/guides/owner-equity-and-capital-contributions) **Free tools:** [Bank reconciliation not matching?](/bookkeeping/bank-reconciliation-difference-finder) · [Are my books ready for taxes?](/bookkeeping/is-my-quickbooks-ready-for-taxes) [![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77) Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) ## Why people switch Common reasons: an accountant who prefers another program, a need for payroll or inventory, outgrowing a simple tool, or a file that has become unusable. ## Pick the cutover date Many people switch at the start of a month or a fiscal year. You then load opening balances as of that date and begin recording in the new program. Keep the old program's file, read-only, so you can look things up. ## What moves and what doesn't Customers, vendors and the chart of accounts usually move through an export. Opening balances, open invoices and open bills have to be entered or imported. Full transaction history often does not convert cleanly, and many people choose to keep history in the old program and start fresh with balances. ## Switching accounting software mid-year You can change software at any point in the year, not only on January 1. The cleanest way is to switch at the end of a month, after you reconcile every account through that date. Then enter the year-to-date totals as opening balances in the new program, or load each month's summary, so the new file still shows the full year for your tax return. Keep the old file, read-only, for the part of the year it covers. Your tax preparer will want one set of reports for the whole year, so export profit and loss and balance sheet reports from the old program up to the cutover date, and give them both sets. ## Want us to handle it? We set up your books with you, or keep them for you every month, online for businesses in any state. **Price:** Free review of your books first, then a written quote before any work starts. [Get a free review and quote](/bookkeeping/#interest) [Done-with-you setup packages](/bookkeeping/done-with-you-bookkeeping-setup) ## Do these before the switch Reconcile every account in the old program through the cutover date. Clear or note open items. Export reports for the prior periods: profit and loss, balance sheet, customer and vendor balances, and the general ledger. ## After the switch Reconcile again in the new program and compare opening balances to the old reports. Reconnect bank feeds, payment processors and payroll. Tell your tax preparer what changed. ## Worked example with numbers You decide to switch on January 1. In the old system, finish December, reconcile every account and run a trial balance. In the new system, enter opening balances as of December 31 that match that trial balance: cash $18,400, receivables $9,200, payables $6,100, loan $12,000 and equity of $9,500 as the balancing figure ($18,400 + $9,200 - $6,100 - $12,000). Then enter open invoices and bills individually so the aging reports match the balances. If receivables in the new system show $9,150 but the old aging said $9,200, you missed a $50 open invoice or credit. Find it before entering January. ## Mistakes that cost money Switching mid-month with no clean cutoff. Importing history without cleaning it first. Forgetting open bills and invoices. Cancelling the old subscription before exporting reports and attachments. ## Check your work Keep a full export of the old file. Compare the new system's January 1 balance sheet to the old December 31 balance sheet line by line. ## Common questions **Can I change accounting software in the middle of the year?** Yes. Switch at the end of a month after reconciling, load year-to-date opening balances in the new program, and keep the old file for the earlier months so your tax preparer gets full-year reports. **How long does a switch take?** From days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the file and how clean it is. **Will I lose my data?** Not if you export and keep the old file. We always keep the old records available. This guide is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rules, fees and due dates change; check with the IRS, the NJ Division of Taxation or a licensed professional for your situation. Let us handle it [### Monthly bookkeeping Categorizing, reconciling and monthly reports, with cleanup, payroll and NJ filings available. Bookkeeping →](/bookkeeping/) [### QuickBooks Online Monthly bookkeeping, cleanup and reconciliation in QuickBooks Online for New Jersey small businesses. Your account stays in your name. QuickBooks →](/bookkeeping/software/quickbooks-online)[### Xero Bookkeeping and reconciliation in Xero for New Jersey small businesses, including cleanup and moving from spreadsheets or another program. Xero →](/bookkeeping/software/xero)[### Wave Bookkeeping help for Wave users in New Jersey, and when it makes sense to outgrow Wave. Cleanup, reconciliation and moves to another platform. 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