> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Connect accounting integrations > Send invoices and payments to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, or Xero so your bookkeeper is not typing the same bills twice. Accounting cards live on [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations). They send customer invoices and payments to the books your facility already uses. Shopmonkey, HubSpot, QR codes, cameras, the API, and a custom domain stay available even if payments are off. See [Connect Shopmonkey](/docs/settings/connect-shopmonkey.md), [Connect HubSpot](/docs/settings/connect-hubspot.md), and [Connect the API](/docs/settings/connect-api.md). Only **one** accounting tool can be on at a time. Turning on QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, or Xero turns the others off. Use this guide after [Connect payment processing](/docs/settings/connect-payment-processing.md). Most live updates follow invoices, payments, refunds, and payouts that already went through Stripe. ## What you will accomplish * Find QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, or Xero in the Integrations catalog. * Understand why the cards stay locked until payments are on. * Pick one accounting tool and finish sign-in or a file export. ## When to connect the books Connect accounting when you are ready to stop re-typing paid invoices into QuickBooks or Xero. Wait if you have not sent a real invoice yet. Set up [Billing](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/billing) first, send a small test invoice, then come back here. ## Before you start * You need Schedule permission to open [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations). * You need Payments permission to turn an accounting card on. * Finish [Connect payment processing](/docs/settings/connect-payment-processing.md) so the accounting cards can be used. * Ask your bookkeeper whether they use **QuickBooks Online**, **QuickBooks Desktop**, or **Xero**. You can only run one of these at a time. ## If the cards are locked When payments are not on yet, the three accounting cards look faded. Each one says **Enable payments to turn on QuickBooks or Xero.** and shows an **Enable payments** button. **1. Find the locked cards** Open [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations) and scroll to the bottom of the catalog. You should see QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero. **2. Click Enable payments** Click **Enable payments**. You go to [Settings > Billing](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/billing). **3. Finish Stripe setup** Follow [Connect payment processing](/docs/settings/connect-payment-processing.md). When payments are ready, return to Integrations. The overlay goes away so you can open a card. ![Integrations catalog with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero cards covered by Enable payments overlays](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/G8UHOQQoCr9klzqv/images/settings/integrations-catalog-page-sep16.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=G8UHOQQoCr9klzqv\&q=85\&s=bd353135651fa98ca7f4d5095018f1a9) *QuickBooks and Xero stay locked until you click Enable payments and finish Billing setup. Other cards stay available.* ## Choose the right accounting tool > [!NOTE] > > **QuickBooks Online** stays connected. After you sign in, new invoices and payments can post to the books on their own. > > **Xero** works the same way for facilities that already use Xero. If you have more than one Xero organisation, you pick the right one during sign-in. > > **QuickBooks Desktop** does **not** stay connected. You download a file for a date range and import that file in Desktop. Use this only if your bookkeeper still runs Desktop on a computer. > [!TIP] > > **Only one accounting integration at a time** > > If QuickBooks Online is already on, turning on Xero turns QuickBooks Online off. Invoices and exports use the tool that is currently on. ## Connect QuickBooks Online or Xero **1. Open the card** Go to [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations) and click **QuickBooks Online** or **Xero**. **2. Turn the switch on** Turn on **Enable this integration**. If another accounting tool was on, this one replaces it. **3. Sign in** Use the connect button in the window and finish the QuickBooks or Xero sign-in. For Xero, confirm the organisation if more than one is listed. **4. Map accounts** After QuickBooks Online connects, choose where cash and check deposits, card payments, income, and fees should land. **Why this matters:** Some books use a custom undeposited-funds account. New payments follow the accounts you pick here, so your bookkeeper is not moving money later. **5. Confirm a test invoice** Create or pay a small test invoice, then ask your bookkeeper to confirm it landed the way they expect. ## Export to QuickBooks Desktop **1. Enable QuickBooks Desktop** Open the **QuickBooks Desktop** card and turn on **Enable this integration**. **2. Match account names** Type the income, A/R, and undeposited-funds names exactly as they appear in the Desktop company file. **3. Download the file** Choose a date range and download the file your bookkeeper asked for. Import that file in QuickBooks Desktop. **Expected result:** You can download another file any time from the same window. There is no live connection to keep signed in. ## Confirm it worked * The accounting card you chose shows **On** or **Connected**. * The other two accounting cards are off. * A test invoice or export looks correct to your bookkeeper. ## Troubleshooting > [!NOTE] > > **I cannot turn on QuickBooks or Xero** > > The cards stay locked until Stripe payments are enabled on [Settings > Billing](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/billing). You also need the Payments permission to flip the switch. > [!WARNING] > > **I cannot see Integrations in Settings** > > Integrations uses the Schedule permission. Ask a team admin to update access in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team). > [!TIP] > > **Connect is missing from the window** > > Turn on **Enable this integration** first. Sign-in, account mapping, and Desktop download appear after the tool is on. > [!WARNING] > > **Numbers do not match the books** > > Reconnect QuickBooks Online or Xero from the same window if the sign-in expired. Then ask your bookkeeper to check the account mapping before you send more invoices. ## What to do next Return to [Connect payment processing](/docs/settings/connect-payment-processing.md) if taxes or quotes still need setup. Then continue with [Payments](/docs/payments/overview.md) to send the next real invoice. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.