Manual CSV (exports/imports)

Free and simple for very low volume; error-prone as you scale.

Best for: <50 orders/mo, simple tax.

Risks: refunds, chargebacks, multi-currency, inventory accuracy.

How it works

Manual CSV is the simplest integration method—you export order data from Shopify as CSV files, clean the data in a spreadsheet, and import it into QuickBooks manually.

When to use

You’re just testing an idea with very few orders per month
Your business has simple tax requirements (single jurisdiction, no complex tax rules)
You have time to manually handle each batch of transactions
You don’t need real-time or automated posting

Pros

Free: No additional software costs
Total control: You see and verify every transaction before it goes into QuickBooks
Simple setup: No integration tools or API connections needed

Cons

Time-consuming: Every batch requires manual export, cleanup, and import
Error-prone: Easy to mispost taxes, fees, COGS, and shipping
No audit trail: Hard to track which orders have been posted
Scaling issues: Becomes unsustainable beyond 50-100 orders/month
Missing data: Refunds, chargebacks, and partial payments require extra manual work

Steps

Export from Shopify: Go to Orders → Export → Download CSV
Clean the data: Open in Excel/Google Sheets and format columns for QuickBooks
Map fields: Match Shopify fields to QuickBooks accounts (revenue, tax, shipping, etc.)
Import to QuickBooks: Use File → Utilities → Import → Excel Files
Reconcile payments: Manually match Shopify Payments deposits to bank feeds
Handle fees: Manually enter gateway fees as expenses

Common pitfalls

Forgetting to record refunds and chargebacks
Misposting multi-channel discounts
Missing gateway fee expenses
Inventory quantity drift across locations
Tax mapping errors when jurisdictions change

Bottom line

Manual CSV works when you’re testing a business idea or running very low volume. Once you hit 50+ orders/month or need accurate COGS/inventory tracking, consider upgrading to an accounting-grade app.