If you’ve ever tried to figure out QuickBooks Online (QBO) on your own, you know it can feel like trying to read another language. Thankfully, this course — Mastering QuickBooks Online — takes all of that stress and confusion and replaces it with step-by-step, crystal-clear instructions. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who’s used QuickBooks before but wants a solid refresher, this course has you covered.
The goal is simple: help you go from “Where do I even click?” to confidently managing real-life business transactions inside QuickBooks Online. From invoices and bills to vendor reports, deposits, and even petty cash, nothing is left out.
Instructor Reputation
When it comes to learning something as detailed and hands-on as QuickBooks Online, the instructor can make or break the experience. Luckily, this course is taught by Mark Smolen, a name that carries real weight in the world of computerized accounting education. Mark isn’t just someone who dabbled in QuickBooks — he’s been teaching accounting software for more than three decades and has trained thousands of students in both classroom and online settings.
His career started in traditional education, teaching QuickBooks and computerized accounting at A.S.A. College in Manhattan, New York, where he developed a reputation for turning confused students into confident bookkeepers. From there, he expanded his teaching into adult job training schools, where his lessons helped students transition directly into office and accounting jobs. That background alone gives him a unique edge — he knows the skills employers actually look for and builds them into his courses.
On Udemy, his numbers speak volumes: over 73,000 students, 17,000+ reviews, and an impressive 4.6-star instructor rating across 40 courses. These figures aren’t just vanity metrics; they reflect a consistent teaching style that resonates with learners of all levels. Many reviewers highlight how approachable and clear he is, pointing out that he doesn’t overwhelm you with jargon but instead explains everything in plain English.
Another big credibility point: Mark is a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor with 20 years of experience. That certification means he’s not just teaching QuickBooks in theory — he’s been actively working with businesses, solving real QuickBooks challenges, and staying up to date with the software’s changes over the years. This is crucial, because QuickBooks Online is constantly evolving, and having an instructor who has been in the trenches for decades gives students confidence that they’re learning the right way.
What also sets him apart is his teaching philosophy. Mark makes it clear that his mission is to turn student frustration into comfort and confidence. Anyone who has wrestled with accounting software knows how easy it is to feel stuck or discouraged. Mark leans into that by not only showing “how to click the buttons,” but also explaining why things are done a certain way, giving you the reasoning behind the bookkeeping steps. It’s this extra context that helps learners build real-world problem-solving skills, not just memorize processes.
Finally, his availability and support are a recurring theme in student reviews. He encourages learners to reach out with questions, and many mention that he responds quickly and thoughtfully. That kind of ongoing support is rare in online courses and makes you feel like you’re not learning alone.
In short, Mark Smolen isn’t just a knowledgeable instructor — he’s a teacher with deep experience, proven success helping students land jobs, and a genuine passion for making QuickBooks accessible to everyone.
Course Structure
The way Mastering QuickBooks Online is organized is one of its biggest strengths. QuickBooks Online can be overwhelming at first glance — there are menus, reports, customer lists, vendor profiles, and countless ways to enter transactions. Without a clear structure, it’s easy to feel lost. Thankfully, this course is laid out like a step-by-step roadmap, guiding you from complete beginner to confident QuickBooks user.
Here’s a breakdown of how it flows:
- Getting Started with QuickBooks Online
The course kicks off with the basics: setting up your QuickBooks Online account. You’ll use the free 30-day trial that anyone in the U.S. can access, which means you can follow along without needing to buy the software upfront. Mark walks you through the QuickBooks dashboard, menus, and navigation so you don’t waste time clicking around blindly. By the end of this section, you’ll know exactly where to find things and how to get oriented inside QBO. - Customer Transactions (Accounts Receivable)
Next, you dive into one of the most common areas — managing customers. You’ll learn how to set up customer profiles, issue invoices, record payments, and handle sales receipts. What’s great here is that Mark doesn’t just show you the steps; he also explains the bookkeeping logic behind each one. For example, when you record a customer payment, he explains where that money is sitting in QuickBooks (like undeposited funds) and why that matters for accurate reporting. - Vendor Transactions (Accounts Payable)
After customers, you move to vendors and bills. You’ll see how to enter vendor bills, record bill payments, track expenses, and even handle checks. This section mirrors the customer module but flips it from the perspective of money going out instead of coming in. Again, it’s not just about clicking — it’s about understanding how these entries affect your company’s books. - Banking and Cash Management
Banking transactions are often where people get tripped up in QuickBooks. Mark spends time here showing you how to record deposits, manage undeposited funds, and reconcile cash on hand or petty cash. These are the kinds of details that real businesses run into daily, and the walkthroughs make sure you know how to keep everything accurate. - Reports and Customization
One of QuickBooks Online’s most powerful features is its reporting, and this course covers it thoroughly. You’ll learn not only how to generate reports, but also how to customize them for your business needs. Whether it’s accounts receivable aging, customer balances, vendor summaries, or profit-and-loss statements, Mark shows you how to tweak reports to get the information you need. - Troubleshooting and Error Correction
This might be the most valuable part of the structure. Mistakes happen in bookkeeping — that’s inevitable. What matters is knowing how to find and fix them. Mark dedicates lessons to tracking down errors, correcting them, and understanding what went wrong in the first place. This gives you real confidence, because in the real world, you’ll almost certainly need to troubleshoot entries. - Practice Exercises and Real-Life Scenarios
Throughout the course, you’ll get hands-on practice exercises. These aren’t just hypothetical examples; they’re built around real-life bookkeeping scenarios, so you’re training as if you were already working in an office environment. This is where the course goes beyond theory and feels like on-the-job training.
The pacing of the structure also deserves a mention. Each lesson builds naturally on the previous one, so you’re never jumping ahead to complex topics without a foundation. By the time you’re handling reports and troubleshooting errors, you already feel comfortable with the basics like invoices and payments.
All in all, the structure is logical, comprehensive, and practical, giving you a full sweep of QuickBooks Online without overwhelming you at any point. It’s like having a guided tour through every corner of the software, with plenty of time to practice and reinforce what you’ve learned.
Content Quality
The quality of the content in this course is where it really shines. QuickBooks Online can be intimidating because it’s not just one type of software — it’s an all-in-one system that handles everything from invoices and bills to reports, deposits, and reconciliations. A lot of tutorials online tend to either oversimplify or dive too deep into niche features without giving you a solid foundation. This course avoids both extremes by giving you a clear, practical, and complete path through the software.
The step-by-step teaching style is one of the strongest aspects of the content. Each video builds on the last, and Mark makes sure you understand the logic behind every transaction. For example, when teaching invoices, he doesn’t just show you how to enter one — he also explains how it connects to accounts receivable, how payments flow into undeposited funds, and how deposits show up in bank reconciliations. This kind of layering helps you see QuickBooks as a connected system rather than a set of isolated tasks.
Another standout is the way Mark integrates real-world scenarios. Instead of generic examples, the exercises reflect actual situations you’d run into if you were working for a business. Recording vendor bills, handling customer payments, managing petty cash — these aren’t “demo-only” situations. They’re the bread and butter of bookkeeping, and you get plenty of practice so that when you encounter them in real life, you already know what to do.
The course also does an excellent job with error handling and troubleshooting. Many bookkeeping courses skip over mistakes, but the truth is, they’re unavoidable. Mark shows you how to track down errors, figure out what went wrong, and fix them. This is invaluable, because in a real job, you won’t just be entering perfect transactions — you’ll also be cleaning up messes, sometimes your own, sometimes someone else’s.
Another element of content quality is the breadth of coverage. The course doesn’t just focus on the basics. Yes, you’ll learn how to set up customers, vendors, and transactions, but you’ll also go into report customization, managing undeposited funds, handling bank deposits with cash back, and even working with cash on hand. These aren’t always covered in beginner courses, but they’re essential skills for running an accurate set of books.
In terms of clarity and delivery, the videos are easy to follow, with a consistent pace. Reviews from students confirm that even if English isn’t your first language or you’re brand-new to accounting, you won’t feel overwhelmed. Mark’s calm, direct way of speaking helps a lot with comprehension. There are occasional small video hiccups (like a pause or lag), but students mention it’s easy to skip a few seconds and pick back up without losing the flow.
Finally, the course is sprinkled with tips and tricks that only come from years of experience. These aren’t things you’d necessarily find in QuickBooks’ official help guides, but they make a real difference when you’re working daily with the software. It’s those small insights — shortcuts, ways to avoid common mistakes, strategies for keeping data organized — that elevate the learning experience from “good” to “excellent.”
Overall, the content feels practical, thorough, and designed for real-world application. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or someone brushing up after years away from QuickBooks, you’ll find the material both accessible and advanced enough to boost your confidence.
Overall Course Rating – 9/10
I’d rate Mastering QuickBooks Online a solid 9 out of 10, and I’ll explain why right up front. The combination of a highly experienced instructor, well-structured lessons, and a strong focus on real-world problem-solving makes this course one of the most reliable and practical QuickBooks Online resources out there. It’s rare to find a course that manages to be both beginner-friendly and detailed enough to satisfy intermediate learners, but this one hits that balance.
What makes it deserve a high rating is the completeness of the learning experience. You’re not just memorizing how to click through QuickBooks menus; you’re being trained to think like a bookkeeper. Mark is deliberate about showing you the “why” behind each step, which transforms the course from a series of tutorials into genuine skill-building. For anyone who wants to feel job-ready or confident managing their own business’s books, that’s a huge value.
The course also scores high for accessibility. There are no prerequisites — you don’t need prior accounting or bookkeeping knowledge — and everything is broken down in a way that feels approachable. At the same time, the content doesn’t feel watered down. The advanced topics, like customizing reports or troubleshooting errors, ensure you’re not just learning the basics but also the more nuanced skills professionals use daily.
Where it loses a point (and why it’s not a 10/10) is minor. Some experienced QuickBooks users might find the early sections too simple, since the course starts from the absolute ground level. A handful of students also noted small video glitches, though these are more of an annoyance than a real barrier. Neither of these issues take away from the overall strength of the course, but they’re worth mentioning for full transparency.
Another reason the course earns such a high rating is the support aspect. Mark is known for being responsive to student questions, and the reviews show he genuinely engages with learners. That’s a rare benefit in online courses, and it makes a big difference when you’re stuck on something specific.
In the end, this is one of those courses that you can recommend confidently to a wide audience:
- Small business owners who want to manage their books without hiring outside help.
- Job seekers looking to add QuickBooks skills to their résumé.
- Bookkeepers and accountants who need a refresher or want to expand into QuickBooks Online.
- Students who want to build confidence before stepping into accounting roles.
Bottom line: With its strong mix of clarity, depth, and practical application, Mastering QuickBooks Online is a course that delivers on its promise. If you’re serious about learning QuickBooks Online properly, this is a smart investment of your time and energy.
