We still run QuickBooks Desktop on a local network. Can an MSP support that?

Yes, we support QuickBooks Desktop, and any MSP worth hiring should if that is what your business runs on. Desktop setups have real moving parts that deserve attention: the host machine or server where the company file lives, the database service that lets multiple users work at once, version updates, and, most important of all, backups of the company file that are actually tested. A QuickBooks file that will not restore is one of the most painful data losses a small business can have.

The honest bigger picture: Intuit has been steering customers toward QuickBooks Online for years, and most new features and attention go there. For many businesses, Online is the better long-term home. It removes the local server, works from anywhere, and takes the file-hosting burden off your network entirely. If your workflows allow it, we would heavily recommend planning that move rather than waiting until you are forced into it.

But plenty of businesses have good reasons to stay on Desktop for now: specific inventory or job-costing features, an accountant's preference, or integrations that only work locally. That is fine. The right approach is to support Desktop properly today, keep the file safe with monitored backups, and revisit the Online question at a natural moment, like a server refresh or a version upgrade, rather than treating it as an emergency.