quickbooks online - setting up books for investing

[Jeff Caravalho]

Hello BP,

I use Quickbooks online for my drafting business & was wondering how self-employed people set up their books for their personal finances, personal business & a rental, or two, or ten...

I was told Quickbooks online does not have the ability to setup multiple entities like the desktop version does.  My tax person is telling me I should get the desktop ver. so I can set up my drafting & my rental in the same software.  My bookkeeper is telling me I should just get another copy of Online (simple start) and separate my drafting from the rental.  But what about personal finances, aren't we talking about 3 entities?  My drafting business, my rental, and my own personal finances?  I actually like online because it automatically inputs data from banks or financial institutions, I can work on it anywhere and so can my book keeper, backup on the cluod, etc.  It seems like I'd have to have an accountant with the desktop version (lots of data input, less user freindly?).

I guess my question is how do you separate your personal books from your investment properties/ and or personal business (in mycase drafting)?

My drafting business is mostly 1099 (4 clients), I'm a sole proprietor but I do have one w-2 client, not a large operation.  Trying to keep things as simple as possible - good luck right?

Appreciate the help!