However, QuickBooks Pro’s features do come at a price, as this software has a steep learning curve. If you’re new to accounting software, it’s important that you have the time to commit to learning the software. If not, QuickBooks Online is much more user-friendly, even for accounting newbies. The software is incredibly automatically send out new client agreements from wave accounting expensive, and for the price you’re paying, certain features — such as invoicing, project management, time tracking, and importing — are fairly limited. Apart from being expensive, the other thing with QuickBooks Enterprise is that it really isn’t an enterprise solution — it’s best for large businesses.
- QuickBooks Self-Employed is different from the other QuickBooks Products in that it isn’t quite accounting software.
- All feedback, positive or negative, helps us to improve the way we help small businesses.
- Many small business owners think of using QuickBooks for one tool in particular.
- QuickBooks was developed by Intuit in 1998 as a double-entry accounting program meant to be used by small businesses.
- QuickBooks Online is the most versatile and well-rounded of the QuickBooks suite of products.
This annual subscription can sometimes include a 10% discount for the first year of service. This is the least expensive version of QuickBooks, starting at just $7.50 per month. It has essential features that make it perfectly suited for users with less time to spend on accounting and a simple and intuitive user interface. Despite the popularity of its cloud-based services, QuickBooks continues to update and support QuickBooks Pro, its desktop solution.
This includes expense management, time tracking, CRM, and cash flow forecasting. Due to the flexibility these apps provide, QuickBooks Online can be as simple or as advanced of a program you want it to be. Accessible from any device with an Internet connection, QBO allows business owners to manage their finances on the go.
QuickBooks Online vs Desktop: Which Is Right for You
Whether you’re just starting out and want to try their Simple Start version or you’re a seasoned pro that needs the advanced features of Premier, QuickBooks has a version someone at every level. And, with their online and hybrid services, you can easily upgrade or downgrade to a different version. The various QuickBooks products cater to different needs, allowing small businesses to choose the solution that best fits their requirements. For small business owners, keeping your books clean and up-to-date is crucial to your success. QuickBooks, the leading accounting software on the market, offers several versions tailored to different business needs.
However, the QuickBooks Desktop licenses have been discontinued, and users have to buy a yearly subscription now instead. Additionally, QuickBooks Mac Plus and QuickBooks Pro Plus can no longer be purchased from the QuickBooks website and can be purchased by contacting Sales by phone or through an authorized QuickBooks reseller. The majority of small businesses use QuickBooks Online over the other versions of QuickBooks. If you don’t know much about accounting, you’ll probably want to shy away from QuickBooks Pro, Premier, or Enterprise, unless you’re willing to put in the time to learn. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Self-Employed are much easier options.
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Desktop is also a good fit for niche businesses such as nonprofit organizations, retailers, and general contractors looking for a more industry-specific solution. These versions give business owners more features and reports geared toward their industry. You can learn more in our guide to the industry-specific editions of QuickBooks Enterprise. Four pricing plans for QuickBooks Online are available, ranging from $30 to $200/month (with an additional $45+/month for payroll). The main difference between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop is that QuickBooks Online is cloud-based accounting software, and QuickBooks Desktop is locally installed.
QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Mac Plus are traditional software options. If you are unable to see the option to terminate an employee on your list of active employees on the company payroll, this mostly implies that they have some history. Thus, if you change the employee status instead of deleting it on QuickBooks, the profile and pay records remain in your accounting database without any data loss in your tax payments. Dancing Numbers is SaaS-based software that is easy to integrate with any QuickBooks account. With the help of this software, you can import, export, as well as erase lists and transactions from the Company files. Also, you can simplify and automate the process using Dancing Numbers which will help in saving time and increasing efficiency and productivity.
This feature allows you to share bills, payments, information, and much more. The cloud-based applications which are specially designed for the employees who are self-employed individuals that type users are known as QuickBooks Online Self-employed. The best examples for the QuickBooks Online self-employed are real estate agents, Freelancers, ubers drivers and the consultants who are independents.
While human error will always play some role in security breaches, you can be confident in your accounting platform when it comes to keeping your information safe. With plans starting at $15 a month, FreshBooks is well-suited for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small-business owners alike. The QuickBooks cloud-based products are QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Self-Employed. On the other hand, if you’re an accountant or someone with a great deal of accounting experience, you may like QuickBooks desktop options that use traditional accounting practices. Larger businesses will be looking at QuickBooks Premier, QuickBooks Enterprise, or the new QuickBooks Online Advanced plan, depending on the number of users they need.
The Complete QuickBooks Versions Comparison Guide
We don’t guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services. But there isn’t just one version of QuickBooks—if QuickBooks Online doesn’t work for you, another one of the six different versions of QuickBooks could. Plus, QuickBooks isn’t the only accounting solution in the world—far from it.
QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop: Reporting options
Plenty of QuickBooks alternatives can meet all sorts of business needs, including your business’s needs. QuickBooks Premier is suitable for small to medium businesses with five or fewer users. On the other hand, QuickBooks Enterprise is designed for larger businesses that want access to more users and more features without fully upgrading to ERP software. Pricing varies based on the number of users and the level of customer support you need, and if you need to add QuickBooks Desktop Payroll. Best for small to medium-sized businesses with three users or fewer looking for strong accounting or locally-installed software.
Simple Start
QuickBooks Desktop is better for small to large-sized businesses with complex accounting needs requiring more customizable features. Both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop are capable programs with strong accounting features. QuickBooks Premier also has a payroll add-on, or you can purchase the QuickBooks Premier + Payroll annual plan. QuickBooks Enterprise Gold and Platinum plans include Enhanced Payroll, while Enterprise Diamond includes Assisted Payroll. We recommend crunching the numbers to decide whether the online or desktop versions of QuickBooks are right for your specific business.
Those interested in trying out QuickBooks Online can access a free 30-day demo with sample data that allows you to easily explore system features and functions without spending a lot of time entering data. During the setup process, you can choose the features and functions that you will likely be using in QuickBooks Online. No need to worry if you skip one; you can always go back and add it at a later date. You can switch from QuickBooks Online to Desktop, and many users who are used to traditional accounting and working with QuickBooks tend to do so after giving QBO a try.
