The Best QuickBooks Products for Small Businesses 2023
It’s also a better option for businesses requiring complex inventory accounting features. While QuickBooks Online offers project management features, it doesn’t have the same level of customization options as QuickBooks Desktop. For instance, QuickBooks Desktop allows you to create customized job costing reports tailored to specialized industries, including manufacturers, contractors, and retailers. QuickBooks Online is one of the best accounting products for small businesses.
Ultimately, your specific business’s size, type, and needs are the real deciding factors in determining which of the QuickBooks versions is best for your business. Many users also complain that QuickBooks Online doesn’t compare to QuickBooks Pro in terms of features and quality. However, the majority of reviews are positive, with QuickBooks Online receiving 4.3/5 stars (based on 6,200+ reviews) on Software Advice and 4/5 stars (based on 3,100+ reviews) on G2.
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. Just fill in the data in the relevant fields and apply the appropriate features and it’s done.
QuickBooks Online is one of the company’s most popular accounting software choices for small-business owners. QuickBooks Online pricing is based on a monthly subscription model, and each plan includes a specific number of users. First-time QuickBooks Online users can typically receive a free 30-day trial or a discount for the first few months of service. Users can switch plans or cancel without having to pay termination fees. Customer support includes 24/7 live chat help as well as daytime phone assistance every day of the week, including weekends. QuickBooks Enterprise is one of Intuit’s most robust business accounting products and offers a host of additional services, like access to more than 200 report templates and priority 24/7 customer support.
Both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Pro and Premier have notoriously poor customer support (QuickBooks Enterprise support has better priority support). In contrast, QuickBooks Desktop offers hardly any payment gateways, making it difficult for the modern merchant to accept online invoice payments easily. Granted, you don’t have to be an accountant to learn QuickBooks Desktop either, but if you are new to accounting, you will need a lot of time to learn the program. While QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop offer contact management, only QuickBooks Desktop allows you to manage and track leads as well as contacts. Even though QB Desktop has more comprehensive features in general, there are some key features that only QuickBooks Online has, such as bookkeeping support.
Industry
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. On the surface, QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Premier are very similar.
If you maintain your company’s books properly with bookkeeping software, you will most likely be seeing less of your accountant. Bookkeeping software can easily take their place for your daily operations, such as payroll, writing checks, paying bills, and more. You don’t want to use multiple accounting services or software to perform each of these tasks. With QuickBooks, you can easily manage your company’s books with one simple tool. Both versions offer automatic syncing with your bank so you can categorize transactions.
- The application also offers a mobile app that works with both iOS and Android devices.
- Users can also add a Salesforce CRM connector for $150/month and QuickBooks Time Elite for $5/employee each month.
- Though not web-based, QuickBooks Desktop can be hosted online for more convenient access if desired.One of QuickBooks Desktop’s best features is its use of centers, which provide a central point for all activity.
- It works best for self-employed business owners who file their taxes with TurboTax, another Intuit product.
Our internal case study compares the four QuickBooks Online versions across major accounting categories and functions to help you decide which one fits your needs. QuickBooks Self-Employed is not included in the case study because it is not a full double-entry bookkeeping system. The most popular one is the basic plan and the Accountant basic, the Accountant pro, and Accountant Premium. In the Delete process, select the file, lists, or transactions you want to delete, then apply the filters on the file and then click on the Delete option. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
QuickBooks Online Comparison Chart: Pricing & 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. QuickBooks has a plethora of solutions for anyone who needs to maintain their business’ books. If you are someone who manages the finances at a business or one of the following, you should consider purchasing a QuickBooks product that meets your needs. You can generate all the reports you need with the financial information entered into your company’s bookkeeping software.
QuickBooks Online vs Desktop: Customer Support
QuickBooks Online has a cheaper monthly cost and is more affordable if you have a lot of employees who will be using the software. QuickBooks Desktop Pro may be cheaper if you do not need additional users or add-ons such as payroll. When signing up for QuickBooks Online, it only gives options for paying monthly.
How To Choose The Right Version Of QuickBooks For Your Business
Desktop-based software programs like QuickBooks Enterprise work well for business owners with limited internet access, such as businesses that depend on metered satellite internet. Past desktop users could choose between a one-time-purchase QuickBooks Desktop software (good for three years) or an annually renewing subscription. But as of 2022, QuickBooks Desktop’s single-purchase option has been discontinued. Now, all QuickBooks Desktop plans renew on an annual basis—you do not have the option to pay just once for three years of use.
QuickBooks Online plans also allow for up to 25 users, which is more than most desktop plans allow. QuickBooks has begun decreasing its desktop product offerings and encouraging businesses, where appropriate, to move to using one of its online products. For example, the QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus plan is no longer available to new QuickBooks users. While cost is an important consideration, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor when evaluating your accounting software options. Each version has its pros and cons, so factor in ease of use and key features before making a final decision. QuickBooks Online can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection, and because it’s web-based, you can work with your accountant in real time.
QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus: Best For Niche Industries
And while QuickBooks Desktop comes out on top in this comparison, only you can decide which one is best for your business. If neither application catches your eye, why not take a look at some QuickBooks alternatives or check out The Ascent’s accounting software reviews. All QuickBooks Online plans include good reporting options, with the Advanced plan offering the most comprehensive reporting options, including key financial metrics such as revenue and cash flow. QuickBooks Online and naming your nonprofit legally QuickBooks Desktop are both excellent small business accounting software applications, both offering complete double-entry accounting as well as automatic processing of closing entries. If you have employees, you can add QuickBooks Payroll to your QuickBooks Online account for as little as $45 per month plus $5 per employee. QuickBooks Payroll allows you to pay your employees by checks or direct deposits, e-file and e-pay taxes, print and e-file W-2 Forms at year-end, and more.
Products
In this article, we’ll compare QuickBooks Essentials versus Plus so you can see which option is best for your business. QuickBooks Simple Start is the most basic of all QuickBooks plans, is best suited for startup businesses, gives access to a single user, and meets basic bookkeeping needs. QuickBooks Essentials works best for the businesses that have heavy accounts payable and gives access to three users at the same time.
This feature allows you to share bills, payments, information, and much more. QuickBooks Online simple start is best for that type of small service business which has employees and the user have to issue invoices regularly. QuickBooks Desktop wins this head-to-head competition, with better reporting, industry-specific features, a better price structure, and more comprehensive features. However, if things like integration and cloud access are important to you, QuickBooks Online may be the way to go. Once you decide, if you need some assistance with your QuickBooks Migration, be sure to check out our comprehensive QuickBooks Tutorial. QuickBooks Desktop wins this, offering more reporting options as well as industry-specific reports and forecasting options not offered in QuickBooks Online.
