Business.com aims to help business owners make informed decisions to support and grow their companies. We research and recommend products and services suitable for various business types, investing thousands of hours each year in this process. When comparing it to other accounting software, we found that QuickBooks Online is competitively priced, with four service tiers designed to accommodate the needs of different business types. Note that, according to a QuickBooks representative we spoke with, each plan’s user caps do not include third-party accountants. Business News Daily provides resources, advice and product reviews to drive business growth.

With proper training, you can understand how to navigate through the various features and tools available in QuickBooks, saving time and effort. Understand that the version of QuickBooks that you use can significantly impact the success of your business. Since Intuit recognizes the importance of choosing an appropriate software solution, it offers a handy chart comparing its QuickBooks products. It can be a good idea to assess your needs and reference the chart when making a decision. If you want to access financial data remotely, you usually have to pay an additional fee for offsite hosting.

Switching to a cloud solution eliminated his previous headaches of transferring data files between computers. However, if you’re in areas with unreliable internet or need immediate processing capabilities, desktop solutions like Tally might be more appropriate. Teamwork.com’s customizable reports give you a clear view of costs, revenue, and budget performance.

QuickBooks Online Review and Pricing

In a landscape where entrepreneurs are balancing responsibilities across operations, customer service, and growth, the need for reliable financial management tools is more critical than ever. When compared with QuickBooks Online Plus, Wafeq offers cost efficiency with significant value for annual subscriptions and unlimited users (versus QuickBooks’ five-user limit). It includes comprehensive payroll management supporting unlimited employees as part of its package, whereas QuickBooks requires third-party apps for payroll functionality. When I first started using Wrike, I was impressed by how it blends project management with financial tracking. Whether it’s syncing expenses or invoicing clients, Wrike offers a smooth way to manage both project tasks and finances in one platform.

Is QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Right For Me?

QuickBooks Essentials is best for small businesses needing basic bill management, time tracking, and support for up to three users. Plus also supports up to five what quickbooks is best for a small business users, offering better scalability for expanding teams. When we tested the software, we were impressed by QuickBooks Online’s inventory features.

QuickBooks Online Pricing

• Xero is ideal for businesses seeking intuitive design, unlimited users, and seamless multi-currency support.
• Small business accounting is a crucial element of starting and operating a company.
• The platform also simplifies monthly reconciliations and tax preparation with real-time reporting and built-in reminders.
• Receipt capture and the ability to automatically generate bills from captured receipts were also part of our A/P evaluation.
• Sage also has limitations that affect growing businesses, such as restricted payroll features and additional charges for more users.
• With hands-on experience in accounting software since 2014, I bring a deep understanding of accounting and bookkeeping to my writing.

Our mission is to equip business owners with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions. As part of that, we recommend products and services for their success. We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use the accounting software with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the software with no experience. The positive feedback and experiences largely focused on the easy-to-use layout, robust features, and advanced business tools.

Best features

The software has since grown to also accommodate established businesses with multiple employees, providing payroll management, e-commerce integrations, invoice tracking and more. QuickBooks Premier Plus was a step up from Pro Plus, offering additional features and supporting up to five users. This version included industry-specific editions tailored to sectors like manufacturing, finance, and retail. It enabled businesses to manage sales orders, track expenses, and generate customized reports. However, as with other desktop versions, new subscriptions to QuickBooks Premier Plus have also been discontinued as of July 31, 2024.

If you need implementation help, you can purchase a one-time session with a bookkeeper. They will walk you through setting up your chart of accounts, connecting your bank accounts and automating processes. Although this perk costs extra, we like that less tech-savvy business owners can receive hands-on assistance at a relatively low price point. QuickBooks Online also shines when it comes to report generation, outperforming many competitors. The software boasts multiple built-in reports, including aged receivables reports, general ledger reports, profit-and-loss statements, trial balance reports and balance sheets. During our test, we liked that you can set frequently used reports as favorites to make them easy to find.

Multi-user access – Add employees or accountants to simplify collaboration. Midsize businesses with more robust needs around reporting, processes, and integrations. Send to clients for online payment or record when paid outside QuickBooks. Let’s get started understanding exactly what QuickBooks is all about and whether it should be the accounting platform powering your small business.

Evaluate small business accounting services to find the right solution for tracking money, analyzing profitability, and organizing financial transactions for tax time. The best accounting software offers affordable pricing tiers and has a clean, user-friendly layout. Additionally, several options provide free accounting apps for startups and freelancers with advanced versions available as your company grows. Simple Start is best for small businesses needing basic accounting tools like invoicing, sales tax automation, bill management, and 1099 contractor tracking.

Live QuickBooks Instructor-led Courses

• It offers end-to-end management solutions, including advanced reporting, inventory management, e-commerce integration, and CRM connectivity.
• Yes, QuickBooks is designed with security measures to protect user data and financial information.
• This especially impressed us, as certain QuickBooks competitors, such as Zoho Books, lack tax features entirely.
• But, we found that QuickBooks Online’s breadth makes it the best overall pick for small businesses needing a one-size-fits-all solution.
• Upload receipts in bulk, assign them to the correct accounts, and submit them for approval, simplifying expense management.
• Drew currently works as the Financial Controller for Black & White Zebra, leading the finance department for the company.

QuickBooks also offers several desktop versions of its cloud-based accounting software, including QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus and  QuickBooks Enterprise. But if you want more than basic bookkeeping and tax deduction features, QuickBooks Self-Employed likely won’t work for you. Unlike the other QuickBooks plans (including QuickBooks Online), QuickBooks Self-Employed doesn’t have the extensive accounting tools QuickBooks is known for. Plus, with four plans, QuickBooks Online has a plan and price point for most small businesses. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Solopreneur are the best for businesses wanting cloud-based software with mobile apps. QuickBooks Solopreneur is specifically for freelancers, while QuickBooks Online is a good fit for nearly any size business.

Payroll liabilities are also tracked automatically when using QuickBooks Payroll. Our lifetime free plan for startups requires no credit card and gives you immediate access to professional invoicing, expense tracking, and basic financial reports. Wafeq stands out for businesses managing multiple companies due to its ability to provide consolidated financial statements across entities.

Key QuickBooks Online drawbacks

QuickBooks Pro Plus was QuickBooks’ least expensive and least customizable desktop-based plan. As of 2023, you can still purchase QuickBooks Pro Plus, but only if you reach out directly to QuickBooks’ sales team. If you contact the sales team, they’ll most likely try to sell you on QuickBooks Online rather than a desktop Pro subscription.

(The general business version still includes excellent reports—they’re just more broad.) For instance, the general contractor plan includes job costing and reports that organize costs by vendor. The wholesale version breaks down profitability by product, and the nonprofit version lets you generate donor contribution summaries and end-of-year donation statements. QuickBooks for desktop also has a more complicated interface than QuickBooks’ online software. If you’re already familiar with business financials (including if you’re an accountant), QuickBooks Desktop plans give you heftier fiscal reports and more complex accounting features.