QuickBooks Resource Center
So, QuickBooks keeps coming up. It’s the name most US accountants know, and that alone makes it worth a serious look. But it’s also the product people complain about most once the intro discount ends.
I’ve worked in QuickBooks Online myself. This page collects everything on the site about it, so you can decide quickly and know what you’re signing up for.
Is QuickBooks right for you?
QuickBooks Online is built to grow with you. You can start small, then add users, payroll and inventory without changing software. The catch is that each plan has a user limit, so a growing team pays more.
QuickBooks is usually a good fit if you:
- are in the US and your accountant already works in QuickBooks
- want payroll, inventory and accounting from one company
- need industry features, such as job costing for contractors
- expect to grow, and want the most widely supported software when you hire help
You might want to look elsewhere if you:
- have several people who need access and don’t want per-user plans (see Xero vs QuickBooks)
- are a freelancer who mostly sends invoices (QuickBooks can be overkill; see QuickBooks for freelancers)
- want something free (see Wave vs QuickBooks)
Start here
QuickBooks Review
What QuickBooks Online does well, where it frustrates people, and who should choose it.
QuickBooks Pricing
Every plan, user limits, add-ons, and what you pay once the discount ends.
QuickBooks for Freelancers
Whether QuickBooks is worth it when you’re a team of one.
QuickBooks compared
Xero vs QuickBooks
The most common decision in small-business accounting, worked through plan by plan.
Sage vs QuickBooks
Sage against QuickBooks for small businesses, especially in the UK.
Wave vs QuickBooks
Free against paid, and the point where paying makes sense.
QuickBooks Alternatives
What to use instead if QuickBooks is too expensive or too much.
Cloud vs Desktop Accounting
Online or installed software, which matters if you still use QuickBooks Desktop.
Before you subscribe
QuickBooks discounts usually last a few months. Work out what you’ll pay in month four and beyond, and check how many users you need, before you pick a plan. The pricing guide does that maths for you.
How I review QuickBooks
I’m an accountant, so I look at QuickBooks the way I’d look at any set of books: does it keep the records accurate, does reconciliation get quicker, and can your accountant work in it without a fight? A pretty dashboard doesn’t count for much.
Prices and plan limits change, so the pricing guide is the one place on this site where I keep the numbers. If a price ever looks different elsewhere, trust the pricing guide and tell me. You can read how I test accounting software and how I keep pages up to date.
Questions people ask
Is QuickBooks Online the same as QuickBooks Desktop?
No. They’re separate products. Online runs in your browser on a subscription. Desktop is installed software that Intuit has been winding down for new US customers. Cloud vs desktop accounting explains what that means for you.
Do I need an accountant to use QuickBooks?
You don’t need one to run it day to day. But it’s worth having an accountant check your setup once, because a wrong chart of accounts is painful to fix later.
What’s the cheapest way to use QuickBooks?
Start on the smallest plan that covers the number of people who need to log in. Don’t pay for inventory or extra users until you actually need them.
Where to go next
- Best accounting software for small business: my shortlist across every product.
- How to choose accounting software: the questions to answer before you pick anything.
- Accounting Software Resource Center: every review, comparison and guide on the site.