Hello there! Thinking about getting QuickBooks Online to manage your business finances? That's a fantastic step towards better organization and a clearer financial picture. But before you jump in, a key question is: "how much is Intuit QuickBooks Online?"
The answer isn't a single number, as the price depends on the plan you choose, the features you need, and any special offers available. Let's break down the costs and help you figure out the perfect fit for your business.
Step 1: Understand the Core Plans
QuickBooks Online offers several subscription tiers, each designed for a different business size and set of needs. The price you pay is a monthly subscription fee, and there are often discounts for new users.
So, let's get you started! Which of these best describes your business?
A. I'm a freelancer, contractor, or a sole proprietor with simple needs.
B. I have a small, growing business with a few employees and need to manage bills.
C. I'm a small to medium-sized business that needs to track inventory and project profitability.
D. I'm a larger, established business with a team and require advanced reporting and user permissions.
Your answer will help you zero in on the right plan. Now, let's explore the different options.
QuickBooks Online Simple Start
This is the most basic plan, ideal for small businesses and freelancers.
Features:
Track income and expenses
Send invoices and accept payments
Run basic reports (like profit and loss)
Capture and organize receipts
Track sales and sales tax
Send estimates
Manage 1099 contractors
User Limit: 1 user
Approximate Regular Price: $35 per month (Note: Check the official QuickBooks website for current promotions, as they often have significant discounts for the first few months).
QuickBooks Online Essentials
Moving up the ladder, this plan is perfect for growing businesses that need a bit more.
Features:
Everything in Simple Start, plus...
Manage bills and track expenses
Track time (great for service-based businesses)
Manage multiple currencies
User Limit: Up to 3 users
Approximate Regular Price: $65 per month
QuickBooks Online Plus
This is a very popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses that are managing projects and inventory.
Features:
Everything in Essentials, plus...
Track inventory and cost of goods sold (COGS)
Track project profitability
Create and manage budgets
Track transactions by class and location
User Limit: Up to 5 users
Approximate Regular Price: $99 per month
QuickBooks Online Advanced
For larger, more complex businesses, this plan offers powerful tools for automation and control.
Features:
Everything in Plus, plus...
Up to 25 users with configurable user permissions
Batch invoicing and expenses
Automated workflows and reminders
Sync data with Excel
Advanced reporting and analytics
Dedicated customer support with Priority Circle
User Limit: Up to 25 users
Approximate Regular Price: $235 per month
Step 2: Don't Forget the Discounts and Add-ons!
The prices mentioned above are the regular monthly rates, but Intuit frequently offers promotions for new customers.
Sub-heading: The Power of Promotions
You'll often see offers like 50% or even 90% off for the first three to six months. This can be a huge saving, so always check the official QuickBooks website for the latest deals. These discounts are designed to get you started and familiar with the software.
Sub-heading: Consider the Add-on Services
The core subscription is just the beginning. QuickBooks Online can be customized with powerful add-ons that come with their own costs.
QuickBooks Payroll: If you need to pay employees, this is a crucial add-on. The cost varies based on the level of service you choose (Core, Premium, or Elite) and the number of employees you have. A base price plus a per-employee fee is typical. For example, you might see a plan that costs around $45/month + $4 per employee/month.
QuickBooks Payments: To accept credit card and bank transfer payments directly through your invoices, you'll need this service. While there's often no monthly fee for this, there are transaction fees. These can vary, but expect to pay a percentage of the transaction amount (e.g., 2.9% for invoiced cards) plus a small fixed fee (e.g., $0.25).
QuickBooks Time: If you need to track employee time for payroll or project costing, this is an excellent add-on. It also has its own pricing structure, often with a base monthly fee and a per-user fee.
QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping: This service connects you with a QuickBooks expert to help you with your bookkeeping. This is a separate, professional service and has its own pricing.
Step 3: Calculating Your Total Cost
Now, let's put it all together to estimate your total monthly cost.
Choose your core plan: Select the plan that has the features and user limit you need.
Factor in promotions: If you're a new customer, apply the introductory discount for the promotional period.
Add any necessary add-ons: Do you need payroll, payments, or time tracking? Add the monthly cost of these services.
Consider transaction fees: If you plan to accept payments through QuickBooks, remember to budget for the transaction fees, as these will fluctuate based on your sales volume.
Example Scenario:
Let's say you're a small business with 4 employees and you choose the QuickBooks Online Plus plan.
QuickBooks Online Plus (Regular Price): $99/month
QuickBooks Payroll Core (Base + 4 employees): ~$45/month + (4 employees * $4/employee) = ~$61/month
Total estimated monthly cost (without transaction fees): $99 + $61 = $160 per month
Remember, this is an estimate. Your actual cost will depend on the current offers and your specific usage.
Step 4: Choosing the Right Plan
The best way to determine the right plan is to start with your needs.
Simple Start: If you just need to send invoices and track basic expenses, this is a great, affordable starting point.
Essentials: If you have employees or need to track bills and time, this is the logical next step.
Plus: If you sell physical products and need to manage inventory or work on projects and want to track profitability, this plan is a must-have.
Advanced: If you have a larger team and need more control over user access, automation, and reporting, this is the professional solution.
Intuit also offers a 30-day free trial for all the QuickBooks Online plans, which is a fantastic way to test the features and see if the software is a good fit for your business before you commit to a subscription.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about QuickBooks Online pricing.
How to get a discount on QuickBooks Online? You can often get a significant discount by signing up as a new user directly on the QuickBooks website, where they frequently run promotional offers for the first few months.
How to cancel a QuickBooks Online subscription? You can cancel your subscription at any time through your QuickBooks Online account settings.
How to upgrade or downgrade a QuickBooks Online plan? You can easily upgrade or downgrade your plan from within your QuickBooks Online account settings. The change will take effect on your next billing cycle.
How to find the cheapest QuickBooks Online plan? The cheapest plan is typically QuickBooks Online Simple Start, but for self-employed individuals, the QuickBooks Solopreneur plan (separate from the main Online plans) is even more affordable.
How to pay for QuickBooks Online? You can pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription with a credit card or debit card, and the payment is automatically processed each month.
How to know if I need QuickBooks Online Plus for inventory tracking? If you sell physical products and need to manage stock levels, track costs of goods sold, and generate purchase orders, you will need the Plus plan or higher.
How to use QuickBooks Payments and what are the fees? You can enable QuickBooks Payments from your account. The fees are transaction-based, with different rates for swiped, keyed, and invoiced card payments.
How to get a QuickBooks Online free trial? You can sign up for a 30-day free trial of any of the QuickBooks Online plans on their official website.
How to add more users to my QuickBooks Online account? You can add users by upgrading to a plan that supports more users (e.g., from Simple Start to Essentials) and then inviting them from the account settings.
How to get help with QuickBooks Online pricing? If you have questions about pricing or need help choosing a plan, you can contact the QuickBooks sales team directly through their website.