QuickBooks Online in popular accounting software used by many small business owners as the go-to solution. But the pricing starts to get a little murky when it’s time to pick a plan.
Other people get annoyed trying to determine why one version is more expensive than another. The truth is, there are several variables that will determine how much you’ll be shelling out.
Whether you’re a one-person shop or a growing team, understanding what drives the price empowers you to make smarter decisions. So, let’s walk through the key reasons your Quick Book price could jump — or remain relatively manageable.
Number Of Users You Add
Pricing: QuickBooks Online QuickBooks Online begins with pricing for one user. If you want to add more, that comes at a higher price per person. That’s because every extra user requires system access, and QuickBooks charges more to maintain security and synchronization across users.
For instance, the Simple Start plan is limited to a single user. You can add three if you upgrade to Essentials. Plan Plus five users and Plan advanced 25 users.
So, if your bookkeeper, accountant and office manager all want access, you’ll need to pony up for a higher-tier plan. More users mean more teamwork — but they also mean more dollars per month.
Features You Want To Use
Different tools are required for different businesses. That’s why QuickBooks has a few different plans available, each with its own features. If all you need is to track income and expenses, the Simple Start plan could suffice.
But if you need to track bills, time or inventory, you will need a higher-tier plan. The Plus plan, for example, offers project tracking and inventory management. The Advanced plan includes business analytics and custom permissions.
These additional tools can help simplify your workflow, but they also come with a cost. You’re not only paying for accounting software — you’re paying for efficiency and speed.
Your Type Of Business
Not all businesses can be molded into the same shape. If you’re a freelancer, you might be able to make do with fewer features. Your accounting requirements are more complicated.
Restaurants, for instance, may require payroll integrations and inventory management tools. Construction firms might need to monitor job costs and project profitability.
QuickBooks won’t charge you based on your industry, but the kind of industry you’re in generally means you’ll choose a more expensive plan.
Add-Ons Such As Payroll And Payments
This is where the total cost can surprise you. For an additional cost, QuickBooks Online offers add-ons such as Payroll, Payments, and Time Tracking. There’s a potpourri of features like this, and not only do they ramp up the phone’s capabilities, but they also inflate your bill.
Payroll alone costs about $45 per month, or more, with a fee per employee. If you accept payments through QuickBooks, you’ll also pay processing fees on every transaction.
So, although you may begin your subscription at $30 or $60 a month, extras can jack up your end cost to a figure north of $100. It’s simple to assume they’re one and the same right up until the invoice lands in your inbox.
Billing Cycle And Discounts
How and when you pay matters, too. Simple QuickBooks uses monthly billing but make a yearly commitment and you might snag a discount. New users typically get an intro rate for the first three months — something like 50 percent off.
But once that honeymoon ends, whoosh, you get reset to the full price. Some of those people also forget to cancel trials or switch plans, meaning they continue paying for features they never end up using.
Promotions and bundles could potentially save you money, but you have to read the fine print. Monitor your usage, watch your billing cycle and reconsider your plan every couple of months, to ensure it still serves your needs.
Conclusion
Quick Books Online pricing: There’s no one-size-fits-all Cost QuickBooks Online cost doesn’t work like a one-size-fits-all garment. Your total cost will depend on who is using it, what features you require, how you conduct business, which extras you attach and how you pay for it.
As long as you’re careful about choosing the right plan and keeping an eye on your add-ons, you can keep your monthly costs in check. But if you let everything accumulate without looking, your bill can catch you off guard.
Spend some time determining what really feels like a good fit for your business. That way, you’ll get the most out of QuickBooks—and you won’t pay for stuff you don’t need.
