QuickBooks Online Subscription Plans Explained: Which One Is Right for You?

QuickBooks Online offers various pricing plans designed to meet diverse business needs. Whether you’re a startup looking for basic functionality or an established company needing advanced features, there’s a QuickBooks Online plan for you. Understanding these plans and their features can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and budget. 

QuickBooks Online Pricing Overview

QuickBooks Online offers four main pricing plans: Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced. Each plan is designed to cater to businesses at different stages of growth and with varying accounting needs. The prices range from $30 to $200 per month, allowing businesses to choose a plan that fits their budget while providing the necessary tools for financial management.

• Simple Start: $30 per month, ideal for sole proprietors and new businesses.
• Essentials: $60 per month, suitable for small businesses with basic accounting needs.
• Plus: $90 per month, designed for growing businesses that require more advanced features.
• Advanced: $200 per month, perfect for larger businesses with complex financial needs.

Each plan includes essential features such as income and expense tracking, invoicing, and receipt organization, but they differ in the level of functionality and number of users they support.

Simple Start ($30 per month)

The Simple Start plan is QuickBooks Online’s entry-level offering, priced at $30 per month. This plan is ideal for sole proprietors, freelancers, and small startups that require basic accounting functionalities. Key features of the Simple Start plan include:

• Income and Expense Tracking: Easily track your business income and expenses, categorize transactions, and monitor cash flow.
• Invoicing and Payments: Create and send professional invoices, accept payments online, and track payment status.
• Receipt Organization: Snap photos of receipts and organize them within QuickBooks, ensuring you never lose a receipt.
• Tax Deductions: Automatically sort expenses into tax categories to maximize deductions.
• Basic Reporting: Access essential financial reports like profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and sales summaries.

This plan supports one user plus an accountant and is best for businesses that do not need payroll or multiple user access.

Essentials ($60 per month)

Priced at $60 per month, the Essentials plan is suitable for small businesses with slightly more complex accounting needs. It includes all the features of the Simple Start plan, plus additional tools to help manage bills and track time. Key features of the Essentials plan include:

• Bill Management: Enter, schedule, and pay bills from vendors. Keep track of due dates to avoid late fees.
• Time Tracking: Track billable hours by client or employee and add them to invoices automatically.
• Multiple Users: Supports up to three users, allowing collaboration among small teams.
• Enhanced Reporting: Access more detailed financial reports to gain deeper insights into your business performance.

The Essentials plan is ideal for businesses that need to manage their cash flow more effectively and require multi-user access.

Plus ($90 per month)

The Plus plan, priced at $90 per month, is designed for growing businesses that need more advanced accounting features and enhanced reporting capabilities. In addition to all the features available in the Essentials plan, the Plus plan includes:

• Inventory Management: Track inventory and cost of goods sold, and get notifications when stock is low.
• Project Profitability: Track project income, expenses, and profitability in one place.
• Class and Location Tracking: You can track activity such as income and expenses by specific elements of your business, such as product type and office. 
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Create and manage budgets to compare actual performance against forecasts.
• Expanded User Access: Supports up to five users, making it suitable for larger teams.

The Plus plan is perfect for businesses that need to manage inventory, track project profitability, and require more detailed budgeting tools.

Learn how Plus and Essentials differ.

Advanced ($200 per month)

The Advanced plan is QuickBooks Online’s most comprehensive offering, priced at $200 per month. This plan is ideal for larger businesses with complex accounting needs and includes all the features of the Plus plan, along with additional advanced tools. Key features of the Advanced plan include:

• Customizable Reporting: Create custom, in-depth reports to meet specific business needs using advanced reporting tools.
• Dedicated Account Manager: Get access to a dedicated account manager for personalized support and assistance.
• Batch Invoicing and Expenses: Save time by processing multiple invoices and expenses simultaneously.
• Custom User Permissions: Set custom permissions for different users to control access to sensitive information.
• Advanced Analytics: Utilize advanced analytics and insights to make data-driven business decisions.

The Advanced plan supports up to 25 users, making it suitable for larger teams that require robust accounting solutions and detailed financial insights.

See our comparison of Plus and Advanced.

How to Choose The Right QuickBooks Online Plan

• Assess Your Business Size and Needs: Determine the size of your business and the complexity of your accounting needs. If you’re a sole proprietor, Simple Start might be sufficient, while larger businesses may benefit from the Advanced plan.
• Consider User Access Requirements: Evaluate how many users will need access to QuickBooks Online. Essentials and Plus plans offer multi-user access, whereas Simple Start supports only one user.
• Inventory and Project Management: If your business manages inventory or runs multiple projects, the Plus plan provides essential tools for tracking and managing these elements.
• Advanced Reporting Needs: For businesses requiring detailed, customizable reporting and advanced analytics, the Advanced plan is the best fit.
• Budget Constraints: Consider your budget and select a plan that provides the necessary features without exceeding your financial limits.
• Growth Potential: Choose a plan that can scale with your business growth. The Plus and Advanced plans offer more robust features that can support expanding business operations.

Get QuickBooks Online at a Discounted Price

You can now obtain QuickBooks Online at a discounted price through Paygration, along with a host of added benefits that enhance your accounting experience. Paygration not only offers competitive pricing on QuickBooks Online subscriptions but also provides additional perks such as a free consultation to help you set up and optimize your software for your business needs. Also, we offer ongoing support to help you navigate any challenges or questions that may arise while using QuickBooks Online. This continuous support ensures that you have expert guidance available whenever you need it, allowing you to focus more on growing your business rather than worrying about accounting issues.

Conclusion

Selecting the right QuickBooks Online plan is crucial for effectively managing your business’s finances. Each plan offers unique features tailored to different business needs, from basic income and expense tracking to advanced reporting and project management.

For businesses looking to leverage the full benefits of QuickBooks Online with added discounts and ongoing support, contact our experts at Paygration. We can help you get started with the right plan and provide expert assistance to maximize your investment in QuickBooks Online. Reach out to us by calling 866-949-7267 or clicking the link below.