QuickBooks Versions and Pricing
Intuit has been encouraging it customers to migrate to QuickBooks online, and is raising prices and enforcong subscription terms on its Dekstop software. Which version is the best one for St. Maarten business?
QuickBooks Desktop for Windows
QuickBooks Desktop is the traditional Windows software, with minor updates released each year around the month of September.
QuickBooks Desktop is now sold ONLY as an annual subscription, which includes usage rights to the software, upgrades to the latest version, technical support and online backup, all for the duration of the subscription period.
Prices appear to be increasing regularly. Intuit plainly states that their intention is to drive small businesses to migrate to QuickBooks Online and to have those that stay on the desktop product upgrade their software regularly. The days of buying a single perpetual license are over.
Intuit only supports the last 3 versions of its Desktop software. That means that companies on QuickBooks 2020 and earlier should be updating now as the 2023 version has been released.
Pricing
| Version | Annual Cost | Additional Users |
| Pro Plus | $550 | $200 |
| Premier Plus | $800 | $300 |
Best for
- More robust features for those who need them
- Multiple company files on one computer/one user without extra charge
- Locations without good Internet access
Data Retention, Backup & Restore
- Data stays yours; if subscription is canceled, data stays intact: the software may stop working, but it is always possible to gain access back by renewing the subscription or moving the file to a different system with a valid subscription
- Can perform local backups at any desired schedule and restore from any previous backup
- Online backup is now included with all subscriptions
Purchasing
Pro Plus: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/oa/pla/buy-quickbooks-pro-plus/
Premier Plus: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/oa/pla/buy-quickbooks-premier-plus/
Discounts may be available at online retailers such as Amazon.
QuickBooks Online
Licensed for unique users; for security and auditing purposes we recommend not sharing logins between multiple people if possible.
Pricing
| Version | Max Users | Annual cost – US Version | Annual cost – International Version |
| Simple Start | 1 user | $360 | $204 |
| Essentials | 3 users | $660 | $312 |
| Plus | 5 users | $1,020 | $432 |
| Advanced | 25 users | $2,400 | n/a |
The US version offers additional features and flexibility; the international version is more cost effective, allows proper entry of St. Maarten addresses and supports ANG as a currency if needed.
Purchasing
International Version: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/global/pricing/.
US Version: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/online/#.
Free trials and/or 3-month discounts are currently offered for both versions
For multi-company files under one account, discounts for one or two years may be available by calling Intuit sales
Best for
- Multi-user access from anywhere, any platform
- No local install needed
- Import bank transactions from St. Maarten banks
- Better invoicing
Data Retention, Backup & Restore
- Data stays in cloud
- Intuit only protects current version of company file – NO point-in-time backup/restore unless using the Advanced version
- If subscription is cancelled, data is retained in read-only mode for one year, then deleted; any data that is required to be retained for tax/compliance purposes can be exported as reports; third-party tools exist to export most data items; intuit also provides an online-to-desktop conversion tool (US version only)
Migration from QuickBooks Desktop to Online
Intuit offers an automated migration tool that takes a QB Desktop company file and migrates it to a new QuickBooks Online (US Version only). Migration to the International version, while technically possible, is a cumbersome and labor-intensive process involving a series of manual export and import steps
Our Recommendations
- For most new, smaller businesses QuickBooks Online (International version) is the simpler, cost-effective solution
- Companies currently using QuickBooks Desktop should consider migrating to Online (US version), especially when in a multiple users/remote access situation
- QuickBooks Desktop for Mac users should move to QuickBooks Online
- All QuickBooks Online users should implement a process for regular backup/export of data using reports or a third-party tool (contact Magnis for assistance)
- Companies staying with QuickBooks Desktop for Windows should always run a supported version of the software – current year and two versions back. Magnis will do its best to continue to work with customers who choose to stay with older versions of QuickBooks Desktop when possible, but if running into any issue, an upgrade may be required