What Does QuickBooks Desktop Going Subscription Mean? (2024)

Ask the Accountant…

Question: I recently read that QuickBooks Desktop products are going to be available only by subscription beginning in 2022. What does that mean?

Answer: You are correct. Intuit will be offering QB Desktop products via subscription-only, beginning with the 2022 releases. They (except for QB Accountant) will no longer be available by way of a one-time payment as they have in the past. QB Desktop products include QB Pro, Premier and Enterprise. Enterprise was converted to a subscription product two years ago.

Subscription of course means a monthly or annual payment will be required to use the product. As of now, these payment amounts have not been announced. And one word of caution with subscription software: Should you stop paying, you will lose access to the product and your data.

As of writing, there are a few one-time-purchase-licenses for QB Premier 2021 still available. With a one-time purchase, you pay a single fee to buy the program. Download it to your PC for permanent access, and you will receive updates from Intuit at no additional charge through May 2024.

Further, the one-time purchase product allows you to create multiple company files at no additional charge which is especially cost effective if you run more than one business. The subscription model will likely have an additional fee for each company you set up.

Please contact me if you want to know if and how the one-time purchase products might still be available. Once they are gone, it’s too late and if you see Premier 2021 at unbelievably low prices, you are likely looking at a subscription product. Read the fine print.

Please email your questions to Harriet atAsk The Accountant.

QuickBooks Premier and Enterprise can be modified to better serve ad specialty distributors. Harriet Gatter is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, a former accounting professor and a former ad specialty distributor. She advises ad specialty distributors to use QuickBooks Premier and Enterprise, often in conjunction with other industry-specific software, to manage the complexities of the ad specialty business, with the results being time saved, errors eliminated and an overall accurate accounting of your business. Contact her athgatter@accountingsupportllc.com.

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What Does QuickBooks Desktop Going Subscription Mean? (2024)

FAQs

Is QuickBooks Desktop moving to subscription? ›

They now only sell QuickBooks Pro and Premier products as Pro Plus and Premier Plus subscriptions in place of one-time purchase licenses. QuickBooks Desktop is no longer available as a one-time purchase. Below are the updated pricing and version as of February 2023.

When did QuickBooks Desktop switch to subscription? ›

Intuit has announced changes to QuickBooks Desktop for 2022. Most notably, Intuit will now only be selling its Pro, Premier, and Mac products as Pro Plus, Premier Plus and Mac Plus subscriptions.

Do you have to pay for QuickBooks Desktop every year? ›

QuickBooks Desktop products are offered on an annual subscription basis. Unlike QuickBooks Online plans, which each come with a set number of users, QuickBooks Desktop plans come with one user license. Business owners must pay extra for each additional license, regardless of plan.

Can I still use QuickBooks Desktop after subscription expires? ›

With QuickBooks Desktop 2023 R3 or newer, view-only access remains for 1 year after your subscription ends. In that time, you won't be able to edit your data with your inactive license. But, you can renew your subscription or export your data. To view your data after 1 year, you'll have to renew your subscription.

Is QuickBooks Desktop going to be discontinued? ›

Your access to QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Services, Live Support, Online Backup, Online Banking, and other services through QuickBooks Desktop 2020 software will be discontinued after May 31, 2023.

What will happen to QuickBooks Desktop? ›

The long answer: Intuit are sunsetting some versions of QuickBooks Desktop (QBD), and it might be possible for some users to keep accessing it —though it is not recommended. From May 31st, 2023, Intuit will stop supporting these QuickBooks Desktop 2020 versions: QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2020.

How much does QuickBooks Desktop cost per year? ›

QuickBooks Desktop is an annual subscription, starting at $349.99 per year, which may be cost-prohibitive for small businesses or cash-strapped startups. While the Desktop version has app integrations, it doesn't have near as many as the Online version.

How do I upgrade QuickBooks Desktop to 2023? ›

Here's how.
  1. Select Help, and then Upgrade QuickBooks.
  2. Select the version you want to upgrade to, then select Upgrade Now.
  3. You can keep a copy of your current version of QuickBooks. Select Keep old version on my computer, then select Let's go.

Is QuickBooks Commerce going away? ›

Intuit announced on June 9, 2021, that QuickBooks Commerce (formerly TradeGecko) will be retired on June 10, 2022. Customers in the U.S. will be able to switch to the QuickBooks Online accounting product with embedded TradeGecko.

What is the cheapest way to buy QuickBooks? ›

The cheapest QuickBooks Online plan is the Self-employed plan. It's available for just $15 per month. However, it only supports a single user and is designed mainly for freelancers.

Can I use QuickBooks Desktop for free? ›

If you'd like to try QuickBooks Desktop before you buy it, you can download a 30-day trial. Note: If you're looking for a trial of QuickBooks Online, see our QuickBooks online trial page.

Why is QuickBooks forcing me to update? ›

QuickBooks automatically retrieves the latest program updates as long as QuickBooks is running. Intuit, the developer of QuickBooks, issues these updates to fix bugs or provide performance improvements.

What happens if you don't upgrade QuickBooks Desktop? ›

What happens if I don't upgrade to QuickBooks 2022? There won't be any immediate issues if you choose to continue using QuickBooks 2022; however, when QuickBooks Desktop for UK customers is discontinued in 2023, Intuit will stop releasing updates – including security updates.

What happens if I cancel my QuickBooks Desktop subscription? ›

Once your subscription is cancelled, you'll no longer be able to use or access QuickBooks Desktop. Your company file will remain on your device, but you'll need to re-activate your subscription or purchase an outright license to be able to open and view it.

What happens if I dont update QuickBooks Desktop? ›

This means that users without the updated software can no longer access these features of their original desktop software. In addition, you'll no longer receive any new, critical security updates. This will leave your outdated version of QuickBooks vulnerable to data breaches.

How much is QuickBooks Desktop 2023? ›

QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2023 is offered as an annual subscription, and prices start at $549.99 per year for one user.

Is there a QuickBooks desktop 2023? ›

Under the "QuickBooks Desktop" section of the US website, there is only QuickBooks Premier Plus 2023 and QuickBooks Enterprise Plus 2023 available for purchase.

Is there a new desktop version of QuickBooks? ›

QuickBooks Desktop 2023 introduces several features to help automate and streamline your daily accounting tasks. Here's what features are included in the QuickBooks Desktop 2023 release and how you can use them to benefit your business.

How long is QuickBooks Desktop good for? ›

You can use the QuickBooks desktop for a few years without having to update the software. QuickBooks Online is updated regularly, whereas the online version is updated once a year.

Does QuickBooks Desktop report to IRS? ›

In April of each year, QuickBooks Payments files a copy of the 1099-K with the IRS. We need your tax filing name and Taxpayer ID Number (TIN). It can also be your Employee Identification Number (EIN). If the info on your merchant account is wrong, we'll contact you for your taxpayer information.

How many computers can you have QuickBooks Desktop on? ›

Most people using QuickBooks use a single license. In literal terms, this means that you can access QuickBooks on multiple computers. However, files are only accessible to a single user over a maximum of two computers, one at a time.

How much is a 1 year subscription to QuickBooks? ›

QuickBooks Desktop Pricing Comparison
Quickbooks OptionsBest ForPrice
QuickBooks ProSmall businesses with 1-3 users$350/year
QuickBooks PremierSmall to medium businesses with 1-5 users$550/year
QuickBooks EnterpriseLarge businesses with 1-40 users$1,340+/year
Jul 29, 2022

Which version of QuickBooks is best? ›

QuickBooks Enterprise is the most customizable and powerful version of all the QuickBooks products, making it ideal for larger businesses with complex finances. It builds on Premier Plus with QuickBooks' most advanced inventory, reporting and pricing capabilities.

How do I put old QuickBooks on my new computer? ›

Here's how:
  1. Go to your new PC and install QuickBooks.
  2. Once done, go back to the old one and create a backup copy of your company file.
  3. Copy the backup file to your new one using a flash drive or other external device or through a network, if they're connected.
  4. Then, restore the backup on the new PC.

How do I transfer QuickBooks Desktop to new version? ›

To upgrade your company file

From the File menu, go to Company Operations. Choose Convert from previous version, then Next. Enter the Company Name for your converted data file, then select the Previous Version of QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale that you are converting from.

How do I make QuickBooks year end desktop? ›

You can follow these steps on how to do it:
  1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Accounting.
  2. Select the Company Preferences tab.
  3. Under Closing date, click the Set Date/Password button.
  4. In the Set Closing Date and Password window, select the Closing Date.
  5. Enter the Date Password, and confirm it.
  6. Click OK once done.

Why don t large companies use QuickBooks? ›

Inventory and warehouse problems, operational efficiencies, cost, and lack of third-party software integration are among the most common reasons why companies leave QuickBooks for specialized finance and accounting solutions.

Why is QuickBooks aborting? ›

QuickBooks aborts when it is unable to proceed any further and crashes while the save process is going on or any changes are made to its company files. It is basically the software asking the user to abort the ongoing transaction and resume by restarting the software.

Is there a fee to cancel QuickBooks? ›

You have the option to cancel your QuickBooks Customer Care Protection Plan at any time. The following conditions apply to monthly and quarterly plans: There's no fee to cancel. You'll continue to have access to your service through the end of your current subscription period.

Which QuickBooks subscription is most popular? ›

QuickBooks Plus is the most popular plan for businesses since it includes features such as inventory tracking, project management and tax support.

What is the least expensive version of QuickBooks desktop? ›

QuickBooks Self-Employed

This is the least expensive version of QuickBooks, starting at just $7.50 per month.

How much is QuickBooks per month for small business? ›

QuickBooks Cost

Simple Start: This plan is designed for small businesses with just one user. It costs $30 per month.

Why is QuickBooks Desktop requiring an Intuit account? ›

Benefit: There is now an added level of security when managing access and permissions to QuickBooks Desktop and connected services. An Intuit account provides a platform to control users' access to all your Intuit connected services without granting access to the QuickBooks Company file.

How does QuickBooks Desktop licensing work? ›

You can purchase additional licenses if you need more users to simultaneously access a QuickBooks Desktop company file. Depending on the number of user licenses you have, QuickBooks Desktop Premier allows up to 5 users and Pro allows up to 3 users to work in a company file at the same time.

How do I learn QuickBooks without subscription? ›

10 Great Free Online Courses for Learning QuickBooks
  1. Getting Started in QuickBooks Pro. ...
  2. QuickBooks Pro 2020 Essential Training. ...
  3. QuickBooks Advanced Bookkeeping Techniques. ...
  4. Learn QuickBooks Online from Hector Garcia, CPA. ...
  5. Quickbooks Online Up and Running. ...
  6. 39 Free QuickBooks Tutorials: Learn QuickBooks Fast.

Does it cost money to update QuickBooks? ›

They come at no extra cost to you, and when you upgrade your QuickBooks software to the latest release, you will ensure your company's productivity.

How do I know if I need to update QuickBooks? ›

Open the QuickBooks menu, then select Check for QuickBooks Updates. Select Install and Relaunch.

How do I stop QuickBooks from asking me to update? ›

Here's how:
  1. Open your QuickBooks Desktop as an Administrator.
  2. Go to the QuickBooks menu and navigate to Check for QuickBooks Updates.
  3. Then, uncheck the Automatically download and install updates in the future. Once done, press the Don't Install.
Dec 5, 2022

Is QuickBooks Desktop a one time purchase? ›

QuickBooks Desktop is no longer available as a one-time purchase. Below are the updated pricing and version as of February 2023. All Desktop products are sold at full MSRP, and no discounts are allowed. You are no longer able to purchase online, but we can get you an authorized copy from intuit.

At what point do you outgrow QuickBooks? ›

QuickBooks has serious limitations around its capabilities to handle a growing organization. You have outgrown QBO if you have multiple entities or a have expanded services or products worldwide. If your company gets paid in multiple currencies, we recommend converting to more robust software.

Why is QuickBooks so expensive? ›

QuickBooks Premier, a popular accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses, has become increasingly expensive. The main reason for this is the constant development and updating of the software to meet its users' changing needs and demands.

Do I have to pay for QuickBooks Desktop every year? ›

QuickBooks Desktop products are offered on an annual subscription basis. Unlike QuickBooks Online plans, which each come with a set number of users, QuickBooks Desktop plans come with one user license. Business owners must pay extra for each additional license, regardless of plan.

Does QuickBooks Desktop have to be renewed every year? ›

A QuickBooks subscription must be renewed each year to maintain access and to get release updates and online services. Renewal will also allow you access to upgrade to the latest version.

Will I lose my data if I cancel QuickBooks? ›

If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription, your data will be available in read-only access. If you need to see your data after this date, you'll need to resubscribe to QuickBooks Online.

Is QuickBooks desktop going to be discontinued? ›

Your access to QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Services, Live Support, Online Backup, Online Banking, and other services through QuickBooks Desktop 2020 software will be discontinued after May 31, 2023.

Can I still use QuickBooks desktop after subscription expires? ›

With QuickBooks Desktop 2023 R3 or newer, view-only access remains for 1 year after your subscription ends. In that time, you won't be able to edit your data with your inactive license. But, you can renew your subscription or export your data. To view your data after 1 year, you'll have to renew your subscription.

How often do you have to renew QuickBooks desktop? ›

Starting with the 2022 versions of desktop QuickBooks, you'll pay an annual subscription fee that you'll need to renew every 12 months. If you don't, you won't be able to continue to use the software. Note: If you have an older version of QuickBooks, you may not know that all desktop products now are “Plus” versions.

Is there a QuickBooks Desktop 2023? ›

Under the "QuickBooks Desktop" section of the US website, there is only QuickBooks Premier Plus 2023 and QuickBooks Enterprise Plus 2023 available for purchase.

Can I use QuickBooks for free? ›

You can apply and set up your account by visiting our website or sending an email to education@intuit.com. Once registered, you will be given a complimentary license to QuickBooks Online Account.

How much is QuickBooks 2023 desktop? ›

QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2023 is offered as an annual subscription, and prices start at $549.99 per year for one user.

How much does it cost to upgrade QuickBooks? ›

QuickBooks Premier Plus 2022 is $549.99 per year. Additional users are $300 each for up to five users.

Is QuickBooks renewed every year? ›

A QuickBooks subscription must be renewed each year to maintain access and to get release updates and online services. Renewal will also allow you access to upgrade to the latest version.

Is there a basic version of QuickBooks? ›

QuickBooks Simple Start is the easiest and quickest way for single users (freelancers, gig workers, solo entrepreneurs) to manage all of their income and expenses in one simple tool.

How do I get a free QuickBooks subscription? ›

QuickBooks offers a free trial version for the first 30 days in case you are a new user. To sign up for QuickBooks Online free trial, create a QuickBooks account by accessing the QuickBooks website.

Can I do bookkeeping without QuickBooks? ›

Provided you don't need any of the advanced small business accounting stuff that usually comes with QuickBooks like accounts payable, payroll and inventory management, FreshBooks is a solid accounting option for the average freelancer.

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