QuickBooks Premier Plus vs. QuickBooks Online Plus
In the last post we discussed the added benefits of the Plus subscription designation of QuickBooks Pro rather than the purchase of the QuickBooks Pro product. You can access that post here.
QuickBooks Premier lists on the QuickBooks web site (it’s available cheaper in other places) for $399.95. This purchases one license for the software that can be used indefinitely.
As with Pro, the Plus designation creates a subscription. For $419.95 per year several services like technical support and online backup are added. You will also receive the latest version of QuickBooks Premier each year as it is released.
In an earlier post, we also discussed the differences between Pro and Premier. That post can be accessed here.
So what about QuickBooks Online (QBO)? How does QuickBooks Premier (desktop) stack up to QBO Plus, the higher level of QuickBooks Online.
The price can vary. But as of this writing, QBO Plus costs $39.95 per month. That price allows up to five concurrent users and two accountant users for no extra charge.
The online version has a completely different look than the desktop QuickBooks.
Navigation is smooth and easy. Many options will customize the look with just a mouse click. The above graphic for instance is the Vendor ‘Center’ after clicking on the large color ‘Open Bills’ rectangle. Desktop would not be this easy.
With QBO plus you have the benefit of access from anywhere there is an internet connection. Your accountant can be looking at the same QuickBooks file you are. At the same time. With no file exchange.
There are a number of features available in QBO plus that are not in QBO Essentials. QBO Plus adds Class tracking, a feature found in desktop and commonly used.
1099 filing and budgets are added to this higher level. An interesting feature is that subcontractors and employees can be given limited access to the time-keeping portion of the program. This does not use one of the five user accounts. The feature is used to allow subcontractors and employees to enter billable time that will later be invoiced to a customer.
Limited inventory capability is added in this version. Purchase orders, not in Essentials, are available in Plus. Items can be setup for tracking as inventory although the features are not as robust as in the desktop versions.
Hours and time can be tracked by customer and invoiced accordingly. For heavy job-costing needs, desktop may still be the better choice. Do your research and find out what works for you. Or, use a ProAdvisor to help determine how QBO features can work in your business.
Hector Garcia, CPA
Certified Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor
12401 Orange Drive #136
Davie, FL 33330
954-414-1524
hector@garciacpa.com
