QuickBooks Accounting Software: The Ultimate Guide
QuickBooks is a business accounting software that automates most tasks. It recognises recurring customers and automatically inputs invoices for them. Quickbooks accounting software also has a payment system that allows customers to make payments instantly. It has a payroll function that calculates and pays employees. This helps businesses avoid penalties for disorganised records and reduce payroll taxes.
If you want to read more about accounting software, you can do so here .
QuickBooks Accounting Software: Our performance rating out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
4.3 out of 5 stars
Accounting Features & Functionality
4.2 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Compliance
4.3 out of 5 stars
Integration & Stability
4 out of 5 stars
Customer Support & Security
4 .6 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Transparency
4 .2 out of 5 stars
Useful links about QuickBooks Accounting Software from our article:
Benefits of Quickbooks
Downsides of Quickbooks
What Does Quickbooks Offer?
Quickbooks Products
Quickbooks Decision Making Guide
What Other People Think of Quickbooks
What Do Staff Think of Quickbooks?
Our Verdict on Quickbooks
How have we rated QuickBooks Accounting Software?
For every provider we assess, including Quickbooks, we rate them out of five stars on the five most important categories we have researched for the product / service offering. You can read about out review process & methodology here .
Why listen to our reviews?
With over ten years of experience in evaluating telecom products, our team brings a wealth of knowledge to understanding the market pros and cons. You can read more about our expert team here.
How Does Each QuickBooks Accounting Software Product Cater To Its Clients
All the following prices exclude VAT unless stated
Self-Employed – frin £10/month for the first 6 months, then £10/month thereafter
We think this is great for sole traders not registered for VAT who need to prepare Self Assessment tax returns.
Pros: Affordable, basic features for tax preparation and self-assessment.
Cons: Limited features compared to higher tiers, not suitable for VAT-registered businesses.
Simple Start – from £14.40/month for the first 6 months, then £14/month thereafter
This is great for sole traders or small businesses managing VAT, Income Tax, and Self Assessment.
Pros : Handles VAT filing, income tax estimates, and self-assessment needs.
Cons : This will be more than some sole traders need if they’re not VAT registered.
Essentials – £28.80/month for the first 6 months, then £28/month thereafter
We think this would be best for small businesses working with suppliers and managing VAT and Income Tax.
Pros: Includes features for managing suppliers, VAT, income tax, and basic project management (optional payroll add-on).
Cons : Will be overkill for very small businesses with simple needs.
Plus – £38.80/month for the first 6 months, then £38/month thereafter
This is great for businesses managing projects, stock, VAT, and Income Tax.
Pros : Offers project management, inventory tracking, VAT & income tax features (optional payroll add-on).
Cons : More expensive than lower tiers, might have features some businesses don’t need.
Advanced – Cost: £90/month for the first 6 months, then £90/month thereafter
We think this is perfect for businesses that need advanced features like data backup, custom permissions, and in-depth reporting.
Pros : Most comprehensive features so ideal for businesses with complex needs.
Cons : Most expensive option.
QuickBooks Accounting Software Decision Making Guide
If you need help choosing the right option for your business, we’ve created a handy table comparing the options side by side:
Feature
Self-Employed (£10/mo)
Simple Start (£14.40/mo)
Essentials (£28.80/mo)
Plus (£38.80/mo)
Suited for
Sole traders (no VAT) & Self Assessment
Sole traders (VAT) or small businesses
Small businesses with suppliers
Businesses with projects & stock
Businesses with complex needs
VAT
Not included (not VAT registered)
Included
Included
Included
Included
Income Tax
Basic estimates
Estimates & Self Assessment
Estimates & Self Assessment
Estimates & Self Assessment
Estimates & Self Assessment
Project Management
No
No (Optional add-on)
Basic
Included
Included
Inventory Tracking
No
No
No
Included
Included
Payroll
No (Optional add-on)
No (Optional add-on)
Optional add-on
Optional add-on
Optional add-on
Advanced features
No
No
No
No
Price
Affordable, good for beginners
More features for VAT-registered businesses
Manages suppliers & basic projects
Project & inventory management
Most comprehensive features
What Other People Think of QuickBooks Accounting Software
Summary of Quickbooks: Real Reviews
We’ve seen that QuickBooks receives mixed reviews on Trustpilot, with many their users commending its extensive range of features and ease of use. Customers find the software particularly beneficial for payroll management and invoicing, enhancing business operations. Nevertheless, a significant number of reviews highlight challenges with customer support, citing long wait times and difficulties in resolving issues.
Positive Quickbooks Reviews
Negative Quickbooks Customer Reviews
Quickbooks Commercial Video
Quickbooks: What To Expect as a User
Don’t have time to watch the video guide? Here’s a visual of the Quickbooks interface so you know what to expect:
Quickbooks: The Design & How it Affects Users:
We think that QuickBooks Accounting is designed with a user-friendly interface in mind. Their clean and intuitive layout allows users to effortlessly navigate through various accounting tasks, from invoicing to expense tracking and payroll management.
We’ve also noticed that their dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for users, ensuring that any of your critical financial information is easily accessible – making it super straightforward and simple to use.
Quickbooks: What Sets it Apart From Its Competitors?
QuickBooks distinguishes itself to us from competitors through its extensive range of features and seamless integration with other QuickBooks products and third-party applications.
QuickBooks also offer their users comprehensive features such as automated bank feeds, multi-currency support, robust financial reporting, and payroll management, which are crucial for businesses operating in various sectors.
What Do Staff Think of Quickbooks?
Working at QuickBooks (part of Intuit), is generally seen as a positive experience by many employees according to their Glassdoor reviews. We’ve seen that the company is praised for its strong work-life balance, competitive compensation, and supportive work environment. Employees also appreciate the opportunities for career growth and the emphasis on innovation and continuous learning, and the collaborative culture and focus on diversity and inclusion are also frequently highlighted. However, some reviews mention challenges with internal processes and the fast-paced nature of the work, which can be demanding.
Quickbooks Latest News
‘Intuit QuickBooks doubles down on AI to help accountants stay competitive’.
Read more here .
‘Complete QuickBooks Online Review 2024: Accounting & Payroll Tested’.
Read more here .
‘The Best Payroll Software for Accountants in 2024’.
Read more here .
Quickbooks Awards
TrustRadius Awards:
2023 Most Loved Software.
2023 Top Rated
G2 Accolades:
Top Product for Finance
Momentum Leader and High Performer
B2B Marketing Awards:
Best Use of Social Media or Influencer Marketing
Best SME-Targeted Campaign
Fortune’s Best Large Workplaces:
28th Best Large Workplace for Millennials
Improvements of Quickbooks over the Years
We think that QuickBooks Accounting have made some significant improvements over the years, continually evolving to meet the changing needs of their users/businesses. Initially focused on basic accounting functions, QuickBooks have expanded its capabilities in recent years to include advanced features such as enhanced financial reporting, automated bank feeds, and integration with a wide range of third-party applications.
Also, we love that QuickBooks have improved their user interface based on customer feedback, making it more intuitive and easier to navigate.
Issues of Quickbooks Over the Years
While we think they are mainly great, we do think that QuickBooks Accounting have also faced some issues over the years. For starters, their users have occasionally reported challenges with customer support, citing slow response times and difficulty in resolving complex issues (based off their Trustpilot reviews). There have also been instances of software glitches, particularly during updates, which have temporarily affected accounting processes.
We should mention that some users have also noted that the system’s functionality for handling more complex accounting scenarios could be better.
How to Purc hase Quickbooks
Via the Quickbooks website here .
Our Verdict on Quickbooks
As a team dedicated to helping small businesses save their bottom line, we’ve found QuickBooks Accounting to be a powerful and user-friendly solution that could be highly beneficial for your business.
We love that QuickBooks offers a range of features such as automated tax calculations, direct deposits, and detailed payroll reporting – all useful features that integrate seamlessly with QuickBooks Accounting, providing a unified platform for managing all financial aspects of your business.
QuickBooks intuitive interface also allows you to easily navigate through various payroll tasks, such as setting up employee profiles, processing payslips, and managing tax filings. We think their comprehensive dashboard ensures that critical payroll information is always accessible, and love that the software supports multiple pay schedules and provides compliance with local payroll regulations.
We think their regular updates have increased flexibility and accessibility, making the software even more user-friendly and efficient.
All this being said, we don’t think it would be the best fit for businesses with highly complex accounting needs, and can be somewhat pricey compared to other options.
However, if you are a small to medium-sized business seeking an efficient and integrated accounting solution, QuickBooks Payroll will be great and we would reccomend!
Other Useful Links About Accountiung Services
Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.
With over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .
Before joining CompareYourBusinessCosts, I worked across various industries, gaining hands-on experience in HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .
My goal is simple: to help UK businesses make informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.