Quickbooks vs other small business software

[wswartzwel]

I have used Quickbooks accounting software for my repair business for the last 25 years. Last year they changed to a subscription based software, and they have ramped up the price considerably this year, and say that using a desktop version will soon not be an option, and will require using their online version. I prefer not to have my books on the "cloud" somewhere.

Hoping the PP knowledge base has some recommendation.

I am a one man shop, I do Motorcycle, ATV, Lawn and Garden, Powersports repair.

All I need software to do, is create invoices, keep up with expenses, inventory, and sales tax, profit loss reports.... I prefer to use a Mac, but have windows computers too, so system requirements is not a deal breaker.

I really don't need all the bells and whistles the new software has available.

The price I am paying this year is still cheaper than hiring a secretary... so I would continue to use it, but they are phasing it out.

Anyone out there have experience with other software? Or if you use the online quickbooks do you like it?

Thanks so much!

Bill

[berettafan]

Just yesterday had a client bring me their info for tax prep and they used a new software called Wave. First i've seen of it. They tell me it's free and works great for them. I've not seen it in action but the reports it generated look great to me.

Very happy to see a competitor to Intuit out there as the level of suck at Intuit is rising quickly.

[GH85Carrera]

Great question! I will be watching to see any answers. I too use QuickBooks, the desktop version. I have no interest in having my data only accessible on the internet, on some remote server.

I know the FBI, the IRS, CIA, Apple, and Microsoft all have been hacked, and lots data. I have never been hacked. My data is secure here and at my CPAs office.

All the big players are going to the subscription mode of software. I understand, you are forced to upgrade every single year. With QuickBooks, I renew every three years for the last decade.

Photoshop and Microsoft Office are both now subscription only as is some of the mapping software we use.

I will ask my CPA about it. He is a certified QuickBooks expert.

It looks like QuickBooks 2023 desktop will be available next month. Hopefully that will get me another three years of use.

[Rick Lee]

I am using Quickbooks the cloud version now, but I may tire of their price hikes in the future. I'd like to know how hard migrating to another platform will be. I only use QB for recording expenses, nothing else.

[peppy]

I have been using Quickbooks for about the same length of time. If you don't need updates for payroll and online banking you can continue using the old versions. I think the one I have is from 2016.

Quickbooks called me about a month ago to tell me about the changes.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I use a 2015 desktop version at work, we don't use payroll or online banking so it has been fine. I did look at the cloud version but it didn't look like we could map our chart of accounts over. At least with the trial cloud version I looked at. It may be time to upgrade to the latest desktop version so we don't get stranded.

[GothingNC]

A few of my clients use QB Online and Xero Online and they are satisified with the cloud based software.

Works great for them to access when they are traveling or not at the office/home.

[Esel Mann]

Hehe, I just chatted with QB online. Pulling teeth. After multiple exchanges they finally answered the question and confirmed that the online version (which is what they are pushing towards) has zero means to store the company file locally.

They asked me why I was considering moving to the online version. I laughed and messaged that since local storage of the company file is not an option, I won't be moving over to the online version. Fortunately the 2016 desktop version isn't subscription based so it looks like the craptop that is on is gonna be around for a while.

[berettafan]

QB online is abysmal. Remarkably inefficient.

[red-beard]

One of my businesses uses QB Desktop (have since 2003). The other business uses QB Online. The costs of the QB on-line is an order of magnitude more than the Desktop and I can have an infite number of company files in Desktop.

We are looking at new software, probably some "lite" version of Entrprise software.

[911 Rod]

Have been using the QB 2012 software of invoicing for 10 years. It works well for me.
I used the online version when I did advertising for the local UCR club up until a couple of years ago. I hated the online version with a passion and felt like I had zero control. We needed the online version so other members could access the invoices.
Turned off updates for the 2012 and hopefully I can ride it out until I retire!

[Cajundaddy]

We used QB desktop for about 20 years and after I sold the bulk of my business I switched to QB Mobile for just a handful of clients that I still worked with. QB mobile was actually pretty slick and once set up, I could send a quote or invoice and get paid in minutes from my phone or iPad. All of my common inventory was entered and made keeping track of everything pretty simple. I liked the tool, I was annoyed by the subscription. I think the QB mobile was only about $15 per month for the basic version and did what I needed to do.

You could probably use the older QB desktop version for many years and just handle payroll in a different way. We used the ADP payroll service and that greatly simplified our accounting software needs. I don't know if it is still available but we also used Peachtree accounting software on Apple desktop many years ago. It worked well but when we changed accounting firms, they did not support it so that is when we moved to QB.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I use QB Pro 2021 desktop which is the last desktop that supports payroll which I need. I think it will be phased out in 1-2 years in favor of the subscription model. I will find something else when that happens.

On QB in general, I have never used such a garbage piece of software with the worst customer service in my entire life. If an alternative gets posted here, I might jump over to it for 2023.

[911 Rod]

What I don't get is business's using all the services that QB offers. I'm referring to ordering supplies through them and using their payment processing. If you do the math you are getting shafted where the sun doesn't shine. Convenient maybe, but it cuts into your profits.

[GH85Carrera]

I mostly started using QuickBooks because my buddy and CPA prefers it. I just bring him a thumb drive with my file for the company, and he does our taxes. He goes through and double checks I did not pull a bonehead move and categorize something wrong.

I recently made a complex report that showed all the expenses of our airplane. Every bottle of oil, and gallon of gas and the insane expensive parts and annual inspections. I wanted to know exactly what we spent to have it, and how many hours the engine ran. I know precisely what it costs per hour to run since we bought it. We can estimate projects costs for our clients and I know we are not overcharging or giving it away.

I am also the treasurer for our local PCA region. I want to 100% sure all records are clear and all spending has a receipt for a legit expense. I don't want any future member to question my term as treasurer.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by peppy

I have been using Quickbooks for about the same length of time. If you don't need updates for payroll and online banking you can continue using the old versions. I think the one I have is from 2016.

Quickbooks called me about a month ago to tell me about the changes.

This. My version is from 2014. Just don’t ever click on any of the boxes asking you to do an update. As long as you don’t ever try to update it it will work just fine.

[wswartzwel]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

This. My version is from 2014. Just don’t ever click on any of the boxes asking you to do an update. As long as you don’t ever try to update it it will work just fine.

Until you upgrade to a newer computer and then discover the old version is not compatable, My laptop died a few years ago, when I replaced it I had to upgrade