QuickBooks Online Review 2021

QuickBooks has become the de facto standard for small and medium-sized business accounting choice for nearly three decades. Year after year, Intuit, QuickBooks parent, has released iterations of the small business accounting software with more functionality and versatility. QuickBooks has been so popular because businesses of many different industries can seamlessly use the accounting software without any existing accounting knowledge. The user interface lets business owners glide through using the software, inputting data based on the terminology they understand, bills, sales, paychecks, etc.

Most businesses still end up hiring bookkeepers and accountants to use the software in their business to accurately record their finances in accordance with the US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Furthermore, accounting offices and bookkeeping services prefer the QuickBooks accounting software over many of its competitors because of its functionality, such as audit trails and data security, to do their job efficiently.

Below we review some key features and functionalities of QuickBooks Online 2021 that are important for many small businesses today to decide on the software.

The Accounting

So what attracted over 70% of small businesses to QuickBooks? We’ve heard a consistent accolade; you don’t need to understand accounting-word to use the software and see your financial position. Business owners no longer need to care about what debits and credit are, and their user interface has always been such that you enter your data based on the item is, bills, workers, timesheets, sales, etc.

The true ingenuity of QuickBooks has always been doing away with the convoluted, stodgy language and providing a real-time picture of their financial health. You no longer need to pull in the Statement of Comprehensive Income if a business owner wants to see their performance. Simply refer to it as Profit & Loss, and they can see it in real-time from their mobile app.

The advancements have not sacrificed any accounting functionality. QuickBooks Online is also accountants’ most preferred accounting software. It gives them an audit trail of transactions, bank-grade security features to protect financial data, and easily integrates with numerous client accounts to review the books remotely.

Integrations 

Third-party integrations are another vital asset of QuickBooks Online. Business owners can easily integrate bank accounts and credit card accounts with QuickBooks Online to automate an intuitive reconciliation process to categorize expenses based on past activity and add that to the review tab for users.

QuickBooks Online users can use the cloud-based software, and the mobile app can integrate with Gmail to directly invoice clients from the email service.

Payment processors, online marketplaces, payroll systems, CRM tools, and more than 650 business apps tout QuickBooks integration as an advantage to quickly sync data for faster and more efficient reconciliation and recordkeeping.

Reporting

The robust reporting functionality of QuickBooks Online is another key differentiator of the small business accounting software among its peers. There is a slew of standard reports available for businesses to easily pin as favorites to access at easily anytime, including via the mobile app. These reports include aging receivables, profit and loss, job costing, payroll reports, and many more.

Users can also take advantage of QuickBooks’QuickBooks’ scheduled reporting functionality. The software will automatically generate specific reports at a specified time and email them to particular recipients on a recurring basis.

Support

A significant component of a business’s brand and online reputation can be its investment into its customer support initiative. It is one of the most complained about aspects of a company, ”I can never get a rep on the phone to resolve the issue.”

Although customer support hasn’t always been a strong suit for QuickBooks, Intuit has made great strides in improving its track record. Today QuickBooks offers a bevy of help articles, a discussion board with other QuickBooks users managed by Community Managers, video tutorials, FAQs, an extensive network of QuickBooks Pro Advisors, and the traditional customer support.

Pricing

QuickBooks Online is available via a tiered pricing model based on four options businesses can choose from based on their needs. The company often has a promotional offer of 50% off the first months on their standard monthly pricing. Below we present the details of their four tiers, regular monthly costs, and some of the features of each tier.

PlanQuickBooks Online Simple StartQuickBooks Online EssentialsQuickBooks Online PlusQuickBooks Online Advanced
Cost$16/month$25/month$34/month$180/month
Features• Send out invoices and receive payments
• Record and monitor income and expenses
• Categorize income and expense heads based on tax classification
• Run financial reports
• Upload or email receipts on the go with the QuickBooks mobile app
• Use smartphone GPS to track miles.
• Cash flow monitoring
• Client estimates can be customized and sent out
• Payment management for 1099 Contractors 
• All of Simple Start features plus
• Enhanced reporting capabilities around sales, receivables and payable
• Bill payments
• Time tracking and monitoring billable hours
• All of Essentials features plus
• Enhanced reporting capabilities around inventory, profitability, budgeting, specific expense tracking reports.
• Reports can ran and customized using pre-built templates
• Third-party integration of inventory and cost of goods
• All of Plus features plus
• Customizable dashboards
• Monitor KPIs Fathom analytics (included)
• Control and assign user access by role
• Batch invoicing, task management and exclusive integrations
• Membership to Priority Circle Support which includes 24/7 priority phone and message support along with a dedicated Customer Success Manager

Over the years, Intuit has been very proactive in keeping QuickBooks Online abreast of industry and business changes, quickly adopting common product enhancement recommendations vital for businesses to continue using the accounting software uninterrupted by the competition. The company has continuously met business needs such as third-party integrations, payment processing, a mobile app, robust online reporting and dashboards, and numerous other add-ons for businesses to incorporate as they are needed.

Although many new players in the accounting software market compete effectively only on price, it is hard for them to unseat a giant in the industry at the helm for well over two decades, with nearly three-quarters of the market share of small businesses accounting software. In 2021, the best accounting software is QuickBooks Online.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is QuickBooks Online suitable for small businesses?

    Yes, QuickBooks Online is well-suited for small businesses. This solution provides an array of capabilities designed to meet the accounting and financial management requirements of small businesses. It encompasses a diverse set of features, such as invoicing, tracking expenses, reconciling bank transactions, and generating comprehensive financial reports. It also allows multiple users and integrates with various third-party applications, making it a flexible and scalable solution for growing businesses.  

  2. Can QuickBooks Online be accessed from any device?

    Yes, QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software, which means it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. Whether you're using a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, you can log in to your QuickBooks Online account and manage your finances on the go. This accessibility and mobility make it convenient for business owners and their teams to stay connected and updated with their financial data.

  3. What are the pricing plans for QuickBooks Online?

    QuickBooks Online presents a range of pricing options to cater to diverse business requirements. These options consist of multiple plans, including Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced, each equipped with different features and capabilities. The pricing structure is tiered and dependent on both the chosen plan and the number of users. It is advisable to carefully examine the features offered and make a thorough comparison with your specific business needs to determine the most appropriate plan and pricing arrangement. 

  4. Can QuickBooks Online handle payroll processing?

    Yes, QuickBooks Online offers payroll processing as an additional service. It provides features to calculate and process payroll, manage employee profiles and benefits, generate pay stubs, and handle payroll tax filings. However, payroll processing is not included in the base subscription and comes at an additional cost. If payroll management is essential for your business, you can explore the payroll add-on options provided by QuickBooks Online.

  5. Is QuickBooks Online secure and reliable?

    QuickBooks Online prioritizes the security and reliability of its platform. It utilizes secure encryption protocols, firewalls, and regular data backups to protect user data. QuickBooks Online is hosted on highly secure servers with multiple layers of protection. It also undergoes regular maintenance and updates to ensure system reliability. Intuit, the company behind QuickBooks, has a strong reputation for data security, and they take privacy and protection measures seriously to provide a secure environment for their users.

  6. Can QuickBooks Online be integrated with other business tools?

    Yes, QuickBooks Online offers integration capabilities with various third-party business tools and applications. It has an extensive marketplace of integrations that allow you to connect QuickBooks Online with other systems such as CRM software, project management tools, e-commerce platforms, and more. These integrations enhance the functionality of QuickBooks Online and streamline workflows by syncing data across different systems, reducing manual data entry, and improving overall efficiency in managing your business processes.

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