QuickBooks just announced that they are increasing their prices. I know—it really stinks. I’m going to tell you about Quickbooks pricing increase, who is impacted, and share my thoughts on it.
You may have received an email from QuickBooks letting you know that, yes, they are raising their prices once again. Generally speaking, it’s about a $5 increase per subscription. If you use Self-Employed, Simple Start, or Essentials, each of those will increase by $5. If you use the Plus level, that’s going up by $9. And if you’re on the Advanced level, your price is increasing by $35. So across the board, QuickBooks is raising the cost of every subscription tier.
For most people who pay QuickBooks directly or are planning to start using it soon, the new pricing begins August 1st. P.S.—If you’re new to QuickBooks or considering signing up, please reach out to me first! I can get you a better discount than what they advertise publicly.
If you’re someone who pays for QuickBooks through your accountant, you won’t see the price increase until September 1st—but it’s coming for you too.
They’re also increasing the price of payroll. If you use the full payroll service (not just the contractor option), every payroll subscription is going up by $5 as well. Plus, there are some changes to the per-employee fees depending on your payroll tier.
In addition to all that, QuickBooks is changing the pricing for their payment processing. If you accept payments through QuickBooks, expect some changes. We talked about this back in Episode 26, where we discussed payment processors. I’ve since updated that comparison spreadsheet, so if you haven’t already downloaded it, check out the free link in the show notes. It compares fees for Stripe, PayPal, QuickBooks, and other major processors to help you potentially save money if you’re considering switching.
What are my thoughts on the price increase?
First, I want you to know that I’m in a lot of bookkeeping groups, and bookkeepers are not happy. There has been a lot of pushback and frustration—especially since QuickBooks can sometimes be down, and their customer service isn’t exactly a fan favorite. With those concerns already in play, the price increase has caused even more upset. Many in the bookkeeping community are urging QuickBooks to improve those areas.
Hopefully, it gives you a bit of comfort knowing that you’re not alone—this isn’t just you feeling the squeeze. Bookkeepers and business owners alike are frustrated. Will all this complaining lead to actual change? I’m not sure.
But when I take a step back and think about it, I have to ask: Have I changed my prices recently as a business owner? Have you? Have you felt the impact of rising costs in your own business?
I think we can all agree—yes, we’ve felt price increases in our own businesses too. So if this QuickBooks pricing increase is about $5 per subscription, that’s roughly $60 a year. Honestly, it’s not a huge jump, and I do understand why they’re doing it. That said, it is a little frustrating because it feels like they’ve been raising prices pretty regularly—I want to say every 18 months (though I should probably fact-check that). Regardless, it does seem to happen often. But it’s also their prerogative, especially given how things are in the economy right now.
Now, I know some of you might be wondering: Am I still going to recommend QuickBooks even though they keep raising the price? And the answer is—yes, I am.
I double-checked Wave’s pricing, and their plan is currently $16/month. So the cost difference isn’t dramatic. And I do believe that QuickBooks offers better features overall. It’s easier to use and, as I mentioned in earlier episodes like Episode 15, it remains the household name in bookkeeping. Right now, it’s just a more complete product than Wave.
That said, I have seen some buzz from bookkeepers who are frustrated enough that they’re trying to create new products or push for alternatives. So I’ll definitely keep my eye out. If something new comes along that I think actually beats QuickBooks, I’ll let you know. But for now, I’m still on the QuickBooks train.
Now, let me challenge you with this: If that extra $60 per year feels frustrating, is there anywhere else in your business where you can cut expenses to make up for it?
This is a perfect time to review your current subscriptions. Go through everything—apps, tools, memberships, masterminds—and make sure you’re actually using them. You might be surprised by what’s quietly pulling money out of your account each month. It’s so easy to sign up for something and forget about it.
I actually walk you through this exact process in my mini-course, Get Comfy with Budgeting. One of the steps is to list out all of your subscriptions and note when they draft from your account or charge your card. Students in that course have told me it’s super helpful just to see everything laid out clearly. It helps you stay ahead of your spending and plan proactively.
So, I encourage you—make that list. See if you can cut $60 somewhere else and offset the QuickBooks increase.
And most importantly: Make sure you’re actually using your QuickBooks subscription. I don’t want you paying for tools you’re not taking advantage of. If you’re going to spend the money, let’s make sure it’s working for you.
Can you feel the trend here?
If you’re paying for QuickBooks, make sure you actually know how to use it—and that you’re using all the features available to you. If you’re not totally confident with it yet, my program Get Comfy with QuickBooks is exactly what you need.
It walks you through everything step-by-step and teaches you the best practices for using QuickBooks. You’ll learn the six simple tasks you should be doing each month to keep your bookkeeping up to date and accurate. Plus, you get direct access to me to ask your specific questions along the way. It’s perfect for those of you who are DIY-ing your bookkeeping and want to feel more confident and in control.
Listen to this episode!
