Ok, I admit. This came out a couple of weeks ago and a client knew before I did.
Is it true?
In April of this year, I started getting panic phone calls that Intuit was discontinuing all desktop products, forcing everyone to move to QuickBooks Online. It turns out they were just sunsetting QuickBooks 2020.
It just seems like a disastrous business decision to completely shut down the QuickBooks desktop product for good, right?
Well, guess what? The following is the headline I thought (and hoped) I would never see:
US QuickBooks Desktop not sold after July 2024
Even just typing that, I am still stunned that they have made such a historical, destructive, unfortunate decision on behalf of everyone’s business, including their own. Many users have already migrated to QuickBooks Online and love it. Many others have migrated from QuickBooks Online because they hated it. It has been a choice as to which product best suits the business and the user. But that choice is being eliminated.
So, what does this mean?
As of July 31, 2024, QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Mac Plus and Desktop Payroll products will NOT be sold to new US users. If you are an existing user, Intuit’s press release states that you will not be “impacted by this change.” QuickBooks Enterprise will continue to be sold for $1830+ annually, but it is much more product than what a practice needs for managing the 15% of the accounts payable portion of the total accounting package.
Intuit’s press release was short and a bit vague. So, let’s consider what they did not state.
Current desktop products have a 3-year life before being “sunset,” which means some functionality will cease (bank & credit card downloads, etc.), as well as updates and support no longer being available.
The current 2024 version will be sunset in May 2027. The press release states “Existing QuickBooks Desktop Plus and Desktop Payroll subscribers can continue to renew their subscriptions after July 31, 2024.*” But it also does not state indefinitely or for how long.
And always read the asterisk, which in this case states, “*Availability, terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.”
That is the caveat, right. That is Intuit’s out, with the first word “availability,” all subject to change without notice, which they have many times before.
According to this press release,
- It affects US based new sales only
- Users will be able to renew their subscriptions annually
- Users will continue to receive product updates and support
- 2024 can be purchased by new users up to July 31, 2024
- For the first time in 26 years, there will not be a new desktop version release in October. No QuickBooks Desktop 2025.
This is a clear indication of Intuit’s intent to shift all business eventually to the cloud, regardless of your business model. Those of you who are currently using a desktop product need to make sure that the credit card on file with your Intuit login is always current. If your subscription lapses, you will not be able to renew it after July 31, 2024. This is the Intuit login billing information, not the QuickBooks data file login.
You can still purchase the 2024 version by calling Intuit sales at 833-751-9061.
Be aware, it is the sales team training to provide you with all the information about QuickBooks Online, to potentially persuade you to purchase QuickBooks Online, but they will eventually sell you the desktop version. It is NOT available to purchase on their website or any retail outlet. When internet searching, there are many “vendors” listed that are “selling” QuickBooks Desktop products. I do not trust these sites as Intuit has made it clear that no one else will sell their products but themselves.
What if Intuit kills QuickBooks Desktop versions in 2027?
It will be a sad end for an amazing, robust product, in an attempt to streamline everyone’s business flow by eliminating other options. At that time, I am certain there will be viable options for small businesses both online and desktop. It is why I wrote the book I released this past April: Managing Accounts Payable In Your Practice.
Intuit does not own the only online accounting product. It is a very competitive market and I strongly recommend the book if you are considering moving your accounts payable to an online product. I evaluated and reviewed the more well-known cloud-based options, as well as payroll service options.
There is still a QuickBooks Desktop option until at least 2027. And, if at that point, QuickBooks is murdered [ok, maybe I watch to many Forensic Files episodes…], then Sage50 Pro Accounting is a desktop product with cloud access and Quicken Home & Business is still desktop as well. Intuit sold Quicken in 2016 and I have used it for my personal use since it was a DOS product. I wish they would sell QuickBooks to another company as they did Quicken.
Please keep in mind: No one can force you to do what you do not want to do. If you are the owner of the practice or the business, it is your decision as to how and with what you proceed.
What will I do?
Good question. Honestly? Cry and be sad for a while. QuickBooks is an old friend, whom I am powerless to help. I quite literally watched it grow up and sang its praises to the masses. I wrote 44 books about how to maximize its use as a business software in practices using dual accounting software.
When and if that time comes, then I will make a decision, most likely between Quicken Home & Business and Sage50. It is not necessary for my business accounting to be cloud based. And when that happens, I suspect the QuickBooks Online fees will increase greatly.
Right now, if you are a current desktop user, it is not necessary to be concerned, but I did want you to be aware. You may consider purchasing the 2024 version to ensure you have another 3 years’ use.
Are you maximizing your accounts payable management with what you are using?
If you learn nothing more than this from me, QuickBooks can be so much more than a glorified checkbook.
Schedule a time for us to talk about what you need and how I can help.