This will be a short blog post but daily I still get emails regarding what is going on with the QuickBooks desktop version and what they should do, and how Intuit Sales told them that the online version would be the only survivor of the two options because Intuit was no longer going to sell the desktop version after July 31, 2024.
Earlier this year, Intuit released their decision to discontinue selling QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Mac Plus and the Enhanced Payroll TO NEW SUBSCRIBERS. This decision is not to affect nor impact existing current users.
Straight from the Intuit website: “This is a stop sell only for new purchases, not a complete discontinuation (sunset) of this QuickBooks Desktop product line. Existing subscribers of these products can continue to renew their subscriptions after July 31, 2024.”
I also still get quite a few phone calls from confused practice owners, who relay that their CPA stated the desktop version would no longer be available. That is not true and is rumor mongoring at its best. [Insert My Infamous Eye Roll]
To be fair, Intuit’s own emails are confusing at best. Their email blasts promoting QuickBooks Online would lead the reader to believe that Intuit is annihilating all desktop versions. But, at this point, they deny it, publicly, on their own website.
UPDATED INFORMATION
For those of you who upgraded to QuickBooks 2021, you are getting emails regarding the sunset of your QuickBooks. If you do not have an “Upgrade” icon in your QuickBooks, simply call the Intuit Sales line to upgrade your existing QuickBooks. Intuit Sales 844-528-5768.
Understand from this point forward, it will be an annual fee. Yes, it costs more but so does QuickBooks Online. Also understand that when you call the sales line that their focus is to sell the Online version, not Desktop. While I was gone on vacation, Intuit must have sent a email blast to all 2021 QuickBooks desktop users. I had at least a dozen emails asking what to do when I returned.
Current Credit Card Information listed in the Intuit Login
It is very critical that in order for your product to renew, for your desktop subscription to renew annually, that you keep a current credit card listed in your Intuit login billing information. This is NOT the desktop login. This is the annoying Intuit window that prompts the user to login every so often, when all you want to do is use QuickBooks. If you let your subscription lapse, you will not be allowed to renew after July 31, 2024. Intuit states they will provide a 30 day grace window, but I would not count on it.
Yes, it will be >$649.00 annually but the online product will be higher after the three month enticement period. I recently read a NetSuite Facebook ad and the comments were all about hating QuickBooks online.
Do not misunderstand, please. I do not want any strong words emailed to me about how you love QuickBooks Online. There are some that absolutely love the online product, and maybe my concern has grown to the multitude of phone calls from online users that have had “issues.” There are still some kinks being worked out and QuickBooks Desktop is still by far a much more robust and customizable accounting program.
The advantage to QuickBooks Online is accessibility. Many of the KPI indicator softwares require QuickBooks Online, if you connect for accounts payable, because of the constant accessibility. KPI software is amazing but, and it is a big but, most that install simply do not use or review the reports. The Ask The Expert Consultations that I offer, teach which reports to create and review, and most participants had no idea their practice software had those reports. If you use the KPI reports, then awesome. If you would not, well, I am not certain it is worth sacrificing one software for the greater expense of two.
The other features in the Online product simply do not outweigh the Desktop product, especially if the the practice owner keeps the practice accounting and separately run business accounting through the one Desktop version. Every business has its own paid subscription in the Online version. The remaining option then is to create a remote access for those wanting access to the Desktop Product. Easy enough to accomplish!
What do I think Intuit is doing?
What is obvious is that with Intuit’s sales focus is on the Online product, there is greater revenue for Intuit. No business consultant could fault any business for goals designed for increased revenue. However, there are still hundreds of thousands desktop users and QuickBooks Desktop is the ONLY remaining valid business accounting software available.
Years ago, when they sold Quicken from their product line, Intuit took a hit in their users. Not as many Quicken users converted to Mint as they anticipated. I am hoping that the reason they are shutting down new sales is that they are hoping to gain only online clients, and that they will eventually sell the desktop product to another company in the future, as they did Quicken. But who knows – they could change their mind a hundred times by then.
The only thing for certain is what they are saying today. “This is a stop sell only for new purchases, not a complete discontinuation (sunset) of this QuickBooks Desktop product line. Existing subscribers of these products can continue to renew their subscriptions after July 31, 2024.” Yes, Intuit will discontinue selling QuickBooks Desktop products to new subscribers July 31, but this does not mean a forced QB Online transition. Stay on course!