QuickBooks Workforce Review

Pros

• Easy setup
• No long-term contract required
• Integrates with QuickBooks Online
• Same-day direct deposit
• Comprehensive feature set
• Tax penalty protection

Cons

• Numerous public complaints
• Poor customer support
• Small-print fees
• Poorly reviewed Workforce app

What is QuickBooks Workforce?

QuickBooks Workforce (formerly known as QuickBooks Online Payroll) is a full-service payroll processing software solution from Intuit that works directly with QuickBooks Online. Small to mid-sized businesses with employees or contractors can use QuickBooks Workforce to automate running payroll, manage HR, handle benefits administration, and manage payroll taxes.

Small businesses may find the platform overly complex and more expensive than streamlined alternatives like Gusto or Square Payroll.

QuickBooks Workforce Pricing

QuickBooks Workforce is feature-rich and transparent about pricing, but it can become expensive once employee costs, add-ons, and accounting bundles are factored in.

QuickBooks Workforce offers six payroll pricing plans, with each plan increasing features and benefits as you move up a tier. QuickBooks Workforce has month-to-month contracts and no early termination fees. Payments are monthly, and you can cancel your subscription at any time.

Three of the plans only include payroll software, while the other three also include a monthly accounting software subscription.

Here’s a quick look at QuickBooks Workforce’s pricing plans:

QuickBooks recently added a separate QuickBooks Contractor Payments pricing tier as a part of its payroll services. This plan serves businesses that only pay contractors and that only need basic payment support for contractors.

QuickBooks also runs promotions for its payroll product frequently, so be sure to check for any available discounts before purchasing. QuickBooks Workforce offers a 30-day free trial, but if you opt to try before you buy, you’ll miss out on a 50% off “buy now” promotion.

Compared to other top payroll options with transparent pricing, such as Gusto or OnPay, QuickBooks Workforce’s pricing is a bit on the higher end. For example, neither OnPay nor Gusto charges you extra to offer direct deposit for contractors.

Additionally, while QuickBooks Workforce’s cheapest plan for paying both employees and contractors doesn’t include local tax filing and payment, both Gusto and OnPay’s cheapest plans do.

QuickBooks Contractor Payments

QuickBooks Contractor Payments standalone payroll plan for paying contractors costs $25+/month and adds a $2 per contractor fee starting with your 21st contractor, and includes:

• Unlimited contractor payments
• Contractor self-onboarding, including W-9 completion and bank details
• Unlimited 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC e-filing for contractors and vendors

QuickBooks Workforce Payroll

QuickBooks Workforce Payroll includes:

• Full-service payroll
• Next day direct deposit
• Unlimited payroll runs
• Calculates paychecks
• Calculates and files federal and state taxes
• Calculates and files year-end forms
• 1099 e-file and pay
• Expert support
• Workforce portal
• Manages garnishments and deductions
• Reporting features
• Healthcare benefits
• 401(k) plans

QuickBooks Workforce Payroll And Simple Start

QuickBooks Workforce Payroll and Simple Start includes all of the payroll features of QuickBooks Workforce Payroll, plus QuickBooks Online Simple Start accounting software.

QuickBooks Workforce Premium

QuickBooks Workforce Premium includes everything in the Workforce Payroll plan, plus:

• Local-level payroll tax support
• Automatic state new-hire reporting
• Same-day direct deposit
• Expert payroll setup review
• Time tracking on the go
• HR support center
• Workers’ compensation administration

QuickBooks Workforce Payroll And Essentials

QuickBooks Workforce Payroll + Essentials includes all of the payroll features of QuickBooks Workforce Payroll, plus QuickBooks Online Essentials accounting software.

QuickBooks Workforce Elite

QuickBooks Workforce Elite includes everything in the Premium plan, plus:

• HR support with a personal HR advisor
• Assisted payroll setup
• Same-day direct deposit
• White-glove customized setup
• Advanced time and project tracking
• Tax penalty protection of up to $25,000
• 24/7 product support

QuickBooks Workforce Premium And Plus

QuickBooks Workforce Premium and Plus includes everything from Workforce Premium, plus QBO Plus accounting software.

QuickBooks Workforce Extra Costs & Fees

QuickBooks Workforce has more than its fair share of extra costs and fees. Users may pay extra for add-ons or bundled services, such as multistate tax filing, benefits, and QuickBooks Online accounting plans.

Is QuickBooks Workforce Easy To Use?

QuickBooks Workforce is fairly easy to use, especially for businesses already using QuickBooks Online. Setup is guided, the platform is cloud-based, and payroll workflows are straightforward, though users may still run into glitches, support issues, and limited HR integrations.

QuickBooks Workforce also has mobile apps for Apple products and Android products.

QuickBooks Workforce Features

QuickBooks Workforce offers plenty of features spanning payroll processing, employee management, time tracking, HR, and benefits administration. The bulk of the software’s lost points comes from its local tax support limitations and limited HR integrations.

QuickBooks Workforce also includes Payroll AI tools designed to collect time and attendance data, flag inconsistencies, and draft payroll for review.

For the cost and wealth of features, Intuit is well-optimized for mid-sized businesses looking for a full-service payroll solution.

Overall, QuickBooks Workforce boasts a range of features that make it a great option for businesses already within the QuickBooks ecosystem. As a standalone solution, though, it doesn’t stand out from the competition.

For small and micro businesses looking for self-service payroll, this is an expensive option for the features promised, and you may find stronger value elsewhere.

QuickBooks Workforce Customer Service

QuickBooks Workforce offers several support options, including phone, chat, help articles, and product support. However, customer feedback about payroll support is mixed, with recurring complaints about wait times and difficulty resolving payroll or tax issues.

Here are QuickBooks Workforce’s customer support options:

Just be prepared to spend some time getting your questions answered if you run into problems.

Some users report difficulty reaching knowledgeable payroll support, especially for more complex payroll or tax issues.

QuickBooks Workforce Integrations

QuickBooks Workforce is continuously expanding its integrations. QuickBooks is known for giving access to over 750+ integrations, and the QuickBooks Online program has many you might be familiar with, such as QuickBooks Time, Expensify, Shopify, and Chaser.

A QuickBooks Workforce API for time tracking and deductions is available on the platform’s developer sandbox.

QuickBooks Workforce Reviews

QuickBooks Workforce generally receives positive reviews across user review sites, though payroll-specific complaints are still common.

Positive reviews suggest that the software is easy to use and valuable if you are already within the QuickBooks ecosystem. Complaints include customer service issues, feature limitations, and high pricing.

The Better Business Bureau gives Intuit QuickBooks a good rating overall, but reviews become significantly more negative when focused specifically on payroll support experiences.

Common complaints mention misfiled taxes, miscommunications about payments, and inconsistent support experiences.

Negative QuickBooks Workforce Reviews

• Hidden and unauthorized fees
• Tax errors
• Missing payments
• Poor customer service

Positive QuickBooks Workforce Reviews

• Onboarding and setup representatives
• Easy-to-use platform
• Excellent QuickBooks integration
• Consistently updated

Is QuickBooks Workforce Secure?

QuickBooks Payroll includes standard security features such as SSL encryption, multifactor authentication, and fraud monitoring.

QuickBooks Workforce has substantial security features to protect its users against fraud and data theft, including monitoring to keep on top of security threats.

Here are some of QuickBooks Workforce’s security features:

• 128-bit SSL encryption
• Multifactor authentication
• Tier-4 data center physical security measures
• Routine security testing

How Does Workforce Compare To Other Payroll Software

The Final Verdict: Is QuickBooks Workforce Worth It?

QuickBooks is undoubtedly a big player in the business software world, and the recent updates to its full-service platform demonstrate a willingness to adapt and improve. Businesses may need a higher-tier plan or add-ons to access features that some competitors include at lower tiers.

However, QuickBooks is continuously adapting and reworking its payroll features. Many discounts and sales are available, so the top price is competitive with industry standards.

QuickBooks Workforce makes the most sense for businesses already using QuickBooks Online and comfortable with Intuit’s ecosystem. Plus, the TurboTax integration for W-2 employees is tempting. However, it is hard to look past the poor customer support and negative reviews.

For the average small business owner, if you don’t already use QuickBooks, other options offer more support, flexibility, and value for your money.

Check out our Gusto review or our ADP review for a look at two of the best alternatives to QuickBooks Workforce available.