The Best Credit Card Payment Processing Companies For Small Business
Read More Mar 1, 2023 Filed under: Credit Card Processing
QuickBooks Payments Review (Formerly Intuit Merchant Services)
QuickBooks Payments seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks and includes eCommerce support, invoicing, and ACH payments at a reasonable cost.
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Expert Analyst & Reviewer
UPDATED
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QuickBooks Payments
| Total Rating | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| Features | Good |
| Fees & Rates | Good |
| Customer Service | Good |
| Reviews & Complaints | Good |
QuickBooks Payments At A Glance
- QuickBooks Payments is a merchant services provider for businesses that use QuickBooks accounting software.
- The features and pricing offered by QuickBooks Payments vary depending on whether you use QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop.
- You can use QuickBooks Payments to process payments in person through QuickBooks POS or GoPayment.
Pros
- Predictable flat-rate pricing
- Seamless QuickBooks integration
- Inexpensive chip card readers
- No monthly minimums
- Good for professional services and B2B invoicing
Cons
- Limited invoice customization
- High per-transaction fees
- Slow deposit times
- Inconsistent customer support
Table of Contents
What Is QuickBooks Payments?
QuickBooks Payments is a merchant services provider designed to integrate with Intuit’s QuickBooks accounting software. Like many other merchant services providers, QuickBooks Payments uses Fiserv (formerly First Data) as its back-end processor and is not a direct processor.
If you already use QuickBooks for accounting, the seamless integration with QuickBooks Payments will probably be a big draw. You also get invoicing, eCommerce support, and ACH payments at a reasonable cost with QuickBooks Payments.
The rates aren’t the lowest I’ve seen, and if your average ticket size is pretty small, it could be very pricey. All in all, however, I’m happy to give QuickBooks Payments a score of 4 out of 5 stars. Check out our full QuickBooks Payments review for the whole story.
QuickBooks Credit Card Processing Features & Services
When you sign up for QuickBooks Payments, Intuit will give you your own merchant account with soft monthly and per-transaction limits. More importantly, every account comes with a QuickBooks integration, though your plan and some of the features will depend on which version of QuickBooks you’re using.
QuickBooks offers the following features:
| Feature | Availability |
|---|---|
| Credit Card Processing | |
| ACH Payment Processing | |
| Cryptocurrency Processing | |
| Currency Conversion | |
| Dynamic Currency Conversion | |
| PCI Compliance | |
| Recurring Billing & Subscriptions | |
| Invoicing | |
| Native eCommerce Integrations | |
| Premade Online Checkout Form | |
| Native POS Integrations | |
| POS Integration SDK |
QuickBooks Payments can offer most of the features the average small business might be looking for. The trick is that some of QuickBooks Payments’ features are spread between different plans and settings. Selecting the right QuickBooks Payments plan can be a bit of an undertaking.
QuickBooks Payments (Standard)
The standard plan QuickBooks Payments offers new users comes bundled with QuickBooks Online itself. Everything is managed from within the app.
With this plan, you can send invoices, set up recurring payments, and even accept swiped transactions with sales receipts wherever you are. When you generate invoices and sales receipts, you can pull from your customer list and populate the invoice from your product/service catalog.
You can use a USB-connected swiper to take card payments on a computer. But since QuickBooks Online offers its GoPayment mobile app for Android and iOS, you can also connect a GoPayment card reader to accept payments.
While the differences between the Online and Desktop versions of QuickBooks are significant enough to warrant their own article, many users report that the Online version isn’t quite as feature-rich. However, the processing rates for the online plan are cheaper.
QuickBooks Desktop Payments
The Intuit/QuickBooks payment processing plan for QuickBooks Desktop users isn’t quite as comprehensive, as the software lacks the cloud capabilities of its nimbler little sibling. It does offer some more advanced accounting features in exchange. However, you can’t accept mobile payments with the Desktop version.
ACH transfers are available for a set fee of $3 per transaction instead of being free. However, QuickBooks Desktop Payments includes a check-scanning feature not found in the online version. For other hardware, your options are limited to USB swipers.
There’s also QuickBooks POS, the company’s branded, locally-installed POS system. In the era of software-as-a-service, it’s a throwback to a time when you bought software rather than rented it, which sounds great until you see the price tag. You can technically bring any processor you want to Intuit’s POS system, but only QuickBooks Payments integrates seamlessly and prevents you from having to enter transaction data manually.
QuickBooks Mobile Payment App
QuickBooks GoPayment syncs automatically with QuickBooks Online and lets you take payments via smartphone or tablet. There is an item library, but you can just enter a quick sale without selecting a product. You can also collect taxes and tips. While you can accept payments from within QuickBooks Online, if your business is more retail-like, then GoPayment is probably the better option. It’ll certainly feel more familiar.
In addition to the app, you’ll need a card reader. The QuickBooks Card Reader accepts both contactless and EMV/chip transactions and connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. You can also use it as a virtual terminal with QuickBooks Desktop using a USB cable. Check out our GoPayment review for more details.
QuickBooks Checking
QuickBooks Checking is a high-yield business banking service (high-yield means about 1% APY at the moment). QuickBooks Checking has no minimum balance or account maintenance fees, but you need a QuickBooks Online account, which will set you back at least $30/month.
Like QuickBooks generally, the more entwined you are with the QuickBooks ecosystem, the more you’ll get out of it.
QuickBooks Merchant Fees & Rates
Below is an overview of the current rates and fees you’ll pay for using QuickBooks’s merchant services. Be aware that if you process more than $7,500 per month, you should be eligible for custom processing rates, which should be lower than the advertised Intuit credit card processing fees.
QuickBooks Payments
QuickBooks Online notably supports PayPal payments, which you won’t get with the Desktop version. Here’s a breakdown of the disclosed QuickBooks Online and GoPayment merchant rates and fees:
- ACH Bank Transfers: 1.0% (up to a maximum of $10)
- Card Swiped: 2.4% + $0.25 per transaction
- Card Invoiced (Includes PayPal & Apple Pay): 2.9% + $0.25 per transaction
- Card Keyed: 3.4% + $0.25 per transaction
There is no monthly fee specifically for this service, but you will need a QuickBooks Online subscription. Rates are currently $30/month for the Simple Start plan or $55/month for the Essentials plan. Intuit offers a 50% discount off these rates for new customers but only for the first three months of your subscription.
QuickBooks Desktop Payments
One thing to note is that the QuickBooks Desktop version of Payments does not include PayPal support. You’ll also see that ACH transactions cost $3 each, whereas they are 1.0% each with the Online plan. You’ll also want to note that the per-transaction fixed fee is higher — not good for merchants with small average tickets.
Pay-As-You-Go Plan
- Monthly Fee: $0
- ACH Bank Transfers: $3 each
- Card Swiped: 2.4% + $0.30 per transaction
- Card Invoiced: 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction
- Card Keyed: 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction
Pay Monthly Plan
- Monthly Fee: $20
- ACH Bank Transfers: $3 each
- Card Swiped: 1.6% + $0.30 per transaction
- Card Invoiced: 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction
- Card Keyed: 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction
QuickBooks Point Of Sale Payments
You can technically bring any processor to QuickBooks’ POS system, but only QuickBooks Payments syncs transactions automatically, sparing you from the need to enter data manually. You also get PIN debit support, which is a nice touch.
Note that there’s no per-transaction fee on the free basic plan. That’s a good thing. In fact, it puts the rates on par with PayPal and Square, making it viable for businesses with low ticket values. Of course, you’ll have to balance out these rates with the fact that QuickBooks POS software will cost you a one-time fee of $1,200-$1,900, depending on which version you buy.
Pay-As-You-Go Plan
- Monthly Fee: $0
- Swiped Credit/Debit: 2.7% + $0 per transaction
- Keyed: 3.5% + $0 per transaction
- PIN Debit: 1.0% + $0 per transaction
Pay Monthly Plan
- Monthly Fee: $20
- Swiped Credit/Debit: 2.3% + $0.25 per transaction
- Keyed: 3.2% + $0.25 per transaction
- PIN Debit: 1.0% + $0.25 per transaction
GoPayment
QuickBooks GoPayment was once offered on a standalone basis, but it has recently been folded into QuickBooks Payments. As such, the fees and rates for QuickBooks GoPayment are now the same as those of QuickBooks Online/Payments. You can use the QuickBooks Card Reader in conjunction with GoPayment to accept mobile payments — the reader costs $49.
Other Fees
If you decide to opt-in for the PCI compliance service with the pay-as-you-go option, you’ll be charged $9.95 per month. For monthly fee accounts, PCI compliance services are included as part of your monthly account fee. You’ll also be liable for the following incidental fees:
- $25 chargeback fee
- $25 ACH/bank reject fee
- $10 returned check fee
Customer Service & Technical Support
| QuickBooks Payments Support | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | |
| Email Support | |
| Support Tickets | |
| Live Chat | |
| Dedicated Support Representative | |
| Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
| Videos & Tutorials | |
| Company Blog | |
| Social Media |
While some users complain about the quality of QuickBooks merchant service support, I can at least say that Intuit’s customer service is very streamlined. The QuickBooks Payments FAQ is enough to answer most basic questions, with phone support available if you prefer to talk to real people. Phone support is available Monday-Friday, 5 AM to 6 PM PT.
QuickBooks Credit Card Processing Reviews & Complaints
Negative QuickBooks Payments Reviews & Complaints
QuickBooks Payments doesn’t have its own Better Business Bureau page separate from Intuit’s unaccredited profile (A- rating with 2,997 complaints closed in the last three years). However, you can find a handful of complaints directed at the company’s payment processing service there.
You can also find complaints on other review sites across the web — though I’ll admit you have to look carefully because you won’t find a lot of threads devoted exclusively to QuickBooks Payments. Many merchants seem to lump it in as part of the QuickBooks suite of products.
Here are the complaints I’ve seen in QuickBooks Payments reviews:
- Long hold times for customer service
- Long Deposit Times (two-three days)
- Lack of customizable invoices
All in all, these aren’t terrible complaints, and the overall volume that I’ve seen is relatively low. But these are complaints from actual users, and the lack of some features might be a deal-breaker for other merchants.
Positive QuickBooks Payments Reviews & Testimonials
While you’ll find a few anonymous, superficial (and all positive) reviews on the QuickBooks Payments site, I could not find any in-depth case studies or testimonials demonstrating the effectiveness and value of Intuit’s offerings. I’m not surprised, given how fragmented the information about QuickBooks Payments is.
If you have any insights here, please leave us your review. In the meantime, here’s what I have found from satisfied Intuit customers:
- Easy integration with QuickBooks products
- Invoicing and reminders
- Good rates if you’re already using QuickBooks
Final Verdict On QuickBooks Merchant Services
If you love the QuickBooks interface and the QuickBooks brand, QuickBooks Payments could be a great payment processing option. With online invoicing, a powerful mobile app, echeck/ACH acceptance, and QuickBooks bookkeeping integration, there are certainly some noteworthy draws for Intuit’s payment processing services.
Whether QuickBooks Payments will be a viable option for your business depends on the following:
- Are you a QuickBooks user?
- Is seamless QuickBooks integration with your merchant services a priority?
- Does your transaction volume make flat-rate pricing an optimal choice for your transaction needs?
When pricing your options, remember that, with the right gateway pairing, any of our top-rated merchant services providers can set you up with an account and QB integration. And if you’re not a current QB user but are considering getting the software and payments set up together, I encourage you to check out our QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online reviews to determine which one is right for you.
Given the progress made by Intuit in transparency and pricing, as well as its ability to provide a fairly frictionless, seamless merchant experience, I’m going to award QuickBooks Payments a respectable score of 4 out of 5 stars.
Jason Vissers
Expert Analyst & Reviewer at Merchant Maverick
Jason Vissers has been researching, analyzing, and writing about small business software and finance since 2015. His financial expertise has been cited in numerous publications, including The Ladders. Jason graduated with a Political Science degree from San Diego State University in 2001.
View Jason Vissers's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆
QuickBooks Payments |
|---|
After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see QuickBooks Payments for yourself.
The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆
QuickBooks Payments |
|---|
After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see QuickBooks Payments for yourself.
Organization Name: Becker Roofing and Exteriors
slow to review documents and slow to process money
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: Protax Houston
04/19/2021
I am extremely upset and disappointed with the the whole Qbs Merchant department. Not only one but twice have Qb’s held my deposits for no clear reason; and they are still holding a 2,000.00 payment now going on 3 months as we speak. Neither times were the transactions disputed but still put up for review, then late closing my accounts on a business decision. Not only did they cost me revenue, but clients and most of all reputation. I’ve been working in accounting and taxation half of my 40 year life span. I was trrained by an ex GS13 Ex-IRS Revenue agent an a former president of the Houston CPA Society for the last 15 years. I finally branched out on my own the beginning of the 2020 year. Due to the COVID it was difficult to make it to clients; and due to a great reviews from clients, was referred many more therefore making the payments higher than I guess usual but not for the industry I am in, which is 3-5 thousand for retainer per case or write up. So when they held a 3,000.00 payment soley on the basis that I was a new client and no history I wasn’t too suprised; but was when they said they would not release the funds to me and were closing my account soley due to a business decision. I was told the only way to get the funds back was to go to my client and have him go to his bank and dispute it, which was humiliating in itself. So, after a week and half my client finally caught up with the branch manger to get the letter, then as he was calling me to send me the letter, QBS RELEASED THE FUNDS TO ME..!!! I guess you could say he was a little upset and never returned to me to have more work done. THANK YOU Merchant Dept..! So when this round of draws came back out my work was overwhelming, figuring I would give QBs Merchant another try, after all QBs’s is the only accounting software my family and I have been loyal to my whole career. I did everything correctly Pro-Advisor profile, sent in all documents, (SS4, DL, Bank Stmts and connnected my bank online, only for the same thing to happen….! Well this time I refuse to go back to my client to lose face and possibly a client. I was told that I did not dispute it they would hold it for 3-6 months. Well I’m going 3 months and am basically pleading for Qbs to release it. I am barely starting out and 2,0000.00 is pretty good dent to my financial situation. To date the transaction has not came back returned nor disputed, therefore stating that its pretty clear to say that its a safe transaction..
01/28/2022
I was told I would have to wait the maximum amount of day’s which was 01/18/2022 the release to the states unclaimed property. Really?? Whats worse is Its still not released nobody can give me a clear answer, in fact everyone gives me a different answer I call, AND LOSE AN HOUR AND HALF. One time I called was on the line for an hour, even gave them access to my computer remotely. Even then they didnt realize I was talking about a a payment received they thought I was talking about payroll the whole time. I asked the last representative “What am I gonna have to do send a demand letter?” She said yes, thats what it looks like because she doesnt know why there still holding it and her answer from her suprervisor, “it will eventually be released.
They’re worse then mafiosos.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
If I could give a zero stars, I would. I had to contact them to change a phone number on the account because I needed to make a change to our banking information, and could not do it online because we couldn’t receive text messages to a business line. Eight phone calls, navigating through customer service telephone hell, had to upload personal information, passport of the owner of the business, multiple signatures and four days later, we still could not get it done. Would get emails from customer service asking for signatures on forms, but not specifying what form they were talking about!!!! Told them to cancel the account, and they still sent more requests for unspecified forms. Worst customer service ever! They clearly do not want our business. I signed up for Square instead. Took 5 minutes and am already receiving money in 24 hours.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.
Organization Name: Talior Made
This company goes beyond in incompetience. You they cant get anything write. You have to cal in to get documents and they love playing games. They will leave you on hold, hang up to the phone and play all sorts of games. If you get a chargeback dont bother contacting them because they are the worse. You need documents and they love playing games. You tell them 1000 times what you need and they purposely send you the wrong documents or docs you already have. You cal the next day they play stupid. You wait days for their games to be played and then again they play more games. 2 weeks to get a set of documents and we’re still waiting. Already moved to another processor, had enough of them!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this review and may be outdated.