QuickBooks Premier Review
If your small business has outgrown QuickBooks Pro but still wants a locally installed accounting software solution, QuickBooks Premier may be a good fit for you.
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QuickBooks Desktop Premier
| Total Rating | 3.5 |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Fair |
| Features | Excellent |
| Customer Service | Fair |
| Integrations | Good |
| Reviews | Good |
Accounting Method
Accrual & Cash-Basis AccountingPricing
$549.99+/yearBusiness Size
Small - Medium Businesses With 1-5 UsersQuickBooks Desktop Premier At A Glance
- Includes numerous accounting features, 130+ reports, and 200+ integrations
- Supports up to five users (for an additional fee)
- Users can choose from Standard Edition or six industry-specific editions including General Contractor, Manufacturing and Wholesale, Nonprofit, General Business, Professional Services, or Retail
Pros
- Advanced features
- Robust accounting reports
- Excellent tax support
- Numerous integrations
- Double-entry accounting
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Limited payment gateway integrations
- PC-only
Table of Contents
- What Is QuickBooks Premier?
- QuickBooks Premier Pricing
- Is QuickBooks Premier Easy To Use?
- QuickBooks Premier Features
- QuickBooks Premier Customer Service
- QuickBooks Premier Integrations
- QuickBooks Premier Reviews
- Is QuickBooks Premier Secure?
- The Final Verdict: Is QuickBooks Premier Worth it?
- QuickBooks Premier FAQs
What Is QuickBooks Premier?
QuickBooks Premier is accounting software that’s loaded with advanced features and best suited for small- to medium-sized businesses that aren’t quite ready to upgrade to QuickBooks Enterprise. QuickBooks Premier supports more users than QuickBooks Pro and offers six specialized industry editions, in addition to the Standard Edition.
While the industry editions can add a lot of value to companies in need of specialized features, if you’re just using the Standard Edition, the software is a bit overpriced. The software also comes with a steep learning curve and limited customer support.
QuickBooks Premier Pricing
| QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plans | Price | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Premier Plus | $549.99/year | If you want industry-specific accounting software for 1-5 users |
| QuickBooks Premier Plus + Payroll | $1,049.99/year | If you want industry-specific accounting software plus payroll |
Following the launch of QuickBooks Premier 2022, Intuit announced an updated pricing model. Under this new pricing structure, users pay an annual subscription fee. One-time licenses are no longer available. There is some good news, though, as this new structure includes updates, security patches, automated data backup and recovery, and free customer support.
QuickBooks Premier has two pricing plans. The difference between the two is that one includes QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll. Intuit offers a 60-day guarantee on its plans, allowing you to receive a full refund if you’re not fully satisfied. For new users, a discount may be available, so make sure to check out Intuit’s website for potential discounts.
QuickBooks Premier Plus
QuickBooks Premier Plus can be purchased for $549.99/year and includes the following features:
- Income tracking
- Expense tracking
- Contact management
- Invoicing
- Estimates
- Accounts payable
- Budgeting
- 130+ reports
- 200+ integrations
- Inventory management
- Sales tax and tax form capabilities
- Sales orders
- Optional industry editions
QuickBooks Premier Plus + Payroll
QuickBooks Premier Plus + Payroll is priced at $1,049.99/year and includes everything from QuickBooks Premier Plus, as well as:
- QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll
Extra QuickBooks Premier Costs & Fees
| QuickBooks Desktop Premier Extra Costs | Price |
|---|---|
| QuickBooks Payroll | $500/year + $2/month/employee OR $50/month + $2/month/employee |
| Additional Users | $300/year/user |
| Right Networks Hosting | $59.99+/month |
There are several additional costs to be aware of before purchasing QuickBooks Premier. If you need payroll, you can sign up for the QuickBooks Premier + Payroll plan. QuickBooks Payroll is also available as a separate add-on, priced at $500/year + $2/month per employee. You can also sign up for the monthly payroll plan for $50/month + $2/month per employee.
All QuickBooks Premier subscriptions include one user. A total of five users can be added to your subscription for an additional fee. Additional users will add $300/year per user to your annual subscription fee.
QuickBooks Premier is locally-installed software, but if you need more mobility, you can sign up for Right Networks hosting. Right Networks cloud hosting starts at $59.99/month per user.
Is QuickBooks Premier Easy To Use?
QuickBooks Premier has a notoriously steep learning curve, and the setup process is much more involved than some of its cloud-based competitors. Users with no previous accounting experience may have a difficult time, but if you put in the time and effort to learn, QuickBooks Premier becomes easy and rewarding to use.
QuickBooks Premier Features
| QuickBooks Desktop Premier Features | Availability |
|---|---|
| Budgeting | |
| Tax Support | |
| Invoicing | |
| Estimates | |
| Client Portal | |
| Contact Management | |
| Expense Tracking | |
| Bank Reconciliation | |
| Chart Of Accounts | |
| Accounts Payable | |
| Inventory | |
| Time Tracking | |
| Project Management | |
| Number Of Reports | 130+ |
The incredibly-developed QuickBooks Premier holds its own against its competitors, boasting a ton of in-depth features. While it’s impossible to cover them all in this post, here are some of the most notable QuickBooks Premier features:
Invoices & Estimates
QuickBooks Premier makes it easy to create and send invoices and estimates. Additionally, there are a handful of useful time-saving automations. Here’s what you’ll get with your subscription:
- Eight invoice templates
- Customization options
- Recurring invoices
- Attach discounts, notes, and files to invoices
- Batch invoicing
- Automated payment reminders
- Combine multiple invoices into a single email
- Convert estimates to invoices
- Attach estimates to projects
- Enhanced accessibility for vision-challenged users
Bookkeeping
QuickBooks Premier has a robust set of bookkeeping and accounting features. The number of features does contribute to the steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of the software, it’s easy to use, and you’ll be able to accurately track and manage your finances with features including:
- Bank reconciliation
- Live bank feeds
- Expense tracking
- Custom bank rules
- Mobile bill entry with QuickBooks mobile app
- Contact management
- Customizable chart of accounts
- Journal entries
- Accounts payable
- Recurring bills
- Order & print checks
- 45+ letter templates
- Packing slips
- Purchase orders
- Sales receipts
- To-do lists
- Built-in calendar
- Multicurrency support
- Import and export
Time Tracking
QuickBooks Premier has basic time tracking features including:
- Track billable and non-billable time
- Manual time tracking
- Built-in time
- Weekly timesheets
- Create invoices for billable time
QuickBooks Premier Customer Service
| QuickBooks Desktop Premier Support | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | |
| Email Support | |
| Support Tickets | |
| Live Chat | |
| Dedicated Support Representative | |
| Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
| Videos & Tutorials | |
| Company Blog | |
| Social Media |
With your annual subscription, you’ll receive unlimited customer support at no additional charge. This includes live chat support and a call-back option to help reduce long phone wait times. Support reps are generally kind and helpful, but there is an inconsistent level of QuickBooks knowledge from person to person.
There is a lack of email support, which could prove to be a problem for some users. However, there are other resources available, including a help center, the QuickBooks Community, an in-software Smart Help feature, and a resource center.
QuickBooks Premier Integrations
QuickBooks Premier has over 240 integrations available for users; however, there are very few payment gateways. For a larger payment gateway selection, consider checking out QuickBooks Online instead. QuickBooks Desktop Premier has an API for developers.
QuickBooks Premier Reviews
For the most part, users seem happy with QuickBooks Premier, although there are a few recurring complaints.
Intuit, as a company, receives an A+ rating on BBB. QuickBooks Premier specifically receives 8.3/10 stars on TrustRadius (based on 300+ ratings), and 4.5/5 stars on Software Advice (based on 80+ratings). The majority of users seem satisfied with the software and find that it simplifies their bookkeeping processes.
Negative QuickBooks Premier Reviews & Complaints
- Steep learning curve and navigational difficulties
- Slow load times when launching the software
- Occasional glitches and errors
- Expensive pricing
Positive QuickBooks Premier Reviews & Testimonials
- Well-organized, intuitive UI
- Strong feature set
- Easy to use once you learn the software
- Easy for accountants to teach to new clients
- Industry-specific features and reporting
Is QuickBooks Premier Secure?
Because QuickBooks Premier is locally-installed software, data security is primarily up to you (unless you are using QuickBooks hosting). QuickBooks offers online resources for learning how to protect your computer and provides a list of antivirus and firewall software compatible with QuickBooks Premier.
Read our How To Keep Your Locally-Installed Accounting Software Secure post to learn about protecting your data.
The Final Verdict: Is QuickBooks Premier Worth it?
| QuickBooks Desktop Premier Review Summary | |
|---|---|
| Business Size | Best for small businesses with 1-5 users |
| Choose If You Need |
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Strong double-entry accounting, easy bank reconciliation, journal entries, a strong chart of accounts, and more make QuickBooks Premier a great choice for accountants and other business owners who value traditional, locally-installed accounting. The software also offers invoicing, time tracking, project management, expense tracking, and just about any other feature you could wish for.
However, the annual subscription pricing can be a bit expensive for smaller businesses. Add in payroll and additional users, and the fees rack up quickly. Most users will find that QuickBooks Desktop Pro fits their needs at a more affordable price, particularly if they plan to just use the standard version of the software. However, businesses that require more users or want industry-specific features and reporting may find QuickBooks Premier to be worth the additional expense.
Still on the fence? If you need extra help deciding on the perfect QuickBooks product for your business, check out our Complete QuickBooks Product Comparison Guide to find the product that’s right for you. Good luck!
QuickBooks Premier FAQs
Erica Seppala
Expert Analyst & Reviewer at Merchant Maverick
An expert in accounting, finance, and point of sale, Erica has been researching and writing about all things small-business since 2018. Erica's insights into personal and business finance have been cited in numerous publications, including MSN, Real Simple, and Reader's Digest. She is a graduate of Limestone College.
View Erica Seppala's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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