QuickBooks Solopreneur Review

Pros

• Free plan available
• Good tax support
• Easy to use
• Well-designed UI

Cons

• Limited invoice features
• Unscalable

What Is QuickBooks Solopreneur?

QuickBooks Solopreneur (formerly QuickBooks Self-Employed) was designed to make the lives of freelancers easier. Instead of being accounting software like other QuickBooks products, QuickBooks Solopreneur is tax software (with a few accounting features thrown in). The software boasts a user-friendly interface and features including strong tax support, expense tracking, deductions, invoicing, a few reports, and the ability to separate personal expenses from business expenses.

QuickBooks Solopreneur isn’t the right option for everyone. It’s designed for one-person businesses only — other businesses will find what they need with QuickBooks Online. However, Solopreneur is a solid (and affordable) freelancing tool for freelancers.

QuickBooks Solopreneur Pricing

QuickBooks offers two main options for solopreneurs.

A 30-day free trial is available. QuickBooks also frequently runs promotions to lower the cost of paid software (such as 50% off for the first three months).

QuickBooks Free

QuickBooks Free is basic, free software that includes the following:

• Income & expense tracking
• Up to 2 invoices per month
• Upload up to 2 receipts per month
• Track up to 5 trips per month
• Basic reporting
• Manage 1 contractor
• Payment processing

QuickBooks Lite

QuickBooks Lite includes everything in Free, plus:

• Unlimited invoices
• Unlimited receipt uploads
• Unlimited mileage tracking
• Automated bill pay
• Mobile app
• Automated sales tax
• Instant deposit
• Integrations
• Manage up to 3 contractors

Businesses that want access to even more features may consider upgrading to QuickBooks Online Simple Start.

Extra QuickBooks Solopreneur Costs & Fees

There are a few add-ons for Solopreneur. Expert tax support is included, and you don’t pay until you file. Pricing for tax filing is $169+.

If you’d like to accept payments from your customers, QuickBooks has built-in payment processing. Processing rates range from 1% - 3.5% per transaction. 

Is QuickBooks Solopreneur Easy To Use?

QuickBooks Solopreneur is cloud-based software that is easy to learn and use.

There’s no confusing accounting jargon or unnecessary features crowding your dashboard, and setting up your account takes very little time. There’s also built-in support if you need extra help setting up and navigating the software.

QuickBooks Solopreneur is lacking somewhat compared to other accounting software. There’s no bookkeeping support, and no way to import customers. QuickBooks Solopreneur also only supports importing past accounting data from your previous QuickBooks Self-Employed account.

However, keep in mind that Solopreneur is designed for one-person businesses and is more tax software than accounting software.

QuickBooks Solopreneur Features

QuickBooks Solopreneur is tax software with a few light bookkeeping tools added to the mix.

For the average freelancer, QB Solopreneur offers a good, basic feature set, but for business owners wanting full accounting capabilities, Solopreneur might not cut it.

Here’s an overview of the features you can expect with QuickBooks Solopreneur.

QuickBooks Solopreneur Customer Service

QuickBooks is generally notorious for poor customer support. However, Solopreneur is trying to break the mold and offer good, quick support options.

There is an incredibly helpful built-in live chat feature, as well as phone support. The help center is also well-organized and makes it easy to find the answers you’re looking for. Video tutorials are also available. QuickBooks also maintains a company blog, as well as social media profiles on Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

QuickBooks Solopreneur Reviews

Reviews for QuickBooks products are always a mixed bag, but the overall consensus is generally pretty positive. QuickBooks Solopreneur is no exception.

While there are some negative reviews online, QuickBooks Solopreneur receives overall favorable reviews, boasting 4/5 stars on Software Advice (based on 120+ reviews) and 6.6/10 stars on TrustRadius (based on 14+ ratings).

Negative QuickBooks Solopreneur Reviews & Complaints

Here’s what users didn’t like about QuickBooks Solopreneur:

• Incorrect mileage calculations
• Poor customer service
• Inconsistency when importing transactions from Etsy & PayPal
• Issues with connecting bank accounts

Positive QuickBooks Solopreneur Reviews & Testimonials

Here’s what users like most about the software:

• Easy to learn & use
• Saves money on taxes
• Excellent mobile apps
• Freelancer-specific features

Is QuickBooks Solopreneur Secure?

QuickBooks Solopreneur has several security features to keep your data secure. Notable security features include:

• 128-bit SSL encryption
• Multi-factor authentication
• Intrusion & virus protection
• Multiple secure data centers
• Firewalls
• Routine security testing

How Does QuickBooks Solopreneur Compare To Other Accounting Software?

QuickBooks Solopreneur’s top competitor is within the same Intuit family of software products. Users looking for a more robust, full-featured accounting software may find what they’re looking for with QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Solopreneur VS QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is cloud-based software that’s best suited for small to medium businesses. QuickBooks Online supports up to 25 users, boasts advanced features, and has hundreds of integrations. With more features, QBO isn’t quite as easy to learn as QuickBooks Solopreneur. Still, the software is extremely user-friendly, and most users only encounter a few navigational difficulties.

As you would expect, QuickBooks Online has a larger monthly subscription fee. However, if you want full accounting software as you grow your business, you’ll find that QBO is well worth the extra expense.

The Final Verdict: Is QuickBooks Solopreneur Worth It?

QuickBooks Solopreneur is ideal for freelancers and independent contractors in need of federal tax support. The software offers great tax tools and is incredibly easy to use.

However, businesses looking for full accounting software may be disappointed, as QuickBooks Solopreneur lacks many of the features you’d find with other software. You won’t find inventory management, project management, time tracking, or third-party integrations here.

Ultimately, if you are looking for federal tax support, QuickBooks Solopreneur is a good option. You can take the software for a spin with a 30-day free trial to see if it’s going to work for your business, or you can sign up for the Free plan, although features are very limited.

If you want a more robust accounting solution, make sure to check out our picks for best small business accounting software for options that may be a better fit.

QuickBooks Solopreneur FAQs