I was going through my emails today and I received 2 similar looking emails from Intuit. They are announcing price increases for not only certain QuickBooks Online subscription levels, but also for ProAdvisors who use desktop software as well. Reactions from ProAdvisors have been swift and very negative, and I suspect many businesses who use the online software as well will react the same way – by canceling their subscriptions.

 Looking at it from a ProAdvisor perspective, there is only so much I can do to assist with dealing with the upcoming price increase, which in all honesty, makes very little sense. It is bad enough that the service tiers are limited in one fashion or another (max number of users, access to certain features, etc,), but then to hike prices in the name of “innovation” is laughable at best. This is same reason I questioned the changing of the Enterprise level program to a subscription service way back when. Granted, I have yet to run into any perspective or current client that needs that kind of capacity, but I have to think that paying over $1000 annually for a single user license (or $1500 if you add payroll) is insane.

 It would not shock me in the least if I receive calls for perspective clients asking me what to do about the price increase. My response will be simple – move to the desktop software (Pro works just fine unless you need Premiers capabilities or something industry specific) as there are utilities out there that will allow conversion to the desktop product. Clients that have payroll do have options other that QuickBooks as well. I do have affiliations with both Gusto (formerly Zen) and Patriot Software, and both offer QuickBooks Intgration with the desktop software (and they can even handle your payroll taxes – to a point).

 Now, let’s turn our attention to the price increases that will affect me directly. Right now, my ProAdvisor membership is as the basic level, which means I have free access to the online software. There are two levels above – Deluxe (which includes the Accountant grade desktop software), and Premium (Deluxe + Enterprise, POS, and Mac software). Right now there is a $200 price difference between the two. Later on this year, once the 2020 software comes out, the cost of the Deluxe level will increase by $100 (28.7% increase), and the cost of the Premium will go up by $250 (45.5% increase). Now, at the same time they are jacking the price of the retail accountant software by $100 (25% increase). That being said, I am beginning to question the value of the premium package, as again I do not foresee any potential clients needing Enterprise grade software, let alone a POS system. In fact, I am actually starting to look into open source POS software as a possible product line.

 As always, I encourage potential clients to reach out to me directly if they have any questions.