I agree that security is better - I’d trust Intuit’s security team to any IT guy supporting my small business clients. And most of them wouldn’t upgrade for years because it wasn’t really necessary. Installing QuickBooks Premier desktop has never really been a problem and support was never much of an issue because the application works pretty darn well – most of my clients didn’t even purchase support plans from Intuit because they weren’t using them.

They all use applications like remote desktop, Citrix, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn or other similar products which gives them access to their network from any device they choose. Even with cloud applications, all of my clients still need IT support because they still have desktops, servers, routers and networks and will likely have this type of infrastructure for the foreseeable future. Compared to the one-time $300 payment you would’ve made for QuickBooks Premier.īut the cost benefits of the cloud significantly outweigh these costs, right? Using my firm’s 600+ clients as a basis, I’m not so sure. Doing the math? In just one year you’re paying $323 for QuickBooks Online Essentials. The application compares closely to the $300 version of QuickBooks Premier. A monthly subscription for QuickBooks Online Essentials (the most popular choice, according to Intuit) lists for $26.95 per month.

In the long term, cloud applications are significantly more expensive for small businesses.

And they’re making it at the expense of their customers. The real reason is also the worst-kept secret about the cloud: software companies like Intuit make lots more money from cloud applications. And, we’re told, monthly software payments help us with our cash flow.īut that’s not the real reason why so many small businesses are moving to cloud based applications. Integration with other cloud based applications is easier.

Support for the software can be offered more economically because everything’s being maintained by the manufacturer. Cloud applications are easier to setup and get operational. Cloud applications allow us to access our data now from anywhere, using just about any mobile device. It relieves us of the burden of maintaining a network or an IT guy, we’re told. There are certainly sound reasons why so many small businesses can benefit from the cloud.

How to upgrade quickbooks pro with disc