QuickBooks is a popular financial software program that can help businesses manage their finances. It offers features like budgeting and forecasting, invoicing and tracking of expenses, and a payments module that lets businesses keep track of payments.
QuickBooks is also versatile, allowing users to open and manage files in a variety of formats, including Microsoft Excel and PDF.
QuickBooks is the most popular accounting and payroll solution for self-employed individuals. It has a wide range of features that can be put to use in the business, including payroll, bill payment, invoicing and inventory control.
What are the QuickBooks Essentials and Plus versions?
QuickBooks Essentials is the basic version of QuickBooks that comes free with most versions of QuickBooks. It has all the features you need to get started, including a simple interface and easy-to-use drag-and-drop tools.
If you need more advanced features, or if you want to save time by working with your finances on your own instead of through QuickBooks, we recommend upgrading to QuickBooks Plus.
With QuickBooks Plus, you get powerful tools for tracking expenses, managing your finances, and building a financial plan. You can also add accounts receivable and accounts payable modules to help manage your business finances.
QuickBooks Essentials Features
QuickBooks Essentials is a less expensive option than QuickBooks Plus and doesn’t offer as many features, but it’s still a powerful financial management software.
QuickBooks Essentials is designed for small businesses, so it’s not ideal for accounting needs that are more complex than a single business. With QuickBooks Essentials, you can do the following:
Limited Customization Options
Limited customization options can be a downside of QuickBooks Essentials, but there are also some benefits. For example, Essentials is less comprehensive than Plus, so you have more freedom to customize the software to your specific needs.
Customizable reports and reports that are easy to read Customizable reports and reports that are easy to read are two other features of QuickBooks Essentials that you don’t get with QuickBooks Plus.
User Interface Simplicity
QuickBooks is a popular accounting software used by many small businesses. One of the features that sets QuickBooks apart from other programs is its user interface.
QuickBooks’ user interface is simple and easy to use, making it great for novice users. However, some users find that the interface is not as user-friendly as more complex software options.
The main difference between QuickBooks Essentials and Plus versions is that Essentials offers fewer features and is designed for small businesses who don’t need certain features, such as online transactions.
Plus offers more features at a higher price point, but may be too complicated for novice users. Overall, the QuickBooks user interface is simple and easy to use, but differentiating between the Essentials and Plus versions can be confusing for some users.
Lower Price Point
If you’re a small business owner who is just starting out, or if your business isn’t as online-savvy as you’d like it to be, then QuickBooks Essentials might be the software for you. It’s a lower price point product, and it’s available free of charge from Intuit.
One big difference between QuickBooks Essentials and the Plus versions is that Plus offers more features and support. For example, Plus lets you track leads and sales activities in addition to finances. But if those additional features aren’t necessary for your business, then QuickBooks Essentials will do just fine.
QuickBooks Plus Features
QuickBooks Essentials and Plus offer users different features and functionality, so it’s important to understand the differences in order to make the best decision for your needs.
Plus offers more features, such as invoicing and tracking expenses, managing payroll, and forecasting financial results. If you want to take your business further than just managing finances and records, then Plus is a better option.
For example, if you want to grow your business by creating invoices and tracking payments, then Plus is an essential tool for you.
Greater Customization Options
When businesses want to save time and money, they often turn to QuickBooks Essentials. But what if you need more customization options than what’s available in QuickBooks Essentials? That’s where Plus comes in.
Plus offers a greater variety of customization options, making it the perfect software for businesses that need more control over their finances.
Higher price point
QuickBooks Essentials and Plus are the two most popular editions of QuickBooks. The main difference between the editions is that Essentials has a lower price point, while Plus includes features such as invoicing, taxation, and group billing.
Which version is best for you?
QuickBooks Essentials and Plus offer users different features that can make their accounting lives easier. So, which version is right for you?
If you just need to manage your finances and don’t need advanced features, QuickBooks Essentials is a good option. It’s free, has a simple user interface, and includes basic reports and tracking tools.
If you want more features, or if you’re using QuickBooks as part of a business operation, then Plus may be the better choice.
It costs money (around $60 per year), but it offers enhanced features such as account receivables management and inventory control. To decide which version is right for you, take the following into account:
- Your needs: Do you just need to manage your finances basics or do you need more sophisticated features?
- Your budget: Are you willing to pay for additional features?
- Your computer resources: Do you have enough memory, disk space and processing power to handle the program?
- How much time are you willing to spend learning new software? The QuickBooks Pro version comes with a CD-ROM that includes QuickBooks’ tutorial. To access the tutorial, you need to have QuickBooks installed. The Pro version is available in English only.
Final thoughts on QuickBooks Essentials vs Plus
QuickBooks Essentials and Plus offer slightly different features and management options, but they are both great tools for small businesses. If you’re just starting out, QuickBooks Essentials is a good option because it’s free and easy to use.
Plus offers more features and control, but it can be more difficult to learn. If you have experience using a financial software program, you may prefer Plus.