How Much Is QuickBooks

Introduction

At Towerstone Accountants we provide specialist limited company accountancy services for directors and owner managed businesses across the UK. We created this webpage for business owners who want practical guidance on choosing and using accounting software, including day to day bookkeeping tasks, invoicing, bank feeds, and reporting. Our aim is to help you keep accurate records, reduce admin time, and stay compliant with HMRC and Companies House requirements.

One of the first practical questions I get when someone is choosing accounting software is simple, how much does it actually cost. QuickBooks is one of the biggest names in accounting software, so it is often one of the first platforms business owners look at. The challenge is that the headline price does not always tell the full story, and the real cost depends on how you use it, what features you need, and how your business grows over time.

In this article, I am going to explain how much QuickBooks costs in the UK, what the different plans include, what is and is not covered in the base price, and the additional costs that often catch people out. I will also share some real world context from working with clients who use QuickBooks, including why the price alone should never be the only factor when choosing accounting software.

This is written in clear UK English, with practical detail rather than marketing language, so you can make an informed decision rather than relying on a headline figure.

What QuickBooks actually is

QuickBooks is a cloud based accounting software platform designed primarily for small and medium sized businesses. In the UK, it is provided by Intuit under the QuickBooks brand.

It allows businesses to:

• Record income and expenses
• Raise invoices
• Track bills
• Reconcile bank accounts
• Prepare VAT returns
• Share data with accountants

Like most modern accounting platforms, QuickBooks works on a monthly subscription model rather than a one off purchase.

QuickBooks pricing model in the UK

QuickBooks pricing in the UK is tiered. This means you pay more as you move up plans with more features.

The plans are usually structured around:

• Business size
• Number of users
• Feature complexity

Prices can change and promotions are common, but the structure tends to remain consistent.

What matters most is understanding which plan you actually need, because many businesses either overpay for features they do not use or underpay and then hit limitations very quickly.

QuickBooks Self Employed

QuickBooks Self Employed is aimed at sole traders rather than limited companies.

It is designed for very simple businesses that want to track income and expenses and prepare basic figures for tax.

This plan typically includes:

• Income and expense tracking
• Mileage tracking
• Basic reporting
• Simple tax estimates

It does not support full double entry accounting in the same way as the higher plans and is not suitable for limited companies.

For sole traders with very simple affairs, this can be a low cost entry point, but it is also the plan businesses most commonly outgrow.

QuickBooks Simple Start

QuickBooks Simple Start is the lowest tier suitable for limited companies.

It is designed for small businesses with straightforward needs.

This plan usually includes:

• Invoicing
• Expense tracking
• Bank reconciliation
• Basic reporting
• VAT support

Simple Start is limited to a single user, which is an important point. As soon as more than one person needs access, this plan becomes restrictive.

In practice, this plan works for very small owner managed companies where only one person needs to use the software.

QuickBooks Essentials

QuickBooks Essentials sits in the middle of the pricing structure and is one of the more commonly used plans.

It builds on Simple Start and usually adds:

• Support for multiple users
• Bill management
• Time tracking
• More detailed reporting

This plan is often chosen by businesses that have grown beyond the very early stage but are not yet complex.

For many service based businesses with a small team, Essentials is the minimum plan that feels workable.

QuickBooks Plus

QuickBooks Plus is the most feature rich standard plan offered to small businesses.

It typically includes:

• Everything in Essentials
• Inventory tracking
• Project profitability
• Budgeting tools
• More advanced reporting

This plan is aimed at businesses that sell products, manage stock, or need deeper insight into project performance.

It is also the plan most commonly chosen by businesses that have outgrown the basics but are not yet at enterprise level.

How much QuickBooks actually costs per month

QuickBooks prices are usually advertised as monthly subscriptions.

In the UK, the typical full price ranges are broadly:

• Self Employed at the lower end
• Simple Start as the entry level for companies
• Essentials in the mid range
• Plus at the higher end

Exact figures vary depending on promotions, length of discount periods, and whether you pay monthly or annually.

It is very common for QuickBooks to offer discounted rates for the first few months. This can make the software look cheaper than it will be long term.

One of the most important things to check is what the price will be once any introductory discount ends.

Introductory offers and discounts

QuickBooks frequently runs promotions.

These may include:

• Reduced pricing for the first three or six months
• Percentage discounts off standard pricing
• Partner specific offers

These discounts are real, but they are temporary.

In practice, I always advise clients to look at:

• The full standard price
• Not just the discounted price

Budgeting based on a temporary discount can lead to frustration later when the cost increases unexpectedly.

Additional costs that are often overlooked

The subscription price is not always the full cost of using QuickBooks.

Common additional costs include:

• Payroll add ons
• Additional users beyond plan limits
• Payment processing fees
• App integrations
• Accountant or bookkeeper support

These costs vary by business but should be factored in when comparing software.

Payroll costs in QuickBooks

Payroll is not always included in the base subscription.

If you want to run payroll through QuickBooks, there is usually an additional monthly cost.

This covers:

• PAYE calculations
• Payslip generation
• RTI submissions to HMRC

For businesses with employees, this can add a noticeable amount to the monthly cost.

Payroll compliance is administered by HM Revenue and Customs, and whichever software you use must meet HMRC requirements.

Payment processing fees

QuickBooks offers integrated payment options, such as card payments on invoices.

While this can improve cash flow, it comes with transaction fees.

These fees are usually:

• A percentage of the payment value
• Charged per transaction

This is not unique to QuickBooks, but it is another example of cost sitting outside the headline subscription price.

Costs as your business grows

One of the biggest pricing frustrations I see with accounting software is when a business grows and hits plan limits.

This might involve:

• Needing more users
• Needing inventory features
• Needing better reporting

At that point, the business is forced onto a higher tier plan, increasing monthly costs.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean the cost of QuickBooks is not fixed long term.

Comparing QuickBooks pricing to other software

QuickBooks pricing is broadly in line with other major cloud accounting platforms.

It is not the cheapest option, but it is also not the most expensive.

The key difference often comes down to:

• What features you actually use
• How intuitive you find the software
• How much external support you need

Two businesses paying the same subscription can have very different experiences depending on how well the software fits their workflow.

Is QuickBooks good value for money

Whether QuickBooks is good value depends on your business.

It tends to be good value where:

• You use the features you are paying for
• You keep your records up to date
• You avoid unnecessary add ons

It can feel poor value where:

• You only use basic features
• You are paying for complexity you do not need
• You frequently need external help to use it

Software cost should always be assessed alongside usability and support.

Common pricing mistakes I see in practice

Based on experience, the most common issues are:

• Choosing the cheapest plan without checking limitations
• Budgeting based on discounted prices
• Forgetting payroll add ons
• Paying for features that are never used
• Switching plans frequently due to poor initial choice

Most of these problems can be avoided by thinking about how the business will look in 12 to 24 months rather than just today.

How accountants view QuickBooks pricing

From an accountant’s perspective, the software cost itself is usually less important than data quality.

If the software:

• Is used consistently
• Is set up correctly
• Produces reliable records

Then the overall cost of running the business often comes down.

If the software is poorly suited or poorly used, professional fees increase because more time is spent fixing issues.

This is why the cheapest software is not always the cheapest option overall.

Paying monthly versus annually

QuickBooks usually allows monthly payments.

In some cases, paying annually can reduce the overall cost, but this is not always offered or may be tied to promotions.

Paying monthly provides flexibility, which many small businesses prefer, particularly in the early stages.

Cancelling or changing plans

QuickBooks subscriptions can usually be changed or cancelled, but there are practical considerations.

These include:

• Data access after cancellation
• Exporting records
• Timing changes with VAT periods or year end

Switching software purely to save a small monthly amount often costs more in disruption and professional time.

Choosing QuickBooks based on cost alone

In my professional opinion, choosing accounting software based purely on cost is rarely a good idea.

The difference between plans is often small compared to:

• Time saved
• Errors avoided
• Better financial visibility

That said, understanding the cost clearly upfront is essential to avoid surprises.

A sensible way to assess QuickBooks cost

A practical way to think about QuickBooks pricing is to ask:

• Which plan fits my business today
• Which plan will I need next year
• What add ons are realistically required
• What will the full price be after discounts

Answering these questions gives a far clearer picture than looking at a headline monthly figure.

Final thoughts

QuickBooks pricing in the UK is based on a tiered monthly subscription model, with costs increasing as features and complexity increase. While introductory discounts can make it look inexpensive at first, the real cost is the standard price once promotions end, plus any add ons such as payroll or payment processing.

In my experience, QuickBooks is reasonably priced for what it offers, but it is not automatically the cheapest option once you factor in growth and additional features. The key is choosing the right plan from the start and understanding how costs will change as your business evolves.

Accounting software is not just a cost, it is a tool that shapes how smoothly your finances run. When the software fits the business, the subscription fee usually feels justified. When it does not, even a low monthly price can feel expensive very quickly.

You may also find our guidance on what is quickbooks and is quickbooks worth it helpful when exploring related accounting software tasks. For a broader overview of software options and setup guidance, you can visit our accounting software hub.