QuickBooks Pro vs Premier vs Enterprise vs Accountant
Tim is a Certified QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) Pro, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and CPA with 25 years of experience. He brings his expertise to Fit Small Business’s accounting content.
Mark has researched and reviewed accounting software at Fit Small Business since 2019 and has developed an extensive knowledge of accounting software features and how unique business needs determine the best accounting software.
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
The right QuickBooks Desktop software for you depends on the size of your business and the features you need. If you own a very small business that has no inventory, you can choose between Pro and Premier. For a large business needing inventory accounting, Enterprise is the best choice. If you’re a bookkeeper or accountant that provides services to clients, you should consider Accountant.
QuickBooks Desktop Comparison: At a Glance
Pricing & Features | Pro | Premier | Enterprise | Accountant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plus Subscription 2022 ($/Year) | From $349.99 (one user) | From $549.99 (one user) | From $1,275 (one user) | Accountant Desktop: $499 (one user) Enterprise Accountant: $849 (one user) |
Maximum Users | 3 | 5 | 40 | Accountant Desktop: 5 Enterprise Accountant: 40 |
Export Accountant’s Copy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Import Accountant’s Copy | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Manage Sales Taxes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage Inventory | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Account for Multiple Currencies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Compare Actual to Estimated Costs by Job | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Prepare, Print & E-file Form 1099s | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Track & Bill Time by Customer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Choose From Industry-specific Editions | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Sales Orders | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced Inventory | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Access Accountant Center | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Toggle to Pro, Premium & Industry Editions | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Approximate Number of Reports | 100+ | 150+ | 200+ | 150+ |
List Limits | 14,500 items | 14,500 items | 14,500 items | Unlimited |
When To Use Each QuickBooks Desktop Product
Each QuickBooks Desktop product has features that support various business needs and situations.
- QuickBooks Pro: Best for businesses with up to three users and minimal inventory
- QuickBooks Premier: Best for nonprofit, manufacturing and wholesale, professional services, construction, and retail businesses with five or fewer users
- QuickBooks Enterprise: Best for small and medium-sized retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers with advanced inventory needs or more than five users
- QuickBooks Accountant: Best for bookkeepers and accountants providing bookkeeping or payroll services to multiple businesses
QuickBooks Desktop is our best small business accounting software for users dealing with internet speed or reliability issues. It offers many of the core accounting features needed by small businesses, such as
- Importing bank transactions
- Reconciling credit card balances
- Printing checks
- Setting up recurring vendor payments
- Recording credit card charges
- Paying credit card invoices
Which QuickBooks Desktop Version Is Right for You?
Answer a few questions about your business, and we'll give you a personalized product match.
When To Use QuickBooks Online As an Alternative
Business owners with multiple locations might want to consider QuickBooks Online as an alternative to the desktop version. As a cloud-based solution, it lets you access your data from any smartphone or computer that’s connected to the internet. If you think QuickBooks Online might be best for your business, you can learn more by reading our QuickBooks Online vs Desktop comparison.
If you want to stick with QuickBooks Desktop but need cloud access to your accounting data, you should consider using a QuickBooks Desktop hosting service. With QuickBooks hosting, your desktop application will be transferred to a remote cloud server, allowing you to access your files anytime and anywhere with an internet connection. If you want to take your QuickBooks Desktop to the cloud, check out our list of the best QuickBooks hosting providers.
The only QuickBooks desktop software available for Mac users is QuickBooks for Mac, which has features similar to QuickBooks Pro. Mac users looking for additional features should consider QuickBooks Online, which will run on Windows and Mac. Read our QuickBooks for Mac review to learn more.
QuickBooks Pro vs Premier: Features
Features | QuickBooks Pro | QuickBooks Premier |
|---|---|---|
Connect Bank Accounts & Reconcile Easily | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Invoices & Email or Print | ✓ | ✓ |
Enter Bills & Scan Receipts From Smartphone | ✓ | ✓ |
64-bit Advanced Processing Power | ✓ | ✓ |
Email Customized Bill Payment Stubs | ✓ | ✓ |
Transfer Accountant’s Copy File | Export only | Export only |
Input & Track Unpaid Bills | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Inventory | ✓ | ✓ |
Track Time | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage & Track Sales Tax | ✓ | ✓ |
Unlimited Customer Support | ✓ | ✓ |
Manage 1099 Forms | ✕ | ✓ |
Create a Budget or Forecast | ✕ | ✓ |
Track Project Profitability | ✕ | ✓ |
Choose From Industry-specific Editions | ✕ | ✓ |
QuickBooks Pro vs Premier: Pricing
Numbers of Seats | Pro Pricing ($/year) | Premier Pricing ($/year) |
|---|---|---|
1 | $349.99 | $549.99 |
2 | $549.99 | $849.99 |
3 | $749.99 | $1,149.99 |
4 | N/A | $1,449.99 |
5 | N/A | $1,749.99 |
Takeaway: QuickBooks Pro is comprehensive enough to support essential accounting duties, like tracking unpaid bills and invoicing clients. However, QuickBooks Premier is worth the additional price if your business deals extensively in inventory or operates in one of the five industry-specific editions of Premier: retail, nonprofit, contractor, manufacturing and wholesale, and professional services. The industry-specific editions provide both additional reporting options and workflows customized for your industry.
Tip: For more information, you can read our expert reviews of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and QuickBooks Desktop Premier.
QuickBooks Premier vs Enterprise: Features
Pricing & Features | QuickBooks Premier | QuickBooks Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
Maximum Users | 5 | 40 |
Approximate Number of Reports | 150+ | 200+ |
Choose From Industry-specific Editions | ✓ | ✓ |
Create Charts With Advanced Reporting | ✕ | ✓ |
Set Complex Pricing Rules With Advanced Pricing | ✕ | |
Calculate Inventory Cost Using the First-in, First-out (FIFO) Method* | ✕ | ✓ |
Track Inventory With Bar Code Scanning* | ✕ | ✓ |
Track Inventory by Location & Bin* | ✕ | ✓ |
Manage Fixed Assets | ✓ | ✓ |
Unlimited Customer Support | ✕ | Priority Circle |
Cloud Access | ✓ | Additional fee |
*The advanced inventory features are available in the Diamond edition of QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise.
QuickBooks Premier vs Enterprise: Pricing
Numbers of Seats | Premier Pricing ($/year) | Enterprise 22.0 Pricing ($/year) |
|---|---|---|
1 | $549.99 | $1,740 |
2 | $849.99 | $2,541 |
3 | $1,149.99 | $3,077 |
4 | $1,449.99 | $3,611 |
5 | $1,749.99 | $4,145 |
6 or more | N/A | $4,545 |
Takeaway: Because of the high prices, most businesses will probably wait to upgrade from QuickBooks Premier to QuickBooks Enterprise until they require more than five concurrent users. However, if your business spends a lot of time dealing with inventory in multiple locations, Enterprise might be worth the additional cost. You should also consider it if fixed assets are a huge part of your business.
Tip: Read our review of QuickBooks Enterprise to learn more about its advanced features
QuickBooks Premier vs Accountant: Features
Features & Pricing | QuickBooks Premier | QuickBooks Accountant |
|---|---|---|
Maximum Users | 5 | Accountant Desktop: 5 Enterprise Accountant: 40 |
Requires QuickBooks ProAdvisor Membership | ✕ | ✓ |
Transfer Accountant’s Copy File* | Export only | Import only |
Access Industry-specific Editions | Select one | Toggle between all |
Batch Process Transactions | ✕ | ✓ |
Review & Adjust Client Data With Special Tools | ✕ | ✓ |
Manage Fixed Assets | ✕ | ✓ |
Send Journal Entries to Client | ✕ | ✓ |
*QuickBooks Pro and Premier allow you to create and export an Accountant’s Copy file so that you can share it with your bookkeeper. However, your bookkeeper will need QuickBooks Accountant Desktop to import the file exported from Pro or Premier.
QuickBooks Premier vs Accountant: Pricing
QuickBooks Premier | QuickBooks Accountant |
|---|---|
$549.99 for 1 user $849.99 for 2 users $1,149.99 for 3 users $1,449.99 for 4 users $1,749.99 for 5 user | Accountant Desktop: $499 for each ProAdvisor Enterprise Accountant: $849 for each ProAdvisor |
QuickBooks Accountant is provided free-of-charge as part of the annual dues for QuickBooks Desktop ProAdvisors.
Takeaway: If you’re a bookkeeper or accountant looking to provide accounting services to clients that use QuickBooks Pro or Premier, you need QuickBooks Accountant Desktop. It has all the features of QuickBooks Premier but has special tools and capabilities designed to help professional bookkeepers work with many different clients.
For instance, QuickBooks Accountant Desktop can toggle between all the industry-specific versions of Premier as well as Pro. It can also access QuickBooks Desktop files from prior-year versions without updating the files. This is important so that clients with older versions of QuickBooks Desktop can still open the file when it’s returned.
Tip: Read our review of QuickBooks Accountant Desktop for more information.
Bottom Line
Choosing the right QuickBooks Desktop edition depends on the size and needs of your business and the specific features and functionality you need. If you’re a large business that needs sophisticated inventory tools, then go with QuickBooks Enterprise. If you don’t need these inventory features and have fewer than five users, go with either Pro or Premier. If you’re an independent bookkeeper with many clients, then QuickBooks Accountant Desktop is your best choice.
