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Our Verdict
Our Verdict
QuickBooks Online Accountant is a way for accounting firms to grow their business with a reputable and reliable software partner. The platform allows accountants to enroll clients with the firm by serving as their ProAdvisor, helping accountants bring all the necessary tools to the client relationship to perform accounting tasks and help with strategic planning. Read our in-depth QuickBooks Online Accountant review to find out if this cloud-based solution is right for you, based on features, pricing and more.
Pros
- ProAdvisor directory listing
- Self-paced guides and live training
- Secure client correspondence
Cons
- Limited customer relationship manager (CRM) features
- Not compatible with QuickBooks Desktop
On QuickBook's Website
4.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
$18
Bill to customer
Optional
Table of Contents
- QuickBooks Online Basics: At a Glance
- Other Benefits
- Fine Print
- How QuickBooks Online Accounting Stacks Up
- Is QuickBooks Online Accountant Right for You or Your Business?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Show more
QuickBooks Online Basics: At a Glance
QuickBooks Online Accountant is a software platform that allows accountants to manage clients using the QuickBooks platform. As the accountant signing up clients, you can have the system bill you or bill the client directly for their subscription to the service. The cost is the same initially, though when billed to the firm, there is a 30% discount on subscriptions where the client only enjoys 12 months at a discounted rate.
You can enroll clients in any of the four subscription services. The costs are:
- Simple Start: $15 per month (for the first three months, then $30 per month)
- Essentials: $27.50 per month (for the first three months, then $55 per month)
- Plus: $42.50 per month (for the first three months, then $85 per month)
- Advanced: $100 per month (for the first three months, then $200 per month)
When you become a QuickBooks Online Accountant, you can be listed in the Find a ProAdvisor website. This is where consumers go to find well-qualified QuickBooks accountants, giving you the ability to expand your business. There is a lot of education and tutorial help in the program as well. There are self-paced guides to walk you through functions, video recordings to hone your skills and webinars to stay abreast of current changes in the field.
Clients in the system are part of the secure message center where you can send direct messages and requests for information to your client. You can consolidate notes in the dashboard so that everything you need is in one convenient spot for your clients.
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1
Xero
Starting price
Reg. Price: $15 per month; Special Offer: 75% off all plans for 3 months until February 13
Unlimited Users On All Plans
Yes
Free Trial
30 days
2
QuickBooks
Starting price
$15 per month (for the first 3-months, then $30 per month)
Free Trial
30 days
Key Features
Expert help, Invoicing, maximize tax deductions, track mileage
3
Melio
Accounts payable & receivable
Yes
Accounting software sync
Yes
Pay by Card
Yes
4
Sage Intacct
Cloud Financial Management
Yes
Multi-entity financial visibility
Yes
CRM, Payroll, POS Integrations
Yes
Other Benefits
Accountants love the Accountant Toolbox that puts everything at their fingertips. They can run bulk processes and batch reports for convenience. It also allows them to jump to management reports and a chart of accounts to get a higher-level look at the accounts. One particular time-saving feature is the custom bank feeds that help clean up data quickly and accurately.
Fine Print
While data and notes are collected and kept on the dashboard, don’t expect QuickBooks Online Accountant to work like a traditional customer relationship management (CRM) software. It is designed to make their accounting a seamless process with your firm, not to track calls and communications. This means that some data may be displayed but not always in the most efficient way.
How QuickBooks Online Accounting Stacks Up
|   | QuickBooks Online Accounting | Wave Accounting | Sage Business Cloud Accounting |
|---|---|---|---|
Starting Price | $15 per month (for the first three months, then $30 per month) | $0 | Request a Quote |
Customer Support | Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time; Saturdays 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT | Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time | Call (866) 565-2726 |
Mobile App | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Read Reviews | Read Wave Accounting Review | — |
Choosing an accounting software to use with your clients is a big decision. You want a solution that is easy for you to use and easy for your clients to use. QuickBooks Online Accounting, Wave Accounting and Sage Business Cloud Accounting are three popular solutions.
When it comes to cost, Wave is the winner with a zero-dollar fee for the basic service. This is for accounting and invoicing. It has paid add-ons for merchant services and payroll. Sage Business Cloud Accounting will review your business needs before giving you a quote, whereas QuickBooks Online Accounting is a per-client charge that is easy to understand.
All three options have a mobile app to make meetings with clients convenient and help you stay abreast of data while away from your computer.
Featured Partners
Advertisem*nt
1
Xero
Starting price
Reg. Price: $15 per month; Special Offer: 75% off all plans for 3 months until February 13
Unlimited Users On All Plans
Yes
Free Trial
30 days
2
QuickBooks
Starting price
$15 per month (for the first 3-months, then $30 per month)
Free Trial
30 days
Key Features
Expert help, Invoicing, maximize tax deductions, track mileage
3
Melio
Accounts payable & receivable
Yes
Accounting software sync
Yes
Pay by Card
Yes
4
Sage Intacct
Cloud Financial Management
Yes
Multi-entity financial visibility
Yes
CRM, Payroll, POS Integrations
Yes
Is QuickBooks Online Accountant Right for You or Your Business?
QuickBooks is one of the most popular accounting software platforms because it gets the job done in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-use format. As an accountant, if your clients agree to use QuickBooks, you’ll be able to streamline how you manage their books. This is a positive thing for you and your clients. Grow your business with the ProAdvisor and take your business to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can an accountant do in QuickBooks online?
Accountants have complete access to a company’s books when using QuickBooks Online Accountant. They can run trial balances, export data for taxes, void or delete transactions and reclassify transactions in bulk to save time.
What's the difference between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Accountant?
QuickBooks Online Accountant is a cloud-based portal that allows an accountant to access their clients’ data in QuickBooks Online from any computer.
How does QuickBooks work for accountants?
By using QuickBooks Online Accountant, accountants can add customers to their client list and work on their books through the portal.
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circ*mstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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