QuickBooks Online Software and ABBL Programs

QuickBooks Online Software QuickBooks Online is required to support your ABBL bookkeeping and/or payroll services.

If you already have QuickBooks, we’ll confirm that your subscription level meets the requirements of your program. If you do not yet have QuickBooks, you may choose one of the following options:

Option 1: Client-Paid Subscription

You purchase and manage billing for QuickBooks directly through Intuit at retail pricing.

Option 2: ABBL-Managed Subscription (Discounted)

ABBL purchases and manages your QuickBooks subscription on your behalf. In this case, your software will be billed at the current retail rate less ABBL’s 30% ProAdvisor wholesale discount, resulting in a lower monthly cost to you. Software management can be transferred back to the client at any time. If transferred, the subscription will revert to Intuit’s standard retail pricing.

QuickBooks pricing comes directly from Intuit. When ABBL manages the subscription, clients receive our 30% wholesale ProAdvisor discount. If you prefer to manage billing yourself, you can absolutely do that — it just reverts to retail pricing.

FAQ's

Why is QuickBooks billed separately from my ABBL services?

QuickBooks Online is third-party accounting software required to deliver your services. Subscription pricing is set by Intuit and is separate from ABBL’s professional service fees.

Is QuickBooks cheaper if ABBL manages it?

Yes. When ABBL manages your QuickBooks subscription, you receive ABBL’s 30% ProAdvisor wholesale discount off Intuit’s retail pricing.

Can I take over my QuickBooks billing later?

Yes. You may transfer billing responsibility to your own Intuit account at any time. However, upon transfer, the subscription will return to Intuit’s standard retail pricing, and any 30% discount you were previously receiving will be forfeited.

Does ABBL mark up software?

No. ABBL does not mark up QuickBooks software. When ABBL manages the subscription, the cost is passed through at a discounted wholesale rate.

Platinum (Daily / Real-Time)

Minimum Required:

• QuickBooks Plus

Recommended / Sometimes Required:

• QuickBooks Advanced

Advanced Required When:

• Multi-entity or multi-department

• Heavy reporting customization

• Large payrolls

• Deep integrations

• Performance + permission controls

Gold (Weekly)

Minimum Required:

• QuickBooks Plus

Why

• Hybrid cash-modified or accrual

• AR + AP reporting

• Balance sheet focus

• Payroll liabilities + benefits

• Class / location / job costing expectations (if none of these are needed, let us know as these are the features that require Plus)

Bronze (Monthly)

Minimum Required:

• QuickBooks Essentials (in some cases Simple Start is acceptable)

Upgrade Required If:

• Balance Sheet Accruals are needed

• Fixed Asset, Loans, or other Liability tracking is needed

• Invoicing with A/R aging reports (beyond matching deposits in bank feeds)

• Bills with A/P aging reports (beyong matching payments in bank feeds)

• Multiple bank/credit accounts

• Payroll liabilities

• Sales tax tracking

• Need for Class tracking

➡️ In practice: many Bronze clients belong in Plus, but others could even get away with Simple Start if they are very early in their business or in a particular industry that does not demeand as much in their accounting complexity.

Copper (Quarterly)

Minimum Required:

• QuickBooks Simple Start

Ideal / Often Needed:

• QuickBooks Essentials

Why

• Still cash basis

• Light reporting

• Some vendors + categorization

• No formal AR/AP processes yet

Starter (Annual)

Minimum Required:

• QuickBooks Ledger or QuickBooks Simple Start

Why

• Bank feed coding only

• Cash basis

• No AR/AP workflows

• No payroll complexity

Upgrade Triggers

• Balance Sheet Accruals needed

• Fixed Asset, Loans, or other Liability tracking is needed

• Invoicing

• Bills / AP tracking

• Payroll

• Sales tax

More on QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting & financial management software. It's designed to slash the time you spend managing your business finances by helping you with tasks such as:

• Creating estimates and invoices

• Tracking sales and cash flow

• Bringing in your bank data

• Creating expenses and paying bills

• Managing your customers and suppliers

• Monitoring your tax and making tax returns much easier

• Understanding your company's performance

• Planning ahead and budgeting

• Getting the right Financial Reports your CPA requires

Being a true cloud solution, there's no need to install any software. You can access QuickBooks Online straight from your internet browser on any computer or web-enabled device whenever, wherever. We can help you migrate to QuickBooks Online from Desktop or other programs. Combine the power of QuickBooks Online with an expert accountant and watch your business transform!

Pricing and feature comparison of QuickBooks Online Products as of August 2025: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing/#

Financial Reporting Tools in QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is more than a bookkeeping system—it also serves as a core financial reporting tool for small and growing businesses. By organizing transactions in real time, QuickBooks turns day-to-day accounting activity into meaningful financial reports that support informed decision-making.

QuickBooks Online allows businesses to generate essential financial statements, including:

• Profit & Loss (Income Statement) to measure profitability over time

• Balance Sheet to understand assets, liabilities, and equity

• Cash Flow Statement to track how money moves in and out of the business

• General Ledgers to see the details of every single transaction

• Accounts Receivable and Payable Aging Reports to manage timing and liquidity

• Custom and filtered reports by date, vendor, customer, class, or location

These reports help business owners and operations teams move beyond transaction tracking and gain visibility into financial performance, trends, and risk areas.

From an accounting and advisory perspective, QuickBooks Online reporting supports month-end close, cash flow planning, budgeting conversations, and performance reviews. Reports can be exported, shared with advisors, or used as a foundation for more advanced reporting tools when a business grows in complexity.

By combining accurate bookkeeping with accessible reporting, QuickBooks Online plays a central role in helping businesses understand where they stand financially—and plan their next steps with greater confidence.

QuickBooks Cash Flow Forecasting

QuickBooks Online includes built-in cash flow forecasting tools that help businesses anticipate future cash positions based on existing financial data. Rather than relying solely on historical reports, QuickBooks uses current balances, expected income, and upcoming expenses to project short-term cash movement.

These cash flow views allow business owners and operations teams to identify potential shortfalls early, plan upcoming payments, and better understand how timing impacts liquidity. While QuickBooks cash flow forecasting is best suited for straightforward planning, it provides a valuable foundation for monitoring cash health as part of everyday accounting workflows.

For businesses with more advanced forecasting needs, QuickBooks cash flow projections often serve as a starting point that can later be supplemented with dedicated forecasting tools.

QuickBooks Performance Center and KPI Dashboards

QuickBooks Online offers dashboard and performance views designed to give users quick visibility into key financial metrics. Through the home dashboard and Performance Center, businesses can monitor essential indicators such as income trends, expense patterns, outstanding invoices, and cash balances.

These dashboards help translate accounting data into high-level insights that support day-to-day decision-making. Rather than digging through individual reports, users can quickly assess performance and identify areas that require attention.

While not intended to replace full business intelligence platforms, QuickBooks dashboards provide practical KPI visibility that supports operational awareness and financial oversight.

QuickBooks Invoicing and Customer Billing Tools

QuickBooks Online includes built-in invoicing tools that allow businesses to create, send, and track customer invoices directly within the accounting system. Invoices are automatically recorded in the books, ensuring revenue data stays aligned with financial reports.

Businesses can customize invoice templates, set payment terms, accept online payments, and track outstanding balances. This integrated approach reduces manual entry and improves accuracy between billing and accounting.

By keeping invoicing connected to the general ledger, QuickBooks helps businesses maintain cleaner records and faster billing cycles

QuickBooks Invoice Reminders and Payment Follow-Ups

QuickBooks Online also supports automated invoice reminders that help businesses improve collections without constant manual follow-up. Users can schedule reminder emails to customers with overdue or upcoming invoices, reducing the risk of forgotten payments.

These reminders improve cash flow consistency while saving time for finance and operations teams. By automating routine follow-ups, businesses can maintain professional communication and focus on higher-value tasks.

 QuickBooks Integrated Insurance Solutions

QuickBooks Online integrates with select insurance providers to offer coverage options such as workers’ compensation and business insurance directly through the platform. These integrations allow businesses to manage insurance-related expenses alongside payroll and accounting data.

From an operations perspective, integrated insurance helps align risk management with financial records. Premiums, payroll-based calculations, and related expenses flow through the same system, improving visibility and reducing administrative complexity.

While insurance offerings vary by provider and region, QuickBooks integrations help centralize essential business services within a single financial ecosystem.

QuickBooks 1099 Reporting for Contractors and Vendor Compliance

QuickBooks Online includes built-in 1099 reporting tools that help businesses track contractor and vendor payments and prepare required tax forms as part of their regular accounting workflow. Rather than handling 1099s separately at year-end, QuickBooks allows compliance to be managed using the same data already recorded in the books.

QuickBooks 1099 reporting works by using vendor records, payment history, and expense account mapping to identify which vendors meet IRS reporting thresholds. When set up correctly, the system calculates reportable amounts automatically, reducing the risk of underreporting or missed vendors.

From an operations and accounting perspective, this integration is especially valuable because it keeps bookkeeping and compliance aligned. Payments recorded throughout the year flow directly into 1099 preparation, minimizing last-minute adjustments and reconciliation issues. Accounting teams can review totals, make corrections if needed, and file forms with greater confidence.

By embedding 1099 reporting into everyday accounting processes, QuickBooks helps businesses move away from reactive, manual compliance and toward a more predictable, audit-ready workflow—particularly for companies that regularly work with independent contractors or service vendors.

Sales Tax Tracking and Reporting in QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online includes built-in sales tax tools that help businesses calculate, track, and manage sales tax as part of their everyday accounting workflow. Rather than relying on external spreadsheets or manual calculations, QuickBooks Online applies automated sales tax logic directly to invoices and sales transactions.

QuickBooks Online determines sales tax based on transaction details such as customer location, business address, and applicable tax rules. Sales tax is calculated automatically at the time of invoicing or sale, and tax liabilities are tracked in real time within the accounting system.

From an accounting and operations perspective, this integration helps keep revenue and tax data aligned. Businesses can monitor sales tax collected, review liability reports by jurisdiction, and prepare information needed for filing without reconciling data across multiple tools.

While QuickBooks Online sales tax features work best for businesses with relatively straightforward tax obligations, they provide a practical foundation for maintaining compliance, improving visibility, and reducing manual effort—especially when paired with consistent bookkeeping practices or external filing support when needed.

Frequently asked questions

About QuickBooks Online

Is QuickBooks online, or do I download software?

There is no need to download QuickBooks Online because it is connected to the cloud, which means you can access online accounting from any device with an internet connection. You can download the QuickBooks Online mobile app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Can I upgrade between plans?

Yes, you can upgrade to another plan from any version of QuickBooks Online.

I use QuickBooks Desktop. How do I know if QuickBooks Online is right for me?

QuickBooks Online is great for businesses who need access to their business data from anywhere and real-time collaboration. Move your accounting online to take advantage of automatic data backup, live insights from your accountant, automated workflows to reduce errors and increase efficiency, and reports that are tailored to your business.

Do I have to pay extra for Intuit mobile apps?

No. QuickBooks comes with free mobile apps that help you run your business on the go—anytime, anywhere.

I'm switching from another payroll provider. Can you transfer my payroll data?

We'll transfer your data for you with QuickBooks Payroll Elite. With QuickBooks Payroll Premium, you'll transfer your own data but we'll review to make sure everything is correct.

What's included in QuickBooks Live Expert Assisted?

QuickBooks-certified bookkeepers are available to give you guidance and answer questions you have on topics like:

Categorization

Automation

Reconciliation

Reporting

Workflow management

You can request a callback anytime when you need a little extra help. Bookkeepers are available Monday - Friday 6AM - 6PM PT.

What's not included in QuickBooks Live Expert Assisted?

Live Expert Assisted doesn’t include cleanup of your books or a dedicated bookkeeper reconciling your accounts and maintaining your books for you. Live Expert Assisted also doesn’t include any financial advisory services, tax advice, facilitating the filing of income or sales tax returns, creating or sending 1099s, or management of payroll.