Differences Between QuickBooks Pro Premier and Enterprise
Differences Between QuickBooks Pro Premier and Enterprise
Differences Between QuickBooks Pro Premier and Enterprise
OF EXPERIENCE TO
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Compare QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise: Understand the Key Differences
Enterprise
Version
Premier
Version
Pro
Version
Buy Now
Buy Now
Buy Now
# Of Simultaneous Users
Up to 30
Up to 5
Up to 3
1 GB or more
150200 MB max
150200 MB max
NO
NO
NO
150+ industry-specific
150+ industry-specific
100+
NO
NO
NO
Create A Budget
NO
NO
NO
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Compare QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise: Understand the Key Differences
Inside Scoop What You Really Need To Know About These Features
A: # Of Simultaneous Users
A common source of confusion with QuickBooks users everywhere. The easiest way to understand this issue
is this each computer that is going to use QuickBooks needs its own paid, licensed copy installed on it. For
example, if you have 3 people in the office that are going to use QuickBooks, you need to purchase 3 licenses.
Another example if you have 7 people in the office that are going to use QuickBooks, you need to purchase
7 licenses. HOWEVER, Pro will allow up to 3 users and Premier will allow up to 5 users working in the same
QuickBooks file at the same time no exceptions. Enterprise will allow you to have up to 30 users in the same
QuickBooks file at a time.
If you have a server in your office (or a desktop computer that is acting as a server), you do not have to
purchase a separate license for that computer AS LONG AS nobody is sitting and working with QuickBooks
on that computer each day. (back to comparison chart)
They dont tell you this anywhere in the users guide for Pro or Premier, but it is important for you to know you
may outgrow these versions for some technical reasons. My experience is that Pro and Premier data files start
to take a long time to run reports at the 150-200 MB (megabyte) size. In addition, Pro and Premier become
more susceptible to data corruption and other funky issues if they get to be too large.
The Enterprise version was designed to handle a much larger data file. There are some businesses running
smoothly today with data files over 1 GB (gigabyte). If you find that you are outgrowing Pro or Premier, the
transition into Enterprise is very seamless and easy to do.
There is no hard and fast rule on this topic. Nor is there any way to know exactly how many invoices, estimates,
etc. will get your data file to become too big. However, these rules of thumb relating to the 150200 MB max
file size for Pro and Premier have served my clients very well over the last 10 years. (back to comparison chart)
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C: Create And E-Mail Quotes, Sales Orders, Invoices And Purchase Orders
Pro, Premier and Enterprise give you 3 options for e-mailing your forms:
1. Via Microsoft Outlook
2. Using your web-based e-mail client (i.e. Gmail, Yahoo, etc.)
3. Using the QuickBooks e-mail servers (extra fees apply)
If you choose to use Outlook or Outlook Express, the outbound e-mails are tracked through them, so that a copy
of outbound e-mails end up in your Sent Items folder. If you choose the QuickBooks e-mail system, you do not get
any type of e-mail tracking unless you opt for their paid Online Billing Services program. (back to comparison chart)
If you want to print checks out of QuickBooks, youll need to get QuickBooks check stock. But, you dont
necessarily have to purchase your checks directly from QuickBooks. Many other web sites and local printers
can supply QuickBooks check stock to you. Most businesses use the voucher style check for QuickBooks,
but a wallet style is also available. (back to comparison chart)
Unless you want to look up all of the deductions for each employee for each payroll by hand out of the payroll
tables, you will need to either subscribe to one of the payroll services offered by QuickBooks or use a thirdparty payroll service like PayCycle, Paychex, etc.
The costs for these services are completely independent of the cost of the QuickBooks software. Many thirdparty payroll services offer electronic bridges that take the data from their service and electronically import
it directly into QuickBooks. If you process payroll using the QuickBooks payroll services, your data is already
integrated directly with QuickBooks. (back to comparison chart)
For QuickBooks Premier and Enterprise, many industry-specific reports are also available out of the box. For
example, in the Premier and Enterprise: Manufacturing and Wholesale versions, you get the Profitability by
Product and Sales by Class and Item Type (among others) that are not included in the Pro version.
(back to comparison chart)
QuickBooks software makes this process a snap. If you are moving from an older version of Pro to either
Premier or Enterprise, the data upgrades seamlessly. If you are moving from an older version of Premier to
either Pro or Enterprise, the data also upgrades seamlessly. However, you cannot move from Enterprise to
Pro or Premier without using some third-party companies to assist with this transfer of data.
(back to comparison chart)
What this means is that if you have a customer list, vendor list, inventory/item list and/or chart of accounts in
Excel, you can import that into QuickBooks using the import wizard. However, if you envision importing actual
transactions such as invoices into QuickBooks, you will need the help of a third-party add-on tool (such as
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Compare QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise: Understand the Key Differences
Transaction Pro Importer by Bay State Consulting) to get the data into QuickBooks. Other than those four data
sets specifically mentioned, no other data can be brought directly into QuickBooks from Excel it has to pass
through another program first. (back to comparison chart)
As long as the bank where you have your checking/savings accounts and/or the issuing bank of your credit
card offers the download of information into QuickBooks, this capability will exist. In most cases, there are no
extra fees for this service, but be sure to read the fine print from your bank at the time you sign up.
There are screens within QuickBooks that allow you to then match up and enter the downloaded information
into the appropriate spots within the software. My experience shows that it is critical to have a basic
understanding of how QuickBooks works before you turn on this functionality. Otherwise, it is easy to download
transactions and make a mess of your QuickBooks very quickly. Trust me, Ive seen it. (back to comparison chart)
J : Create A Budget
Yes, QuickBooks allows you to create a budget. One budget for each business year thats it. You cant have
version A and version B of the budget for next year unless you store them outside of QuickBooks in Excel.
The budget tool in QuickBooks acts like a mini-spreadsheet and allows you to copy in numbers from a prior
year or post them from scratch. You can then run several budget vs. actual reports to see how the business
is doing. However, dont expect a lot out of the budgeting tool. If you need advanced budgeting features, you
will want to explore a budgeting add-on program for QuickBooks. (back to comparison chart)
QuickBooks has a nifty, feature-rich tool called the Layout Designer that allows you to customize these forms
as you like and avoid the expense of having to purchas pre-printed invoices, purchase orders, etc. It is a
snap to add your company logo to your forms, and also pick and choose what fields, columns, etc. show up
on what forms. You may unleash your inner graphic artist with this tool within QuickBooks.
(back to comparison chart)
L: Track Inventory, Set Reorder Points/Create Inventory Assemblies And Bills Of Material
QuickBooks does provide the capability to keep track of inventory using various reports such as a Stock
Status by Item and Stock Status by Vendor reports.
However, if your inventory needs are more advanced, you may want to look at several of the excellent
inventory add-on products for QuickBooks. For example, QuickBooks does not take into account a lead time
factor for inventory items. Nor does it allow for a where-used capability for bill of material items and related
inventory planning. It does not allow you to quickly see the purchasing history of an item (i.e. what vendor and
what cost), nor does it do any type of MRP.
I have always said that if you mention QuickBooks and inventory in the same sentence, you need to ensure
QuickBooks can do what you need it to. I can help you figure out the answers to those questions.
(back to comparison chart)
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Compare QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise: Understand the Key Differences
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Scott Gregory continues to amaze me. Every single client out of the dozens who have purchased Enterprise
Solutions from Scott and worked with him have given him a 100% Net Promoter Score. This is very unusual
in our industry. It is considered World Class. MARIE ARCHULETA, Channel Sales Manager for Intuit
Scott has been helping businesses get it right with their QuickBooks and
business finances for over thirty years.
During that time, he has assisted well over 950 businesses, with services
such as QuickBooks software installation, training and coaching sessions,
and his Better Profits Now program.
Prior to starting his own practice, Scott served as the CFO for a $15 million
manufacturing firm for more than ten years. During his tenure as CFO, Scott
was responsible for: $4 million in inventory, $4 million in accounts receivable,
inventory control, purchasing, information technology and banking relationships.
He is a member of the Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor program, a CPA, and
certified in integrated resource management (CIRM) by APICS. Scott has
taught hundreds of business owners, bookkeepers, and CPAs how to use
QuickBooks effectively and efficiently through local community colleges and
via webinars.
Thousands of QuickBooks users rely on Scotts QuickBooks Blog for insight,
tips and tricks each and every month.
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