A Comprehensive Comparison: QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start

 

Are you a self-employed professional looking for the perfect accounting software? Look no further! In this comprehensive comparison, we will dive deep into two popular options: QuickBooks Self Employed and Simple Start. Both of these platforms offer unique features tailored to suit your needs as a self-employed individual. Whether you're a freelancer, consultant or small business owner, finding the right accounting solution is crucial for managing your finances effectively. So let's explore the key features, pricing details and ultimately determine which one is the best fit for you. Let's get started with our QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start showdown!

Comparing QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start

When it comes to accounting software, QuickBooks is a name that stands out. But what exactly are the differences between QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start? Let's break it down.

First off, let's talk about Simple Start. This version of QuickBooks offers essential features for small businesses. It allows you to track income and expenses, create invoices, and manage your accounts payable and receivable. With its user-friendly interface, even those with limited accounting knowledge can navigate through the system seamlessly.

On the other hand, QuickBooks Self Employed is specifically designed for freelancers and independent contractors. It focuses on simplifying tax tracking by automatically categorizing your business expenses and separating them from personal ones. Additionally, it enables you to calculate estimated quarterly taxes easily – a feature that many self-employed individuals find incredibly valuable.

In terms of pricing, there is a noticeable difference between the two options. Simple Start starts at $25 per month while QuickBooks Self Employed has a more affordable starting price of $15 per month.

Both versions offer mobile apps for convenient access on-the-go. You can easily manage your finances from anywhere using your Smartphone or tablet.

Choosing between these two options boils down to understanding your specific needs as a self-employed professional or small business owner. Consider factors such as budget constraints and desired functionality when making your decision.

Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the key features of both platforms in our next blog section!

Features of Simple Start

Simple Start is a great accounting software option for small businesses and self-employed individuals who are looking for basic bookkeeping tools. One of the key features of Simple Start is its easy-to-use interface, which makes it simple to navigate and understand, even for those without much accounting experience.

With Simple Start, you can easily manage your income and expenses, track sales tax, create professional invoices, and generate financial reports. This allows you to keep a close eye on your business finances and make informed decisions.

Another notable feature of Simple Start is its ability to integrate with other popular business apps such as PayPal, Square, and Shopify. This integration streamlines your workflow by automatically importing transactions from these platforms into your accounting software.

Additionally, Simple Start offers mobile access through its app, allowing you to manage your finances on-the-go from any device. This flexibility ensures that you can stay organized no matter where you are.

While Simple Start may not have all the advanced features offered by higher-level versions of QuickBooks like Premier or Enterprise Solutions, it provides a solid foundation for managing basic accounting tasks efficiently and effectively.

The pricing of QuickBooks Self Employed

One of the key factors to consider when choosing between QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start is the pricing. Let's take a closer look at what you can expect in terms of cost for QuickBooks Self Employed.

QuickBooks Self Employed offers three different pricing plans: the Self-Employed plan, which starts at $7.50 per month; the Self-Employed Tax Bundle, priced at $12.50 per month; and the Live Bookkeeping package, available for $35 per month.

The basic Self-Employed plan provides essential features such as tracking income and expenses, capturing receipts with your phone camera, calculating estimated quarterly taxes, and generating simple reports. If you require additional tax support, including automatic mileage tracking and year-round access to TurboTax, then the Tax Bundle might be worth considering.

For those who want more hands-on assistance with their bookkeeping tasks, such as categorizing transactions or reconciling accounts on a monthly basis, the Live Bookkeeping package includes all the features of the previous plans plus personalized help from certified bookkeepers.

It's important to note that these prices are subject to change by Intuit (the company behind QuickBooks). Therefore it's always a good idea to check their website for any updated information regarding pricing options.

Now that we've covered QuickBooks Self Employer’s pricing structure let's delve into its key features compared to Simple Start in our next section!

The Key Features of QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start

When it comes to managing your small business finances, choosing the right accounting software can make all the difference. QuickBooks offers two popular options for self-employed individuals and small businesses: QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start. While both options have their merits, understanding their key features can help you determine which one is best suited for your needs.

QuickBooks Self Employed is designed specifically for freelancers, independent contractors, and sole proprietors. It allows you to track income and expenses, separate personal and business transactions, estimate quarterly taxes, and even automatically categorize your transactions with minimal effort on your part.

On the other hand, Simple Start is geared towards small businesses with more complex financial needs. It includes all the features of QuickBooks Self Employed but adds additional functionality such as creating invoices, tracking sales tax, generating financial reports like profit and loss statements or balance sheets.

One important feature that sets QuickBooks Self Employed apart from Simple Start is its ability to integrate seamlessly with popular third-party apps such as PayPal or Square. This integration makes it easier than ever to track payments received through these platforms directly within QuickBooks.

While both options offer a user-friendly interface and mobile app accessibility for managing finances on-the-go, they do differ in terms of pricing structure. QuickBooks Self Employed offers a monthly subscription starting at $15 per month whereas Simple Start starts at $25 per month.

Note,  Both QuickBooks Self Employed and Simple Start have their own unique set of features that cater to different types of users. If you are a freelancer or independent contractor looking for an easy way to manage your finances without too many bells and whistles, QuickBooks Self-Employed may be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you operate a small business with more complex financial needs such as invoicing or sales tax tracking, Simple Start provides those added functionalities.

Ultimately, the choice between these two versions of QuickBooks depends on your specific business requirements and budget.

Which One Is Best

When it comes to deciding between QuickBooks Self Employed and Simple Start, determining which one is best depends on your specific needs and requirements as a self-employed individual or small business owner. Both software options offer their own unique features and benefits, but ultimately the decision should be based on what will work best for you.

QuickBooks Self Employed is specifically designed for freelancers, independent contractors, and sole proprietors who need basic bookkeeping functionality. It allows you to track income and expenses, separate personal from business expenses, generate invoices, calculate quarterly taxes, and even automatically import transactions from your bank account. With its user-friendly interface and simple navigation, QuickBooks Self Employed makes managing your finances a breeze.

On the other hand, Simple Start offers more robust features that are ideal for small businesses with multiple employees or inventory management needs. In addition to basic bookkeeping functions like tracking income and expenses, generating invoices, and reconciling accounts, it also provides payroll capabilities, tax preparation assistance, and sales tax calculation.

With its ability to handle multiple users, multiple currencies, and integration with other apps, Simple Start offers enhanced functionality.

Ultimately, the choice between QuickBooks Self Employed and Simple Start comes down to your business's size and specific needs.

Ifyou'reafreelancerorsoleproprietorwithminimalbookkeepingsrequiements, QuickBooks Self Employed is likely sufficient for you.

On the other hand, for your small business with more complex financial needs such as payroll and in venture management, Simple Start may be the better option.

Conclusion

After comparing QuickBooks Self Employed and Simple Start, it is clear that both of these accounting software options have their own unique set of features and benefits. The choice between the two will depend on your specific needs as a self-employed individual or small business owner.

If you are a freelancer or independent contractor with relatively simple financial requirements, QuickBooks Self Employed can be an excellent option. Its user-friendly interface, automatic mileage tracking, and tax-specific features make it ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and efficiency.

On the other hand, if you run a small business with more complex accounting needs, Simple Start may be the better choice for you. With its robust invoicing capabilities, inventory tracking functionality, and multi-user access feature, Simple Start offers greater flexibility and scalability to meet your growing business demands.

It is important to carefully evaluate your individual circumstances before making a decision. Consider factors such as budget constraints, desired features and functionalities, ease of use, customer support availability – all of which will play crucial roles in determining which software aligns best with your specific requirements.

In conclusion (without explicitly stating "in conclusion"), QuickBooks Self Employed vs Simple Start is not about one being definitively better than the other; rather it's about choosing what suits your unique needs for efficient financial management.