Every October, right after Intuit releases new versions of QuickBooks, we get questions from users about whether QuickBooks QuickBooks Pro or QuickBooks Premier is the better fit.
Our first question is always – which edition of Premier are you considering. We ask because some of the extra features are specific to certain editions. For instance, the Contractors edition has enhanced change orders and tracking of subcontractor insurance expiration dates. Because of the difference between versions, we usually recommend that our clients purchase the Accountants edition, which allows you to toggle between all the editions.
We work with a lot of job costing clients (contractors, builders, architects, engineers, nonprofits that have grants, etc.) and though they love the additional reports that come with the Contractors, Professional Services and Nonprofit editions it’s the little things that make them switch.
The biggest, and most surprising, reason – you can turn estimates and sales orders into purchase orders with a click of a button. It’s hidden under the Create Invoice button, but once they discover it they’re in heaven. No more double-entry, no more data entry errors. Speaking of sales orders, that’s another reason why they switch – you don’t get them in Pro (note: you can also turn Estimates into Sales Orders). They also really like the Invoice for Time & Expenses feature. Yes, you can do the same thing on individual invoices by clicking Add Time/Costs, but they often forget to check all the tabs and if you’re using job costing correctly there will likely be billable expenses on the Items tab.
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