Is July 31, 2024 the End of QuickBooks Desktop?

Some QuickBooks ProAdvisors and their clients are wondering if July 31, 2024 is the beginning of the end of QuickBooks Desktop.

We previously reported to you, last November, that Intuit would no longer sell new subscriptions of several QuickBooks Desktop products after July 31, 2024.

On February 1, 2024 Intuit published their public announcement concerning that policy with a QuickBooks Blog article titled QuickBooks Desktop to stop selling to new U.S. subscribers.

Intuit has made a decision that it will no longer be selling new subscriptions to U.S. subscribers, after July 31, 2024, of the following products:

  • QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus
  • QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus
  • QuickBooks Desktop Mac Plus
  • QuickBooks Desktop Enhanced Payroll

Many QuickBooks ProAdvisors who commented during a recent 'ProAdvisor Meet-up' version of QB Talks apparently believe that this signals "the beginning of the end" of QuickBooks Desktop even though Intuit has stated that existing QuickBooks Desktop Plus and Desktop Payroll subscribers can continue to renew their subscriptions after July 31, 2024*.

One reason for the concerns of many ProAdvisors and their clients rests in the '*' (asterisk) that annotates Intuit's disclaimer about existing customer subscription renewals.  (Note: For purposes of clarity, Insightful Accountant has retained the same asterisks within our restatements.) 

At the bottom of notices regarding the change, Intuit has included a 'Disclaimer' related to the '*' (asterisk) stating: "Availability, terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service support options subject to change without notice."

So, while existing QuickBooks Desktop Plus and Desktop Payroll subscribers can continue to renew their subscriptions after July 31, 2024, the disclaimer makes it clear that such 'renewals' are subject to Intuit's future determinations and they are not required to provide 'any notice' should they elect to change the policy.

In the ProAdvisor Meetup held as part of Insightful Accountant's QB Talks, attendees were ask "how they and their clients using the impacted products reacted to Intuit's announcement?"  Here are a few of the questions and responses ProAdvisor gave in response to our inquiry:

  • So this means that new business will not have availability to QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Premier (Plus)...
  • My clients are NOT happy!!!
  • With this, and the increase in desktop prices, my clients are switching to online.
  • This seems to me that Intuit is abandoning their small business market unless they want to get an inferior product (QBD is still far superior to QBO).
  • With this, I don't see any reason in continuing to have a 'paid' ProAdvisor membership.
  • Will clients still be able to access their data after subscriptions end?

Insightful Accountant also asked ProAdvisors attending the webinar "how Intuit's July 31, 2024 actions would impact their ProAdvisor Practice?" Some of the responses ProAdvisors provided included:

  • I'm telling my inventory clients to upgrade to QuickBooks Desktop (Plus) before July 31. Many of my Non-inventory clients will continue to use their 2021 QuickBooks Desktop for as long as the version continues to work.
  • Will Retail Stores still be able to sell QuickBooks Desktop subscriptions after July 31, 2024?
  • QuickBooks has continuously disregarded small businesses. I use QB Desktop and Enhanced Payroll... (for my own practice).
  • A client just switched to QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2024 because QuickBooks Online couldn't handle their needs.

Additionally, Insightful Accountant asked the ProAdvisors participating in the Meet-up "what, if any, migration plans they or their clients have related to the news?" A variety of answers were given in regard to this question:

  • I will switch products before I go to QuickBooks Online.
  • My clients are looking at non-Intuit alternatives as other options.
  • Desktop clients will upgrade to the latest 'Plus' version before July, but what sort of guarantee do they have Intuit will allow them to renew after 7/31/2025?
  • Most of my clients are on Desktop, I wouldn't mind switching them to QBO if the application was anywhere near the quality of Desktop... QBO is very hard to navigate.
  • I saw the writing on the wall a while back and switched my last desktop clients to QBO already, but they use the QBO Desktop App and like it a lot.
  • My personal feeling is that Intuit has gotten too big for its britches.  I'm actively investigating other products (Xero and Zoho)...
  • QB Enterprise or Non-Intuit products are alternatives, (I have) no desire for QB Online.

It's clear that the ProAdvisors participating in the January QB Talks had a variety of opinions, and a wealth of 'feelings' in regard to the subject.  But these are not the only ProAdvisors who read Insightful Accountant. 

We want to know your responses to the same three questions: 

  1. How are you and your clients using the impacted QuickBooks Desktop products reacting to Intuit's announcement?" 
  2. How will Intuit's July 31, 2024 actions impact your ProAdvisor Practice?"
  3. What, if any, migration plans do you or your clients have related to the news?" (Is QuickBooks Enterprise an option, how about QuickBooks Online or QBO-Advanced, or Non-Intuit alternatives?)

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