QuickBooks Enterprise vs. Online Advanced
Compare Features, Pricing & Benefits to Find the Best Fit for Your Business
Not sure whether QuickBooks Enterprise or QuickBooks Online Advanced is the right choice for your business? This in-depth comparison covers key features, pricing, inventory management, reporting, and scalability to help you make the best decision.
Introduction
When choosing the right QuickBooks solution for your business, two of the most powerful options available are QuickBooks Enterpriseand QuickBooks Online Advanced. Both are designed to handle complex accounting needs, but they differ significantly in terms of functionality, scalability, and deployment.
QuickBooks Enterprise is a desktop-based solution with advanced inventory, reporting, and industry-specific features. Ideal for businesses that require deep customization, multi-location tracking, and robust accounting tools. While it is a desktop solution, it can be hosted on the cloud for remote access.
QuickBooks Online Advanced is a cloud-based accounting solution designed for growing businesses that need very basic logistical inventory with flexibility, real-time collaboration, and automated workflows. It offers ease of access, built-in integrations, and a simple interface for managing finances from anywhere.
Who Is This Comparison For?
This guide is designed for business owners, accountants, and financial managers who are evaluating QuickBooks solutions based on:
Business Size
Mid-sized to large businesses or rapidly growing companies.
Industry Needs
Retail, manufacturing, wholesale, franchises, service-based businesses, and multi-location operations.
Accounting Complexity
Businesses needing advanced reporting, automation, and inventory management.
Deployment Preference
Those deciding between a desktop-based vs. a cloud-based solution.
Features and Functionality Comparison
When deciding between QuickBooks Enterprise and QuickBooks Online Advanced, understanding their key differences in features is crucial. Below, we compare their capabilities in accounting, inventory, user access, deployment, and integrations.
Accounting and Reporting
QuickBooks Enterprise: Provides Advanced Reporting, allowing businesses to generate fully customizable financial reports with industry-specific templates, detailed forecasting, and profitability analysis. It offers deeper data insights, making it ideal for companies that require highly tailored reports.
QuickBooks Online Advanced: Offers custom reports and dashboards, allowing users to filter and modify standard reports. While it provides real-time access to financial data, it lacks the robust reporting tools and advanced financial analysis available in Enterprise.
Inventory Management
QuickBooks Enterprise: Includes Advanced Inventory, enabling businesses to track inventory across multiple locations, use barcode scanning, and apply FIFO (First-In-First-Out) costing. It’s a powerful solution for manufacturers, wholesalers, and businesses managing large inventories.
QuickBooks Online Advanced: Provides basic inventory tracking, suitable for businesses with straightforward inventory needs. However, it does not natively support barcode scanning or multi-location inventory, making it less suitable for complex supply chain operations.
User Access and Roles
QuickBooks Enterprise: Supports up to 40 users, with highly detailed role-based permissions to control access to specific features and data. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses with multiple departments needing different levels of access.
QuickBooks Online Advanced: Allows up to 25 users, but its permission settings are more limited compared to Enterprise. While it does offer user management, businesses needing granular control over data access may find it restrictive.
Cloud vs. Desktop Access
QuickBooks Enterprise: A desktop-based solution that can be hosted on the cloud for remote access. This hybrid option provides the performance of a desktop application with the flexibility of cloud hosting, but it requires additional costs for cloud services.
QuickBooks Online Advanced: A fully cloud-based solution, offering real-time collaboration and remote access without additional hosting fees. It’s ideal for businesses that prioritize accessibility and mobility.
Third-Party Integrations
QuickBooks Enterprise: Integrates with various third-party applications, including CRM, e-commerce, and payroll systems, but some integrations require additional setup or hosting configurations.
QuickBooks Online Advanced: Has a wider app ecosystem through the QuickBooks App Store and supports API-based integrations. It seamlessly connects with a broad range of business applications, making it a more flexible option for businesses relying on multiple cloud-based tools.
Compare QuickBooks Enterprise & QuickBooks Online Advanced – Plans, Pricing & Features
Choosing the right QuickBooks solution depends on your business needs. Below, you’ll find a side-by-side comparison of QuickBooks Enterprise and QuickBooks Online Advanced, including plans, pricing, and key features. Compare their capabilities to determine which one best suits your accounting, inventory, and reporting requirements.
QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise
Best for large businesses that require Advanced Inventory, Advanced reporting and More User features.
Local-Hosting: $311-$368monthly
- Platform: Desktop and Cloud
- Up to 40 users
- Income & expenses
- Invoice & payments
- Tax deductions
- Powerful reports
- Receipt capture
- Sales & sales tax
- Estimates
- 1099 contractors
- E-commerce integration
- Bill management
- Time tracking
- Cash flow
- Project profitability
- Mileage tracking
- Cloud access
- Bill & PO workflow approvals
- Customized access
- Workflow automation
- Batch invoices & expenses
- 24/7 support & training
- On-demand online training
- 200+ Apps
Advanced Options
- Data restoration
- Advanced Reporting
- Advanced Inventory
- Multi-company management
- Intercompany transactions
- Payroll Payroll Built-In
- Advanced Customization & Industry-Specific tools
- Salesforce CRM Connector
QuickBooks Online Advanced
Best for growing businesses that need more Basic Inventory, Reporting and less users support.
$235monthly
- Platform: Only Cloud-based
- Up to 25 users
- Income & expenses
- Invoice & payments
- Tax deductions
- Custom reports & dashboards
- Receipt capture
- Sales & sales tax
- Estimates
- 1099 contractors
- E-commerce integration
- Bill management
- Time tracking
- Cash flow forecasting
- Project profitability
- Mileage tracking
- Cloud-based access
- Bill & PO workflow approvals
- Custom user roles & permissions
- Workflow automation
- Batch invoices & expenses
- Priority Circle support (24/7 support & training)
- On-demand online training
- 750+ apps via QuickBooks App Store
Advanced Options
- Data restoration (Limited backup & restore)
- Advanced Reporting (Standardized reports)
- Advanced Inventory (Basic inventory tracking only)
- Multi-company management (Need Separate Subscription)
- Intercompany transactions (Not supported natively)
- Payroll built in (Requires QuickBooks Payroll subscription)
- Limited Customization
- Salesforce CRM Connector (Requires third-party integration)