Intuit "stimulus program" benefits small businsses, but not end users

Intuit, makers of the accounting product QuickBooks for small business, and the consumer accounting apps Quicken and TurboTax, today announced a cleverly-named "stimulus package" for its small business products.

The program, Small Business United, consists of reduced-price services or extended trial periods on online apps. For example, the Inuit Online Payroll services is now free for six months ($9.95 a month thereafter). Intuit-hosted small business Web sites are now free for a full year ($4.99 a month afterward).

"Grant" = "Prize." But money's money.

More interesting than the effective price drops on Inuit small business products is the competition the company is running to share small business tips. Considering the economy today, sharing advice on making through is a great idea. All tips are visible on the site. The community helps to vote on the best ideas (the mechanics are exactly clear). Fifty-five winners receive prizes ("grants") ranging from $5000 to the $25,000 grand prize, in addition to Intuit products and services. It's not exactly like the constraint-free bailouts banks are getting, and small businesses do have to sing for their supper, but money is money, and we appreciate the spirit of these awards.

Less appreciated by many (like me) is Intuit's continued lack of a bailout for consumers using its paid software app, Quicken. The company still "sunsets" its annual versions of Quicken, forcing users to upgrade to newer versions. Often, these annual releases are not mature on launch and cause users new problems. I'd like to see the stimulus package extend down to this product. Our society is entering a buy-and-hold era with consumer goods like appliances and cars. It would be nice if software vendors respected this as well.

[demecles]

It's a pretty good marketing scheme, all in all, give it to them free for six months to a year and then you've pretty much got them from that point on due to the hassle of switching your accounting and payroll software.

[stevesancarlos]

"CNet benefits tech aficionados, but not sports fans."

Get the point? The premise of this article is STUPID. This is because Intuit's program is clearly labeled as being for "small business," versus consumers. So get over it.

And in addition, if you want free Quicken, get Quicken Online. Come on Rafe, I know times are tough and you may be a bit grouchy, but surely you can find something more meaningful to grouse about.

Yea they need to fix the existing software before they worry about any updates. Q 2008 has never worked properly with on of my banks on downloading. It would work once then fail everytime, till I erased the config and start over. Then it will work 1 time then same routine.

Oh and it considered my house a liability..how crazy is that?

[hc2008]

I agree. In addition QB 2009 for Mac is plagued with bugs. Intuit just ignores requests to fix their products. I guess they made their money on the sale and now make even more money on paid phone support trying to convince customers their product is not at fault.

[Mike Block CPA]

The average QuickBooks small business owner runs a very small business. Therefore, this average small business owner also is a consumer. The others who benefit are the business employees, who might otherwise be more likely to need new jobs or become non-consumers. We should really wish that federal stimulus programs made as much sense.

[Wak_Em]

For the most part "small business" equates to consumer if these apps are the choice of a "business". Owner operator, mom and pop, self employed. "Get the point?" A little, very little, critical thinking is required from time to time. "So, get over it."

[bgnm]

Quicken is not Intuit's only marketing scheme that's stacked against its customers. They derive much of their revenue selling essentially the same tax product year after year at the full price. They try to entice you to take advantage of their returning customer discount which is 20% above the Sam's Club price for a fresh copy. You think you're getting a usable product on the distribution disk, only to find that it takes an interminable time to "update" even though the vast majority of the tax filing process is unchanged from last year. This year, they raised the price and restricted restrict the number of returns you could prepare based on some bizarre theory of usage. They backed down on the return limit in response to a customer revolt. If you don't like their treatment, go with their competition.

[jp11207]

Dear Rafe Needleman,

What happened...did your spell check call in sick?? You misspelled "businesses" in the title!!!

[kimdy62]

Not only is "businesses" spelled incorrectly, but entire sentences make no sense!

"...Considering the economy today, sharing advice on making through is a great idea..."
***? What the heck are you trying to say here?

How 'bout:
"...(the mechanics are exactly clear)..."
Huh?

"...Often, these annual releases are not mature on launch and cause users new problems..."
Ummm, just a thought, but perhaps it's not the product, but the lack of spelling and/or grammar comprehension that's causing you problems.

Just saying...

I'm appalled that this news was so EARTH SHATTERING that it had to be published RIGHT NOW, without spell check, or even a quick once over. Is this Rafe dude so big time he doesn't even have an editor?