Comments on: Intuit vs. Web 2.0: Entry-level QuickBooks software is now free

Why is Intuit giving QuickBooks Simple Start away for nothing?

Competition.
by John N Roberts October 15, 2007 4:53 AM PDT: This is another situation where a corporation cannot stand competition from a start up. It reminds me of Microsoft vs OpenOffice.; Like this Reply to this comment

Maybe some backup..?
by daftkey October 15, 2007 8:12 AM PDT: "Can't stand competition?"

Since when does a company sitting in the dominant market position, and has been facing real competition from established companies (Sage, Microsoft, MYOB) for years suddenly become afraid of competition from a startup with potentially no real business plan or experience? I think Microsoft vs OpenOffice, if anything, proves that just because something is free doesn't necessarily make it a huge threat.

I think where we will see a lot of Web 2.0 and Free/Open Source projects fail is people making just the same mistake you are - assuming that a company "can't stand competition" when in fact, they are in the best position to take on that competition and can easily adapt (as Intuit is doing right now).; Like this Reply to this comment

Not so fast. . .
by primeguy October 15, 2007 8:17 AM PDT: It should be noted that Simple Start is NOT a web-based application. It's a download for a single machine. Users will not get the benefit of "anytime, anywhere" access.; Like this Reply to this comment

Intuit plugs users into online advertising
by Jay Parkhill October 15, 2007 12:33 PM PDT: Intuit also bought StepUp Commerce this year, and charges QB users to plug offline inventory into search engines- so it isn't just about software being free. There may be a subscription model behind it (don't know if StepUp is part of simple start).; Like this Reply to this comment

Only the Start?
by bjacaruso October 15, 2007 3:37 PM PDT: My guess that Intuit is just early to a game (MS is already there), that will have us see many of the entry level accounting application vendors show up for free. We discussed this today at a product meeting at Pervasive DataSolutions (QuickBooks Integration) and feel this momentum will only continue. Small startups cannot afford to not try this. The pay off for Intuit is obvious, once I start using their software I am not likely to change soon. For a company with some deep pockets it makes sense.; Like this Reply to this comment

Quickbooks is smart and will remain dominant
by cardfan1213 October 16, 2007 5:15 AM PDT: They are the dominate small business accounting solution and have focused on the small accounting firms. It's those firms that will dictate to most small businesses what they prefer.

Trust me, if you work as an accountant, you don't want your clients using all this other crap. You get their quickbooks file and work on it.; Like this Reply to this comment


by Schilling34 June 23, 2008 3:08 PM PDT: PAYROLL SERVICES INCREASE?

HELP! We use QuickBooks 2007 for our payroll. We just received a notice that our Annual Subscription is going up from $99.00 to $239.00 per year?? I didn't realize we HAD an annual
subscription. We use the payroll module to calculate and print paychecks here in the office.

Am I missing something here? Does anyone know anything about this?; Like this Reply to this comment