Difference Between Quickbooks Premier & Accountant

QuickBooks Premier is one of the most flexible and versatile accounting software packages for small businesses. The only version that may outperform the Premiere is the Accountant version.

QuickBooks Premier

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The Premier version of QuickBooks is only one step down from the Enterprise Solutions version. It is able to handle inventory, back orders, sales orders and unit of measure tracking on top of all the features that come through using the pro edition of QuickBooks.

The Accountant Edition

The Accountant edition of QuickBooks is rightly called the Premier Accountant edition. In addition to the features of the Premier version, it also allows for the use of more than one type of company being entered into the same QuickBooks program. It is primarily used by bookkeepers and accountants, as it allows one to make changes to the accountant's copy file to be re-integrated into the original company file.

Head to Head

Unless your business is an accounting or bookkeeping business, you won't need the added accountant-friendly features of the Accountant edition. However, the Premier version will do what a small business owner needs to have done. The advantage to the Accountant edition, aside from the "accounting" features you don't need, is that the Accountant edition is often cheaper than the Premier.

Industry Specifics

Both versions can be utilized by just about any industry in existence. This choice is given during the Easy Step Interview, when QuickBooks asks you to identify the type of industry you are in. The file then uses a template of the chart of accounts for that type of industry.

Remote Access

You can access your QuickBooks file from wherever you are if you are using the Accountant edition, without the need for a third-party remote access system. You cannot access the Premier edition without the use of third-party remote access, like Go To My PC.com.

Toggling

Another feature available only through the Accountant edition is the ability to toggle between the editions your office staff may already be used to, whether it's the Simple Start or Pro editions.

References

• Intuit: Comparison of QuickBooks Software Products
• Intuit: Comparison of Accountant Edition