QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online starts at $33/mo (Simple Start) for the Simple Start plan, which includes one user and unlimited bank feeds. The Essentials plan is $60/mo (Essentials) and adds up to three users and bill management. The Plus plan is $125/mo (Advanced) and includes project tracking, inventory, and up to five users. All plans are month-to-month.

QuickBooks does not include payroll in the base subscription. Payroll is available as an add-on ($6/emp) through the Employment Hero integration. This covers STP Phase 2 and superannuation, but it is a separate service with its own subscription cost.

User allowances depend on the plan: the Simple Start plan includes 1 (Simple Start), Essentials includes three, and Plus includes five. If you need more users, you would need to move to the Advanced plan.

Yes. QuickBooks Online supports direct BAS lodgement through the ATO's SBR channel. GST is tracked automatically as you categorise transactions, and you can prepare and submit your Business Activity Statement from within the software.

QuickBooks' entry plan is slightly cheaper than Xero's Ignite plan, and both mid-tier plans are similarly priced. However, QuickBooks includes only one user on Simple Start versus unlimited users on every Xero plan. Payroll is also an extra cost on QuickBooks, whereas it is included in every Xero plan. For businesses with multiple staff or employees on payroll, Xero may offer better overall value at comparable subscription tiers.

Yes. All QuickBooks Online plans include Unlimited bank feeds, which allows you to connect multiple bank accounts, credit cards, and payment processors without restriction.

No. QuickBooks Online in Australia is available on a monthly subscription with no lock-in contract. You can cancel at any time. QuickBooks regularly offers promotional discounts for the first few months for new subscribers.

QuickBooks Online starts from $33/mo (Simple Start) on the Simple Start plan. Payroll is not included in the base subscription; it is powered by Employment Hero and priced at $6/emp/mo on top of your QuickBooks subscription. This means the total cost of accounting plus payroll is the plan fee combined with the per-employee payroll charge.

Yes. QuickBooks payroll in Australia runs on the Employment Hero Payroll engine. This means QuickBooks users benefit from Employment Hero's Modern Award interpretation and STP Phase 2 compliance without needing a separate payroll platform. The two products sync employee and payroll data automatically to reduce double-entry.

Yes. QuickBooks Online payroll (powered by Employment Hero) is fully STP Phase 2 compliant and reports wages, tax, superannuation, and leave separately to the ATO each pay cycle. Super payments are processed through the HeroClear clearing house, which is designed to meet the Payday Super requirements from 1 July 2026.

Because QuickBooks payroll is powered by the Employment Hero engine, it benefits from strong Modern Award interpretation. Pre-built award templates cover penalty rates, overtime, shift loadings, and annual award reconciliations. This makes QuickBooks payroll more capable on awards than Xero's native solution, despite originating from a global platform.

QuickBooks suits Australian small businesses that want an affordable accounting entry point with solid compliance, good reporting, and the backing of a widely recognised global brand. It works well for businesses that are already in the Intuit ecosystem or whose accountant is familiar with QuickBooks. Businesses needing payroll-only or an all-in-one HR platform may find Employment Hero directly offers more value.

Both platforms are STP Phase 2 compliant and integrate accounting with payroll. Xero includes payroll within its plan at no extra per-employee charge, while QuickBooks charges per employee for the Employment Hero payroll add-on. QuickBooks benefits from Employment Hero's stronger award interpretation engine, whereas Xero has a larger local accountant network and more native integrations. Total cost depends on headcount: at low employee counts QuickBooks can be competitive, but the per-employee charge accumulates as teams grow.