QuickBooks is the biggest name in small business accounting in the US, and it has had Australian plans for years. Here it sits behind Xero and MYOB in most trade businesses we see, but it does the same core jobs: bank feeds, GST, BAS, invoices and reports for your accountant.
This review covers what each QuickBooks plan includes for a tradie, what it costs, and where it falls short. Prices and plan features are from QuickBooks’ Australian pricing page, which we read on 18 October 2026. Integration details come from the job app vendors’ own pages. We haven’t run a trade business on QuickBooks for this review.
If you’re still choosing between all three, start with our best accounting app for sole traders comparison.
QuickBooks plans and prices
| Plan | Price a month | Users | Useful for tradies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $33 | 1 plus accountant | GST, BAS, quotes, invoices, bank feeds |
| Essentials | $60 | 3 plus accountant | Adds supplier bills and multi-currency |
| Plus | $84 | 5 plus accountant | Adds project tracking, inventory, budgets |
| Advanced | $125 | 25 plus accountant | Custom roles, workflows, more reporting |
These are the regular monthly prices shown on 18 October 2026. QuickBooks was offering 70% off for the first six months (Simple Start at $9.90 a month during that period), or a 30-day free trial instead. The pricing page didn’t state whether the prices include GST, so check at checkout. An independent price listing we used in our accounting comparison recorded them as GST inclusive.
QuickBooks says there’s no lock-in contract on monthly plans, and you can move between plans at any time.
What a sole trader gets on Simple Start
Simple Start is the plan most one-person trade businesses would look at. QuickBooks lists:
- GST tracking and BAS e-lodgement
- automatic bank feeds and transaction matching
- receipt capture and expense tracking
- kilometre tracking
- unlimited quotes and invoices, including recurring invoices
- the mobile app, and access for your accountant
What it doesn’t list on Simple Start: supplier and bill management (Essentials and up), and project profitability (Plus and up). If you mostly invoice and reconcile, Simple Start covers it. If you want to see whether each job made money inside your accounting software, you’ll need Plus, or a job app that does job costing.
Connecting QuickBooks to your job app
This is the question to answer before price. The vendors list QuickBooks connections as follows:
- ServiceM8 lists QuickBooks Online alongside Xero and MYOB.
- Tradify lists QuickBooks Online on every plan.
- Fergus lists QuickBooks alongside Xero and MYOB.
- Simpro and AroFlo both list QuickBooks for larger teams.
Our ServiceM8 vs Tradify vs Fergus comparison covers the job apps themselves. Whatever you choose, test the sync in a trial: send a test invoice, record a payment, and check it lands in QuickBooks the way your bookkeeper expects.
Payroll and staff
QuickBooks payroll is a paid add-on, powered by Employment Hero, with Standard and Advanced options. QuickBooks doesn’t include the price in its plan table. Compare that with Xero, whose entry plan includes payroll for one person, and MYOB, which charges per employee. Our Xero vs MYOB comparison covers those two in detail.
Simple Start has one user. If an office manager or partner also needs a login, you’re looking at Essentials (three users) or above.
Support and setup
QuickBooks lists a free 45-minute onboarding session, phone support on weekdays, and in-product chat. It says it covers the fee for a basic migration from your old software if you sign up to Essentials, Plus or Advanced.
Pros and cons
QuickBooks Online
Good
- Simple Start includes BAS lodgement and unlimited quotes and invoices
- Main trade job apps list a QuickBooks connection
- No lock-in on monthly plans
- Free onboarding session and basic migration on higher plans
Not so good
- Fewer Australian trade bookkeepers use it than Xero or MYOB
- Payroll costs extra on every plan
- Project tracking needs the $84 Plus plan
- Pricing page doesn't say if prices include GST
See QuickBooks plans Affiliate link. Opens the merchant site in a new tab.
QuickBooks vs Xero vs MYOB in short
- Cheapest with BAS: MYOB Lite at $315 a year was the cheapest we found in our accounting comparison.
- Most common with bookkeepers and job apps: Xero. See our Xero review.
- Middle ground: QuickBooks Simple Start at $33 a month, with monthly billing and the main job app connections.
Before you sign up
- Ask your accountant or BAS agent whether they work in QuickBooks. This matters more than a few dollars a month.
- Check your job app’s QuickBooks sync in a trial.
- Decide whether you need payroll and get the add-on price before committing.
- Note when any intro discount ends, and put the date in your calendar.
- Keep your BAS routine simple. Our BAS and GST guide sets out due dates and a weekly routine. For your own tax position, talk to a registered tax or BAS agent.
Common questions
How much does QuickBooks cost in Australia?
On 18 October 2026, QuickBooks' Australian pricing page listed Simple Start at $33 a month, Essentials at $60, Plus at $84 and Advanced at $125. It was also offering 70% off for the first six months, or a 30-day free trial. The page didn't say whether prices include GST.
Can QuickBooks lodge my BAS?
Yes. QuickBooks lists GST tracking and BAS e-lodgement on all four Australian plans, including Simple Start.
Does QuickBooks work with ServiceM8, Tradify or Fergus?
ServiceM8, Tradify and Fergus all list QuickBooks Online as an accounting connection, and so do Simpro and AroFlo. Check exactly what syncs (invoices, payments, items) during a trial.
Does QuickBooks include payroll?
Not in the base price. QuickBooks says payroll, powered by Employment Hero, can be added to any plan for an extra fee.
Is QuickBooks better than Xero for tradies?
Neither is better for everyone. QuickBooks' Simple Start costs less than Xero's entry plan when we checked, but Xero is more widely used by Australian trade bookkeepers and has wider app support. Ask your accountant which they work with.
