Knowledge Base

A clear 2026 guide to QuickBooks Desktop Payroll — pricing, Enhanced vs Assisted plans, what’s changing, and your options if your subscription is ending.

QuickBooks Enterprise Silver vs Gold vs Platinum compared — what each edition includes, who it’s for, and how to choose without overpaying.

QuickBooks Enterprise vs Pro vs Premier compared — user limits, features, and capacity — so you pick the right edition without overpaying.

What QuickBooks Enterprise costs in 2026 — subscription vs one-time, edition and per-user pricing, hidden add-ons, and how to avoid overpaying.

The short answer: QuickBooks Desktop is not fully discontinued — but Intuit has made major changes that affect new buyers. Here’s exactly what stopped, what still works, and what your options are in 2026. The Quick Answer Not discontinued — QuickBooks Desktop 2024 still works and is fully supported through ~2027 New sales stopped — Intuit stopped selling new Pro/Premier/Mac Plus subscriptions to US customers after September 30, 2024 Enterprise continues — QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is still actively sold and updated Surplus licenses available — genuine perpetual licenses are legally available through the secondary market No Desktop 2025 — the 2024 version is the final release for Pro/Premier Still want QuickBooks Desktop? You can still get it. Genuine surplus perpetual licenses — no subscription, no monthly fees, fully legal under the first-sale doctrine. Can I Still Buy QuickBooks Desktop? → What Exactly Did Intuit Stop in 2024? ❌ What Intuit stopped after September 30, 2024: Selling new subscriptions for QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus to new US customers Selling new subscriptions for QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus to new US customers Selling new subscriptions for QuickBooks Desktop Mac Plus to new US customers Releasing a QuickBooks Desktop 2025 version for the standard Pro/Premier line ✅ What still works and is available: Existing subscribers can still renew their Pro/Premier subscriptions QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is still actively sold to new customers Surplus perpetual licenses for Pro/Premier 2024 are legally available through the secondary market All core features of QuickBooks Desktop 2024 continue working fully through ~2027 Canadian and international versions may have different timelines QuickBooks Desktop Support Timeline — What Ends When? Feature / Service Status in 2026 Expected End Core accounting (invoicing, reports, expenses) ✅ Fully working Works indefinitely Software security updates ✅ Active ~May 2027 Live technical support ✅ Active (while subscribed) ~May 2027 Live bank feeds ⚠️ Requires subscription ~May 2027 Automated payroll tax tables ⚠️ Requires subscription ~May 2027 QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise ✅ Actively sold & updated No end announced Why Did Intuit Do This? Intuit’s strategy is clear: push all customers toward QuickBooks Online (subscription-based, cloud) and QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise (higher revenue per customer). The stop-sell for Pro/Premier is part of a multi-year transition away from lower-priced desktop products. This is not unusual in the software industry — Microsoft did similar transitions with Office. The key difference is that perpetual desktop licenses retain full value even after the vendor stops selling them directly. Your 3 Options in 2026 Option 1 — Buy a surplus perpetual license — One-time payment, no subscription, works fully offline. Legal under the first-sale doctrine. Available at LicenseRetail for Pro, Premier, and Enterprise 2024. Option 2 — Upgrade to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise — Still actively sold by Intuit. Supports up to 40 users, advanced inventory, and multi-company reporting. Available with or without subscription at LicenseRetail. Option 3 — Switch to QuickBooks Online — Best if you need remote/mobile access, automatic updates, and don’t mind a monthly subscription. See our full comparison: QuickBooks Desktop vs Online 2026 — Which Is Better for Your Business? Get QuickBooks Desktop 2024 — no subscription required One-time payment. Genuine surplus license. Fully legal. Activation guaranteed. Pro 2024 → Premier 2024 → Enterprise 2024 → Frequently Asked Questions Is QuickBooks Desktop being discontinued in 2026? Not fully. Intuit stopped selling new Pro/Premier/Mac Plus subscriptions to US customers after September 30, 2024 — but the software itself continues to work and is supported through approximately 2027. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise remains actively sold. Will QuickBooks Desktop stop working after 2027? Core features — invoicing, reporting, expense tracking — continue working indefinitely even after Intuit ends live services. What stops around 2027 is live technical support, automated bank feeds, and payroll tax table updates. The software itself does not stop working. Can I still buy QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier in 2026? Yes — through the secondary market. Intuit stopped selling new subscriptions directly, but genuine surplus perpetual licenses are legally available from retailers like LicenseRetail under the first-sale doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 109). Is QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise being discontinued? No. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is still actively sold by Intuit and receives regular updates. It is the only QuickBooks Desktop product still sold directly by Intuit to new US customers. Is there a QuickBooks Desktop 2025 or 2026? No. Intuit did not release a QuickBooks Desktop 2025 or 2026 for the Pro/Premier line. The 2024 version is the current and final version for those products. Enterprise continues to receive annual updates under its subscription model. What is the difference between “discontinued” and “stop-sell”? A stop-sell means Intuit stopped selling new licenses directly — but the software still works and is still supported. Discontinued would mean the software no longer functions. QuickBooks Desktop is stop-sell, not discontinued. The software continues working fully.

Moving to a new PC? Whether you bought a new computer or your old one crashed, transferring QuickBooks Desktop to a new computer is straightforward when done in the right order. This guide walks you through every step — company file, license, settings, and verification. ✅ Quick Overview — What You’ll Transfer Your company file (.QBW) — all your accounting data Your license key — deactivate on old PC, activate on new one Templates, letters & logos — custom invoice designs Memorized reports & preferences — your saved settings ⚠️ Don’t skip step 1. Always back up your company file BEFORE doing anything else. A failed transfer without a backup can mean lost data. Need a new license for your new computer? If you don’t have a transferable license, LicenseRetail sells genuine perpetual licenses — one-time payment, no subscription. Get a No-Subscription License → Step 1 — Back Up Your Company File on the Old Computer Open QuickBooks Desktop on your old computer Go to File → Back Up Company → Create Local Backup Select Local Backup → click Options Choose a save location — external USB drive or a folder you’ll copy to the new PC Click OK → Next → Save it Now → Finish Your backup file will end in .QBB. Also locate your live company file (ends in .QBW) — usually found at: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files\ Step 2 — Note Your License Number In QuickBooks on your old computer → press F2 (or go to Help → Product Information) Write down your License Number and Product Number Keep this safe — you’ll need it to activate on the new computer Step 3 — Deactivate QuickBooks on the Old Computer Go to Help → Manage My License → Deactivate QuickBooks Desktop Confirm the deactivation when prompted This frees the license to be activated on your new computer ⚠️ If your old computer is already dead or inaccessible: Don’t worry — Intuit allows a limited number of activations per license. Simply activate on the new computer. If you hit an activation limit, call Intuit support at 1-800-4-INTUIT and they’ll reset it. Step 4 — Transfer Your Files to the New Computer Choose whichever method works best for you: Method Best For How USB Drive Most users Copy .QBB and .QBW to USB → plug into new PC → copy to Documents Network Share Both PCs on same network Share the folder on old PC → access from new PC → copy files Cloud Storage Remote transfer Upload to Google Drive/OneDrive → download on new PC QB Migration Tool Full automatic transfer QuickBooks → File → Utilities → Move QuickBooks to another computer Save your company files to: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files\ on the new PC. Step 5 — Install QuickBooks on the New Computer Download the installer from Intuit’s official download page Right-click the installer → Run as Administrator Select install type → Express for single user Enter your License Number and Product Number from Step 2 Complete the installation → open QuickBooks Step 6 — Restore Your Company File on the New Computer Open QuickBooks on the new computer Go to File → Open or Restore Company Select Restore a backup copy → click Next Select Local Backup → browse to your .QBB file → click Open Choose where to save the restored company file → click Save QuickBooks will restore and open your company file Step 7 — Transfer Templates, Logos & Custom Settings These files are stored separately from your company file. Copy them from the old PC to the same location on the new PC: Invoice templates: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks [year]\ Company logo: Go to Edit → Preferences → Company preferences → upload your logo again Printer settings: File → Printer Setup → reconfigure on the new PC Memorized reports: These are stored inside your company file — they transfer automatically with your .QBB backup Need help with the transfer? We offer remote installation & migration services Our team can handle the full QuickBooks transfer remotely — company file, license activation, templates, and settings. Remote Installation Service → White Glove Migration → Frequently Asked Questions Can I move QuickBooks Desktop to a new computer without losing data? Yes — as long as you back up your company file first and restore it correctly on the new PC. Follow the steps above in order and you will not lose any data. Do I need to buy a new license for my new computer? No — your existing license can be transferred. Deactivate it on the old computer first (Help → Manage My License → Deactivate), then activate on the new computer with the same license number and product number. What if my old computer died and I can’t deactivate the license? Just activate QuickBooks on your new computer using your license key. If you hit the activation limit, call Intuit support at 1-800-4-INTUIT and explain your old computer died — they will reset your activation count at no charge. What files do I need to transfer? The most important file is your company file (.QBW) or backup (.QBB). Also transfer custom templates, your company logo, and any attachments stored locally. Memorized reports and preferences are saved inside the company file and transfer automatically. How do I find my QuickBooks company file location? In QuickBooks, go to File → Open or Restore Company → the path to your current company file is shown at the top. The default location is C:\Users\Public\Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files\. Can I use QuickBooks on two computers at the same time? With a single-user license, no — you can only run QuickBooks on one computer at a time. For multi-user access on a local network, you need a multi-user license. QuickBooks Desktop Pro supports up to 3 simultaneous users, Premier up to 5, and Enterprise up to 40. How long does it take to move QuickBooks to a new computer? For most users, the full process takes 30–60 minutes — including backup, file transfer, installation, and restoration. If

How to Download, Install & Activate QuickBooks Desktop 2024 (Complete Step-by-Step Guide) Whether you’ve just purchased a QuickBooks Desktop 2024 license or are upgrading from an older version, this guide walks you through the entire process — from downloading the installer to entering your license key and activating the software. This guide covers QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2024, Premier 2024, and Enterprise 24.0 on Windows. The installation process is identical for all three editions. 💡 Don’t have a license yet? If you need to purchase a genuine QuickBooks Desktop 2024 license without a subscription, LicenseRetail sells official surplus licenses at below-retail prices with instant email delivery: Pro 2024 · Premier 2024 · Enterprise 2024 Step 1 — Check System Requirements Before Installing Before downloading, confirm your computer meets the minimum requirements. Installing on an unsupported system causes activation failures and performance issues. Component Minimum Requirement Recommended Operating System Windows 10 (64-bit, natively installed) Windows 11 (64-bit) Processor 2.4 GHz Intel or AMD x86 3.0 GHz+ quad-core RAM 8 GB 16 GB Disk Space 2.5 GB for installation SSD + extra space for company file Screen Resolution 1280 × 1024 1920 × 1080 or higher Internet Required for activation only Not needed for daily use ⚠️ Important: Microsoft ends Windows 10 support in October 2025. Intuit strongly recommends Windows 11 for QuickBooks Desktop 2024 to ensure full compatibility and security updates going forward. ARM-based processors (such as Microsoft Surface Pro X) are not supported. Step 2 — Download the QuickBooks Desktop 2024 Installer You have two ways to get the installer: Option A — Download from Intuit directly (recommended) Go to downloads.quickbooks.com/app/qbdt/products Select your product: Pro 2024, Premier 2024, or Enterprise 24.0 Select your country: United States Click Download — the file is approximately 600 MB–1 GB Save the installer file to your Desktop or Downloads folder Option B — Use the download link from your purchase email If you purchased from LicenseRetail, your purchase confirmation email includes a direct Intuit download link for your specific edition. Click that link to download the exact installer you need. 💡 Tip: Make sure you download the correct edition. Pro, Premier, and Enterprise have separate installers. Downloading the wrong one and entering your license key will cause an activation error. Step 3 — Run the Installer Locate the downloaded file (named something like QuickBooksDesktopPro2024.exe) and double-click it to run If Windows asks “Do you want to allow this app to make changes?” — click Yes The QuickBooks Installation wizard will open. Click Next to begin Read and accept the License Agreement → click Next Enter your License Number and Product Number from your purchase email → click Next Choose installation type: →Express (recommended) — installs in the default location. Best for most users. →Custom and Network Options — for multi-user setups or server installations. Click Install — installation takes approximately 5–15 minutes depending on your computer speed When complete, click Open QuickBooks ⚠️ Before installing: Temporarily disable your antivirus during installation. Some antivirus programs (especially Windows Defender) incorrectly flag QuickBooks installer files. Re-enable it immediately after installation is complete. Step 4 — Activate QuickBooks Desktop 2024 After installation, QuickBooks opens in trial mode. You need to activate it with your license key to unlock full functionality. Online activation (recommended — fastest) Open QuickBooks Desktop 2024 Go to Help → Activate QuickBooks Desktop Follow the on-screen prompts — QuickBooks connects to Intuit’s servers to verify your license Enter your license number and product number when prompted Click Activate — activation typically completes in under 60 seconds You’ll see a “Congratulations — QuickBooks has been activated” confirmation screen Phone activation (if online activation fails) In the activation window, click “Activate by Phone” QuickBooks displays an Installation Key Number (IKN) Call Intuit’s activation line: 1-800-316-1052 Provide your license number, product number, and IKN to the automated system You’ll receive a Confirmation Number — enter it in QuickBooks to complete activation ✅ Activation successful? You’ll see your company name and registered user details in Help → About QuickBooks. If activation succeeds, QuickBooks is fully unlocked and ready to use — no internet required for day-to-day accounting. Step 5 — Set Up Your Company File After activation, QuickBooks will ask you to open or create a company file. This is where all your accounting data is stored. Creating a new company file Select “Create a new company” on the welcome screen Choose “Express Start” (recommended for new users) or “Detailed Start” for full customization Enter your company name, industry type, and fiscal year start Choose where to save your company file — we recommend a dedicated folder like C:\QBCompanyFiles\ Click Create Company File Restoring an existing company file Select “Open or restore an existing company” Browse to your existing .QBW company file or backup .QBB file If upgrading from an older version, QuickBooks will prompt you to update the file format — click Yes (this is a one-way conversion, so back up first) 💡 Back up immediately: After setting up your company file, go to File → Back Up Company → Create Local Backup. Store your backup on an external drive or cloud storage. Do this daily once you start entering data. Troubleshooting Common Installation Errors If you run into issues during installation or activation, here are the most common errors and how to fix them: Error: “The license number or product number is invalid” Make sure you’re entering the license number and product number for the correct edition (Pro, Premier, or Enterprise). Double-check for typos — O vs 0 and I vs 1 are common mistakes. If you purchased from LicenseRetail and the key still fails, contact our support immediately for a replacement. Error: “QuickBooks installation has failed” Temporarily disable your antivirus, restart your computer, and run the installer again as Administrator (right-click → “Run as administrator”). Also ensure you have at least 3 GB of free disk space. Error: “QuickBooks is already registered to another user” This indicates the license was not properly deregistered by the previous

QuickBooks Desktop vs QuickBooks Online (2026): The Full Honest Comparison Intuit wants you on QuickBooks Online. Their marketing makes it seem like QuickBooks Desktop is old news — a relic for people who haven’t “moved to the cloud” yet. But is that actually true? For most small businesses, the answer is no. After running the real numbers on cost, features, and long-term value, QuickBooks Desktop still wins — especially when you don’t buy it from Intuit directly. This guide gives you the full honest comparison: features side by side, true 3-year cost breakdown, and a clear verdict on which is right for your business. No affiliate bias, no Intuit talking points. Quick answer if you came here to find out if you can still buy Desktop: Yes — Intuit stopped selling Pro Plus and Premier Plus in July 2024, but genuine surplus licenses are still available through LicenseRetail at below-retail prices with no subscription. Full explanation here → The Core Difference: Ownership vs Subscription Before diving into features, the most important difference between QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online is not the features — it’s the business model. QuickBooks Desktop — you buy it once (or pay annually) and the software is yours. It runs locally on your computer. Your data stays on your machine. You are the owner. QuickBooks Online — you pay every month, forever. Stop paying and you immediately lose access to your accounting software and data. You are a permanent renter. This ownership difference has a massive impact on long-term cost — as we’ll show in the 3-year comparison below. QuickBooks Desktop 2026 — Overview QuickBooks Desktop is the original, installed version of QuickBooks that has been the backbone of small business accounting for over 30 years. It runs entirely on your Windows computer — no internet required for core features. What’s available in 2026 Intuit stopped selling QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus and Premier Plus to new customers in July 2024. However, genuine surplus licenses for all editions remain legally available through the secondary market: QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2024 — Up to 3 users. Full core accounting, invoicing, reporting, inventory. Ideal for freelancers and small teams. QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2024 — Up to 5 users. Includes 5 industry editions (Contractor, Retail, Nonprofit, Manufacturing, Professional Services) + advanced forecasting. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise 2024 — Up to 40 users. Advanced inventory (FIFO, barcode, serial tracking), 1 million item capacity, custom pricing rules. Key Desktop strengths Works 100% offline — no internet dependency Advanced inventory management (assemblies, FIFO costing, reorder points) Industry-specific editions (Contractor, Nonprofit, Manufacturing, Retail) 150–200+ customizable reports Your data stays on your own computer — full ownership Job costing and profitability by project Multi-user access on a local network (up to 40 users with Enterprise) One-time payment — no recurring fees ✅ Browse no-subscription QuickBooks Desktop licenses: Pro 2024 Premier 2024 Enterprise 2024 QuickBooks Online 2026 — Overview QuickBooks Online (QBO) is Intuit’s cloud-based subscription product. It runs in any web browser and on mobile devices, with your data stored on Intuit’s servers. QBO plans and 2026 pricing Simple Start — $30/month ($360/year). 1 user. Basic income and expense tracking. Essentials — $60/month ($720/year). 3 users. Adds bill management and time tracking. Plus — $90/month ($1,080/year). 5 users. Adds inventory, project tracking, budgeting. Advanced — $200/month ($2,400/year). 25 users. Business analytics, custom workflows. Key QBO strengths Access from any device — browser and mobile app Real-time collaboration with remote bookkeepers or accountants Automatic software updates — always latest version 600+ third-party app integrations Automatic cloud backup — no manual backup needed Lower upfront cost vs buying Desktop at retail Feature-by-Feature Comparison Feature QuickBooks OnlineSubscription (Intuit) QuickBooks DesktopNo-subscription (LicenseRetail) Pricing model Monthly subscription — forever One-time payment — no renewals Works offline ✗ Internet required always ✓ Fully offline capable Mobile access ✓ Full mobile app Limited (companion app only) Data ownership Stored on Intuit’s servers ✓ 100% on your own computer Advanced inventory Basic (Plus plan only) ✓ FIFO, assemblies, reorder, barcode Industry editions ✗ Not available ✓ Contractor, Retail, Nonprofit, Mfg Number of reports ~80 standard reports ✓ 150–200+ customizable reports Job costing Limited (Plus/Advanced only) ✓ Full job costing (Premier+) Max simultaneous users Up to 25 (Advanced plan) Up to 40 (Enterprise) Third-party integrations ✓ 600+ apps Good (fewer than QBO) Automatic updates ✓ Always latest version Manual updates (within version) Remote accountant access ✓ Easy via browser Via remote desktop or file sharing Payroll Add-on (extra cost) Add-on (extra cost) Best for Remote teams, simple service businesses Inventory, contractors, cost-conscious businesses The True 3-Year Cost Comparison — The Numbers Intuit Doesn’t Show You This is the most important section of this entire article. Intuit’s marketing makes QBO look affordable because they show you the monthly price. But multiply that monthly fee by 36 months and the real cost becomes very clear. Option QuickBooks OnlineMonthly subscription QuickBooks DesktopLicenseRetail surplus Entry level Simple Start $30/mo= $1,080 over 3 years Desktop Pro 2024One-time payment Save $800+ Mid-tier Plus $90/mo= $3,240 over 3 years Desktop Premier 2024One-time payment Save $2,800+ Advanced Advanced $200/mo= $7,200 over 3 years Desktop Enterprise 2024One-time payment Save $5,000+ 3-year total $1,080 – $7,200 ⚠️ One-time payment only ✓ 60–80% average saving over 3 years choosing a no-subscription Desktop license from LicenseRetail vs QuickBooks Online. Based on QBO Simple Start ($30/mo) vs Desktop Pro surplus pricing over 36 months. The math is unambiguous for most small businesses: Desktop costs a fraction of QBO over any 3-year period — even before accounting for the feature advantages Desktop holds in inventory and reporting. Who Should Use QuickBooks Desktop vs Online? ✅ Choose Desktop if you… Have inventory to track (especially with assemblies or serial numbers) Work in construction, manufacturing, retail, or nonprofit Want to own your software outright — no recurring fees Prefer your data stored locally, not in the cloud Have unreliable or slow internet Need advanced job costing and profitability reports Have a tight budget and want the best value over 3 years