QuickBooks Desktop is Intuit’s flagship accounting software that helps small businesses manage their finances. Since the first version launched in 1992, QuickBooks has seen annual updates that bring new features and improvements. With over 5 million users worldwide, QuickBooks Desktop continues to be the preferred choice of accountants and small business owners.
As we approach 2023, the big question is – when will QuickBooks Desktop 2024 be released and what new features will it have? In this article, we will look at the likely QuickBooks Desktop 2024 release date, expected new features, and pricing options based on historical data and expert analysis.
QuickBooks Desktop 2024 Release Date
Intuit has followed a consistent release pattern for QuickBooks Desktop in the past decade. New versions drop around mid-to-late August each year.
For example, here are the release months for previous QuickBooks Desktop versions:
- QuickBooks Desktop 2023 – August 2022
- QuickBooks Desktop 2022 – September 2021
- QuickBooks Desktop 2021 – September 2020
- QuickBooks Desktop 2020 – October 2019
Going by historical data, it is highly likely that QuickBooks Desktop 2024 will release in August 2023.
While the exact release date is not known yet, if we go by the previous 3-4 year trend, the launch will likely happen in the third week of August. QuickBooks Desktop 2024 will replace 2023 and become the latest version.
Some key things to note about the QuickBooks Desktop release cycle:
- The new version becomes available for download around mid-August. However, physical packaging with install CDs gets delivered to retailers by late August or early September.
- Intuit usually announces the new version features and updates a few weeks before the launch.
- There is no cutoff date for moving to the latest version. You can continue using the older version as long as you want. Support and patches will be provided for about 3 years after release.
- The pricing for new versions is typically the same as the previous one. Some minor changes occasionally happen.
- Intuit provides attractive discounts of around 40-60% when upgrading to the latest version from 3 or more generations old software.
So in summary, you can expect QuickBooks Desktop 2024 by mid to late-August 2023. Time to start planning that accounting software upgrade!
Expected New Features
Intuit adds new features and updates in every release of QuickBooks Desktop to help customers improve efficiency and make better business decisions. Sometimes major changes happen, like the visual interface refresh in 2020. Other times, minor enhancements are made to existing features.
Based on user feedback and industry trends, here are some likely new features that QuickBooks Desktop 2024 could bring:
1. Improved Imports from Excel and CSV
Importing data from Excel or CSV files is a common task for many small businesses. However, the current QuickBooks Desktop options have some limitations in flexibility and control.
For 2024, we expect upgrades like:
- More control over import mapping of columns
- Preview import results before committing the data
- Progress indicators for large file imports
- Skipping rows ability for inconsistent formats
Such improvements will make Excel and CSV imports faster and smoother.
2. Enhanced Search Capabilities
Finding transactions, customers, invoices and other information quickly is critical for accounting work.
The QuickBooks Desktop search functionality is quite basic at present. It needs more filters, shortcuts and intuitiveness.
The 2024 version could upgrade search to allow:
- Searching within transaction memos
- Advanced filtering by date, amount, etc.
- Faster results for common queries
- A refined algorithm for more relevant results
Faster access to the right information will improve productivity.
3. Improved Reports and Dashboard
Reports and business insights are vital for decision making. QuickBooks Desktop already has 100+ built-in reports. But the customization and visualization abilities are limited compared to modern business intelligence tools.
In QuickBooks Desktop 2024, we expect a redesigned reporting engine for greater flexibility:
- Custom drill-downs, sorting and filtering
- Additional report formatting options
- Modern visualizations like heat maps, graphs and charts
- Exporting data to Excel and CSV for external analysis
The home dashboard could also move beyond just shortcuts to provide visual data summaries, notifications and integration with third-party apps.
4. Better Inventory Management
For product-based businesses, QuickBooks Desktop provides inventory and assembly item management. This helps track stock levels and item costs.
But growing SMBs need more advanced capabilities like:
- Bins and lot tracking
- Landed cost tracking
- Serial number management
- Barcode scanning
- FIFO costing
By bridging gaps with their manufacturing-strength inventory software Fishbowl, we expect Intuit to significantly enhance QuickBooks Desktop inventory management in 2024.
5. Payroll Enhancements
QuickBooks Payroll helps businesses handle payroll taxes, payments, filings and other compliance needs smoothly. It reduces manual work and minimizes errors.
Some likely payroll enhancements in the 2024 update are:
- Direct data integration with time tracking apps for faster processing
- Improved support for remote teams and distributed work
- Automated reminders for quarterly filings and payments
- Better change management capabilities
Such features will help businesses save time on payroll processing.
6. Remote Access Improvements
During the pandemic, Intuit added features like multi-user access and remote data sharing to QuickBooks Desktop.
However, the experience is still not as smooth and well-integrated as modern cloud accounting systems.
For QuickBooks Desktop 2024, we can expect:
- Performance enhancements for remote use
- Improved collaborative features
- Role-based permissions for accountants
- Easier data sharing with bookkeepers
This will support the growing remote work trend in the accounting industry.
7. Expanded APIs and Integrations
QuickBooks Desktop offers integration with many third-party business apps via APIs and apps. For example, billing, banking, ecommerce and POS systems.
The 2024 release could expand these capabilities:
- More APIs for custom integrations
- Deeper support for industry-specific apps
- Improved data sync with apps
- Marketplace for discovering integrations
Openness to interoperability will help businesses create tailored solutions.
8. Enhanced Mobile Apps
Along with the desktop software, Intuit offers QuickBooks apps for mobile devices to support on-the-go tasks. Features are currently limited, but improving.
In 2024, better mobile support should arrive with:
- Snapping pictures of receipts for expenses
- Inventory management capabilities
- Sales order creation and tracking
- Customer alerts and notifications
- Expanded reporting and dashboard views
Better productivity on mobile will enable real-time business management.
These are some of the likely new capabilities that small businesses can expect in QuickBooks Desktop 2024 based on current trends. The final release will reveal which features make the cut and the depth of enhancements across the accounting workflow.
QuickBooks Desktop 2024 Pricing
Historically, Intuit has kept prices stable with little to no increase in newer QuickBooks Desktop versions. We expect this trend to continue in 2024 as well.
Here are the current 2023 prices for reference:
- QuickBooks Pro: $299.95 (1 user)
- QuickBooks Premier: $429.95 (1 user)
- **QuickBooks Enterprise: **Starts at $1,600/year (1 user)
The pricing structure has tiers based on features and number of users supported.
As per industry experts, the pricing range for QuickBooks Desktop 2024 will likely be:
- QuickBooks Pro: $299 – $319
- QuickBooks Premier: $429 – $449
- QuickBooks Enterprise: Starts around $1,650/year
So at best we may see a $20 increase for Pro and Premier versions. The online subscription for Enterprise may get a small bump too.
As usual, Intuit will offer discounts of 40-60% for switching from 3+ years old versions. Owners of QuickBooks Desktop 2021 or older can expect up to 60% off.
For example, QuickBooks Pro 2024 may be available for $120 to $130 for eligible upgraders.
There may also be special deals during the holiday season towards the end of 2023.
So in summary, expect only minor price changes +/- $20 for QuickBooks Desktop 2024 over 2023 levels based on historical data.
Will Your PC Meet System Requirements?
With every new version, QuickBooks Desktop requires a slightly more powerful computer to support new capabilities. It is recommended to check if your system will meet the 2024 requirements before upgrading to avoid performance issues.
The expected QuickBooks Desktop 2024 system needs are:
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows 10, 11
- Intel Core i3 2.4GHz
- 4GB RAM
- 2GB free HDD space
Recommended for best performance:
- Windows 10 Pro, 11 Pro
- Intel Core i5 3.2GHz or better
- 8GB RAM
- SSD with at least 4GB free space
So if your computer is 3-4 years old, it should comfortably run QuickBooks Desktop 2024. Upgrading RAM or moving data to an SSD can provide a boost on older systems.
It may be time to replace PCs that are more than 5 years old for a smooth 2024 experience. When purchasing new hardware, go with higher specs than minimum for optimal speed.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key likely details for the upcoming QuickBooks Desktop 2024 version based on expert assessments:
- Release date around 3rd week of August 2023
- Pricing expected to be similar +/- $20 over 2023 versions
- Major improvements in areas like search, reporting, inventory, payroll and integrations
- Enhanced capabilities for remote work and multi-user access
- Faster imports, visual reporting and automation of tasks on roadmap
- Hardware purchased in last 3-4 years should comfortably support 2024
With growing competition from cloud accounting platforms, Intuit will aim to make QuickBooks Desktop 2024 more efficient, intuitive and open. This will provide better value to the millions of small businesses relying on it for their accounting needs.
Look out for the official announcement from Intuit in coming months which will confirm the actual release dates, features and pricing.
