What is QuickBooks Premier Plus? Learn the Benefits, Features, Different Types, and How to Download & Install in 2026

QuickBooks Premier Plus is one of the most comprehensive software programs developed by Intuit, offering additional features as part of the annual subscription. The software provides more than 150 thorough reports, files, menus, and accounts tailored to various industries. QuickBooks Premier is a popular choice for SMBs because it offers a wide range of features and functionality at an affordable price.

With QuickBooks Premier hosting on the cloud, you can access the software from anywhere, anytime. Did you know? According to a 2022 Gartner report, QuickBooks Premier is the most popular desktop accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). As of 2025, estimates indicate that QuickBooks Premier has over 7 million active users worldwide, capturing about 62.23% of the market share.

In this detailed post, we will cover what is QuickBooks Premier Plus features of QuickBooks Premier, different types, and much more. Let us dive into the topic and explore more.

What is QuickBooks Premier Plus Software?

QuickBooks Premier Plus is a desktop accounting software program developed by Intuit for small and medium-sized businesses. It is a popular choice for companies that need more features than QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Simple Start, but don’t need the full-featured capabilities of QuickBooks Enterprise.

The software tool provides a strong foundation for the company’s money management and financial operations. QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus offers data backup and recovery, proactive customer support, bill payments, expense tracking, and hassle-free check printing, among other features. Many versions of QuickBooks can be hosted on the cloud, for instance, hosted QuickBooks Pro.

QuickBooks Premier Plus Features in 2026

• Enhanced banking connections now make it easier to connect QuickBooks Premier Plus to your bank accounts and import your transactions. This can save you a lot of time and hassle and improve the accuracy of your financial records. QuickBooks hosted has made banking connections even easier.
• Improved cash flow hub provides a central view of your cash flow, showing how much money is coming in and going out. It also includes tools to help you track your expenses and forecast your future cash flow.
• Robust payment link tracking allows you to track the status of payments that you've sent or received using a payment link. This can help track payments from customers or vendors.
• When you buy the QuickBooks Premier Plus license, you will now get enhanced AI and Automation features to make your workflow smooth and easy.
• Better vendor and item linking options to improve the overall workflow.
• Upgraded mileage tracking allows you to track your business mileage, so you can easily deduct your business-related driving expenses from your taxes. QuickBooks Premier includes a built-in mileage tracker, or you can use a third-party app like MileIQ.

QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus Features

Reporting

While you can't break down your cash flow by region, you can utilize class lists to organize your funds. For each property under their care, a property manager, for instance, might develop a new class. The property manager can easily generate income, expense, and balance sheet reports by assigning a class to each transaction.

Project Accounting

Project accounting is a strong suit for QuickBooks Desktop Premier. Project-based businesses, such as those run by contractors and designers, can benefit significantly from this edition of QuickBooks. Marketing and advertising agencies can also use these tools to manage their clients' projects.

Accounts Payable

While the A/P functionalities in QuickBooks Desktop are robust, the A/P module must be clarified for new users. Some new features include setting up recurring costs, converting purchase orders into invoices, building service offerings, and tracking electronic payments. The bill monitor will keep you apprised of the status of upcoming payments, helping maintain your cash flow. The bill manager records all purchases, outstanding bills, and payments made.

Accounts Receivable

QuickBooks Desktop Premier's invoicing functionality shines because it gives customers a lot of control over custom branding details, such as invoice color and template selection. After recording invoices, you can print or email them to your clients. If you regularly bill for the same service, adding service items for those services is an excellent way to reduce repetitive data entry.

Sales Income Tax

QB Premier keeps tabs on tax obligations and tracks sales tax accumulation and payment on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. You can also specify which transactions should be subject to sales tax.

Integrations

Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento are just some of the e-commerce platforms compatible with QuickBooks Desktop Premier. Also, it's easy to connect to major retail websites like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart.

How to Download & Install QuickBooks Premier Plus?

System Requirements

Steps to Install QuickBooks Premier on PC

Step 1: Go to https://downloads.quickbooks.com/app/qbdt/product and click QuickBooks Premier

Step 2: Click the Download Now button.

Step 3: Sign in with your Intuit account or create a new one.

Step 4: Click ’Download Now’ to download the QuickBooks .exe installer file.

Step 5: Run the .exe installer file you just downloaded. This will open the QuickBooks Installer.

Step 6: Accept the license agreement. Enter your QuickBooks Premier product key when prompted. You’ll need this to complete the installation.

Step 7: Select the installation type:

Typical installation: Includes standard QuickBooks files and features
Custom installation: Allows you to choose which features to install

Step 8: Click Install to begin the installation process. Enter your administrator password when prompted to allow Windows Installer to make changes. Choose whether you want to launch QuickBooks once installation is complete.

Step 9: After installation, open QuickBooks. Choose to create a new company file or open an existing one. Follow the setup steps:

Step 10: Select your business type and industry

Step 11: Set up accounts

Step 12: Enter tax information

Step 13: Add customers and vendors

Step 14: QuickBooks Premier is now installed! You can start using it to invoice customers, pay bills, track expenses, and run reports. You have now successfully downloaded and installed QuickBooks Premier Plus.

How to Download & Install QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus on Mac?

Step 1: Go to the Intuit QuickBooks download page: https://downloads.quickbooks.com/app/qbdt/products?productName=QuickBooks%20Mac%20Desktop&edition=&version=2023&country=us

Step 2: Click the Download Now button next to QuickBooks Premier.

Step 3: Sign in with your Intuit account or create a new one.

Step 4: On the download page, click 'Download Now'. This will start downloading the QuickBooks .dmg installer file.

Step 5: Open the downloaded .dmg file. This will mount the QuickBooks installer disk image.

Step 6: Drag and drop the QuickBooks application icon into your Applications folder. This copies QuickBooks to your Mac's Applications folder.

Step 7: Open QuickBooks from your Applications folder.

Step 8: Accept the license agreement. Enter your QuickBooks Premier serial number or product key. You'll need this to complete the installation.

Step 9: Click 'Install' to start the installation process. Enter your Administrator password when prompted to allow the installation.

Step 10: Click 'Agree' to accept the license agreement again.

Step 11: Choose whether to launch QuickBooks after the installation completes.

Step 12: After installation, open QuickBooks from your Applications folder and follow the setup steps to create a new company file or open an existing one.

How to Update QuickBooks Premier Plus to the Latest Version? A Stepwise Guide

Step 1: Launch QuickBooks Premier. If an update is available, QuickBooks will automatically check for it and prompt you to install it.

Step 2: Click 'Update Now' to download and install the available update.

Step 3: Enter your administrator password when prompted to allow the installation.

Step 4: Click 'Install' to begin downloading and installing the update. This may take several minutes. Once the update is downloaded, QuickBooks will walk you through installing it. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 5: Click 'Restart' once the update is installed to complete the process. QuickBooks will restart and launch the updated version.

If QuickBooks does not automatically notify you of an available update, you can manually check for one:

• Click 'Help' in the menu bar
• Select 'Check for QuickBooks Updates'
• Click 'Install Free Update' if an update is available
• Follow steps 2 through 6 above to install the update

After updating, back up your QuickBooks company file. This ensures you have a copy of your data in case of any issues:

• Click 'File' and select 'Backup Company'.
• Choose a backup location and click 'Next'.
• Select the type of backup and click 'Next'.
• Give the backup a name and click. 'Save'.

Note: Back up your data before updating. This will help protect it in case something goes wrong during the update. Close all open QuickBooks windows before starting the update: This will help ensure the update installs correctly.

Upgrading QuickBooks Premier Without a Subscription

Use the QuickBooks Easy Upgrade Tool:

This tool is available for download from the QuickBooks website. It allows you to upgrade to the latest version of QuickBooks without purchasing a new license.

Here are the steps on how to upgrade QuickBooks Premier using the QuickBooks Easy Upgrade Tool:

• Download the QuickBooks Easy Upgrade Tool from the QuickBooks website.
• Run the QuickBooks Easy Upgrade Tool.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade QuickBooks.

Purchase a new license from a third-party reseller: Several third-party resellers sell QuickBooks licenses. You can often find these licenses for a fraction of the cost of a new Intuit permit.

Here are the steps on how to purchase a new license from a third-party reseller:

• Find a third-party reseller who sells QuickBooks licenses.
• Contact the reseller and buy a new license.
• Once you have purchased a new license, you will receive a download link for the latest version of QuickBooks.
• Download and install the newest version of QuickBooks.

Upgrade Using the Discovery Hub

The Discovery Hub is a feature in QuickBooks Premier that helps you find new features, products, and services to grow your business. Upgrading using the Discovery Hub involves the following steps:

• Open QuickBooks Premier and click the Discovery Hub icon (a compass) in the top navigation bar.
• The Discovery Hub homepage will open, showcasing new features and products available to you.
  Click on the 'See All Products' tab in the left navigation.
• Under 'QuickBooks Products,' you'll see the options to upgrade QuickBooks Premier.
• Click on the button to 'Upgrade Now.'
• You'll be taken to the Intuit website where you can either.

Purchase a subscription to the latest version of QuickBooks Premier. This gives you access to automatic updates and enhanced support.

Top add-ons for QuickBooks Premier:

TSheets : TSheets is time-tracking software that integrates with QuickBooks Premier, making it easy to track employee hours and seamlessly transfer that data to your accounting software.

Bill.com : Bill.com is a cloud-based software that automates accounts payable and accounts receivable processes. It syncs with QuickBooks Premier, making it easy to manage bills and invoices. In recent years, Bill.com has emerged as a leading tool for automating payment-based operations, as it interfaces well with...

Fishbowl Inventory : an inventory management software that integrates with QuickBooks Premier. It provides real-time inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and order management.

Method CRM : Method CRM is a customer relationship management software that integrates with QuickBooks Premier. It provides a centralized location for customer data, including contact information, purchase history, and more.

Avalara : Avalara is a tax compliance software that integrates with QuickBooks Premier. It automates sales tax calculation and collection, ensuring your business remains compliant with state and local tax laws.

These are just a few of the many add-ons available for QuickBooks Premier Plus. Depending on your business needs, there may be other add-ons that are more relevant to you.

Why Do You Need QuickBooks Premier Plus?

QuickBooks Premier adds industry-specific features to your operations, allowing you to perform at your best. There are a few main reasons why you may need QuickBooks Premier Plus over the standard or Pro versions:

More Users : Premier supports up to 30 users, while Pro supports only 3. If you have a business with multiple people accessing the accounting software, Premier is a better option.

Advanced Reporting : Premier offers more powerful, flexible reporting capabilities, including customizable reports, templates, and dashboards. This helps businesses get deeper insights from their financial data.

Custom Fields : Premier lets you create custom fields to track additional data beyond the standard QuickBooks fields. This is useful for businesses with complex needs.

Job Costing : Premier includes built-in job costing, which is essential for businesses that bill by project or job. It helps track costs, billing, and profitability by job.

Inventory Assembly : Premier offers inventory assembly, enabling you to track components that comprise finished goods. This is useful for manufacturers.

Department Tracking : Premier enables tracking of expenses, income, and balances by department or location. This helps businesses analyze performance by division.

Enhanced Support : Premier includes priority phone support and access to specialists and dedicated support reps.

Discounts : Because Premier caters to slightly larger small businesses, Intuit often offers better discounts and deals for Premier compared to Pro.

Who Can Use the QuickBooks Premier Plus?

Due to its wide array of features, QuickBooks Premier Plus is used by multiple individuals from different spheres of operations. Some of the typical users of QuickBooks Premier are:

Generic Businesses

Easy to manage inventory items : Using QuickBooks' Inventory Center, you can find items quickly and do tasks related to your inventory all in one place and in one go.

Balance sheet tracking : Using built-in, easy-to-find reports, keep track of financial data separately with the help of location, department, or profit center.

Step-by-step client billing : Keep track of billings and clients by time & materials, job phase, or percentage of completion, whichever best suits your business.

Contractors

Jobs by Vendor report : Keep vendor payments and job costs on lock with the help of Jobs by Vendor reports.

Make project estimates and track project changes : This allows users to add change orders to the assessment to keep track of changes and their impact on your bottom line. Add change orders to the estimate to track changes and their impact on your bottom line.

Profit analysis : Customized job cost reports let you see a job's profitability at a detailed, task-by-task level. Customized job cost reports let you know a job's profitability at a detailed, task-by-task level.

Manufacturing and wholesale companies

Profit Tracker : Track inventory and set optimal levels. Run a report that lists items that need to be reordered. Track each product's profitability and keep a list of your most profitable products, so you know which to promote and keep in stock, and which to drop from your line.

Non-profit organizations

Create end-of-year donation statements to see who your biggest donors are and how much they donated. Create Form 990 (Statement of Functional Expenses) and list your expenses to give to your board, major donors, and the IRS.

Run donor contribution summary reports : Keep track of the total amount each donor has given as needed with the help of just a few clicks.

Track unbilled time and expenses : View all clients with unbilled time and costs by employee, project, client, or service on a single screen. Easily send an invoice with just a few clicks. Create different billing rates for employees, clients, or services - Pay and get paid the right amount with simple, efficient rate settings.

Retailers

Easily keep track of all your sales results : The Sales Summary Form is an accurate, flexible tool for tracking them. Enter total payments and taxable/non-taxable sales for the day, week, or any other period you choose.

Stay on top of inventory and costs : Keeping track of inventory and setting reorder points is easy. Run a profit and loss report to analyze one month's profit and loss compared to another quickly. As observed above, QuickBooks Premier not only streamlines your accounting and tax practices but also helps build your business and position it for profitable growth.

The various report creation tools allow you to track your expenses and bills, estimate creation, and run payroll checks. In simple words, a QB not only helps establish a business but also runs it smoothly. Keeping track of finances is essential, but challenging when you run a business. This can be done much more quickly and easily with QuickBooks Premier.

Pros & Cons of QuickBooks Premier Plus

Pricing Plans for Various QuickBooks Premier Plus Versions

Alternative to QuickBooks Premier Plus

What's New in QuickBooks Premier Plus 2026

• QuickBooks can now automatically remind customers when payments are due. This can help you to improve your cash flow and reduce the risk of late payments.
• QuickBooks Premier Plus can now automatically add PO numbers to invoices when they are emailed to customers. This can help you to improve your record-keeping and prevent duplicate payments.
• QuickBooks can now combine multiple invoices into a single email. This can save you time and effort when sending invoices to customers.
• QuickBooks has made it easier to read customer reports by adding the ability to hide columns. This can help you focus on the information that is most important to you.
• QuickBooks has added a new feature. Smart Help provides tailored help content and search options to meet your specific needs.

QuickBooks Pro vs QuickBooks Premier

QuickBooks Premier vs QuickBooks Enterprise

QuickBooks Desktop Premier vs. QuickBooks Premier Hosting vs QuickBooks Online

Concluding Lines

QuickBooks Premier Plus is a robust accounting software designed for businesses of all types that want streamlined workflows and management features. If you purchase QuickBooks Premier Plus, you get a lot of features and options to enhance your business. In this post, we have shared all the details about the QuickBooks Premier Plus, its features, how to install it, and a comparison across QuickBooks products. For more similar topics, explore our Sagenext blog page.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is QuickBooks Premier for nonprofits?

With QuickBooks Premier for nonprofits, you can change your QuickBooks Online account to fit your organization’s needs better. A few simple edits will have your account using the same language, reporting, and paperwork as nonprofits.

Why Should Non-profits and Charities Host Their QuickBooks in the Cloud?

Though Non Profit Organizations are eligible for tax breaks, they still need sufficient funds to keep their organizations

Is QuickBooks Premier the Same as QuickBooks Desktop?

No, QuickBooks Premier is not the same as QuickBooks Desktop. QuickBooks Premier is a version of QuickBooks Desktop that includes additional features and functionality for businesses that need more specialized accounting tools. QuickBooks Desktop is the basic version of QuickBooks that is designed for small businesses with general accounting needs.

Is QuickBooks Premier discontinued?

Yes, Intuit discontinued QuickBooks Premier on 30 September 2024.

What is QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus?

QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus is an annual subscription of accounting software from Intuit. It offers advanced features and options to streamline business operations.

What is the Difference between QuickBooks Pro and Premier Plus?

QuickBooks Pro Plus offers basic inventory-tracking options suitable for simple inventory needs for small businesses. QuickBooks Premier Plus offers more robust inventory control, including purchase and sales orders, and reorder points, designed for medium- and large-sized enterprises.