Update to Post: QuickBooks 2010 is now available for sale. See what's new and save 20%.
I've compiled a very handy guide you can download to understand the key differences between QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise software.
The guide will allow you to see "at-a-glance" what is included with each of these versions of QuickBooks and how some of these key features vary across the products.
Even better! I've included some "insider insights" relating to many of these differences so you have some expert knowledge behind you as you evaluate which version of QuickBooks is best for your business.
Remember - if you need more than 5 users in QuickBooks, that requirement automatically puts you in the Enterprise version, as Pro and Premier can only have up to 5 users at any one time.
I have intentionally left several versions out of this guide as those versions have some significant limitations to them (Simple Start - for extremely small businesses; Mac - can only have one user at a time; Online Edition - doesn't have a full feature set)
Download your free QuickBooks comparison guide today!
Have any comments or questions to add to the next edition of this guide? Feel free to drop a comment below!
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Scott Gregory is a specialist with QuickBooks Pro, Premier, and Enterprise software. He provides the insight you need before you toss your computer out the window. Connect with Scott @ Bottom Line Accounting Solutions.




Terry:
I have never heard of any restrictions like the one you have mentioned here, nor have I seen this type of error message having worked with QuickBooks for the last 10 years. If it exists, it has sure remained hidden from me.
Businesses cycle out computers all the time, so the idea of uninstalling the license from computer A and reinstalling it on computer B is a routine process.
However, a true read of the licensing indicates that you need to have a separate license for each computer that QB is installed on. In your example, if you had 12 computers with QB installed, you're supposed to have 12 licenses. Naturally, if you've junked 7 of those computers, you would have uninstalled QuickBooks from them to "free up" those licenses. Premier then only allows you to have 5 of these 12 connected together at any one time.
The limit of having 5 users in QB Premier at any time is a completely separate limit than the licensing issue.
The limit of 5 users remains in QB Pro and Premier 2010. If you need more than 5, QB Enterprise allows up to 30 at the same time.
Hope this helps!
Scott Gregory
Posted by: Scott Gregory, QuickBooks Expert | October 09, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Does QB have a limit on the number of times it can be installed on different computers (like say it's on 12 different computers, some of which have been taken out of service, and we are just using it concurrently for 5 people.
One of our pseudo-IT people here tells me that QB (Premier 2006) CANNOT be installed on any more machines and that I will get an error message to that effect if / when I attempt to install it on a new laptop that is going to replace my old desktop...
Posted by: Terry Domer | October 07, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Difference explained briefly with informative details and nice concepts.
Posted by: Cosmetic Dentist Blackpool | September 08, 2009 at 09:17 AM
Even better! I've included some "insider insights" relating to many of these differences so you have some expert knowledge behind you as you evaluate which version of QuickBooks is best for your business.
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