QuickBooks Point of Sale: Features, Setup, Pricing & Best Alternatives
QuickBooks Point of Sale (POS) was designed to help businesses manage sales, payments, inventory, and customer information from one place. It was mainly used by retail businesses to process transactions and keep their day-to-day sales records organized.
However, QuickBooks Point of Sale has now been discontinued, so businesses looking for a POS solution need to consider other options. In this blog, we’ll cover QuickBooks Point of Sale features, setup, pricing, its discontinuation, and some of the best alternatives you can consider.
What is QuickBooks Point of Sale?
QuickBooks Point of Sale (QuickBooks POS) was a retail software from Intuit that helped businesses manage sales, inventory, customers, and payments. It also connected with QuickBooks Desktop, making it easier to keep sales and accounting records in sync.
However, Intuit discontinued QuickBooks POS on October 3, 2023. Existing users may still access the software locally, but connected services, support, and updates are no longer available.
QuickBooks Point of Sale Features
Before its discontinuation, QuickBooks POS offered several features designed for retail businesses. Some of the main features included:
- Sales management: Process sales and manage transactions from the POS system.
- Inventory management: Track inventory and manage sales and inventory information.
- Customer management: Maintain customer information within Point of Sale.
- Sales and inventory reports: Create reports to review sales and inventory activity.
- QuickBooks Desktop integration: Transfer financial information between QuickBooks POS and QuickBooks Desktop.
- Multi-store support: Point of Sale could be set up across multiple workstations for businesses operating more than one store.
- POS hardware support: The software worked with supported retail hardware such as receipt printers, barcode scanners, and PIN pads.
The exact features and connected services available depended on the version and setup.
QuickBooks Point of Sale Pricing
QuickBooks Point of Sale is no longer available for purchase, so there is no current QuickBooks POS pricing or subscription plan.
Before its discontinuation, existing QuickBooks POS 19.0 customers could purchase additional users on their existing licenses and hardware. This option was available only until October 3, 2023.
This means businesses looking for a new POS system today will need to choose a supported alternative rather than purchasing QuickBooks POS.
QuickBooks Point of Sale Setup
QuickBooks POS was installed on a Windows computer and could be configured for a single computer or multiple computers.
For a multi-computer setup, users could choose between a server workstation and client workstations. The server workstation stored the company data, while client workstations accessed that data over the network. Each workstation running Point of Sale required the appropriate user license.
Basic QuickBooks POS Setup Steps
If you already have QuickBooks POS 19.0 installed and need to reinstall it to access your existing data, the basic process includes:
- Make sure the computer meets the required system specifications.
- Download the QuickBooks POS installation file.
- Open the installation file and follow the setup instructions.
- Enter your license and product number.
- Choose whether to install it on one computer or multiple computers.
- Select the server or client workstation type when required.
- Complete the installation and activate QuickBooks POS.
Intuit’s current guidance confirms that POS 19.0 can still be used locally, but the product is no longer supported.
QuickBooks Point of Sale System Requirements
QuickBooks POS was designed for Windows-based systems and required a compatible computer and supported hardware.
Because Point of Sale 19.0 is discontinued, businesses should be careful before installing it on a new system. Meeting the old system requirements does not mean the software will receive updates or support.
For existing users, Intuit recommends moving to a supported POS solution because discontinued products don’t receive critical security patches or feature updates.
QuickBooks Point of Sale Hardware
QuickBooks POS supported different types of retail hardware, including:
- Barcode scanners
- Receipt printers
- PIN pads
- Tag printers
- Physical inventory scanners
- Pole displays
Hardware had to be compatible with QuickBooks POS and, where required, have the correct driver installed.
However, some hardware connected specifically to QuickBooks Payments is no longer usable with Point of Sale. For example, Intuit states that the Tetra Lane 5000 PIN pad purchased through Intuit was configured specifically for QuickBooks POS and QuickBooks Payments.
QuickBooks Point of Sale Discontinuation Policy
Intuit officially discontinued QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale 19.0 on October 3, 2023.
Along with the software, several connected services were discontinued, including:
- QuickBooks Point of Sale Payments
- QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Service
- Mobile Sync
- Intuit Store Exchange
- Webgility e-commerce integration
- Vendor Lookup Service
- Live support through phone, email, and chat
QuickBooks POS 19.0 can still be used locally without these services. However, Intuit no longer provides critical security patches or feature updates for the discontinued product.
Can You Still Use QuickBooks Point of Sale?
Yes, existing users may still be able to use QuickBooks POS 19.0 locally. However, its functionality is limited because the connected services have been discontinued.
For example, QuickBooks POS Payments is no longer available, and the QuickBooks Gift Card Service can no longer manage gift card balances. Intuit also no longer provides live support for the product.
For long-term use, moving to a supported POS system is the safer option.
Best QuickBooks Point of Sale Alternatives
Since QuickBooks POS is discontinued, Intuit recommends moving to another POS solution. Intuit has specifically partnered with Shopify to offer a retail solution that integrates with QuickBooks Desktop financial software.
Shopify POS
Shopify POS is one of the alternatives highlighted by Intuit for QuickBooks POS users. Intuit’s migration option allows users to move customer, vendor, and item lists to Shopify through the QuickBooks Desktop Connector App.
The Shopify solution is designed to work with QuickBooks Desktop financial software and offers features such as multi-channel selling, reporting, and modern payment options.
QuickBooks Mobile App
For businesses that only need a simple way to accept payments while working on the go, Intuit also points to the QuickBooks mobile app.
It allows users to:
- Accept payments for invoices and new sales.
- Sync transactions with QuickBooks Online.
- Send receipts by text or email.
- Manage customers, products, and services.
- Apply discounts and accept tips.
- View sales and cash flow reports.
It can also support Tap to Pay on iPhone and Bluetooth card readers.
What Happens to Your QuickBooks POS Data?
The discontinuation does not mean that your existing local POS data immediately disappears. Existing users can still access QuickBooks POS 19.0 locally, provided the software is available on their system.
However, businesses planning to move to another POS should consider exporting or migrating important information such as customer, vendor, and item lists. Intuit provides a migration workflow for moving these lists from QuickBooks POS to Shopify.
Before switching, it is a good idea to review your existing POS data and determine what needs to be moved to the new system.
QuickBooks Point of Sale vs. QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Point of Sale and QuickBooks Online served different purposes.
QuickBooks POS was built specifically for retail transactions and store management, while QuickBooks Online is primarily accounting software. Since QuickBooks POS has been discontinued, businesses that need both accounting and retail management should look for a supported POS system that can work with their accounting software.
For businesses already using QuickBooks Desktop, Intuit specifically highlights Shopify as a POS option that integrates with QuickBooks Desktop financial software.
Summing Up
We have reached the end of this blog. QuickBooks Point of Sale has been discontinued, so businesses still using it will need to switch to another POS solution. We have covered its features, pricing, setup, discontinuation, and the alternatives you can consider.
For more information, we recommend you consult QuickBooks professionals at Call Us : +1-866-408-0444. Take a look at our other QuickBooks guides for more helpful information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is QuickBooks Point of Sale discontinued?
Yes. Intuit officially discontinued QuickBooks Point of Sale. As of October 3, 2023, the software, payment processing, connected services, and support are no longer available. Existing users need to migrate to another POS solution to continue managing in-store sales.
Can I still use QuickBooks Point of Sale after it was discontinued?
You may still be able to access the software locally if it’s installed on your computer, but many essential services, including payments, software updates, customer support, and connected features, are no longer available. This makes it unsuitable for long-term business use.
What are the best alternatives to QuickBooks Point of Sale?
Some of the most popular alternatives include Shopify POS, Square POS, Lightspeed Retail, Clover POS, and Revel Systems. The right choice depends on your business size, inventory needs, payment processing requirements, and accounting software integration.
Does QuickBooks Point of Sale work with QuickBooks Online?
Yes, QuickBooks Point of Sale was primarily designed to integrate with QuickBooks Desktop. It does not offer a native integration with QuickBooks Online, so businesses using QuickBooks Online should consider modern POS systems that support direct cloud integration.
How do I migrate from QuickBooks Point of Sale to another POS system?
Start by backing up your QuickBooks Point of Sale data, including inventory, customer records, and sales history. Then choose a compatible POS solution, export your existing data, and import it into the new system using the provider’s migration tools or a third-party migration service.
Which businesses benefited most from QuickBooks Point of Sale?
QuickBooks Point of Sale was commonly used by retail businesses such as clothing stores, gift shops, electronics retailers, sporting goods stores, and specialty shops. It was designed for businesses that needed inventory tracking, customer management, and seamless integration with QuickBooks Desktop.
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