Does the subscription fee of $500 end after 3 years and can you keep using QB Pro free

Thank you for your quick response. So, does this mean that the $500 annual subscription is not necessary to be paid if you dont plan to use any of those advanced services? I was told by a client that she was locked out of QB Pro entirely until she paid the annual fee. Was she just confused about levels of service? Many people use QB Pro without using any of those advanced services.

You're most welcome, SteveB100. Allow me to share some insights about the levels of service that QuickBooks offers. This way, your client will not be confused about the subscription fees.

Regardless of whether your client uses the Advanced services or not, they need to subscribe to the same subscription to continue with the supportability for the remaining 3 years. Once the supportabilirty ends, they need to upgrade to QuickBooks Enterprise or move to QuickBooks Online:

• Upgrade QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, or Enterprise
• Move your QuickBooks Desktop file to QuickBooks Online

Also, your client is correct that they will be locked out if they haven't paid the annual subscription. Though, they can use the view-only mode for 1 year if your subscription expires. During that time, you won’t be able to edit your data with your inactive license. For more details about it, open this page: Renew your subscription or use view-only mode in QuickBooks Desktop.

Additionally, I'll be sharing these links that will guide you in case you need to move to QBO and fix errors upon subscribing to QBDT:

• Get started and adjust settings after you sign up for QuickBooks Online
• Fix activation, license, and product numbers issues

If you have any additional concerns or questions regarding subscription fees for QuickBooks Desktop Pro or any other related topics, please let me know. I'm always here to help.

In the third to the last paragraph you say that "you can use the view-only mode for 1 year if your subscription expires. During that time, you won’t be able to edit your data with your inactive license." That is the same as not being able to use QB Pro. You cant enter data or change existing data, correct? So, QB Pro is useless. This is apparently what she meant when she said that QB locks up if you dont pay the $500 annual fee. This is exactly what I was trying to find out.

@SteveB100 

Which QB Desktop year version do you have?

Personally, I use QB Pro V. 2019, which does not have any annual subscription charge. I am asking the question on behalf of accounting clients that use newer versions where they have to pay the subscription fee.

If your client doesn't renew their subscription, QB will lock it. They can use the trial version of QB Desktop Enterprise to access historical data for good.

Thank you for providing the real answer that I was seeking. Now, the rest of my question is what happens after the three year support period is over? Lets assume you faithfully paid the $500 fee for each of the three years of the support period. Do you have to continue paying the $500 annual fee to use QB Pro or can you continue using the QB Pro for free after the three year support period ends? or does QB Pro lock up and you have to switch to the enterprise edition or QB online?

You can use QB Desktop 2024 until 2027 as long as you pay the renewal fee each year. I'm not sure where you got that number ($500) as a reference. As I understand it, QB Desktop Pro Plus renewal fee for a single user will start at $999 + tax. You can renew it through a partner to get $100 cashback and tax exempt if needed. We don't know what will happen after May 2027. We will know what our options will be in 2026.

Thank you ! I stand corrected. The annual license fee is $999 plus tax. Yikes. So, we dont know whether you are even allowed to continue using it after the three year support period is over ! After paying $999 annually for three years they stop supporting it and you may not even be allowed to continue using it for free. You might have to convert to the QB Enterprise Edition or QB online at that point. Is that really true?

Thanks for getting back to the thread, @SteveB100. Allow me to chime in and add more details regarding the three-year support period and the conditions related to service continuation.

Initially, once the three-year support period is over, you will have read-only access for one year if you decide not to continue using QuickBooks. It's important to note that during this time, you will be unable to make changes, create transactions, or edit data. Additionally, you will not receive live technical support for issues, updates, or security patches from Intuit. This means, you might be at risk for any security vulnerabilities that are discovered after the support period. You also won't be able to get Data Recovery Services without additional fees or use other services included in your plan, such as Intuit Data Protect. Therefore, it's recommended to upgrade to the latest version of QuickBooks Desktop Pro. For more details on how to upgrade, see this article: Upgrade QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, or Enterprise.

Furthermore, QB Pro doesn't lock you up or require you to switch to another version solely because the support period has ended unless your business needs change and renewal to continue using the features or the lack of updates becomes critical issue for your business operations.

I'll also add this article in case you and your client need to switch to QBO: Move your QBDT file to QBO.

If you have any concerns about the support period and fee, please tag me in the comment section, @SteveB100. I'll assist you in any way possible.

All I can say after reading all of this is that I'm glad I use QB Pro v. 2019 which works fine for all my needs. I'm not forced to pay an annual fee or to upgrade to the Enterprise Edition ! I'm also glad I have the disks to reinstall it if necessary. I will keep it running as long as Windows 10 still works.

Hello Clark. Thanks for the information. I have a quick question. I need to cancel my subscription (payment due in May '25 for $999) as our small business can no longer absorb these annual subscription costs and we have no interest in using the Online service. My question: if I cancel before the deadline, will I have one year of read-only access also? You mentioned that if someone goes for the next three years paying the annual fee and then cancels they would have a year of read-only access. Is this true if I cancel NOW?  Thank you.

@oodhamtash 

Log into your CAMPS and you can use a dummy credit card number to cancel your renewal on the due date. Do you have one?

https://camps.intuit.com

Then you can use the trial version to access your historical data for good.

What trial version do you mean?  And, if it's a trial version is that not something that expires after a set number of days?

Yes, @oodhamtash, you're right. You can have view-only access to your data for one year after your subscription is cancelled. Let me provide additional information regarding this matter.

You won't be able to create new transactions during this period, although you can review your reports. It is advisable to export your data before cancelling your subscription.

For other restrictions while you work in this mode, please see this article: Use view-only mode in QuickBooks Desktop.

Moreover, understanding how to back up your accounting data in QBDT is important for future use. If any issues arise, you’ll be prepared to restore your data from this backup.

In addition, you can check out this resource that provides detailed information about QuickBooks Desktop cancellation policies: QuickBooks Desktop cancellation policies.

You're always free to revisit this thread if you need further clarification about your QBDT subscription or have more questions. We're here to offer prompt support.

@oodhamtash 

What trial version do you mean?

The trial version of QB Desktop 2024

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/new-subscriptions/download-trial-quic...

And, if it's a trial version is that not something that expires after a set number of days?

You need a workaround to use the trial version for good. You should contact @Fiat Lux - ASIA  for details.

Thank you LollyNino_c for the information you provided. I am very confused that this software will not work after I no longer pay the subscription fee. Is not that software loaded on my computer with a license number?   I don't use any of the add-ons, no payroll, no credit card payments, just simple manual bookkeeping, so no need to be online or use the internet.  Will my program still work if I'm not online when I open the QBD program?

I am very confused that this software will not work after I no longer pay the subscription fee.

That's how their licensing works. Every time you run QB program on your computer, it will verify your license status to the server. You may also consider switching to the old QB Desktop with a no-subscription license.

I appreciate your follow-up regarding the cancellation of your QuickBooks account, Oodhamtash. I'll discuss it further for you.

If you decide to cancel your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) subscription before the renewal date, you will still have full access to the service until the end of the current subscription period, which is on your scheduled renewal date.

Since QuickBooks Desktop is a subscription-based service, once your subscription expires, you will have view-only access to your data for one year. This means you can view your data and generate reports, but you won't be able to make any new entries or changes, regardless of your internet connection.

Regarding your inquiry about the license being on your computer, yes, the license is stored locally on your computer. This allows you to work offline. However, you will occasionally be prompted to log in to your Intuit account and open your company file to verify your identity.

You can check this article for further information about cancelling QBDT: QuickBooks Desktop cancelation policies.

Additionally, we highly suggest exporting your data before you cancel your subscription to ensure you have your financial data accessible.

Please continue in posting your inquiries here in the Community, Oodhamtash. If you have further questions about managing your QBDT subscription, I'm always available to provide assistance. Wishing you well.

Will I still have access to this chat string after I cancel my subscription?

Yes, you'll still have access to this thread, @oodhamtash.

The Community is available 24/7, so feel free to post anytime or reply here if you have any questions or need assistance.

After your subscription expires, you will have view-only access to your data for one year. This means you can view your data and generate reports, but you won't be able to make any new entries or changes, regardless of your internet connection.

Please be reminded to export your data before canceling your subscription to ensure you have your financial data accessible.

Feel free to reach out if you need help with any other tasks for your business.