QuickBooks Online: Why Now Is the Best Time to Sign Up (90% Off Summer Deal + Upcoming Price Increase)
QuickBooks Online is running a limited-time 90% off summer discount, and a price increase is coming. Learn why locking in now saves the most money and sets your books up for the back half of the year.
Quick Answer
Right now is the best time to sign up for QuickBooks Online because the company is offering a limited 90% off summer discount for new users while simultaneously announcing an upcoming price increase. Locking in today gives you the lowest possible rate before the new pricing takes effect, and it gives you the rest of the summer to clean up your books before Q3 reporting.
If you've been waiting for the right moment to move your small business off spreadsheets and into real accounting software, this is it. QuickBooks Online is currently offering 90% off for the first few months — and a price increase is already on the horizon.
Table of contents
Why Timing Matters for Small Business Software
Small business owners usually buy software when they have a problem: a missed deduction, a tax scramble, a cash-flow surprise. But the smartest time to buy accounting software is before the problem hits — and when the price is lowest.
QuickBooks Online is currently running a rare 90% off summer promotion for new subscribers. At the same time, the company has announced an upcoming price increase. That combination makes this the best window to sign up. You get the lowest entry price, lock in before the hike, and have the full back half of the year to clean up your books.
1. The 90% Off Summer Discount Explained
QuickBooks Online's current summer offer gives new users 90% off the regular monthly price for the first several months. Depending on the plan you choose, that can drop the effective cost from roughly $30–$90 per month down to $3–$9 per month during the promotional period.
This isn't a stripped-down trial. You get the full feature set: bank feed connections, invoicing, expense tracking, reporting, receipt capture, mileage tracking, and mobile access. You can connect your business accounts, invite a bookkeeper, and run real reports from day one.
Deals this deep are usually limited to a specific window. If you're on the fence, the math is simple: paying 90% less for the same product is the lowest-risk way to test whether QuickBooks fits your business.
Claim the 90% off QuickBooks Online summer deal here (affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you).
2. The Upcoming Price Increase Is Coming
QuickBooks Online has publicly signaled that higher monthly pricing is on the way. When accounting software companies raise prices, the new rate typically applies to new subscribers, while existing active accounts are often grandfathered at the old rate — at least for a period.
That means the cost of waiting is not just the missed discount. It's also the missed chance to lock in the pre-increase price. Once the new pricing goes live, your first invoice could be significantly higher, and you may not be able to switch back.
Signing up now is a two-for-one win: you get the 90% off promotion and you protect yourself from the higher rate that follows.
3. Why Summer Is the Perfect Setup Window
There is no 'slow' season for a small business owner, but summer is usually the calmest window before year-end. Q3 is just starting, tax season is months away, and your accountant or bookkeeper has bandwidth to help you migrate.
Starting in August gives you three full months — September, October, and November — to:
- Connect your bank and credit card accounts
- Categorize transactions from January through July
- Set up recurring invoices and payment reminders
- Reconcile balances and catch errors
- Run your first clean profit & loss and balance sheet
By December, you'll have reliable books and a clear view of your taxable income. That is a dramatically better position than trying to reconstruct everything in January.
4. What You Get at 90% Off
The discount applies to the full QuickBooks Online experience, not a limited starter version. During the promotional period you can use:
- Income and expense tracking with automatic bank feeds
- Invoicing and payment processing so clients can pay online
- Mileage and receipt capture from the mobile app
- 1099 contractor tracking for year-end filings
- Standard reports like P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow
- Multi-user access for your bookkeeper or accountant
Even if you only use half the features during the discount period, you'll likely save more in missed deductions and late fees than you spend on the subscription.
5. Cost Comparison: Now vs. After the Price Increase
Here's how the math looks for a typical Simple Start or Essentials plan over a six-month period:
6. How to Lock In the Discount Before It Ends
The fastest way to claim the deal is to use the current promotional link, choose the plan that matches your business size, and complete the sign-up in one sitting. QuickBooks will ask you to connect your bank account during onboarding, which is the step that makes the software immediately useful.
Our recommended action plan:
- Sign up today through the promotional link to capture the 90% off rate.
- Connect your business bank and credit card accounts so transactions import automatically.
- Invite your accountant or bookkeeper so they can categorize the backlog cleanly.
- Send one test invoice to a client so you understand the workflow.
- Schedule a 30-minute weekly review to keep the books current through year-end.
Get 90% off QuickBooks Online now (affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you).
Best Ways to Get Started
- →
Sign up before the promotional window closes
Limited-time discounts often end without warning, and the 90% off rate is the lowest entry point available.
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Choose the plan that matches your current size
Don't over-buy. Start with Simple Start or Essentials and upgrade only when you need more users or features.
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Connect your bank accounts during onboarding
This is the single step that saves the most time and gives you the clearest picture of your business.
QuickBooks Online Cost: Now vs. After Price Increase
| Scenario | First 3 Months | Months 4-6 | 6-Month Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign up now (90% off promotion) | ~$3–$9/mo | Standard pre-increase rate | Lowest possible cost |
| Sign up after discount ends | Standard current rate | Standard current rate | Higher than promotional cost |
| Sign up after price increase | New higher rate | New higher rate | Highest total cost |
Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Waiting until January to start — you'll pay more and have no historical data.
- ✗Buying the most expensive plan before you need the features.
- ✗Ignoring the mobile app — it turns receipt and mileage capture into a 10-second habit.
- ✗Not inviting your accountant — their access helps you catch setup errors early.
Pro Tips Advanced
- ★Set a calendar reminder one week before the discount expires so you don't miss it.
- ★Download the QuickBooks mobile app immediately so you can capture receipts before they pile up.
- ★Run your first P&L report after 30 days — it shows you whether your categories are accurate.
- ★If you have a bookkeeper, ask them to review your chart of accounts in the first week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- • Publication 334: Tax Guide for Small Business — Internal Revenue Service
- • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) — Financial Accounting Standards Board
- • Small Business Financial Management — U.S. Small Business Administration
- • QuickBooks Online Pricing and Plans — Intuit QuickBooks
All articles are reviewed for factual accuracy by a credentialed accounting professional before publication.
Elena is a Certified Public Accountant with 14 years of experience advising small businesses on bookkeeping systems, tax planning, and financial controls. She previously led the small business advisory practice at a regional accounting firm.