How Much Is QuickBooks for Self-Employed in the UK?

QuickBooks for self-employed people in the UK costs £10 plus VAT per month for the standard Sole Trader Plus plan. This means a non-VAT-registered sole trader normally pays £12 per month including VAT, or £144 over 12 months.

QuickBooks currently offers introductory discounts for some new customers, but the price returns to the standard subscription rate when the offer ends. VAT-registered sole traders generally need Simple Start, which costs £16 plus VAT per month.

How Much Is QuickBooks for Self-Employed People Per Month?

QuickBooks currently offers Sole Trader Plus as its main accounting package for self-employed people, freelancers, contractors and single-property landlords who are not registered for VAT.

The standard price is:

Cost calculation	QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus
Monthly price excluding VAT	£10
VAT at 20%	£2
Monthly amount including VAT	£12
Annual cost excluding VAT	£120
Annual cost including VAT	£144

A self-employed person who is not VAT registered cannot normally reclaim the VAT charged on the subscription. Their practical cost is therefore £12 per month.

Businesses that are VAT registered may be able to reclaim the VAT, provided the subscription is purchased for legitimate business use and the required records are retained.

Is There a QuickBooks Discount for New Customers?

QuickBooks regularly offers introductory discounts to new UK customers. At the time of writing, Sole Trader Plus is advertised at £1 plus VAT per month for the first six months, followed by the normal £10 plus VAT monthly price.

Under that particular promotion, the approximate first-year cost would be:

Subscription period	Cost excluding VAT	Cost including VAT
First six months	£6	£7.20
Following six months	£60	£72
Estimated first-year total	£66	£79.20

Promotions can change or end without much notice. A customer should check the price displayed at checkout, how long the discount lasts and what the subscription will cost afterwards.

QuickBooks may also allow a new customer to choose between a discounted subscription and a 30-day free trial. These offers usually cannot be combined.

What Is Included in QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus?

Sole Trader Plus provides the core tools most freelancers and sole traders need to organise their business finances.

Its main features include:

• Connecting a UK bank account and importing transactions
• Categorising business income and expenses
• Creating and sending customer invoices
• Capturing information from photographed receipts
• Tracking business mileage through the mobile app
• Estimating Income Tax
• Preparing records for Self Assessment
• Keeping digital records for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
• Giving an accountant access to the account
• Viewing basic business and financial reports

These features can reduce the time spent entering transactions manually. However, software does not remove the owner’s responsibility to check that each transaction, expense category and tax figure is correct.

A consistent bookkeeping process for small businesses remains important even when bank feeds and automatic categorisation are used.

Which QuickBooks Plan Does a Self-Employed Person Need?

The right plan depends mainly on whether the person is VAT registered and whether they need features such as supplier bills, multiple currencies, stock control or access for additional users.

Type of self-employed business	Suitable plan	Standard monthly price
Non-VAT-registered sole trader	Sole Trader Plus	£10 plus VAT
VAT-registered sole trader	Simple Start	£16 plus VAT
Business needing three users or multiple currencies	Essentials	£38 plus VAT
Business managing stock or projects	Plus	£56 plus VAT
Larger operation needing advanced controls	Advanced	£123 plus VAT

Most independent freelancers, consultants and tradespeople who are not VAT registered are likely to find Sole Trader Plus sufficient.

A VAT-registered sole trader should normally consider Simple Start because Sole Trader Plus does not provide the same VAT-return preparation and submission features.

How Much Is QuickBooks Simple Start for a Self-Employed Person?

QuickBooks Simple Start costs £16 plus VAT per month, giving a total monthly charge of £19.20 including VAT.

Its standard yearly cost is:

Calculation	Amount
Annual subscription excluding VAT	£192
VAT at 20%	£38.40
Annual subscription including VAT	£230.40

Simple Start includes the main features of Sole Trader Plus while adding support for Making Tax Digital for VAT. It can therefore be a more suitable option for a VAT-registered freelancer, contractor or sole trader.

It may also be worth selecting Simple Start when a business expects to register for VAT soon. Moving to the appropriate plan early can prevent records from having to be reorganised later.

Is QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus Suitable for VAT-Registered Businesses?

Sole Trader Plus is primarily designed for self-employed people and single-property landlords who are not registered for VAT.

Although it can record general income and expenditure, it does not provide the full VAT submission functionality available through Simple Start and higher plans. A VAT-registered sole trader should therefore compare the features carefully before subscribing.

This difference is important because “self-employed” describes a person’s employment status, while VAT registration depends on taxable turnover and other circumstances. A person can be both self-employed and VAT registered.

Is QuickBooks Ready for Making Tax Digital?

QuickBooks promotes its UK plans as being ready for Making Tax Digital. Sole Trader Plus is designed to help self-employed people maintain digital records and manage Making Tax Digital for Income Tax obligations.

The software can help users:

• Keep income and expense records digitally
• Organise transactions into tax categories
• Review estimated tax information
• Prepare and send relevant digital updates
• Maintain a clearer record of business performance

The introduction of Making Tax Digital requirements means that suitable accounting software is becoming more important for sole traders who fall within the applicable income thresholds.

However, subscribing to software does not automatically make a business compliant. Records must still be complete, accurate and updated regularly.

Are There Any Extra QuickBooks Costs?

The monthly subscription is not necessarily the only cost a business may face. Additional charges can arise from optional services or payment processing.

Possible extra costs include:

• Payroll subscriptions
• Card and online payment transaction fees
• Specialist integrations
• Bookkeeping or accountant fees
• Additional business applications
• Training or professional setup assistance

Access for an accountant is included with Sole Trader Plus, but the accountant will still charge separately for their professional services. Businesses comparing the total cost should therefore consider both the software fee and any ongoing accountancy costs in the UK.

QuickBooks also provides onboarding and product support, which may help a new user complete the initial setup without paying a third party solely for basic software guidance.

Can the Cost of QuickBooks Be Claimed as a Business Expense?

A self-employed person can generally treat accounting software used wholly and exclusively for the business as an allowable business expense.

For example, if a freelancer pays £144 including VAT for a year of QuickBooks and is not VAT registered, that full business cost may normally be included when calculating taxable profit.

If the person is VAT registered and reclaims the VAT, the net subscription cost would usually be recorded as the expense instead.

Where a subscription has both business and personal use, only the business portion should be claimed. Individuals should keep invoices and payment records in case evidence is required later.

Is QuickBooks Cheaper Than Hiring a Bookkeeper?

QuickBooks is usually cheaper than paying a bookkeeper to manage every transaction, but the two services are not direct replacements.

Software stores transactions, provides reports and automates routine tasks. A bookkeeper reviews the records, corrects mistakes, reconciles accounts and applies professional judgement.

A sole trader with straightforward finances may be able to manage most bookkeeping independently using QuickBooks. A larger or more complicated business may use the software alongside a bookkeeper or accountant.

Option	Typical benefit	Main limitation
QuickBooks only	Low monthly cost and greater control	Owner must check and manage the records
Bookkeeper only	Professional record management	Higher ongoing cost
QuickBooks with a bookkeeper	Automation combined with professional review	Combined software and service fees

The most economical arrangement depends on the number of transactions, the owner’s confidence and the complexity of the business.

Is QuickBooks Worth It for a Sole Trader?

QuickBooks may be worth the cost when it saves more time or prevents more mistakes than its monthly subscription costs.

It can be particularly useful for a sole trader who:

• Sends invoices regularly
• Has numerous business expenses
• Claims business mileage
• Wants transactions imported from a bank account
• Needs clearer records for Self Assessment
• Is preparing for Making Tax Digital
• Works with an accountant or bookkeeper

A person with only a handful of transactions might find a spreadsheet or one of the available free accounting software options sufficient.

The lowest price should not be the only consideration. The owner should also assess how long bookkeeping takes, whether invoices are being paid promptly and whether the current system provides reliable information about profit and cash flow.

Can QuickBooks Be Used for a Side Business?

QuickBooks can be used for a part-time business or freelance income alongside employment. The software can keep self-employed income and expenditure separate from employment earnings.

Someone who is employed and self-employed at the same time may find this separation useful when preparing a Self Assessment tax return.

However, the subscription may not represent good value if the side business produces only a few transactions each year. The owner should compare the annual cost with the amount of administrative time the software is likely to save.

Can a QuickBooks Subscription Be Cancelled?

QuickBooks subscriptions are generally billed monthly and can normally be cancelled without remaining tied to a long-term contract.

Cancellation usually takes effect at the end of the current billing period. The customer may continue using the service until that period finishes, but a part-month refund may not be available.

Before cancelling, the user should:

1. Reconcile outstanding transactions.
2. Download important invoices and reports.
3. Export any records needed for tax or accounting purposes.
4. Confirm how long account data will remain available.
5. Cancel any connected paid services separately.

Business records may need to be retained for several years, so cancelling the software should not result in the loss of essential financial information.

What Should a Self-Employed Person Check Before Subscribing?

Before choosing QuickBooks, a sole trader should consider:

• Whether the advertised price includes VAT
• How long any introductory discount lasts
• Whether the business is VAT registered
• Which Making Tax Digital functions are included
• Whether bank connections support the chosen account
• Whether payroll or payment processing will cost extra
• How easily existing records can be transferred
• Whether an accountant already works with QuickBooks
• What the normal renewal price will be

It is also sensible to test the software before committing business records to it. A trial can show whether invoicing, bank feeds and expense categorisation suit the way the business operates.

What Is the Final Cost of QuickBooks for Self-Employed People?

For most non-VAT-registered self-employed people in the UK, QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus costs £10 plus VAT per month, equivalent to £12 including VAT or £144 including VAT for a full year at the standard rate.

A VAT-registered sole trader is more likely to need Simple Start, costing £16 plus VAT per month or £19.20 including VAT.

Introductory discounts can reduce the first-year cost significantly, but the standard price applies after the promotional period. The most suitable plan should therefore be selected based on VAT status, required features and the normal long-term subscription cost rather than the initial discount alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is QuickBooks free for self-employed people?

QuickBooks is not permanently free for self-employed users. New customers may be offered a free trial or an introductory discount, after which the normal monthly subscription applies.

How much is QuickBooks Sole Trader Plus including VAT?

The standard price is £10 plus VAT per month. At the 20% VAT rate, this results in a total monthly payment of £12.

How much does QuickBooks cost for a full year?

Sole Trader Plus costs £120 plus VAT for 12 months at the standard monthly rate. The total is £144 including VAT, although an introductory promotion may reduce the first-year cost.

Does QuickBooks submit Self Assessment returns?

QuickBooks helps users organise income and expenses, estimate tax and prepare for Self Assessment. Available submission functions depend on the chosen product and the type of tax reporting required.

Which QuickBooks plan is best for a freelancer?

Sole Trader Plus is generally suitable for a non-VAT-registered freelancer. A VAT-registered freelancer is more likely to need Simple Start.

Does QuickBooks charge extra for an accountant?

QuickBooks allows accountant access without adding another standard user subscription. However, the accountant or bookkeeper will charge separately for their professional work.

Can a sole trader claim QuickBooks as an expense?

The subscription can generally be treated as a business expense when it is used wholly and exclusively for the trade. Any personal element should be excluded.