Intuit UK, has this week launched QuickBooks Online targeting SMEs. In support of the launch Intuit carried out an online survey of 500 UK small businesses via YouGov which found that over one third (38%) of senior decision makers in UK small businesses are in the cloud – using one or more Internet-based applications (excluding email and online phone services) to help run their business.
The shift to online for core business applications including online document, customer and financial management will see high growth percentages over the next 12 months, says Intuit. And a small but growing number of small businesses, almost one in 10 (9%), say they would like to use online services for all their main business applications.
The survey explored how and why UK small businesses use online services within their business, and what online services they plan to use in the future. Top of the list was storage or document sharing services – 21%; Word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation services – 16%, Financial management – 13%, Customer relationship management services – 9% and ‘other’ – 5%.
According to the survey, the main drivers for change are access to documents or services anywhere -70%; to save time, with no need to install software – 41% and to more easily share information with others – 49%.
"Small businesses in the UK are showing increasing confidence toward using online services to manage core business functions such as financial management," said Pernille Bruun-Jensen, managing director of Intuit UK. "In launching QuickBooks Online we are helping this new generation of businesses to securely access their books online and keep on top of their finances wherever they are. QuickBooks Online is new and tailored for the UK market, but built on a decade of experience in the US where we have more than 215,000 paid subscribers.”
QuickBooks Online is available in three versions in the UK, and prices start from £9 per month for one user plus an accountant. There are no contracts, it is free for the first 30 days and small business owners can cancel the service at any time, says Intuit.
