QuickBooks to enter UK SaaS Accounting Market

10 by Duane Jackson - Founder & CEO on April 22, 2010

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I got lucky at the end of 2008 and got the chance to announce Sages entry to the UK SaaS accounting software market before they did. the luck continued with finding some serious security flaws that forced them to withdraw the product a month after launch.

Their new SaaS product which I’m dubbing “Son of SageLive” is due to be released in a matter of weeks. As I predicted, it’s a “back to the drawing board” jobbie, the problems with SageLive were too fundamental to be fixed.

So with one industry heavy weight about to enter the market, it seems another is close on their heels. Intuit have had an online version of QuickBooks available in the US for sometime, but it looks like they’re now about to launch in the UK.

Witness the following Tweets:

MadelineMcQueen - Found a great business online accounting tool http://www.kashflow.co.uk
(9:13 PM Apr 19th)

shaawasmund - @MadelineMcQueen you want to check out Quickbooks – by far the best. We tested everything.
(9:26 AM Apr 20th)

MadelineMcQueen - @shaawasmund Quickbooks on-line is not available in the UK, which is what we really need, it is in the US but no plans for release here.
(10:44 AM Apr 20th)

shaawasmund – @MadelineMcQueen watch this space … honestly I know far more than what you read!
(11:14 AM Apr 20th)

Shaa Wasmund is a very well respected entrepreneur and founder of Smarta. If she says she knows something, she knows something.

But just to be certain that she is privvy to inside information:

DuaneJackson @shaawasmund KashFlow and Smarta should be working together
(13:00 PM Apr 22nd)

shaawasmund @DuaneJackson hear good things about you … However we’re already hooked up with Intuit who are an awesome partner too.
(13:09 PM Apr 22nd)

So there you have it. Not quite as conclusive as seeing the actual product, but I’ll buy a hat and eat it if we don’t see a UK launch of QuickBooks online this year.

10 Responses to QuickBooks to enter UK SaaS Accounting Market

1. April 22, 2010 at 2:22 pm

   Stuart

   I’ll buy the hat for you, Duane! :)

   Reply
2. April 22, 2010 at 3:33 pm

   Gary Turner

   Duane,

   It’s only a matter of time. Bringing something to market is the easy part, making it stick is several notches of difficulty farther up the bar.

   Plus, it’s a monster sized market. 20,000 new businesses were incorporated in the UK last month alone.

   Reply
3. April 22, 2010 at 4:52 pm

   Adrian Pearson

   I think we have been here before somehow.

   QuickTax – launched in UK, later withdrawn leaving US version only.

   Quicken – launched in UK (stayed around longer but) later withdrawn leaving US version only.

   Quickbooks Online has been running in the US for many years now. Suddenly they decide that a UK launch is a good idea. How long before “.. later withdrawn ..etc”?

   15 years of experience have taught me that (i) Intuit will never keep their customers informed of their future plans, so that they can reasonably plan, and (ii) Intuit will pull the plug whenever they feel like it, giving little prior notice to customers.

   They have missed the boat and don’t deserve a second chance. Xero, Kashflow and FreeAgent are entitled to their days in the sun now.

   Reply
4. April 23, 2010 at 6:38 am

   Matt Chatterley

   Couldn’t agree more with the comments above – plus as an ex QuickBooks user (should I say ‘ex’ or ‘reformed’?), I’d never want to try another product from them unless I had no choice.

   QB was an awful experience for me (well aware this may be partly culpa mea, but still) and has put me off for life!

   Reply
5. April 23, 2010 at 11:41 am

   Julian Shaw

   You can lead a horse to water, but it doesn’t make it a duck…

   Reply
6. April 23, 2010 at 5:54 pm

   Jon Behr

   Not surprising I guess. Wont be surprised if they leave after a few weeks/months/years either.

   Reply

7. Pingback: Intuit Finally enter UK SaaS Accounting Market KashFlow Accounting Software

8. January 19, 2011 at 6:10 pm

   Peter

   I was just searching for “Quickbooks Online UK” and ended up here.

   So… how did your hat taste?

   Reply
9. January 19, 2011 at 6:26 pm

   Duane Jackson

   Hi Peter,

   No need for hat eating. I was right, they have launched it. Hard to find and disappointing when you do though. [insert witty comparison to something else that's hard to find but ultimately disappointing]

   Seeing as you’re here though, perhaps you should take a free trial of KashFlow instead : )

   Reply
10. February 14, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    Maurice

    Haven’t checked it out yet but their timing is quite good. Accountants in practice in the UK are certainly more knowledgeable about this service compared to 2 years ago thanks to the high profile of K and X on various forums.

    Reply