What is QuickBooks
Short description
QuickBooks is a subscription-based accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses. It helps users manage finances, track income and expenses, create and send invoices, and connect bank accounts.
Local context
In South Africa QuickBooks is offered to local businesses with South Africa - specific pricing and VAT features. Subscriptions can be purchased via the web or through mobile app stores, which affects how you manage billing and refunds.
How to cancel QuickBooks
Cancel a web purchase (direct from Intuit)
- Sign in to your Intuit Account Manager at your QuickBooks account.
- Go to "Products & billing" and select the company/subscription you want to cancel.
- Click "Cancel" for that subscription and follow the on-screen steps to confirm cancellation.
Cancel mobile store purchases
- If you bought the subscription through Apple App Store or Google Play, you must cancel via that app store.
- Do not attempt to cancel Google Play purchases inside the QuickBooks mobile app; use the Google Play or Apple subscriptions manager instead.
What happens when you cancel
Access after cancellation
After cancelling a QuickBooks Online web subscription your account becomes read-only. You can view and export data but cannot edit transactions.
Data retention and multiple subscriptions
QuickBooks retains read-only access to your company data for one year after cancellation for single subscriptions.
If multiple subscriptions exist under the same login, data may be retained indefinitely while at least one active subscription remains.
Will I get a refund?
General refund policy
Intuit does not offer a statutory 14-day cooling-off refund specifically. A voluntary 60-day money-back guarantee exists but is limited to purchases made in the USA.
This 60-day guarantee does not apply to purchases made outside the USA, including South Africa.
App store and other exceptions
- Subscriptions purchased through Apple App Store or Google Play must have refunds requested through those stores.
- Intuit will not process refunds for app-store purchases; follow the store’s refund process instead.
- For details on Intuit’s return policy see QuickBooks’ official policy: QuickBooks return policy.
QuickBooks plans and pricing
Pricing overview
The following prices reflect South Africa - specific plans and were sourced from SME South Africa listings. Promotions or bundles may alter final cost.
Monthly and annual options
| Plan | Price | Period | Features |
| Simple Start | R238.05 | Monthly | One user + your accountant; track income/expenses; send invoices; VAT tracking; bank connection |
| Simple Start | R2 004.79 | Annual | Same features as monthly Simple Start, billed annually |
| Essentials | R364.55 | Monthly | Up to 3 users + accountant; all Simple Start features; manage employees; multi-currency |
| Essentials | R3 070.43 | Annual | Same as monthly Essentials, billed annually |
| Plus | R491.05 | Monthly | Up to 5 users + accountant; recurring transactions; inventory; projects; budgets |
| Plus | R4 136.70 | Annual | Same as monthly Plus, billed annually |
Your consumer rights in South Africa
Statutory rights and company policy
South African consumer protection laws may provide remedies for defective goods or services, but Intuit’s published return policy does not offer the US 60-day guarantee for purchases made outside the USA.
Mobile store purchases and rights
- Payments made through Apple or Google are governed by those stores’ refund processes.
- If you believe you have received defective service, gather evidence (billing records, screenshots) before contacting support or the app store.
- For Intuit’s published return policy see: QuickBooks return policy.
Customer experiences
Positive feedback
Some South African users praise QuickBooks for easy invoice creation, customization, and time savings in reconciling accounts.
Reviews on local sites highlight suitability for startups and familiarity for accountants as advantages.
Negative feedback
Reported issues include slow or unresponsive customer support and technical problems after platform migrations.
Global review sites also report complaints about billing problems, account holds, and automation issues impacting accounting accuracy.
See representative reviews: Capterra South Africa reviews and Trustpilot.
Documentation checklist
What to prepare before cancelling
- Account email and login credentials for your Intuit account.
- Subscription details: company name on the account and billing receipt(s).
- Payment method details and dates of charges for any refund queries.
Export and backup items
- Export PDFs or CSVs of invoices, bank statements and tax reports you will need for records.
- Download accountant reports and any attachments stored in QuickBooks before switching to read-only mode.
Common mistakes
Assuming immediate deletion
Some users expect immediate data deletion after cancelling. In reality the account becomes read-only and data retention policies apply.
Using the wrong cancellation route
Another common mistake is trying to cancel an app-store subscription via the QuickBooks web portal. App-store subscriptions must be managed through the store that billed you.
Comparative recap
Quick summary
| Aspect | QuickBooks (strengths) | QuickBooks (limitations) |
| Invoicing & bookkeeping | Easy invoice creation and bank connections; VAT features for South Africa | Some automation may misclassify transactions without user checks |
| Support & service | Extensive online documentation and integrations | Users report slow customer support and issues after major migrations |
| Pricing | Multiple tiers for growth (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus) | Promotions and regional restrictions can complicate refunds and guarantees |
After cancelling
Data access and next steps
Export any remaining data you need while you still have access. Your account will typically remain read-only for a retention period after cancellation.
Where to get more information
Address
Local office
QuickBooks (SA) (Pty) Ltd - Softline Technology Park
151 Katherine Street, Atholl, Sandton, 2196, Gauteng, South Africa
Notes
If you need formal notices or legal correspondence, use the official company address above and include clear details of the account and subscription in question.