When we speak to accountants, one message we hear from you is the need for a QuickBooks® payroll solution for clients who only need payroll services. We heard your feedback … and created two stand-alone QuickBooks Online Payroll subscriptions to give you and your clients the flexibility to only subscribe to products that fit their needs and support the growth of their business.

If your client only needs payroll services, you can offer them QuickBooks payroll service (Core, Premium, or Elite) without a QuickBooks Online accounting software subscription. This means that even without QuickBooks Online, you can still manage payroll-only clients, right on the QuickBooks platform. Additionally, if an existing client wishes to cancel their QuickBooks Online subscription, they can retain their payroll subscription.

Firm-billed stand-alone QuickBooks Online Payroll: We bill your firm*

The firm-billed option provides a 50% discount on the retail price of payroll for life. This billing option also gives you the flexibility to build service packages that fit the needs of your clients and your firm. On July 15, the pri

Client-billed stand-alone QuickBooks Online Payroll: We bill your client directly

The client-billed option provides a 50% discount on the retail price of payroll for 12 months. The subscription is billed directly to your client, so you don’t have to worry about billing. On July 15, the prices will update to reflect the new ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing program.

To add just payroll to a new client:

1. Click Clients from the left hand menu in QuickBooks Online Accountant.
2. Click Add client.
3. Complete the new client form.
4. Skip the option for QuickBooks Online and select just the Payroll subscription.
5. Review the monthly charges and cost per employee.
6. Click Add next to Payment Method (if a payment method is not on file)
7. Click Save

Note: To add a firm-billed client, the company payment method must be on file.

To add payroll to an existing client:

1. Click the Gear icon in the upper right hand corner.
2. Select Subscriptions and billing.
3. Choose the Accountant-billed subscriptions tab from the tabs available.
4. Find the client.
5. Click Select Action.
6. Select Add Payroll from the drop down.
7. Select the appropriate payroll subscription.
8. Click Subscribe.

Note: Once the subscription is added, it will be shown with the client subscriptions.

To cancel QuickBooks Online and keep payroll:

For existing clients who want to cancel QuickBooks Online, but keep or add on payroll, follow the cancellation instructions here.

*The firm-billed stand-alone payroll option is currently available to most QuickBooks Online Accountant accounts. Intuit® rolls out new features and products in clusters; therefore, a small number may see this option in the coming months.