The $28 Starter That Becomes $95: QuickBooks' Price Escalation
QuickBooks Online markets itself at $28 CAD/month (EasyStart plan). Looks affordable for basic invoicing, right?
But here's what freelancers discover after signing up:
The forced upgrade path:
- EasyStart: $28/month → Need expense tracking? Upgrade required
- Plus: $95/month → Want project profitability? Upgrade required
- Advanced: $190/month → Need custom user permissions? Upgrade required
Real annual cost for a typical Canadian freelancer:
- QuickBooks Plus (most popular): $95/month = $1,140/year
- Add payroll feature: +$20-40/month = $240-480/year
- Total: $1,380-1,620/year
Paymavo Pro:
- Unlimited clients, unlimited invoices: $15/month = $180/year
- Or $144/year (annual plan with 20% discount)
You save $1,000-1,476/year by switching to Paymavo.
1. Accounting Overkill: Features You'll Never Use
QuickBooks is built for full business accounting—which means 90% of features are useless for freelancers who just need invoicing.
What QuickBooks forces on you:
- Chart of accounts (20+ categories)
- Journal entries
- Reconciliation workflows
- Inventory tracking
- Purchase orders
- Project profitability tracking
- Multi-currency conversion
- Payroll management
Real user frustration:
"QuickBooks is WAY too complex for what I need. I'm a solo freelancer—I just want to send invoices and track payments. Instead, I'm drowning in accounting jargon I don't understand."
— Capterra Review
"The interface is cluttered with features I'll never use. It takes me 5-10 minutes just to create a simple invoice because I have to navigate through so many menus."
— G2 Review
Time comparison for basic tasks:
| Task | QuickBooks Online | Paymavo |
|---|---|---|
| Create invoice | 5-10 minutes (complex menus) | 30 seconds (streamlined) |
| Send invoice | 2-3 minutes (review settings) | 1 click (auto-email) |
| Check payment status | Navigate to Reports → Sales | Dashboard homepage |
| Generate tax report | 10+ minutes (export, filter) | 1 click (CRA-ready PDF) |
| Onboarding | 15-30 minutes (tutorials) | 2 minutes (start invoicing) |
The problem? You're paying $95/month for a Ferrari when you just need a bicycle.
Paymavo's philosophy:
Do one thing exceptionally well—invoicing for Canadian freelancers.
No accounting bloat. No feature complexity. Just fast, compliant invoicing.
2. The Learning Curve That Kills Productivity
QuickBooks requires significant training to use effectively—even for basic invoicing.
Real user experiences:
"I spent TWO WEEKS trying to figure out how to properly categorize expenses and set up my chart of accounts. For someone with no accounting background, QuickBooks is overwhelming."
— Trustpilot Review
"Had to watch 6 YouTube tutorials just to understand how to create a recurring invoice. This should not be this complicated in 2024."
— Reddit r/freelance
"The onboarding process is terrible. They throw you into a dashboard with 50+ options and expect you to know what 'undeposited funds' and 'accounts receivable' mean."
— GetApp Review
Common complaints:
- Accounting terminology not explained for beginners
- No simple "invoice-only" mode
- Tutorial videos assume prior accounting knowledge
- Interface changes frequently (breaks muscle memory)
- Mobile app missing key features
Learning curve comparison:
| Metric | QuickBooks Online | Paymavo |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first invoice | 15-30 minutes (setup required) | 2 minutes (ready out-of-box) |
| Training needed | 5-10 hours (accounting basics) | None (intuitive design) |
| Support tickets | High (confusing interface) | Low (simple workflow) |
Paymavo's approach:
- No accounting jargon
- Invoice creation in 3 steps: Client → Items → Send
- Mobile-first design (works on phone)
- Built for non-accountants
3. No Automatic Canadian Tax Compliance
QuickBooks offers tax features, but nothing automated for multi-province Canadian freelancers.
What QuickBooks requires:
- Manual tax setup for each province
- You configure GST/HST/QST rates yourself
- No automatic provincial rate detection
- Create custom tax codes for combined rates (BC: GST + PST)
- Risk of miscalculation = CRA audit trigger
The compliance nightmare:
| Client Location | Correct Tax | QuickBooks Setup | Risk if Wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 13% HST | Manual "HST ON" code | Under-charged? You owe CRA |
| British Columbia | 12% (5% GST + 7% PST) | Create 2 separate codes | Missing PST? Non-compliant |
| Alberta | 5% GST | Manual "GST" code | Wrong rate? CRA audit |
| Quebec | 14.975% (5% GST + 9.975% QST) | 2 codes + manual calc | Missing QST? Legal issues |
Real user frustration:
"Setting up taxes for Canadian provinces is a nightmare. I had to Google 'How to set up GST in QuickBooks' and spent 45 minutes creating custom tax codes. Then I realized I set up BC wrong (forgot to add PST separately)."
— Canadian freelancer, QuickBooks Community Forum
"I accidentally charged 5% GST to an Ontario client instead of 13% HST. QuickBooks didn't warn me. Now I have to eat the 8% difference out of pocket because the invoice is already paid."
— Reddit r/PersonalFinanceCanada
For Canadian freelancers juggling multi-province clients, this is a time sink and compliance risk.
Paymavo's solution:
Automatic tax compliance powered by Stripe Tax:
- Detects client's province automatically (from address)
- Applies correct GST/HST/QST rates instantly
- Generates CRA-ready reports in 1 click
- Zero manual configuration required
- Updates automatically when tax rates change
This is our killer feature—and the main reason Canadian freelancers switch from QuickBooks.
4. Forced Upgrades: The Pricing Trap
QuickBooks uses artificial limits to push you into expensive plans.
The upgrade ladder:
| Plan | Price CAD/month | Invoice Limit | What's Missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| EasyStart | $28 | Unlimited | No bill tracking, 1 user only |
| Plus | $95 | Unlimited | Most popular (239% price jump) |
| Advanced | $190 | Unlimited | Custom user permissions |
Translation: QuickBooks baits you with $28/month, knowing most users will need Plus ($95/month).
Real user experiences:
"Started on EasyStart. Needed to track expenses properly—FORCED to upgrade to Plus. Went from $28/month to $95/month overnight. Wish they'd been transparent about this upfront."
— Capterra Review
"They advertise $28/month everywhere, but that plan is basically useless. You can't even add a team member. It's a bait-and-switch."
— G2 Review
Common forced upgrade triggers:
- Need bill tracking? → Upgrade to Plus
- Want inventory tracking? → Upgrade to Plus
- Need more than 1 user? → Upgrade to Plus (+$20/user)
- Want project profitability? → Upgrade to Plus
- Need custom user permissions? → Upgrade to Advanced
Paymavo's approach:
- Free plan: 10 invoices/month, 10 clients (no credit card)
- Pro plan: Unlimited everything at $15/month
No artificial limits. No bait-and-switch. No hidden costs.
5. Support Paywall & Overseas Call Centers
QuickBooks advertises "24/7 support," but the quality depends on your plan—and where they route your call.
Support tier breakdown:
| Plan | Support Access | Response Quality |
|---|---|---|
| EasyStart | Chat (limited hours) | Overseas, scripted responses |
| Plus | Phone + chat | Better, but still hit-or-miss |
| Advanced | Priority support | Fastest, but you pay $190/month |
Real user experiences:
"Called support about a tax calculation error. Got transferred 3 times, ended up with someone overseas reading from a script who didn't understand Canadian GST/HST. Wasted 45 minutes."
— Trustpilot Review
"Chat support is useless. They just send you links to help articles I've already read. When I asked for actual troubleshooting, they said 'upgrade to Plus for phone support.'"
— Reddit r/smallbusiness
"I've been on hold for 30+ minutes multiple times. Their 'estimated wait time: 5 minutes' is a lie. And when I finally get someone, they can't actually solve my problem—just escalate to a 'specialist' who never calls back."
— GetApp Review
Common complaints:
- Long wait times (30+ minutes)
- Outsourced support with limited knowledge
- Scripted responses that don't solve problems
- Phone support locked behind higher tiers
- "Escalations" that never follow up
Paymavo's approach:
- 24-hour email support for all Pro users
- Built by Canadian developer in Calgary
- Direct support—no overseas call centers
- Actually solves problems (not script-reading)
6. Hidden Costs & Add-On Fees
QuickBooks' advertised pricing doesn't include essential features most freelancers need.
Add-on costs:
| Feature | Cost | Why You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | +$20-60/month | If you pay yourself or contractors |
| Payment processing | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe) | To accept online payments |
| Additional users | +$20/month each | If you have a VA or bookkeeper |
| ACH bank transfers | 1% (max $10) | Lower fees than credit cards |
| Automated workflows | Plus plan only | To save time on reminders |
Real-world scenario:
- QuickBooks Plus: $95/month
- Payroll add-on: $30/month
- 1 additional user: $20/month
- Total: $145/month = $1,740/year
vs Paymavo Pro:
- All features included: $15/month = $180/year
- Payment processing: Stripe standard (2.9% + 30¢, no markup)
- You save $1,560/year
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | QuickBooks EasyStart | QuickBooks Plus | Paymavo Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $28 CAD | $95 CAD | $15 CAD |
| Annual cost | $336 CAD | $1,140 CAD | $180 CAD ($144 annual) |
| Invoice limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Client limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| User limit | 1 user | 3 users | 1 user (freelancer-focused) |
| Automatic Canadian taxes | ❌ Manual setup | ❌ Manual setup | ✅ Auto GST/HST/QST |
| Payment processing | Stripe (standard fees) | Stripe (standard fees) | Stripe (2-5 days direct) |
| Digital signature | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Custom branding | Limited | ✅ | ✅ |
| CRA-ready reports | Manual export | Manual export | 1-click PDF export |
| Support | Chat (limited) | Phone + chat | 24h email (priority) |
| Learning curve | 15-30 min setup | 30+ min setup | 2 min setup |
| Focus | Full accounting | Full accounting | Pure invoicing |
| Bill tracking | ❌ | ✅ | Not needed (invoicing only) |
| Payroll | +$30-60/month add-on | +$30-60/month add-on | N/A (use Wagepoint, etc.) |
Annual savings by switching to Paymavo:
- From EasyStart: $156-192/year
- From Plus: $960-996/year
- From Advanced: $2,136-2,172/year
Why Paymavo Wins for Canadian Freelancers
1. Focused Simplicity
- Built for invoicing (not full accounting)
- No feature bloat
- 30-second invoice creation
2. Automatic Tax Compliance
- GST/HST/QST calculated automatically
- CRA-ready reports in 1 click
- Zero manual tax setup
3. Transparent Pricing
- $15/month flat (no hidden fees)
- No forced upgrades
- No expensive add-ons
4. Fast Onboarding
- 2-minute setup (vs 30+ minutes QuickBooks)
- No accounting knowledge required
- Start invoicing immediately
5. Canadian Support
- Built by Calgary developer
- 24-hour email response (Pro)
- Understands Canadian tax system
Migration Made Easy: Automatic Import from QuickBooks
Worried about switching from QuickBooks? We've built a seamless migration tool.
How it works (2-3 minutes total):
Step 1: Access Migration Tool
- Log into Paymavo dashboard
- Click your user menu (top right)
- Select "Import"
Step 2: Connect QuickBooks
- Choose "QuickBooks" as your provider
- Click "Connect to QuickBooks"
- Log into your QuickBooks Online account
- Authorize Paymavo to access your data (read-only)
Step 3: Import Everything
- Review the data preview (clients, invoices, quotes, expenses)
- Click "Import Now"
- Wait 30-60 seconds while we import via QuickBooks API
Step 4: Done!
- All your clients, invoices, quotes, and expenses are now in Paymavo
- Stripe Connect still works with your existing account
- Start creating invoices immediately
What gets imported automatically:
✅ Clients (names, emails, addresses, tax settings)
✅ Invoices (all data, items, payment status)
✅ Quotes (estimates converted to Paymavo quotes)
✅ Expenses (receipts, categories, amounts)
What you keep control of:
- Your QuickBooks data stays intact (we don't delete anything)
- You can test Paymavo on Free plan before canceling QuickBooks
- Export your data from Paymavo anytime (CSV)
Total migration time: 2-3 minutes
No manual CSV exports. No data entry. No headaches.
Start Saving Today
Free Plan (No Credit Card Required)
- Up to 10 invoices/month
- Up to 10 clients
- Automatic Canadian tax calculation
- Stripe payment processing
- CRA-ready reports (view only)
Perfect for testing Paymavo before committing.
Pro Plan ($15 CAD/month, $144 CAD/year)
- Unlimited invoices, clients, quotes
- Custom branding + digital signature
- Automated payment reminders
- CSV export & import
- Priority support
- Easy QuickBooks data migration
The Bottom Line
QuickBooks is accounting overkill—and overpriced for freelancers who just need invoicing.
For Canadian freelancers who want simple, compliant invoicing:
- Save $960-2,172/year by switching to Paymavo
- Get automatic tax compliance QuickBooks doesn't offer
- Avoid complex accounting features you'll never use
- Learn in 2 minutes instead of 30+ minutes
- Support a Canadian-built product
Ready to switch?
Start with our Free plan (no credit card required) and see why Canadian freelancers are leaving QuickBooks.
No credit card required. 10 free invoices and 10 clients forever.
Last updated: November 02, 2025
Sources: User testimonials from Capterra, Trustpilot, G2, GetApp, and Reddit freelance communities (2024-2025). Pricing verified via QuickBooks Canada official pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I import my QuickBooks data automatically?
A: You can export data from QuickBooks as CSV files (Customers, Invoices, Expenses) and import them into Paymavo using our CSV import tool. The process takes 5-10 minutes. Go to dashboard → User menu → Import → CSV Import.
Q: Will my existing Stripe account work?
A: Yes! Paymavo integrates with Stripe Connect, so you can use your existing Stripe account immediately.
Q: What happens if I exceed 10 invoices on the Free plan?
A: We'll prompt you to upgrade to Pro ($15/month). No forced charges or surprise bills.
Q: Do you charge transaction fees on top of Stripe's fees?
A: No. You pay only Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30. We don't add any markup.
Q: I need payroll—does Paymavo support that?
A: Paymavo focuses on invoicing, not payroll. For Canadian payroll, we recommend Wagepoint or Rise. You can track payroll expenses in Paymavo.
Q: Can I cancel anytime?
A: Yes. Cancel anytime via Stripe billing portal. No penalties, no questions asked.
Q: Does Paymavo support multi-user accounts?
A: Paymavo is designed for solo freelancers. If you need team collaboration and accounting, QuickBooks may be better for that specific use case.
Q: How long does it take to get paid?
A: Stripe deposits funds in 2-5 business days directly to your bank account.
