# Evaluating QuickBooks?   A different question.

You came here comparing QuickBooks. Fair. But most businesses on this page have the same underlying problem: they need to get paid, and they want an AI to handle the boring parts. Holdings built the category for that — agentic invoicing, MCP-native, no monthly fee.

# QuickBooks vs Holdings

QuickBooks is the incumbent small-business accounting tool. Holdings is agentic invoicing + accounting — you direct an AI, and it drafts invoices, follow-ups, and journal entries. You approve every send. Books stay current on their own.

## Side by side

QuickBooks Online and Holdings solve different problems. Here's the honest version.

| What you're comparing                     | Holdings                       | QuickBooks Online               |
|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Primary interface                         | Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor (MCP) | Web app forms and menus         |
| Draft-by-default AI sends                 | Yes — you approve every AI action | AI features limited to auto-categorization |
| Invoicing                                 | Native, agent-drafted, QR codes + payment links | Native invoicing                 |
| Payment collection                         | 3% + $0.30 per payment (Stripe Connect) | 2.9% + $0.25 (QuickBooks Payments) |
| Double-entry accounting                    | Included ($25/mo Software)    | Included (Simple Start $30/mo and up) |
| Payroll                                   | Not included                   | Add-on ($45+/mo)                |
| Inventory                                 | Not included                   | Plus ($90/mo) and up            |
| Bank sync                                 | Native via Plaid               | Native via Plaid               |
| Monthly cost                              | No monthly fee (payments-only) or $25/mo full accounting | $30-$200/mo                     |
| 48 free financial tools                   | Included                       | Not included                    |

## Why teams pick Holdings

### Direct your AI, not a form

With QuickBooks you fill out an invoice screen. With Holdings you tell Claude "invoice Acme for last week's engagement, thirty-day net, follow up on day thirty-one" and approve the send. Same outcome, one message.

### The books stay current on their own

Every invoice, payment, and follow-up posts to double-entry accounting the moment it happens. No monthly close crunch. No bank-feed reconciliation weeks. Books are always tax-ready.

### One product, half the price

QuickBooks Simple Start is $30/mo for accounting alone; QuickBooks Plus is $90/mo. Holdings is $25/mo for accounting + invoicing + payments in one, or free if you only need invoicing.

### MCP-native — your AI can drive the whole stack

Holdings exposes an MCP server. Any AI agent that speaks Claude/ChatGPT/Cursor's protocol can direct invoicing, look up balances, and generate reports. QuickBooks has AI features; it isn't an agent-native product.

### When QuickBooks Online might be the better choice

If you need native payroll (QuickBooks + Intuit Payroll), advanced inventory (QuickBooks Plus/Advanced), or your accountant refuses to use anything else, QuickBooks is still the best answer for those specific needs.

## Common questions

### Can Holdings really replace QuickBooks?

For core accounting — categorization, P&L, balance sheet, general ledger — yes. Plus you get agentic invoicing that QuickBooks doesn't have. If you need native payroll or inventory management, you'll want QuickBooks for those specific features.

### How much would I actually save?

QuickBooks Simple Start is $30/mo ($360/yr); QuickBooks Plus is $90/mo ($1,080/yr). Holdings Software is $25/mo for full accounting + native invoicing + AI direction. Or free if you only need the invoicing.

### What does "agentic invoicing" actually mean?

You use Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible agent to direct the work. "Invoice Acme for last week's engagement, thirty-day net, follow up on day thirty-one" — Holdings drafts the invoice, generates the payment link, schedules the follow-up. You approve every send.

### Can my accountant use Holdings?

Yes. Invite your CPA or bookkeeper with the Bookkeeper role — full access to accounting, reports, and transaction history. Export to QuickBooks format if they prefer.

### Do I have to switch banks?

No — you can keep your current bank. Holdings includes a free business checking account (1.75% APY, FDIC to $3M) if you want to consolidate, but it's optional. Connect any existing bank via Plaid for reconciliation.