QuickBooks Online (QBO) continues to roll out updates designed to make daily financial management more intuitive and efficient. The additions of Bill Pay Basic and the Customer Hub CRM bring new ways to simplify your payables process and strengthen your client relationships, all within your existing QBO workspace.
Let’s take a closer look at how these tools work and how you can put them to use.
Managing vendor payments has always been a balancing act between accuracy, timing, and organization. The new Bill Pay feature in QBO consolidates these tasks into one seamless process.
With Bill Pay, businesses can now manage bills, vendor records, 1099s, and financial reports directly in QuickBooks with no extra platforms required. You can even forward bills to a personalized QuickBooks email address, where they’ll appear in your “For Review” tab for easy verification before scheduling payments.
| Automated Bill Creation | Built-in AI helps reduce manual data entry by scanning invoices, populating key fields, and matching payments automatically once transactions clear your bank. |
| Flexible Payments | Choose to pay vendors by ACH transfer or check, and even batch multiple bills into one payment. |
| Vendor Collaboration | Invite vendors to enter their own payment details through QuickBooks’ expanding business network, creating smoother, more accurate payment experiences. |
Bill Pay is available in three tiers: Basic, Premium, and Elite. Each is designed to match your transaction volume and control needs.
| Basic Plan | Included with all QBO subscriptions, this tier offers five free ACH payments per month and access to AI-powered bill automation. |
| Premium Plan | $15/month, including 40 monthly transfers and 1099 e-filing (additional e-filing fees apply). |
| Elite Plan | $90/month with unlimited ACH transfers, custom approval workflows, and advanced user permissions. |
Each plan also offers optional services, such as expedited ACH payments (for a small per-transaction fee) and mailed check payments. ACH transfers generally process in three to five business days, while checks may take up to ten. If you need a faster turnaround, “Fast ACH” payments can process within one business day when scheduled before 5:00 p.m.
The new Customer Hub brings a light CRM experience right into QuickBooks Online. This is ideal for small and growing businesses looking to keep customer information, communications, and activity history all in one place.
Customer Hub goes beyond simple recordkeeping. It’s designed to help you nurture relationships and drive repeat business through features like surveys, feedback tracking, and automated follow-ups.
| All-In-One Customer Profiles | View customer details, notes, estimates, and invoices in a single hub. |
| Automated Feedback Surveys | Set up customizable surveys that go out automatically after an invoice is paid, collecting valuable insights from your clients. |
| Referral Generation | Turn happy customers into advocates—when clients leave positive feedback, QuickBooks can prompt them to share referrals, which automatically feed into your leads list. |
| Email Integration and Automation | Connect your Gmail or Outlook accounts to track communication and let QuickBooks’ AI draft or respond to routine client messages. |
From first contact to final payment, the Customer Hub organizes every interaction, helping your team stay on top of client relationships without juggling multiple systems.
| 1. Start Small With Automation | Test Bill Pay on a few recurring vendors to see how AI handles the entry and matching process. |
| 2. Use the Feedback Loop | Enable surveys in Customer Hub to get real-time insights into customer satisfaction. |
| 3. Consolidate Communication | Connecting your email account allows you to manage invoices, messages, and reviews all within QBO. |
| 4. Leverage Vendor and Client Portals | Let your vendors and customers update their own information to save you time and ensures accuracy. |
QuickBooks Online’s latest updates are all about integration and bringing payments, client management, and automation together in one connected experience.
Whether you’re looking to streamline your payables or strengthen your customer relationships, Bill Pay and Customer Hub offer practical, time-saving tools to help you work smarter inside QBO.
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