Comparison
Telaro vs QuickBooks
QuickBooks is full accounting software. Telaro is invoicing and job paperwork for trades. Which one you want depends on whether you're running the books or running the jobs.
The short version
QuickBooks is built for bookkeeping — bank feeds, reconciliation, VAT returns filed to HMRC, payroll add-ons. Telaro is built for the part of the day where you're standing in someone's kitchen quoting a job and then invoicing it that night. Plenty of tradespeople use a simple invoicing tool day to day and hand the accounts to a bookkeeper; others want everything in one accounting package. Neither answer is wrong.
Side by side
| Telaro | QuickBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Invoices, quotes, estimates and job costs for trades | Full small-business accounting |
| Learning curve | Minutes — the app only does trade paperwork | Steeper; accounting concepts throughout |
| Quotes and estimates | Core feature, converts to invoice in one click | Supported, inside a wider accounting UI |
| CIS deductions | Built in on the document, labour only | Available on qualifying plans |
| VAT returns to HMRC | Not filed by Telaro — VAT shown correctly on documents | VAT features from Simple Start upwards, per QuickBooks UK |
| Bank feeds and reconciliation | No | Yes |
| Job profit tracking | Jobs with materials and expenses, margin per job | Project profitability from the Plus plan, per QuickBooks UK |
| Free option | Free, no card needed | Time-limited trial and promotional pricing |
Based on each product's own published information at the time of writing. QuickBooks changes its product and pricing regularly, so check the current details yourself on the QuickBooks UK pricing page.
When QuickBooks is the better choice
- You want to file your VAT returns yourself under Making Tax Digital.
- You need bank reconciliation, payroll or a full profit and loss in the same tool.
- Your accountant has asked you to be on a specific accounting package.
When Telaro is the better choice
- Your accountant or bookkeeper already handles the books and you just need clean documents out fast.
- You quote on site and want the accepted quote to become an invoice without retyping.
- You want to see the actual margin on a job once materials are logged.
- You want one place for the trade workflow itself: quote on site, convert it to an invoice, log the materials against the job.
Try Telaro before you decide
Free — 10 invoices a month plus unlimited quotes and estimates. No card needed.
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