Intuit will discontinue the QuickBooks Point-of-Sale (POS) product on October 3, 2023. Sometimes businesses terminate a service they no longer find commercially viable, especially if it is only one portion of their offering. QuickBooks POS was built on a platform that demands complicated maintenance and makes offering new features highly challenging, which contributed to the decision.

After 20 years in business, the end of QuickBooks POS will likely impact many retailers, including pool and spa companies. QuickBooks recommends that POS users “explore other point-of-sale solutions” to decide which option is best for their business. Below is everything you need to know about QuickBooks POS being discontinued. Over the next few months leading up to the October deadline, we’ll share content to guide you through choosing a new POS system that will help you maximize your profits and efficiency.

How Will This Impact My Business?

Until October 3, QuickBooks POS will continue functioning as usual. However, after that date, many services will be discontinued:

• License purchasing: No more licenses will be available to purchase.
• Updates, patches, and new features: There will be no more updates, patches, or new features, so the solution will quickly become outdated and error-prone.
• Payment Processing: You’ll need a new payment processing solution if you use Intuit Merchant Services with QuickBooks POS.
• Gift Card Service: Givex Gift Cards are tied to QuickBooks POS Merchant Accounts, so you’ll need a new gift card solution.
• Mobile Sync and GoPayment: These “line buster” features will no longer be available, which can directly impact customer experience by causing longer lines and waiting times at check-out.
• Store Exchange: The Store Exchange feature allows you to transfer data between your headquarters and other stores, so you will need to set up an alternative communication method.
• E-Commerce Integration with Webgility: Inventory, customers, and sales from connected shopping carts and online marketplaces will no longer sync.
• Live Support through phone, email, and chat: As the software becomes more outdated, errors and glitches will arise, but users won’t be able to get help.
• Vendor Lookup Service: There will no longer be a connection to the database with vendor contact information.
• Constant Contact Email Campaigns: Users will be able to export the customer list to an Excel file for easy uploading but will lose access to the full integration.

Can I Keep Using QuickBooks POS After October 3?

Technically, you could continue using QuickBooks POS, but it would introduce unnecessary risk to your business and is not recommended even by QuickBooks. Not only will the value and usefulness of the program diminish to cause disruptions, but without essential security patches, your IT systems could eventually become vulnerable to data theft and cyberattacks. Both can cause severe problems for your business and your customers.

You also won’t have the option of accessing new features that allow businesses to compete effectively, and you won’t be able to get any support for technical issues that will likely arise as the technology becomes outdated.

How Do I Find A Replacement for QuickBooks POS?

Pool and spa businesses face a decision that significantly impacts their business operations: which point of sale software to turn to? Choosing the right POS system is essential to running your business efficiently, providing an exceptional customer experience, driving sales, and much more, depending on how comprehensive the solution is.

Other generic solutions similar to QuickBooks POS are available but may not be ideal for your business. Large, impersonal companies may rely on self-service customer support and basic features not tailored to your unique needs. They may not be able to provide individualized one-on-one service and, as we can see with the QuickBooks POS discontinuation, they may abandon the solution entirely if it’s no longer lucrative. We recommend a solution designed specifically for your industry, as pool and spa businesses often require certain tools and features to function at their highest level. With the right POS software, you can positively impact all aspects of your business.

Choose A POS Solution Designed Just For You

RB’s pool and spa POS software was designed by experts with decades of experience in the industry. Over the years, we’ve worked closely with our customers to develop new features and ensure that our solution provides everything needed to run pool and spa businesses successfully from end to end.

We’re committed to providing our clients with software that doesn’t just meet their expectations but exceeds them — and our one-on-one customer service and tech support are unmatched. With the time and money saved using our bespoke pool and spa business software, you’re guaranteed to make your investment back. Learn how in our eBook, 4 Ways to Save Money and Boost Sales with RB Pool Business Software. If you’re ready to see the software in action, schedule a no-strings-attached demo with us today.