Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) has simplified yet another daunting task for small businesses. Today it unveiled a Web-based version of QuickBooks® Site Solutions, a Web site creation and management service that helps small businesses set up a professional site in just five simple steps - without knowing HTML or Web site design principles. Harnessing Intuit's heritage for making the complicated, simple, QuickBooks Site Solutions offers small businesses an easy and affordable way to build and manage a professional-looking Web site. The Web-based version of QuickBooks Site Solutions extends the availability of the service beyond current QuickBooks 2000 customers to Intuit's nearly six million small business customers as well as other small business customers across the United States.
"Intuit's fanatical focus on ease of use has allowed us to lead the market in multiple categories," said Dan Nye, vice president and general manager of Intuit's Small Business Division. "With QuickBooks Site Solutions, we have applied that same approach to helping small businesses establish themselves on the Web."
Even with the variety of free and fee-based services and software available, a recent report by the National Federation of Independent Businesses showed that small businesses are under-using the Web. Four out of five small businesses were computerized, yet only 16 percent of the 1,055 businesses studied in the report had Web sites.
Additionally, Intuit research shows that some two-thirds of small businesses on the Web outsource their site development and maintenance work. These small businesses pay more than $2,000 on average to set up a site and $1,300 a year to maintain and host it.
"Until now, the small business market has been under served by the industry," continued Nye. "By reducing Web site development to a simple five-step process and offering it at a nominal fee, Intuit is making it easy and affordable for almost any small business to build a professional looking site in just minutes."
Creating A Web Site
In about ten minutes, any small business owner using the new Web-based version of QuickBooks Site Solutions can easily tackle the project from start to finish - from selecting a unique domain name to choosing, customizing and maintaining a well designed site. QuickBooks Site Solutions offers an easy five-step wizard to simplify the process of creating and editing a Web site.
Step 1 - Choose a professionally developed Web site design
Step 2 - Insert the company information to appear on the site
Step 3 - Preview the Web site
Step 4 - Provide email forwarding information and set up account
Step 5 - Set up a login to update the site
Intuit's solution also features a point and click editing tool giving small business owners the power and flexibility to update and customize their sites as often as they like.
"In a recent independent study that reviewed the industry's leading small business Web site development tools, nearly 88 percent of the participants identified QuickBooks Site Solutions as the easiest to use." Nye added.
Enhancing The Site
The Web-based version of QuickBooks Site Solutions features capabilities that also make it easy to enhance the Web site:
Professional Designs - More than 400 customizable Web site designs created by award-winning designers representing more than 70 industries from Architects to Veterinarians are available. The designs offer customizable pre-filled content appropriate to each distinct industry.
Professional Photography - Thousands of industry and category-specific photos are available for a fee to enhance sites, making them fresh and professional looking.
Promoting The Site
QuickBooks Site Solutions helps subscribers promote their Web sites so small businesses can effectively market their products and services on the Web.
Domain Name Search and Registration - Easily search and secure a unique Web address appropriate for the particular business.
Maps and Directions - Small businesses can easily be located by new customers with the addition of online maps and directions.
Guest Book - Small businesses can learn more about their Web site visitors with the Guest Book feature.
Site Promotion - A search engine submission wizard helps small businesses promote their sites online and makes it easy for new customers to find them via Web searches. The "announce your site" feature automates email alerts that can be sent to customers, friends and family to promote new Web businesses.
Future E-Commerce Capabilities
Future versions of QuickBooks Site Solutions will build on the integration established between Site Solutions and QuickBooks 2000 to help small business owners better use their Web sites in managing their business. New capabilities, which may require a compatible version of QuickBooks software, are anticipated to integrate transaction information and financial management with a small business' Web site. For service based businesses, this could for example enable a small business to receive job requests from potential clients, publish estimates from within compatible versions of QuickBooks to a confidential area of their Web sites and post invoices online as well as receive payment for invoices online. For product-based businesses, new capabilities could include the ability to publish products from within QuickBooks to a Web storefront then download transaction information back into QuickBooks whenever an item is purchased.
Pricing And Availability
QuickBooks Site Solutions is available immediately for $19.95 per month, and includes a limited free trial. Customers can sign up for Site Solutions by visiting www.quickbooks.com or by calling 1-800-4INTUIT (1-800-446-8848). Optional services may require additional subscription or service fees. Internet access required. This pricing applies to new subscribers for the Web-based version of Site Solutions as well as new subscribers through QuickBooks software. Terms, conditions, features, service options and pricing are subject to change.
