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Should I self-host QuickBooks Online?
The software is replaceable; the accountant isn't. QuickBooks is the file format your CPA speaks, and 'my books are in a self-hosted Akaunting instance' is a sentence that costs you billable hours every April. Keep paying — this lock-in runs through people, not code.
The math (nothing hidden, including your time)
| QuickBooks Online (Simple Start) | $38.00/mo |
| VPS share + storage | −$0.50/mo |
| Your maintenance: 30 min/mo at $20/h | −$10.00/mo |
| Net saving | $27.50/mo |
| Setup: 15 min measured (one-time) | $5.00 |
| Break-even | 0.2 months |
| Markup Index (price ÷ real self-host cost) | 3.6× |
Price: source, checked 2026-08-06. Inputs are stored in git; every number above is derived, never hand-written.
What you lose
- Nothing technical — Akaunting and Invoice Ninja are capable; the ecosystem lock-in is the product
What you're paying QuickBooks Online for
- bookkeeping
- invoicing
- bank feeds
- accountant hand-off
Ranked alternatives
Invoices, bills, expenses and a client portal on your own domain, with the double-entry ledger sold as a paid app.
Invoices, quotes, expenses and a client portal on your own domain, with no cap on how many clients you bill.
Hardware
Runs comfortably on a real VPS (2 GB+).
Verification
Protocol v1 · verified by zernonia on 2026-08-10 · setup measured at 15 min · AI assistant: claude-code (allowed & stated)
Full timed log
# QuickBooks Online — verdict log - **Date:** 2026-08-10 - **Verdict:** NOT REALLY — keep paying - **Protocol:** v1 (2GB reference env, Docker preinstalled, AI assistant: claude-code) ## Why no compose file - This verdict is decided by economics/capability, not setup effort — the rubric doesn't require a timed install to conclude the subscription should stay (or that the replacement's cost lives elsewhere, e.g. GPUs, egress, or an installer script). ## The call The software is replaceable; the accountant isn't. QuickBooks is the file format your CPA speaks, and 'my books are in a self-hosted Akaunting instance' is a sentence that costs you billable hours every April. Keep paying — this lock-in runs through people, not code.
Verdict history
- 2026-08-10: unscored → NOT_REALLY — Initial verdict: The software is replaceable; the accountant isn't.